How to prevent recurrent utis (which are helped by nitrofurantoin)?

[RosesandCuddles]

Okay so not sure it even is a UTI as the urine dipstick test comes back totally negative, blood test is showing kidney to be fine, no obvious kidney pain BUT I get flakes in urine for a few months and slight burning when urinating (rarely) and had ongoing nausea and diarrhea which is immediately resolved by nitrofuruntoin (antibiotic specific for kidney infections/utis) but it came back 2 weeks later...

I drink lots of water, new underwear everyday, wipe front to back, not sexually active, etc.

I have a small amount of cranberry juice every day, as I am also prone. Seems to help.

Have you had a proper urine culture test that they send back to the lab? (Not the dipstick; that only checks for signs of bleeding.) It almost certainly is infection and if it comes back a fortnight later it hasn't properly cleared.

I'm guessing you'll need a longer course (5 days or a week at least) and if it's really troublesome, long term treatment with a low dose. Discuss it with your GP. And once it's cleared up - but only once it's cleared up - start taking one of the higher dose cranberry supplements. Not cranberry juice - there's not enough active ingredient in that to be effective.

Thanks so far both.

@ChopinIn10Minuets I guess because the urine dipstick test comes back negative, they're hesitant to the full culture test (though I suspected kidney stones a few months ago so I was told to collect a full 24 hour urine sample and they tested that extensively at the hospital (not sure if they did bacterial culture though).

& I did take the 5 day course of MACROBID (modified release nitrofurantoin)

I've had recurrent bouts of kidney stones and had to take MACROBID. Great stuff but crikey isn't it expensive!

Sounds ridiculous but...
Holland and Barrett do a Dr organic tea tree body wash, it’s amazing but it’s seemed to keep my usually recurrent episodes away for about a year now. Was prone to thrush too which would lead to urine infection!!
Don’t know why, maybe it’s the antibacterial bit but did help.
I’d read about it online a few times for the thrush and tried it

Is your bladder damaged ? I had recurring UTIs that I finally zapped with a 3 week antibiotic course (don't think it ever full went away) anyway for about 6 months after I had symptoms but my urine came back negative. My bladder needed time to heal so I avoided lemon and spicy foods (I googled) and relied on the cystitis sachets to relive symptoms. It worked and I've been UTI free for a while now and no symptoms. The sachets saved my life. And a LOT of water. I also avoided wine and coffee as much as I could whilst I was healing. Also peppermint tea is a godsend.

I feel your pain OP. UTIs are the WORST. I also avoid tight jeans and change into PJs the minute I'm home from work. If I feel stirrings I drink a lot of water and have a hot bath.