Urolift - Review

dl,

I am not a biochemist so my information about vitamin C and UTIs came from the net. I tried taking it as an experiment - didn't know if I was going to have any relief from my symptoms, but all symptoms are now gone (most cleared within 12 hours of taking the C). I can't say for sure the vitamin C was the cure, but I am now able to sleep better and the sensations of discomfort are gone.

During the peak of my symptoms I went to the lab and had a urine test and the PH came back at 7.0. In my previous test, about a month ago, it was 6.0, and all tests prior to that were 5.0, likely my normal number. So, this 7.0 was the only thing in the report that looked unusual.

So, I looked up PH 7.0 on the net and came up with all of the explanations that others have posted here. I also looked up natural ways to cure UTIs other than antibiotics. Vitamin C was the most promising. My wife had some vitamin C powder, so I tried it. I began to feel better in about 12 hours and still feel fine. I never did get in touch with my doctor for an antibiotic.

My wife is very much against antibiotics since she had a very bad reaction to Septra many years ago and it took her three years to recover. I can't be sure, but I may have had a similar reaction to Cipro earlier this year. I took it in Feb to clear a UTI that I got from a cystoscope. A few weeks later I got sick, and am still not quite recovered. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. My symptoms are similar but much milder than what my wife experienced, but we are now both wary of taking antibiotics. That's why I tried my vitamin C experiment. If it hadn't worked I would have contacted my doctor for a mild antibiotic. But, I am OK now and will cut back or eliminate the extra C that I am taking. I have not measured my urine PH since taking the C, so I don't know if it's any lower than the 7.0 that came back in the test.

I only mentioned this as an idea, an experiment that worked for me. Seems to have generated a great deal of interest here. Maybe this won't work for anybody else, but it's a relatively harmless way to get some relief before going to antibiotics and risking antibiotic resistance.

My best,

Tom

a bit confused. without C, pH=7, with C, pH=5, yes?

'most cleared within 12 hours of taking the C" , the correlation seems to be strong. if UTI happens again, and C again makes u normal, then definitely C works for u.

Hank cited a scientific test result, Ecoli was killed at pH 5.5. He only doubted if it was easy to use C to lower urine pH to 5.5. but u were able to lower it to 5!

Since u take C only when u have UTI and for only a short period till UTI is gone. Stone formation does not seem will be a problem.

perhaps, like u said, C only works for u. but the fact that it has worked will encourage others to try.

dl,

I did not make myself clear. Before taking the C my PH was 7.0, up from my "normal" of 5.0. I have no idea what it is now - I've only been on the C for less than a week.

Tom

Tom, I am interested in your case. Is it possible that your normal pH is around 5.0 as you mentioned, and it went up to 7.0 because of the UTI ? UTI raised urine pH. It is well documented. It raised my normal of 7.0 to 8.5 every time. So it would be UTI raised your pH, not pH of 7.0 makes you more susceptible to UTI.

Also, with your pH that low, is your diet very acidic ? Are you suffering any problems with inflammation, other than BPH, like arthritis, gout,etc. ? Hank

Also, do you have any problems with kidney or bladder stones ? Hank

It makes sense to me. Tom was able to lower his pH with vit C to 5.0 because his base line was 5.5. For a person like myself with baseline of 7.0, it would be impossible to lower it to 5.5, without taking a risky quantity of vit C, as cited by studies. Hank

?? according to the data u cited, Ecoli could not survive at 5.5 pH. Tom has natural resistance to Ecoli thus will never have UTI.

Let's agree with that source that pH at 5.5 or lower will effectively kill Ecoli. But Ecoli is only responsible for about 80% of UTIs. So we cannot say that Tom will never have UTI, perhaps he is less susceptible to it than other people. Hank

Hank,

My normal PH, as tested periodically at the lab, is 5.0 - has been at this level for many years. Then, about a month ago it tested at 6.0. Then, my bladder became irritated, and I had all the symptoms of a UTI (I have had these before so I know the symptoms) and I went in for another analysis. This time the PH came back with 7.0. I agree that this is likely the result of the bacteria pushing up the PH. I started taking the vit C and all symptoms have cleared. I have not had my PH tested since, so I don't know what it might be now.

About my diet: I have been on a high protein, low carb diet for a few years. I have also eliminated most sugar from my diet to keep my blood sugar down. My fasting glucose is naturally in the pre-diabetes level. It's been at this level for some years, so it's likely normal for me.

I eat some chicken and turkey (no red meat), some cheese (love cheese), soymilk, no bread or processed carbs, salads, vegetables, very little fruit.

I exercise, keep my weight down, and have no bad habits, so I don't know if any of this contributes to my natural level of 5.0 PH. I have no arthritis, gout or inflammation. I am 72 years old and have always tried to live a healthy lifestyle.

Tom

Hank,

I have had a few kidney stones in the past, but nothing in the past few years. I also had a minor bladder stone a few years ago - nothing too painful. I have been trying to keep my hydration levels up by drinking more water, and this may have helped me avoid any more stones.

Tom

Thanks for sharing Tom, in the name of science. 😀 Please forgive my excitement. Your are the first person I know that have a natural urine pH of 5.0. Your diet is acidic, but the pH is lower than I expected. I am glad that you are doing well, and I am sure your good habits as well as your lack of bad habits contribute to much of that. So much for some claims that a urine pH <6 is dangerous. As for myself, acidic diet gave me pain on feet, knees, back. So I never had my pH lower than 6.

How about kidney or bladder stones ? Do you have any issues with them ? Bladder stones often give similar urinary symptoms as UTI, except it will be tested negative for UTI. Kidney stones are worse. Hank

I see now. You do have stone issues but you probably flush them out early before they become troublesome, by drinking enough fluid. Hank

hank got the situation right the first time.

thanks to him and you, the diagnostic value of pH in UTI, the role of vit C, and why vit C works for tom, all these are now clear to everyone.

however. to a layperson like me, the value of UTI test strip is not clear. i don't understand why the preemptive approach used by antiviral drugs to shut down flu is not useful. in this approach, one is asked to take the drug within 24 hrs of having the flu. else the drug won't be effective as the viruses already multiplied exponentially.

is it helpful if the UTI test trip confirms the patient is starting to have UTI , and he takes his antibiotic immediately? if he does, the Ecoli or other bacteria will have less chance to form large colony that will produce more serious symptoms.

dl, in my opinion, one should not use antibiotics as a preventive measure. Antibiotics are not good for the body, in killing off good bacteria. Also, repeated use of antibiotics may cause some bacteria to develop resistance to the antibiotics, rendering them useless for future use, when our body really need it.

The way I do it is I watch my urine. If it starts to look cloudy, I'd test it's pH. If it's higher than normal, I'd take preventive measures. For someone with low pH like Tom, maybe all he needs is vitamin C or cranberry. For me, I already know those don't work for me, so I'd go for D mannose or raw crushed garlic, until the urine is clear again. It works for me. Hank

thanks for correcting me. ur method could be useful to others!

Hank,

Here is a graph of my urine PH values going back to 2012. Most of the readings are 5.0, but I got a spike in 2014 and recently.

I hope my screen capture shows up here. If not, then you'll just have to take my word for it.

Tom

Hank, I tried D-mannose in the past and thought it worked and while I was on it for uti had to go to my URO because I was getting worse, he put me on Septra and after 3 days I ended up in the ER and the bacteria wouldn't grow a culture. Does D-mannose only work at a certain PH level?..........Billy

Thanks for the chart. I wonder what it is now. Hank

Billy, I haven't tried D mannose yet, but from what I've read on this forum, it is used mainly as a preventive, or at the very beginning of an onset. For a full blown UTI, most people ended up with antibiotics. Hank

Well, I'm more confused than ever. I've been reading conflicting reports (scientific) some say e-coli thrives in an alkalized system and some say acidic system. Personally I'm going with acidic. My reasoning is that if your system is alkaline there's nothing to feed off of. Most diseases, including cancer start and feed on an acidic system. So, lowering your ph should in fact feed the bacteria. Cranberry (one report said) will feed a uti in progress, but it will prevent utis as does d-mannose and for the same reason, e-coli clings to them and goes out with the urine. Several reports say the d-mannose is as powerful as some antibiotics. Supposedly after you have encountered a uti and cleared it with antibiotics there is always some residual bacteria left in the system and lays dormant until the system becomes at the right level of acidic and the bacteria comes to life and begins to grow at a very rapid pace and boom. Now that's where the d-mannose comes in, the residual left behind will cling to the d-mannose and go out with the urine. Now you know why I'm confused.

Billy, I see why you are confused. Let's get it straight. There is urine pH level, which we can easily alter with our diets, and is associated with UTI, and which we have been discussing. And there is blood pH, also called body pH, which we can't control much. Blood pH is what people referred to when they say cancer cells thrive in acidic pH and alkaline pH will kill cancer. Blood pH normal is about 7.4 and has a tight range. Hank

So, you're suggesting that urine ph is different that blood ph, you believe blood ph will kill in alkaline state and urine ph kills in an acidic state?

Billy, I am not suggesting. It's a fact. Urine pH and blood pH are two different items. Acidity kills bacteria in urine, but promotes cancer in the body. Alkalinity promotes bacteria in urine, but kills cancer cell in the body, at least proven in the lab. Hank