Hi Shelley, welcome to the forum. Your post caught my eye right away because I also have bladder cancer and there aren't very many of us on this forum with it. I still have my bladder, so far anyway, but bladder cancer is what it is and I may be on the same road as you before I'm finished here. I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago now and as you likely know, it has been a roller coaster ride ever since with the TURBTs, BCG treatments, and cystoscopies. Once on this road, there isn't any turning back. I also have lung cancer X2 recurrances, (not related to the bladder cancer). There are other issues as well but I won't go into it here. I think there may be one other person with a urostomy on here. but I'm not totally sure on that.

Come back on here and let us know more about yourself and tell us how its' going for you on a daily basis. I also take cranberry capsules and although my urologist told me it wouldn't help, but it won't hurt, I think it is helping in that when I have a cysto, I see on the screen that my bladder looks smooth as compared to before, it was very red and raw. In any case, I think its' helping.

Take care.

Lorraine 

Hi I am new to this site and was diagnosed with bladder cancer in December 2015.  I had a TURBT to remove most of the tumour but some was in the wall of my bladder. I started chemo in February but had to stop after a blood clot in my arm. I have had one week of radiotherapy and have another 3 weeks to go.

Hi Shelly

Thank you for your post and for sharing your thoughts. Lucie one of the moderators thought it might be useful if we post something to you.

People with a urostomy are advised to drink 2–3 litres of fluid daily (preferably water), to produce a good urine flow and flush out any bacteria. Unfortunately, urinary infections may still occur and some people seem more prone to infections than others. You are correct that it is advisable to keep the urine slightly acid. Certain bacteria produce an enzyme which results in alkaline urine. Crystals may then form in the urine which will irritate the stoma and skin, and can cause bleeding and inflammation.

Cranberry juice is acidic and may be helpful for some people, but it should be avoided in people who are taking warfarin, or other blood thinning drugs as it can increase the effects of these drugs. It is not really known if bio or live yoghurts help in this situation but they are certainly not harmful to take.

There is good mutual support here on the forum and I hope you find it helpful. If you would prefer to speak to one of the nurses directly, you can telephone us on 0808 800 4040.  We are here from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

Kind Regards,

Celene

Hi Im new to the forum:) I also have a urostomy.It'l be almost four years since my op( july 2012) I am doing good apart from pesky recurring urine infections 

Hi

I still have my bladder but also suffer regular uti. Often not the common uti which is e-coli. I would suggest having all urine samples cultured when showing signs of infection to see what the bug is. (i dip my own first then send in red lid sample so no contamination at gp surgery cos that happened often when they dip first then sent to lab!!!) A urologist once suggested to me to take one capsule D-mannose daily as that will prevent e-coli infection but when I got a hospital aquired, multi drug resistant infection my husband found a herbal preparation called Uva ursi was known to treat uti without the need for anti-b's. My urologists and docs fully support me using this (they have all heard of D-mannose and agree it seems to be effective) as on my lab results the bugs have gone with no anti-b's!. As it is unlicensed I find that people don't want to try it and it cannot be prescribed but if you talk to your doctors and ask if they think it is worth a try then see what they say? I have only had 2 lots of anti-b's in a year and half since finding this but have had 6 more infections all testing positive for certain bugs but treated with Uva ursi. (it can only be used 5 weeks a year due to side effects.....The D-mannose I have has a cranberry extract but think you can get without)

Best wishes

C.x

ps There are many people with urostomy on Fight Bladder Cancer Support via facebook. :)