Tips for preventing/treating UTIs please!

[whimaway.livejournal.com]

 Hi all! I have a bit of a problem with recurring UTIs. Not that bad, but this is my second one within like three months so I'm starting to get a little annoyed, and I was wondering what I should do to prevent them? They are just sooo annoying. I am taking the antibiotics for one I currently have but it's still taking a little while to clear up. I feel like I can't sit and be comfortable. grrrrrr

Anyways, I try to follow the standard advice.
- Pee after sex. (Should you also pee/clean before? I don't know.) I think this is the main cause of my UTIs, because I have a long distance BF and tend to get them when I'm home on break. I figure HE is clean, because he wears condoms and those are usually clean-ish right? Could UTIs be caused by oral sex or fingering as well?
- Drink lots of water and cranberry juice, although I tend to drink the sugary kind. I should probably get some cranberry pills. Are they any other supplements that help? Can I take them on a daily basis?
- Don't wear thongs. I actually didn't know this until know, and I was wearing a lot of thongs when I got my current UTI. hmmm nixing those!

Is there anything else I can do? Just wanting some tips. TIA!

P.S. Also does anyone have tips for helping with the irritation/pain of my current UTI? I have taken aspirin, vitamin C, drank lots of water, and iced down there, but it's still pretty annoying. Having trouble sleeping.