Help I'm in UTI misery

I've had recurrent UTIs for over 20 years due to damaged bladder lining (autoimmune). Only kept at bay now by taking nitrofurantoin every day for 5 years which has given me lung disease. I am "too young" to have the bladder removal that was recommended 6 years ago. So I live with the now infrequent infections and restrictions such as no alcohol. If my advice is worth anything - please take the antibiotics. You do not want an embedded infection or kidney damage from this. Cranberry juice is not effective for an infection. You would have to drink so much of it that you would feel sick and it still wouldn't be enough. It's an old wives tale based on cranberry having some positive effects but only when very concentrated. You will need water, lots of it. I drink lucozade sport or rehydration drinks so I don't get sick from the water I have to drink during an infection. No alcohol, no caffeine, no spicy food or citrus as the pain will be worse. Orange juice is my kryptonite. Also apple juice. Put a hot water bottle on your kidneys or abdomen, or take a bath. If its making you need to pee every few seconds I recommend just sitting in the running shower and not holding it in when the pain is very bad. Cocodamol helps with the pain when I can't sleep. Not wearing tight clothes around my middle. I also feel better just eating what i want and being lazy when I'm unwell from it. Less stress makes the pain easier to deal with.

Sorry for going on. I wouldn't wish this on anyone so try and help if I can. I get a UTI every time I have a period due to the inflammation the period causes in my abdomen, makes my bladder lining get pinprick bleeding which for some reason turns into an infection. Jury is out as to whether it's embedded in the lining because I can't afford to go private and the NHS don't test for it.

I hope it clears up quickly!

Seven Seas Essential Cranberry FORTE, as maintenance. Recommended to me by a retired nurse, who is a sorceress

Drinking litres of water doesn't work for me, I need the anti biotics to shift it

You need antibiotics if you don't take them it could lead to sepsis and hospitalisation

100% this

Cranberry and lots of water, I always find just being able to go to the loo a relief as well. I had awful uti s in my 20s and unfortunately the only thing that solved it was antibiotics. They usually got me feeling normal within 4 hours of starting them.

I find if you run a warm bath it’s easier to go for a wee in the bath than toilet, seems to take away the pain. I also take painkillers and literally drink so much to try and flush it out x

Google waterfall d mannose. I get the powder one. I used to gave repeat UTIs until I stumbled across this solution. If you need antibiotics then take them first and you can use d mannose next time as soon as you feel any hint

If it’s mild you totally can. I have done it many times.

There is an analgesic which is over the counter in the US. It’s called “AZO” and you can buy it on Amazon. Amazing relief of symptoms while you chug water like a loon.

This worked for me. Bicarb & hot water bottle on pubic area.

Bicarbonate of soda, 5 ml (one teaspoon) in half a glass of water, 2 - 3 times a day. But don't take for too long, as high salt content.

I don't think the cranberry stuff really helps. I always found drinking only water and lots of it 3-4 litres in a day. That can help flush it out. Also helps relax the bladder. Put a pad in so you aren't so worried about wee. I always find the more you go to the toilet the worse it is. You don't want an empty bladder because that's when the pain and bladder spasm starts.

Pee in the bath (filled with warm water of course). Sit there for ages drinking and peeing.

As a fellow UTI sufferer , I sympathise with you and I appreciate you've explained about the gastro problems, but please don't avoid antibiotics if you need them. One of my family members ended up in an ICU with sepsis from an untreated UTI, a short term gastro issue is much better than life threatening sepsis.

Do all antibiotics give you gastro issues, there are a few that you can have for UTIs, so it might be worth asking the DR for a different one? Sorry if you've already tried that. Hope you feel better soon.

I suffer often with UTIs. Go and get two two little bottles of water, get them to room temp and pour a bit of cordial in them if you struggle with just water. The. Lick yourself in the bathroom and start drinking.

I get in the bath and pee in the bath as nature takes its course. It helps. Then I get in bed with a hot water bottle. Not really practical today but if you can it will help with the pain. As long as you’ve drunk all four litres, it will be fine by morning.

D-mannose is brilliant. I take it the minute I feel that niggle. Order some from Amazon as PP said and get well soon.

Quite possible.

UTI veteran here. Cranberry does little to nothing, and those sachets can aggravate a UTI.

Antibiotics with omeprazole and/or famotidine to mitigate gastrointestinal side-effects.

Hiprex, but buy size 000 empty gelatin capsules and pop your tablet in there to reduce impact on the stomach.

Topical oestrogen.

If possible, get your urine tested with a proper urology lab via a urologist.

Ps. I've just had one for the first time in a year (now in forties) and it's taken two courses of antibiotics to feel better

OP, it's not just kidney infections you're at risk of. Don't try to fight it without. I ended up with bladder scarring and three years of constant symptoms despite the infection being long gone. I ruined a lot of my twenties. Just take the antibiotics with probiotics and avoid all sugar.

That is completely wrong. It is an antibiotic and it does cause horrid side effects (I suffer whenever I take it when I have to for UTI’s)

Gastro symptoms or a kidney infection possibly turning to Sepsis and the need for multiple courses of antibiotics and potentially a in hospital stay

Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic

I have one now. Spent the weekend rubbing huge amounts of coconut oil on my bits. Stopped it stinging so much. I don't know how if helped but it got me through.

I used copious amounts. Have gone through a jar.
Have got AB's now.

That was me on Sunday. I ordered anti biotics online and picked them up from boots.

Was gone by Monday night.

It's unbearable. Cranberry and the sachets do nothing for me.