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!