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Original poster

Tell me your best cystitis cures

74 replies

AttaGirrrrl · 10/06/2021 20:52

I’m crying from what I think is cystitis. I know the basics from previous bouts: I’ve taken a dissolvable cystitis thing, taken paracetamol and currently have one hot water bottle on my stomach and one on the souls of my feet (random tip I read about that seems to stop the ‘urgent’ feeling). Can’t get cranberry juice as I’m home alone with DC.

Anyone got any more tips?

Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
frazzledasarock · 10/06/2021 20:54

Drink barley water, if you have any plain barley boil it and drink the cooled water.

Bksjshsbbev2737 · 10/06/2021 20:56

Have you got any bicarbonate of soda? A teaspoon mixed into a glass of water takes the pain away and then anti biopics from the GP tomorrow

Original poster
AttaGirrrrl · 10/06/2021 20:59

I’ve got bicarbonate of soda. I’ll try that. Thanks.

Not sure if I have barley. I might need to pick it out of a mixed soup mix (though the mundanity of that might at least take my mind off the pain).

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General health
WeAreTheHeroes · 10/06/2021 21:00

Antibiotics. Nothing else actually properly works.

Original poster
AttaGirrrrl · 10/06/2021 21:03

Does anyone know which ABs it is? I know self prescribing is a terrible idea, but I have doxy here. If that’s what I’d be given I could start now.

OP posts:
otterbaby · 10/06/2021 21:03

Drink water constantly (like more than you think you need to), hot water bottle on your stomach and get some antibiotics.

Cranberry juice doesn't do anything. Cranberry is supposed to help with urinary tract health but it would A. have to be actual cranberry juice or tablets, not the sugary juice sold in supermarkets and B. by the time you have an infection, it's too late to help.

Bodgers · 10/06/2021 21:03

Yea you need antibiotics. 111 can put you in touch with an out of hours doctors if you need it to get the prescription tonight.

For future reference, you probably all know this already, but peeing after sex made frequent UTIs a thing of the past

PacifyLulu · 10/06/2021 21:04

Drinking water just makes you pee more - doesn’t get rid of cystitis. Only antibiotics do.
You really need a proper prescription from a doctor.

RagzReturnsRebooted · 10/06/2021 21:05

Antibiotics. It might go away on its own, with plenty of hydration. It might not go away, but worsen and turn into a kidney infection and cause permanent damage or sepsis.
If it's mild and lasts 3 days then goes away, that's fine. If it's severe or lasts more than 3 days then you need antibiotics.

Bodgers · 10/06/2021 21:05

Also, drink a tonne of water to help with flushing out the cystitis (not sure if that’s the correct scientific way it works, but it’s assisted me in the past)

otterbaby · 10/06/2021 21:06

@AttaGirrrrl usually trimethoprim but there can be different strains depending on which bacteria has caused the infection so ideally, you'd do a urine test at the gp to determine which antibiotic you need! I think trimethoprim is the generic one though (like if they just prescribe over the phone).

I'm sorry, it's the worst pain 😫

RagzReturnsRebooted · 10/06/2021 21:06

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cystitis/treatment/

PacifyLulu · 10/06/2021 21:06

@AttaGirrrrl

Does anyone know which ABs it is? I know self prescribing is a terrible idea, but I have doxy here. If that’s what I’d be given I could start now.
If you know it’s a terrible idea why are you considering it? Genuine question.
Myusernameisnotmyusernameno · 10/06/2021 21:07

I really feel for you. Last time I had this it steadily got worse during the day until my teatime I had to dash to the walk in centre. Did a wee sample when I got there and when I saw the doctor he asked me to do another as first one showed up clear. By the time (2 hours or so later) I did this I had loads of blood in my urine. You need antibiotics ASAP. Tbh I don't know how your managing with the pain. It was unbearable for me that I was crying for someone to see me. I first had it at 15 and left it over Xmas period. Ended up with inflammation of the kidney so please get seen ASAP OP Thanks

RoseAndGeranium · 10/06/2021 21:07

It’s really not fun but I’ve found that downing a pint of water and then sitting on the loo for a couple of hours drinking water or herbal tea slowly but consistently and letting the wee drip out as constantly as possible fixes it. Give in to that urgent feeling.
Not sure how effective it would be if you’re already at the blood-in-wee stage — in which case poor you and defo get some antibiotics ASAP — but it has a 100% success rate for me before that. I always start shivering so take a blanket to wrap yourself in. I wish I could suggest something nicer. Hope you’re feeling better soon. X

Myusernameisnotmyusernameno · 10/06/2021 21:08

@otterbaby

Drink water constantly (like more than you think you need to), hot water bottle on your stomach and get some antibiotics.

Cranberry juice doesn't do anything. Cranberry is supposed to help with urinary tract health but it would A. have to be actual cranberry juice or tablets, not the sugary juice sold in supermarkets and B. by the time you have an infection, it's too late to help.

I agree with this. The doctor told me those Oasis powder things are absolutely useless.
paisley256 · 10/06/2021 21:08

Nitrofurantoin 7 day course I always have.

paisley256 · 10/06/2021 21:10

Also you don't want Cranberry juice you want the super strength capsules you.can get from Amazon, just read the reviews if you're unsure.

Feather12 · 10/06/2021 21:11

As previously mentioned cranberry juice does nothing. The tablets can help prevent an infection, but can’t do anything to stop an attack. It can also make symptoms worse due to the sugar, plain water is best. The best thing ever is D-mannose. Again this is for prevention rather than cure. I took it after persistent infections over a year. I pretty much had back to back infections. I took the D-mannose for about a year and I have not had another infection since (over 5 years, I used to get cystitis 1-2 times a year) I should start taking them again as I think cystitis is the worse pain ever.

Original poster
AttaGirrrrl · 10/06/2021 21:13

Thank you all Flowers I really appreciate the sympathy. It’s truly horrible isn’t it?
There’s no blood in my urine and it’s only started tonight so I don’t think I’m at the kidney infection stage. I’ll stick with water / bicarbonate tonight and call GP in the morning to see about a test / ABs.

@PacifyLulu - because I’m in agony and I have doxy here so if the doctor would give me that tomorrow anyway then it would be better to start it now. I won’t though, because a couple of people have mentioned different ABs now. I’m really not stupid or irresponsible, just in pain!

OP posts:
Original poster
AttaGirrrrl · 10/06/2021 21:14

I’m also feeling teary as this is the first time I’ve let my kids see me cry and I think I scared them Sad

OP posts:
goingtotown · 10/06/2021 21:18

Ibuprofen painkillers every 4 hours & a hot water bottle on tummy.

RagzReturnsRebooted · 10/06/2021 21:20

@AttaGirrrrl

Does anyone know which ABs it is? I know self prescribing is a terrible idea, but I have doxy here. If that’s what I’d be given I could start now.
No that's completely the wrong one. It doesn't get through to the urine as isn't excreted via the kidneys.
goingtotown · 10/06/2021 21:20

Sit on the toilet & lean forward for a few minutes to completely empty the bladder.

ThePlantsitter · 10/06/2021 21:21

I have found sitting in a warm bath (and doing lots of little wees therein) helpful for the pain (along with painkillers!)

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