That UTI — was it caused by MS or was it the meat?

Ok, not a comment about food and UTIs, but related to the theme: I can't fully empty my bladder, and have had trouble catheterizing, but cathetrizing can an lead to them anyways! I've been hesitant to get fully onboard with intermittent cating or installing a suprapubic tube, because I seem to be managing mostly well with a urinal and undergarments.There doesn't seem to be a clear answer as to what is absolutely the best to do. Each carries risks.

I believe my UTI is caused by sugar and carbs. As soon as I cut them out of my diet I haven't gotten an UTI. I do believe that some may Be caused by certain meats.

I was diagnosed in 1984 but looking back I could have had it years earlier. I unfortunately have had UTIs many times over the years. I now use Neomycin and Polymyxin B Irrigation but I do not inject it into the bladder. I use a small syringe only and inject the solution into my urethra. Using this method It protects me from UTIs and lubricates at the same time. I have now gone many years without a UTI.

Participated in an early clinical trial on botox in bladder. It was in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Go Steelers). Absolutely great experience! Very friendly docs an staff. Watched and participated ( by choice). Not painful, slight pinch). My drive was around 20 min. Knew by the time I was home I had gotten the botox not the placebo. I had stopped at drive through for a drink then proceeded home. Hallelujah I was dry! Almost cried. My neurogenic bladder was grateful. Now for self catheter training. First 10 times were cringe worth. Little painful. After repeated tries I was in. Self catheters come in many sizes. Finding the smallest one was where I started. Took approx a week to get comfortable with this new way of controlling my bladder. Yes, I cried the first day. Now, just routine. 4 X a day. That’s been 20 yrs ago and no intentions of stopping. Still have to use pads but beats the hell out of an in dwelling, bag carrying device which in my opinion is particularly painful and embarrassing as a woman.my humble opinion. Unbeknownst to me at the time was flabbergasted by a letter enclosing a generous check for participating in this groundbreaking trial. Clinical trials are so important in curing ms and so many other diseases. Now that I’m 71, I’m excluded from most all trials. Shame because we could potentially have long term, aging effects of new science. My advice to anyone suffering from ms is to be pro active and participate in these trials. We need all your scientific proof you can muster. Please use your disease for the good of yourself and future generations. Thanks Ed for yet another great episode.

Ed, is it from handling the raw meat or eating it insufficiently cooked?

My take is that yes, you can get an e. coli bladder infection from another animal (including backyard chickens and members of our own species), but its not so simple. First, you are unlikely to acquire e. coli or other bacterial contaminants from properly cooked food. Nutritionists frequently say that cooking to a sufficient temperature for sufficient time will destroy any bacteria - the stress is on the sufficient bit. Second, the e. coli (or other bacteria) is on the surface of the meat, not in the meat (though it may all be mixed in in ground/minced meat).
How did it get there? That's the complicated bit - and squeamish people may want to skip to the end! E. coli bacteria normally live in the gut of animals, but some strains can survive once they exit as feces. From there they can contaminate the skin or feathers of the animal, and during meat processing of many animals some of the bacteria may populate the environment and land on meat products. It must be assumed that all fresh meat products arriving in the home may have some bacterial contamination, not just e. coli, but as said earlier, proper cooking methods will destroy the bacteria.
The problem starts with cross-contamination in the kitchen during food preparation. Bacteria are spread from raw meat to kitchen tools and surfaces, the cook's hands and mouth, and then ingested. Similarly, they may be passed on to other family members. Careful attention to kitchen hygiene practices is essential, but it cannot entirely eliminate risk.
From there, the bacteria move to the human gut. Fortunately, most e. coli strains are relatively benign here and cause no problem. However, once they exit the gut, they can enter the urethra via fecal contamination and cause a UTI. Here, the key to minimising risk is good personal and bathroom hygiene practices. This doesn't just apply to e. coli from chicken and pigs, but human e. coli, plus klebsiella, pseudomonas and other environmental bacteria.
Note, too, that e. coli and other bacteria can arrive on salad vegetables that don't get cooked, so being a vegetarian can also be a risk.
For most healthy people with a well-functioning immune system, some bacteria making there way up the urethra can be flushed out without getting a toe-hold. Others, unfortunately, still get frequent UTIs. As people with MS, our immune system has a mind of its own, and many of us are now on immune-suppressant medication, so we must be careful. In my view, good hygiene practices are the main consideration, less so the food we eat.
My apologies for such a long post, but I have had to self-catheterize for over 35 years now, even before my MS days, so I am no stranger to bladder infections and associated hygienic practices.

My own research and lived experience indicates that a plant-based diet has multiple advantages. A vegan for 15 years - ever since my PPMS diagnosis - I have had only 3 mild UTI infections. It’s really worth it!