Hello TimB,
I too, am a long-term Indiana Poucher. I have had my Indiana Pouch since 1996. I agree....hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I also take Cranberry and D-Mannose to keep my urine clear. When it is super hot or humid and I don't stay hydrated, my urine gets funky. I also cath myself and have learned to wash my hands prior to and after cath to cut down on infections.
I don't think you should be concerned unless you have a fever, cloudy urine, or flank pain. I try and not take antibiotics unless they are truly needed. The other thing I do is get a copy of the lab report after I drop a urine sample. I look to find out:
- Type of bacteria
- How much of the bacteria was cultured
- Which antibiotics are known to kill the bacteria
Then, I Google the bacteria and weigh my options. E-coli is common in neobladders, but it can also be a nasty one to get rid of. I am not sure if you can "cleanse" your bladder using saline and a syringe like me? That seems to clear out most of the muck.
Best wishes!
I have read multiple reports here on the Forum about "infections" and a neobladder or an Indiana pouch. Since these are constructed from intestines, my understanding is that there are always lots of bacteria present and many doctors unfamiliar with these diversions panic at the sight of "infection" and try to treat with antibiotics.
