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Original poster

Help I'm in UTI misery

114 replies

utihelp · 30/07/2024 21:10

Sorry for posting on AIBU, I'm desperately looking for tips to help with a UTI. I am in so much pain 😩 trying to avoid antibiotics unless I absolutely can't shift this any other way. I've sent DP out for cranberry sachets from the supermarket. What else can I do?

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 30/07/2024 22:35

Nitrofurantoin are usually given for utis. They aren’t antibiotics. They essentially react with your urine to make it like an antiseptic liquid, they don’t usually affect the gut at all, and certainly nothing like antibiotics do.

Haggisfish3 · 30/07/2024 22:35

Nitrofurantoin are usually given for utis. They aren’t antibiotics. They essentially react with your urine to make it like an antiseptic liquid, they don’t usually affect the gut at all, and certainly nothing like antibiotics do.

Boobymonster · 30/07/2024 22:34

Antibiotics in the morning and take probiotics to help counter the tummy upset. Is it all antibiotics that cause you bad symptoms? There’s usually a few options of ones that clear up UTIs so worth asking for an alternative if they offer one you know you’ve reacted to before.

Pain relief wise: AZO sachets from Amazon: it’s an analgesic, makes your pee bright orange so watch for staining your toilet- flush straight away and put bleach down! It’s an amazing product though, will get you through the next day whilst you wait for the antibiotics to work.
Hot bath with Epsom salts if up in the night and can’t settle due to discomfort.

If you can’t already tell, this isn’t my first rodeo, i actually had chronic UTIs for a few years. Absolute hell!

Loloj · 30/07/2024 22:31

So sorry OP - fellow recurrent UTI sufferer here! UTIs are so awful - the most awful uncomfortable pain that is so hard to describe.

Firstly, please take the antibiotics if the infection has taken hold. Forget the cranberry sachets - they do nothing. However, I would strongly recommend D-Mannose powder (not the tablets the actual powder). A few scoops of powder in a pint of water (loads of it well mixed in - you can’t overdose). It’s a type of sugar that bonds with the bacteria and helps to flush it out - it really helped me in the past (at first sign of infection - down it). I have avoided antibiotics on many occasions using this.

Original poster
utihelp · 30/07/2024 22:30

LakeFlyPie · 30/07/2024 22:14

You will need antibiotics. There is no medical evidence backing cranberry juice unfortunately.
If you are of peri / menopausal age also consider topical oestrogen (oestradiol cream) +- HRT. RecurrentUTI is a common symptom of declining oestrogen levels. Hope you feel better very soon soon

Oh no really ☹️
I'm 39 if that's relevant, wouldn't have expected to be at that age just yet. Hopefully not as I haven't ruled out another baby yet!

OP posts:
SpicyKitty · 30/07/2024 22:27

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Sunshine9218 · 30/07/2024 22:26

If it hurts to pee, get a bottle and hold it against you so no pee goes on your skin. I thought I had a UTI once, nurse at walk in couldn't find anything in sample, gave antibiotics to use in a few days if it got worse. My bits started swelling so I took them but turns out it was actually thrush.

thaegumathteth · 30/07/2024 22:24

I did this a few years ago OP. Was 'too busy' to be unwell.

Ended up with sepsis, twice. Would not recommend.

otravezempezamos · 30/07/2024 22:24

Antibiotics OP. Please do.

My poor gran died last year with sepsis brought on by a UTI. Ok, she was elderly with other health problems but this is what tipped her over the edge in the end, but after seeing her like that, I will never not take infections seriously. Just take them, it's not nice but they work and that is what they are there for. Please don't mess with your health. Water and cranberry juice won't cure it and you can get so ill.

Noseybookworm · 30/07/2024 22:22

You are foolish to not take antibiotics if you need them. Please do get the proper treatment, as others have said if you end up with a kidney infection, it will be much worse.

SpicyKitty · 30/07/2024 22:17

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LakeFlyPie · 30/07/2024 22:14

You will need antibiotics. There is no medical evidence backing cranberry juice unfortunately.
If you are of peri / menopausal age also consider topical oestrogen (oestradiol cream) +- HRT. RecurrentUTI is a common symptom of declining oestrogen levels. Hope you feel better very soon soon

Justleaveitblankthen · 30/07/2024 22:08

Antibiotics, no question.
Get onto your GP first thing.
Honestly OP, I was prone to them before HRT and NOTHING else worked.
All a waste of time and money.

Eliza121 · 30/07/2024 22:07

Honestly OP, take the antibiotics. The longer you leave it the harder it will be to clear up.

ANGIEPANGY77 · 30/07/2024 22:06

AZO or Cystec will help with the pain. I'm in America and both are readily available in our pharmacies. Hopefully, they are available to you.

longdistanceclaraclara · 30/07/2024 22:02

Why wouldn't you take the antibiotics?

Original poster
utihelp · 30/07/2024 22:02

LordPercyPercy · 30/07/2024 21:45

Totally natural, it's just a sugar that isn't digestible. It stops the bacteria adhering to the bladder wall.

Ah thank you for that explanation. That's interesting. Had never heard of them. Hopefully they help when they arrive tomorrow!

OP posts:
Zelda93 · 30/07/2024 22:01

I've been trying to battle a uti for over a week now with the satches but given up and ordered anti biotic through an online pharmacy yesterday .. they have come today and I can't wait for them to kick in!!

Original poster
utihelp · 30/07/2024 22:01

PoopedAndScooped · 30/07/2024 21:55

Agony = Take the antibiotics!
Why are you trying to avoid them?

Explained further up, they give me severe gastro side effects so it's just swapping one problem for another essentially. Trying to avoid that

OP posts:
Original poster
utihelp · 30/07/2024 22:00

So I've taken paracetamol and ibuprofen, drank a cranberry sachet and I have a burning hot water bottle on my skin which seems to be a distraction from the pain if nothing else. If no better tomorrow I will ring GP for antibiotics ☹️

OP posts:
PoopedAndScooped · 30/07/2024 21:55

Agony = Take the antibiotics!
Why are you trying to avoid them?

Wtafdidido · 30/07/2024 21:55

Lemon barley is the absolute best thing for relief! Must be lemon barley and not lemon squash

LaWench · 30/07/2024 21:53

Once the pain has kicked in, only the ABs work for me. The time I tried to soldier on, I ended up in OOH with a kidney infection. Please be careful x get better soon.

Lorelaigilmore88 · 30/07/2024 21:53

Take the antibiotics and drink as much as you can.
Last time i had one i had to sit in a warm bath (no bubble bath etc) at 3am as it was the only thing that helped... if you need to wee in there, just do it you can shower afterwards. Helped me a lot.