Cystitis - how to treat?

[cystitis101]

Have got what I strongly suspect is a UTI... have to handle in a sample to surgery at 9.30 (once bladder has filled up again) but I’m in agony .... can’t sit still for shaking in pain and can’t stop spasms in my tummy . Have been for a wee eight times since 7am and no let up . Wee full of blood . Have taken cocodamol, ibuprofen, a litre of water and a cystitis sachet to no effect ... what can I do? GP surgery said just to try to sit it out in the loo or sit on a bag of frozen peas . Never felt so uncomfortable in all my life, and I’ve been through this hundreds of times before but never this bad . GP receptionist said don’t panic, just get sample down to them ASAP . But have only just peed ten minutes ago so can’t do just now .

God that sounds awful I am so sorry. There's not much that can be done given what you have done already.

I do find that Cystopurin works a lot better than the other brands - was that what you took?

You can also drink cranberry juice.

However if you are sure it is a uti and don't want to wait for the dr to test your wee, Lloyd's pharmacy have a cystitis service where you can pay for a fast track private prescription for antibiotics. There's a bunch of questions to answer and it's not suitable for everybody- and the antibiotics won't work if it isn't cystitis but you will still need to finish the course, so if you aren't sure it may be better to wait.

No Lloyd’s anywhere near unfortunately (north Scotland) . Hopefully they can dip when I hand the sample in to save me running back down the road for antibiotics but I doubt it . It’s so bloody uncomfortable, have run a bath and almost in tears as I feel absolutely desperate to pee but need to fill bladder a bit . Horrendous way to wake up .

I’ve got cranberry juice actually, will try that

Cystopurin is the only over-the-counter remedy worth bothering with. You can also buy (on Amazon, not sure if it's available anywhere else as it's an American product) some specific urinary pain tablets called Azo, and I take a daily d-mannose product for prevention, which really helps - it's the active ingredient in cranberry juice but without the acid that can irrirate your bladder. Drink loads of water to dilute your urine - it will sting less.

You poor thing though - cystitis is just the most miserable thing.

Antibiotics is the only thing that ever works for me. Can you speak to someone and give all the details when you take the sample in?

THe only thing that ever sorts mine is anti-biotics. I'm surprised that given your symptoms the GP isn't willing to prescribe over the phone. Mine will do that as long as I drop in a specimen before actually starting the course.

Handed in a sample, still full of blood and feeling rotten - dizzy and woozy . Said I’d get a call back soon .

Please call them and ask to speak to a GP or nurse practitioner. Cystitis is agony and can quickly become worse and a kidney infection. I don't know how you have lasted this long tbh. Is there someone you can contact to collect a prescription for you?

One thing you could try is having a jug of water that you can pour as you pee, it might help with the stinging. But yes, I think you need antibiotics ASAP.

No infection apparently, surgery said just drink water and hopefully whatever it is goes within the next few days . Bit strange - goodness knows where all the blood came from . Hopefully feel much better within a couple of days .

That doesn't sound right - were you able to speak to a doctor? IF you are still in pain, and bleeding, I would ring 111 or even A&E. UTIs can spread to the kidneys quite rapidly.. You don't get blood in your urine for no reason!

No, not allowed to see or speak to GP unless practice nurse authorises it first - just spoke to a receptionist this morning and then a different receptionist rang tonight . First one said to hand in a sample, second said ‘you’re fine - drink water and phone back on Monday if still unwell’ . Hopefully it turns out to be nothing at all, but yes the bleeding is a bit strange .

As a repetitive UTI sufferer, some infections don't show on dip sticking. They sometimes need to send a sample to the lab to identify it. Cranberry juice or tablets, and I've been told this by consultants, stops the bacteria reproducing. The hairs on the surface lie down effectively and then can't attach to reproduce. D mannose is a product with concentrated form of whatever cranberry juice has. So drink cranberry or send someone down the shops to get cranberry tablets or d mannose. You could also try something like those cystitis powders to reduce acidity. Infections can cause blood in urine.

Well I'd be going to out of hours instead! I'll be amazed if you don't have an infection given what you've told us.

Cystopurin.

As others have said.

Can anyone get to shops for you.

It stings like a bugger because your piss has been turned acidic by the infection or whatever. Cystopurin makes it neutral again and so after a dose couple if hours and a few wees it starts to stop stinging.

If that's not available other similar products work the same but not quite as good for some reason. Just get some somehow.

I remember sitting on the loo crying more than once it's awful.

I used to get it a lot. Cranberry juice never worked for me tbh.

Can anyone go to a supermarket with pharmacy or a boots asap?

Local female friends might have a stash I know I do.

That's what you need. Cystopurin or similar.

I've been told no infection more than once.

Well why the fuck am I in agony and pissing acid then?

I don't get that. What do they think it is?

If you are pissing blood you need to get medical attention. I know it's hard when they dismiss you. I almost died from a UTI that spread to my kidneys and then became septic shock.

111.nhs.uk/

So sorry OP, cystitis is the worst. Am really surprised at your surgery's laid back approach to this especially if your urine now has blood. Call 111, they will either get you to pick up a prescription or give you an appointment at your nearest urgent care centre. When I have cystitis mine progresses very very quickly

I really think you should go to a walk in centre OP.
I’ve had cystitis many many times and never been gushing blood before. That sounds like you already have a kidney infection.

I’ve also been told not to drink cranberry juice, it’s a good preventative but too much sugar when you already have an infection. As much water as you can is best.
And sit in a warm bath to wee. It sounds gross but honestly it relives the pain. While waiting for antibiotics I’ve been known to sit in a warm bath all afternoon drinking water and weeing.

Cranberry juice has to be the high cranberry concentrate one, you can order from Holland and Barrett.

Also if they really won’t give you antibiotics you can buy it from Superdrug Online Doctor without a prescription. Probably won’t get it until tomorrow now though

Drink as much water as you can, try a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda in juice, tastes vile but works, also sitting in the edge of a hard chair seems to relieve it for some reason
Its hell

I absolutely feel your pain. I used to suffer with Cystitis when I was younger. Within an hour of it starting I had blood in my urine. It's from where your urethra (piss tube) gets angry and raw.
Antibiotics where my only help.
I'd ring 111 or go to your local out of hours/urgent care centre.
No way should you be left without medication if you are passing blood.
The bath might help a little (I've spent the whole night in the bath before, crying my eyes out in pain)
Cranberry juice and some cystitis sachets (sodium citrate) available from most supermarkets in the meantime should help.

Ah I have been there and I did have an infection I sat in the car crying all the way home from doctors . I agree with warm bath and just let it out there . Painkillers and cystopurin and hot water bottle in bed . I can’t help thinking you need to have it tested again .

Managed to hold off all weekend - surgery said no to 111 as ‘too complex’ - because I self catheterise for long term bladder problems they won’t treat and neither will pharmacy frustratingly . Have had this problem with UTI before that it ends up being a week or so before anyone will prescribe antibiotics . Previous GP surgery I had an emergency pack at home (antibiotics, sample bottles, dipsticks etc) , would pay money for that now .

I’m allergic to the two big antibiotics they use (nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim) which doesn’t help .

Woke up at 5am in excruciating pain over tummy and down below, vomiting and fresh red bleeding - now bleeding even when not peeing . Peed 17 times since 5 . Can’t stop to get bladder to fill up .

Have done an e-consult for surgery but that said won’t get a reply until Tuesday evening, and am on hold to 111 out of desperation but they’re saying 15 minute wait - and surgery reopen at 8 so probably better off just speaking to them I guess . So frustrated .

It doesn’t warrant A&E I suppose and we don’t have automatic access to A&E now anyway, you’ve to ring 111 first who decide where you can go ... nightmare .