AIBU to ask for UTI advice!

[Ohdeargodwot]

I have my first ever UTI (need to pee constantly, burning sensation). Had it since friday now and been trying to drink lots but i'd say it isnt getting better or worse.

I also have a cold and im due on so feel EXTRA shit.

Trouble is i started a new much needed job yesterday, time off is pretty out of the question and its shifts - i wont even be able to ring the doctors today unless its in my very short break and the doctors are so busy its unreal, chances of seeing a doctor soon are slim and i dont know when my days off are more than 2wks in advance so how do i even know when to make the appointment? :S

But, i dont want to leave it and get so sick i HAVE to take time off!

What are my options? Can a pharmacist help? A sexual health clinic maybe? Is it possible it will clear up by itself? Im just concerned its been 3days already...

If it's been 3 days already and no signs of getting better, you're best off being seen. A parhmacist won't be able to help if you need antibiotics. You could call 111 and get an OOH drs appointment

Drink cranberry juice and you don't necessarily have to see a doc. Get cymalon from boots or superdrug. Or there's cheaper versions, it's just sachets for cystitus.

I got rid of utis by only drinking water and I think it's a sachet 3 times a day. So I had no coffee either!

Ibuprofen (max dosage per day)
Sodium bicarbonate - 1 tsp in a glass of water
As much water as you can bear.
No acidic drinks including cranberry as that helps the bacteria to grow.
See if you can get an online pharmacy (Llyods?) to prescribe short course antibiotics.

Cranberry juice is a preventative measure but it is acidic which is no use during an episode.
Sachets of cymalon etc are basically bicarb plus flavouring.
If your back starts to hurts, you must see a GP.

Holland and Barrett for extra strength cranberry tablets. Also Anadin Extra is good as it contains something that helps (never did find out what), and you can also buy sachets from a chemist. Taste rank, but can work

Out of hours, walk in centre, 111 after 6pm

GO to the pharmacist and ask for something for cystitis relief. They will have sachets or order some on amazon to be delivered tomorrow

www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/

Hot water bottle on tum will ease the pain

alunwynsknee, Sorry but you are wrong. If you have a UTI, acidic urine is better as this inhibits the growth of bacteria. There is an antibiotic called Nitrofurantoin ( Macrobid) which actualy tells you in the instructions not to take anything which neutalises the acid, ie sachets of crystals which are dissolved in water.
May I also suggest to the op that, yes drink plenty of water at the moment, but when taking antibiotics, not a massive ammount or you just wash the antibiotic out of the bladder.Not giving it chance to work. (it's a fine line, but worth bearing in mind)
I hope you feel better soon.

Superdrug sell UTI antibiotics online and will post or you can pickup in a pharmacy. You just have to answer an online questionnaire. In the meantime, assuming your job will allow, just drink tons of water and keep going to the loo as soon as you need to pee - always worked for me as a stop gap.

@ozymandiusking maybe it's sugar rather than acid. My memory of what to do rather than why is stronger!

Actually pharmacists can help with UTI (well they do here in Scotland). I went to my pharmacist as couldn't get a GP appointment. Based on my symptoms they gave me a 3 day prescription for trimethoprim. Sometimes they ask for a urine sample and they can dipstick it to be sure. Go and chat to them or if it's very bad then call 111 and get an out of hours GP appointment. You don't want to leave it as it could infect your kidneys.

Phenazopyridine is good for the pain, but can’t br taken for long. Prevention is much better than cure, so look into D-Mannose, it’s amazing stuff. I thought cranberry had been shown to do fuck all?

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm not in huge amounts of pain tbh, just my urethra stinging/burning after peeing really, which leads me to believe its quite mild really? Im not feeling the need to pee as much this morning so maybe a little better?

I had one in the evening once and had to go to a and e because it hurt bad.. got antibiotics

Don't want to scare you but please keep an eye on the cold symptoms. You need to go to GP/walk in centre if you get a temperature or flu like symptoms. I once left a UTI without getting treatment abroad. Cleared with cystitis sachets when I got home but then I got what I thought was the flu. Turned out to be sepsis and I was really poorly. Hope you're feeling better OP

Sounds like you've got it on the run, OP. If you're not sore in your kidneys and don't have a temperature, keep drinking lots and lots of water to flush it through and take painkillers if needed, should be gone in a day or so.

Many doctors recommending taking DMannose for recurrent UTI. It’s good as a preventative but also you can increase dosage when you have UTI to help get rid of it. However only do this to help with symptoms until you can see gp- untreated UTI can lead to a kidney infection.

No evidence for cranberry juice

As a previous poster said, you can buy/order antibiotics online. Lloyd’s pharmacy provide this service amongst others.

I get uti fairly regularly. I can’t get rid without antibiotics. For me it goes from mild to full on within hours. I often have to call 111 and get given an appointment at out of hours or minor injuries unit nearby.

I wouldn’t be waiting around to see if it improves what with your work circumstances. It can get unbearably painful.

Hope you get it sorted soon!

My daughter has had recurrent UTI issues and a specialist has recommended high doses of D Mannose during an attack as often antibiotics are the wrong ones and it can take 3 days for sample results to come back with the right ones.

I'd second call 111 and get an out of hours appointment or go to a walk in centre (here its walk in until 8pm at the hospital then you have to gi through 111). When you go in, ask for a sample bottle and take a sample before you see the doctor (will just speed things up) and ask them to send it for testing so they know the right antibiotics and check they will follow up through your normal doctor.

D mannose!!! It's the best!! I get it from sweet cures website. Lots of info on there and can get it next day (assuming you're UK based)

It's day 5 and tbh, not a lot has changed! Just still burning after i pee and slightly more frequent peeing really? I have a day off thursday and will see if i can get an emergency apt that day, or at least see a pharmacist?

I used to get UTIs constantly. It was horrible. One time I got so fed up and couldn’t get antibiotics as it was the weekend so I ate like 6 cloves of garlic. Was so gross. Ever since then I’ve not had one (touch wood)