D'Mannose preventing UTI's

[jen74]

Anyone else on here take D'Mannose to prevent UTI's? It is a sugar that is derived from cranberries. It is said that it is suppose to help with IC. I use to take this before I got IC to prevent infections and it is suppose to keep the urinary tract healthy. Have any of you been on this to prevent UTI's?
Jen

[ICLori]

I'm on it right now. So far I haven't gotten a UTI while on it, but it's probably not fair to say one way or another until I've been on it at least for a year continuously. I've only been on it about maybe 2 months so far.

Anyway, what I found (and this is only me, I really don't think it would work for others this way - long story - ) is that d-mannose seems to soothe my bladder. If I take a good dose (1 - 2 teaspoons twice daily) I don't need any pain meds.

I should say, though, that in addition to IC, my original biopsy (done years ago) diagnosed me with cystitis cystica and my last hydro/cysto diagnosed me with squamous cell metaplasia of the trigone area (where most of my inflammation/problems are at). Both of those conditions are often linked to chronic infection (chronic UTI's.) I have a sneaking hunch that I never had "IC" really - I think I've had a low-grade, chronic UTI that every other month or so becomes a full-blown UTI. (I get lots of UTI's.)

Anyway, the treatment for both of those conditions is either long-term antibiotics, or whatever you can find that eliminates UTI-causing bacteria from the bladder. D-mannose supposedly does (I read a study on this, I have no reason to doubt the study, but you never know, studies can be wrong...) eliminate e-coli from the bladder, so I thought - well, shoot, I feel better when I'm taking d-mannose (don't need pain pills, don't seem to have symptoms) and it is basically the treatment for the other two things I have (sq. cell metaplasia and CC) so why not continue it. Oh, yeah, for CC - you know how long you are supposed to be on antibiotics? One to five years! Years! I don't want to take antibiotics that long, I'm worried about messing my system up. So again I'm looking at d-mannose as kind of an alternative.

But again, I'm not treating IC with d-mannose. I am trying, instead, to treat cystitis cystica, which I've been been diagnosed with, and squamous cell metaplasia. I'm starting to think maybe those two conditions are what are causing my IC type symptoms in fact. (There have been case studies where those conditions do cause IC type symptoms, but they don't cause it in all women - only some - who knows?)

So I don't want people thinking that this stuff "cures" IC or anything. If you get frequent UTI's and if you and your doctor feel this would be something helpful to you to help prevent UTI's, it might be worth looking into. But it doesn't cure IC. In fact I think it doesn't even help "real" IC. I think my case is a very atypical example - I think it's because of the cystitis cystica that I am so far getting some benefit from d-mannose.

Whew. Sorry for writing a book. I want to be honest about what is helping me at this point, but I don't want to encourage people to run out and buy this (IMO) overpriced sugar stuff (d-mannose) hoping to stop the pain from IC.

I've always felt I had a weird case of IC - I got better on antibiotics, then worse again off them, and that's not really normal for IC - and the standard IC drugs haven't really worked for me.

I think CyA worked because there are two ways to stop the pain from an infection - either kill the infection, or kill the immune system response to the infection (it is your immune system killing the infection that causes the majority of discomfort during UTI's, flu, etc.)

But, CyA left my kidneys damaged. (My last creatinine was 1.5 - I keep hoping it will go down to 1.1 or below, which is normal, but I don't really have that much hope that it will. It looks like I ended up with some permanent kidney damage - Stage 3 kidney disease. Oh, well.)

So for now, I'm just taking the d-mannose. I mean, at least it's not harming major organs that I'm aware of, LOL. Honestly, it makes my bladder pain go away, so shoot....I'm going to keep taking it I guess. I wish it cost less, though.

Blessings,
Lori

[verdicries]

d-mannose will NOT cure ic OR cure an infection. taken regularly, it reduces the RISK of infection by flushing out bacteria. i've been on it a year now, great results (knock wood!). it is not DERIVED from cranberries but is a sugar that is FOUND in cranberries that clings to bacteria in the bladder...no flares. i get mine in powder form by the company NOW...big bottle, cheaper than the icn shop (sorry!).

[jen74]

Thanks ladies.
Iactually was on D'mannose for a year before getting IC, so I stopped taking it thinking maybe it caused it some how. But I have to admit, when I first started having early symptoms of IC with the frequency last year, I started the D'mannose and it helped greatly. But then I got full blown pain anyhow later on down the line. But I do want to take something to prevent infections since I am sooooo prone to them. Plus, I cannot take antibiotics really, they get me soo sick and my digestive tract just shuts down. Just a word about long term antibiotics; Five years ago when I was very healthy, I came down with a basic throat infection and had to be on a strong antibiotic ( augmentin) and after being on it for seven days, I became Very sick to my stomach. Everytime I ate I could only eat like a couple bites and I would be so stuffed. Well, as time went on, it waxed and waned. Then I got sick again with a bad chest cold that caused a bad infection and had to take antibitoics again, this was like a year later. Well, after that, my stomach got so severe. After suffering for a long while, I found a GI doc who diagnosed me with having a nueropathic dysmotility of the small intestine and stomach. (meaning it does not empty well nor work right). I lived on baby food for a while as that was all I could tolerate. But to make a long story short, I believe that the antibioticsa are what damaged my digestive tract. I belong to a group, (gastroparesis group) and I know a few who are on permanant feeding tubes because of this.The doctors dont tell you this can happen and does happen to some people because of taking antibitoics. So, I am very leary of taking any antibiotics now. This is scary because I do get these stupid UTI's alot and I have to find a way to prevent them. I mean I do not have Sex, I am clean, I wash with soap and water after every bowel movement, I could not possibly do any better as far as being careful and clean, but I still get the UTI's. I may try the D'mannose again and hope it does not mess up my bladder worse.
Jen

[asilva]

I agree with the others. I take D'Mannose (I take the capsules) regularly now instead of long term Macrobid to help prevent UTI's. I used to get UTI's frequently. Since starting this regimen I haven't had one.

[jen74]

How much of the D',mannose powder do you gals take a day? I have the powder and it says to take 1 to 2 scoops every two to three hours. How much do you gals take in a day?
Jen

[verdicries]

ya know i'm not sure how much i take. i take a spoon, dip it in a bit and suck it down. i do that in the am, and 1-2x in the afternoon and a bit before bed. i'd say i take about 2-3 teaspons a day...i also take it before and after sex (like that's been happening lately...sigh).

[petrie86]

Does this stuff really work? I know cranberry pills are really bad for you. I've been gettitng alot of uti's latley and I dont know what to do other than call the dr and spend more money on antibiotics. I would spend the money if you think it really works. Let me know. Do they have pills instead of powder?? I would gag if i tasted it lol

Rachel

[verdicries]

hey rach,
i take approx 3 teaspoons a day and i think it DOES help. i've taken it for about a year now. it does come in capsule form but the powder REALLY doesn't taste bad...just like a funky sugar .

are you getting ACTUAL uti's (confirmed by culture)? this may help!

[jen74]

Hi Tracy.
Thanks for the info on the D'MAnnose. I am starting back up on it and see if it will help prevent UTI's.
Oh, Is your Gizmo a Dachshund?? He looks like a long haired one. He is sooooo cute. I also have a Dachshund and he is the same color as yours except he is a short haired one. The picture of Connor with Gizmo is really adorable .
Jen

[verdicries]

jen,
YES, he's a mini longhaired doxie! he's a bit overweight now (which i swore wouldn't happen) b/c i can't really take him out much. i feel so bad for him, i know he's depressed too . but i love him, he's my l'il boy (okay i have 2 l'il boys now).

good luck w/the d-mannose. let us know how you do.

[jen74]

Thanks Tracy.
Does your Dachsie get into alot of trouble also? Mine is always getting into EVERYTHING he possibly can. He also loves to eat. I love him to death though, he sure cheers me up when I am down. I thought about getting another one, but I am to sick to train another one again, plus, my Puddin is very possesive, and would likely be very jealous. He a mama's boy that is for sure.
Thanks again, and hope you are feeling better.
Jen

[Angeles]

I also take Dmanose for several months now. I think it helps prevent UTIs and my bladdre is better so this may or may not be helping. Anyway I take it for UTIs but I think that if you really wan to tprevent UTIs you have to do more than just taking Dmannose. I do bottel washing after each BM, and there's more but I got to go now. I read a book from "****** *********" full of good advice on how to prevent UTIs and I'm planning to get notehr book about chronic UTIs from a DR. I thnk it is called: you don't have to live with Cistitis".
UTIs caused my IC so I can afford to have nother one.
Hugs to all.

[tcsharon]

I've been on d-mannose since April 24, 2007. I was worried about taking it because I'd just had a yeast infection and wondered if that sugar would feed the yeast. I've been on Diflucan 150mg once a week since the middle of March. I'm taking one more this week, then I'm done. I started d-mannose because I felt like I was getting a UTI. I'm taking the Now brand, I get it half price on line. I found relief in 24 hours, and I am still taking it. I started out taking three caps every two hours with maximum of 7 servings the first day. The second day I took three caps every three hours for a maximum of 5 servings. The third day I took three caps every four hours with a maximum of 3 servings. Maintance is three caps daily. But, I took three caps a couple times a day for over a week. I found this info online. I might try AZO when I'm done with the Diflucan, just to be on the safe side. I read a good article about d-mannose at http://www.drpressman.com/Library/D-Mannose.htm I like the photo of E coli adhering to human intestinal cells, I try to picture those little bugs in my bladder sailing off into the porcelain sunset, as the article says.

[Angeles]

D manosse is a type of sugar that doesn't alter or increase the blood sugar. It is excreted in the urine. So do not worry about feeding the yeast with D manose.
It is a great suplement.