UTI again, and feeling sorry for myself

[OfMe]

Anyone got any handy tips for getting up and going? Feeling tender, back pain, slight kidney pain - had a UTI 2 weeks ago, (tested positive for nitrates), had 3 days of antibiotics, felt it come back a couple of days after that, but wee tested clear when I went to see paramedic, so just got on with it, but after a couple of long journeys to see family, all the symptoms are back today, so I'm currently on the sofa with a blanket, and feeling a bit miserable. Aside from painkillers, cranberry juice (which I know isn't supposed to help, but I'll try anything) and a hot water bottle, what can I do to get motivated and stop feeling like a sad sack of bloated swollenness?

HI OP, cystopurin is a natural remedy you can get from the pharmacy without seeing your GP. Also, when I was a child my mum would give us bread soda in warm water (it tastes each but it does help). Or just keep drinking warm water and rest.

However, once GP times are back to normal after Christmas, please go and get yourself checked out, I don't want to frighten you but a family member had constant UTIs and it turned out to be cancer. Again, I do NOT want to alarm you, but please get your GP to refer you for tests if you get a third UTI in the next few weeks (you may just be very run down and need to drink more water and I'm sure that is all it is).

Same here op. I’ve been taking my second lot of antibiotics for 2 days and things don’t seem to be improving. I’ve got to do a 3 hour car journey tomorrow which is making me want to cry because I need a wee approx every 10 minutes.

Sound like your antiB course wasn’t long enough and is probably the same infection you had originally
I have tried everything . Nothing works but going back to doctors for more antiBs . Do the pee sample first thing before you’ve had a drink as I used to get tests coming back clear even though they were pink from blood and I think it’s because they were too diluted after drowning myself in water all day .

Aw, @LeekMunchingSheepShagger, I've just had to do exactly that - one 3 hr journey there, and one 4 hr journey back, both with one stop halfway, so I think that's not helped.

And yes, @Comps83, I think that's probably what's happened, so yes, I'll sterilise a jar or something and do one first thing Monday.

Poor DH, he's so lovely, he's taking apart a sofa we're getting rid of, and he's just made me a chamomile tea, so hopefully that might help!

My sympathies, I get a UTI every single time I have sex. I have found that cranberry tablets, instead of juice helps a lot but you have to take a few every single day of the year. Plus, just what everyone else said. As no doubt you know, LOADS of fluids too.

Good luck there is nothing worse! I’m currently on daily low dose antiBs as I’ve had it so often in this pregnancy although luckily the symptoms are less noticeable when pregnant for some reason

Just a by the way, I wonder why it is that years ago one had to take antibiotics for 7 days always, with dire warnings if you didn't finish the course. These days 3-5 days seems to be the norm. Are they now more efficient? I wonder if it's a cost saving exercise.

Wouldn't be surprised, @Balonzz!

@balonzz I think it's that better research has shown 3- 5 days to be more effective than 7. It wouldn't be cost saving in the long term to contribute to antibiotic resistance by giving people a less effective course.

Hope you feel better soon OP

Let me help you all out :-) bicarbonate of soda!
I’ve had trouble with UTIs after sex and recurrent ones for years especially during pregnancy. Was taking anti Biotocs as a “precaution” at some point. Utter crap. Went to see a female GP and she’d had the same trouble. She recommended bicarbonate. Quarter or half a teaspoon dissolved in a glass of water, drink straight away. Around 3 or 4 times a day for 2 or 3 days max. Works absolute wonders. I tend to drink one (have lots of water after), then have another after a couple of hours or so and boom - clears the symptoms straight away. Really, it works THAT well for me. No more nights spent crying on the loo, no more long journeys avoided. Try it. Word of warning though, it does taste foul and I’d recommend eating something afterwards as it can make you feel somewhat nauseous.

Toodeloo
You’ve beaten me to it..yes bicarbonate of soda
Buy gel caps and put in there
Drink lots of water

Also pot cit..again put in gel caps..extremely foul

Big guns
Also keep some citricidal handy..gel caps again
Oregano oil...foul..gel caps..get from sweet cures
Another big gun is viragon..I get that from the states..has everything in

Cranberry and dmannose tend to work on E. coli. I rarely get E. coli. I haven’t had anti bs for 9 years

Cystitis relief sachets for sure OP, you can get them in supermarkets etc. Taste vile but do help. Jug of water to rinse over yourself when you wee if it's burning. Lots of fluid, keep on top of the painkillers.

You need AB's though really, especially if you have a fever and back pain. I'd ask to repeat the sample, fresh morning wee ideally and ask it be sent off rather than dipped. The dipstick is useless I'm sure of it.

AVogel ‘Solidigo’

Mix it with some water and you will feel relief quite quickly!

D-mannose helps, but in my experience does not cure (www.waterfall-d-mannose.com/dmannose.html?s=GA-UK-WDM&keyword=%2Bsweet%20%2Bcures&apos=1t1&device=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl9-f2MvY5gIVCLrtCh1sswjXEAAYASAAEgIxXPD_BwE ) My urologist suggested I try citralka pending lab results, but I haven't been able to locate it so as dosing up with cystopurin and d-mannose in the meantime. I hope you get better soon.

oops - sorry ladies - bread soda is the Irish colloquial for bicarbonate of soda!!!! And it really works.

You can also add it to your bath - really cools it down.

Wow - this is all great stuff. Thanks, people!

I was going to say D mannose, get the powder in a large tub and take twice a day.

I second bicarb, works almost instantly and d mannose for prevention

I personally couldn't get on with D-mannose at all - it gave me such bad wind that I could barely leave the house, I absolutely stank AND I still had the uni.

uti, not uni

Oh its so hideous isnt it? I really do sympathise as have suffered loads of uti’s over the years. My top tip for prevention is to always always have a pee directly after sex, even if you have to sit there for half an hour to squeeze out a few drops! It flushes out the tubes in case any germs are making their way where they are not wanted.

Interested to hear people singing the praises of bicarb - I will try that next time. I also tried d-mannose but it didn’t work (perhaps not e-coli then). You can get anti-bios from Superdrug over the internet which I suppose isnt really a great idea when you consider how a-b’s are becoming less effective but I always have an emergency pack in the house so when an infection really kicks in, I have them ready. I always wait and see for a bit because just occasionally you can shift them with loads of water but it is such a comfort to know I have them in the bathroom if I need them.