I'm into my 4th week of cystitis, 3rd lot of ABs and now I have a cold; the next person to suggest "are you run down?"....

[KatyMac]

...will cause me to burst into tears

It's only the hope that I might die that is keeping me going

Nothing can hurt this much

[PickledMoomin]

It's just hideous. I've had 4 recently and I feel your pain. Do you have any relief with anti bs? Are the anti bs prescribed suited to the culture grown from the ursine sample?

[WildThongyoumakemyringsting]

You do sound tired out. I have suffered this too. Have you tried drinking copious amounts of cranberry juice? Bit of an old wives tale but it does help me. Turns your pee pink though.

[Pochemuchka]

You poor thing!
I used to get cystitis all the time and remember being bent double with the pain so I really sympathise.
Is it a bacterial infection? The only drug that ever worked for me was penicillin.

Take a jug of cold water to the toilet with you and pour it over you while you're on there - that works wonders!
Hot water bottle for your tummy.
Lots of water/ cranberry juice (which I absolutely hate now!)
If you get any blood get medical advice straight away as it could be a kidney infection.
(Sorry if you already know this!)
Hope you feel better soon x

[KatyMac]

1st 3 days worth no better
2nd 7 days worth better but not right & came back within 7 days
3rd weeks worth - who the hell knows I just feel like crap

I have a cold, pulled muscles from coughing, thrush aching bones and joints, oh & I still have cystitis

Cranberry shouldn't be taken at the same time as the abs apparently

[Pochemuchka]

The thrush could mean you are allergic to the ABs. I remember getting it so badly I swelled up down below and the itching was intolerable and i went on to have a reaction to the medication.
Might be worth another trip to doc's.

[Shakey1500]

Oooh! I read about a product called "Waterfall D-Mannose" from a lady sufferring from repeated cystisis. It's by Sweet Cures, £21 from Victoria Health. Not sure if that's an online company or not, just copied it from the mag. Hope it helps :)

[Shakey1500]

Just googled, you can buy it from various places.

[KatyMac]

Thanks I'll see how it goes

But I'm off to bed now

Sorry to be a grump

[helebear]

Ouch, poor you. I had it almost constantly for a year or so. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Am not sure what got rid of mine in the end as i lost track of antibiotics etc that I took but I found that drinking no caffeine or booze or acidic things like orange juice helped & drinking a couple of litres a day of water/ cranberry juice/ coconut water/ herbal tea really helped to alleviate symptoms. Those over the counter sachets (cystopurin etc) help too as they basically neutralise your wee so it's less acidic & burns less, so they relieve some of the pain even if they don't actually sort the infection. Acupuncture also helped & could stop an attack if I went at the onset.

[CoteDAzur]

"thrush could mean you are allergic to the ABs"

No, it doesn't.

Thrush happens frequently and to anyone, following strong anti-biotics or long-term AB use because the good bacteria dies and fungal growth gets out of control.

I was allergic to an AB and broke out in urticaria that covered most of my body. This lasted for a full week and swelling in my throat threatened my respiration. I ended up in the hospital with IV antihistamine drip, which took 2 days to get rid of the allergy.

[CoteDAzur]

OP - It is not normal for cystitis to last four weeks. You need to have a culture done from your urine sample.

You also need medication for the thrush.

Good luck. I know how horrible it is.

[WinklyFriedChicken]

Poor poor you :(

I used to get horrific UTIs, I was so ill. It demolished my sick record at work, I would puke everywhere and get fevers and chills and be in agony. I was never told that cranberry juice shouldn't be taken with ABs, drink it and water like you'll never get a drink again.

My (bad) UTIs stopped after I went for acupuncture. I still get the odd one but nothing even remotely like they were before. I'm not into all that 'woo' business, I was desperate, but honestly its worth a try.

[WinklyFriedChicken]

Oh also - I was allergic to trimethoprim, the antibiotic prescribed, my whole face swelled up in terrifying fashion about 10 minutes after I swallowed the tablet. Thrush isn't an allergic reaction, sadly its a normal reaction to the bacterial being killed off. Canasten two-ways should help, and probiotic yoghurts.

[Lulabellarama]

Ask your GP to check whether there is still an infection
I have had a couple of occasions where a bad bout left me with pst-infection inflammation of the bladder, which feels exactly the same.
The cure was a low acid diet and a supplement called Uva Ursi.
Worth checking.

[Pochemuchka]

Ok - apologies for badly worded post/misinformation!

I got the thrush really badly from trimethoprim just before I had a reaction where my tongue, throat and lips swelled up and i had to be taken to hospital. Doctor said all the swelling (including 'down there') was related to the allergic reaction.
I now can't take this or any drugs from the same family, due to reaction.

(That anecdote won't help you though OP, so hope some of the other tips on here do!)

[KatyMac]

OK

Well there was an infection on Friday when I got the ABs

I thought I should leave the thrush treatment until I have finished the ABs

I will go back to the GP after I have finished the ABs (or I'll get told to finish them )

I read the Cranberry thing on MN with a link to research - but tbh I'm too tired to look for it. It was something to do with Cranberry altering the surface of the bladder and things slipping off or at least going through fast or something so don't have it while you have the ABs or they will go through too fast too (totally bad scientific explanation )

& I still feel like crap; but I hope think it's the cold now

[topsi]

Don't take the cranberry while you have the infection. It makes your urine acidic which is good for stopping an infection developing but will irritate the hell out of a bladder that is sore with infection. Just drink water and nothing else except those sachets.
Thrush is not an allergic reaction to abx but caused by the abx killing healthy bacteria in that area which then allows the thrush to over populate.

[ike1]

There is an interesting thread on general health at the mo re high levels of vit C and optimum levels of vit D being the key to preventing reoccurring UTIs.

[topsi]

I too had recurrent UIT's and had to take a full 6 weeks of trimethroprim to stop the recurrent infections.
Ever since then I am scrupulous (?sp) about hygiene. Only wipe front to back. Drink lots of water each day. It is important to eat healthily and I take plenty of vitamin supplements.
Warding off UTI's is a bit like warding off colds. If you are healthy and well rested then you are less likely to get ill.

[MaBaya]

Go back to the docs and ask for anti-bs. I am prone to awful cystitis. Since August I have had four bouts of it. Tried three different anti-bs and only the third lot finally killed the lurgies.

Has your doc sent off a sample to be analysed? Make sure this is done.

Also worth having a full sexual health and well woman check.

Poor you. Its hellish!

[MaBaya]

Ask for DIFFERENT anti bs I meant

[doinmummy]

For the past 6 weeks I've had cystitis. Have drink gallons of water it fades but as soon as I let up on drinking it comes back. My wee smells sweet and I'm a bit itchy . Is it worth getting AB's. Sorry to hijack

[KatyMac]

So pissed off

I finish the abs tomorrow & I'll go back on Thursday