Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hit me with your cystitis remedies

58 replies

TheoriginalLEM · 31/01/2020 14:26

I've got cystitis

Nitrofurotin makes me sick as a parrot but trimethoprim no longer available:(

What can I do? Loads of water? I was told last time not to drink in excess

What are your go to remedies?

No gp appointment

OP posts:
ETDidntCall · 31/01/2020 15:38

Cranberry juice. I keep 2 x litre bottles (long life) in the cupboard. Every couple of months my period sets it off, drinking 2 litres slowly throughout the days stops it.

Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 31/01/2020 17:25

Bowiesjumper - you used to get it online from Superdrug, I've never done it but a friend has. Anyway tried to get some today but no longer available from them. Not used first line by gp anymore but will ask for it tomorrow at OOH if im no better as Nitrofurotin makes me sick

I got cystopurin and am drinking as much dilute squash as I can bear. The solution to pollution is dilution so here's hoping

OP posts:
Sallycinnamum · 31/01/2020 17:32

I second d-manoose, it's bloody wonderful stuff.

The minute I feel a flare up starting I take 2 lots of d manoose three times a day plus 2 Azo, which you can buy from Amazon and turn your wee bright orange.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/01/2020 17:36

I take d-mannose daily as I am prone to uti.

Sallycinnamum · 31/01/2020 17:37

I should add I got alot of support on here when I was getting numerous urine infections that were coming up clear when tested.

At one point I ended up in an out of hours clinic weeping in desperation but there were no infection markers so I was refused further treatment.

I tried d-manoose and within a week I was feeling much better. Might be worth trying OP.

Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 31/01/2020 17:40

@notalurker2 what will flushing the toilet before i use it do?

OP posts:
DressesWithPocketsRockMyWorld · 31/01/2020 17:44

@Sallycinnamum NICE guidelines are now to treat it if you have symptoms, as sending the test off and waiting for the results wastes time.

@theoriginalLEM antibiotics are the only thing that works for me and I get it alllllll the time. I'm on a one a day antibiotic now which seems to be keeping it at bay.

Always pee before and after sex
Always wipe front to back
Make sure OH doesnt do anything that can transfer germs from front to back (I know that doesnt apply to everyone but still...)
And I always have a wash/rinse straight after sex.

Jadefeather7 · 31/01/2020 17:46

I had repeated UTIs for several years where I felt like I was constantly on antibiotics. Eventually I read a blog where someone talked eating loads of garlic to kill off the infection. I think I ate about eight cloves. Totally disgusting. My breath stank. I’ve never had one since (3 years ago)

DDiva · 31/01/2020 17:47

You can get remedies over the counter at a pharmacy. I also have cranberry juice if I feel the start of it....

ChikiTIKI · 31/01/2020 17:55

Blueberry juice. Better than cranberry I heard somewhere. Or sometimes you can get blueberry and cranberry in the same carton and it has a higher percentage of fruit juice. Some good pain killers. I get cystitis when dehydrated so usually use dioralyte. Hope you feel better. Ooh I have poured v v cold water over my bits while on the loo before and it made me very numb so I could get to sleep.

PonteLaCorona · 31/01/2020 17:56

GinDaddy has clearly never had cystitis Hmm
YAtotallyNBU

Second the cranberry and the bicarb sachets.

Obvious preventative stuff: Use a bit of flavour free boring lube during sex even if you don't usually use lube.
Obviously do your post-sex wee religiously.

For stinging, sit on the edge of the bath and blast your bits with ice cold shower (its amazing)
Drink PLENTY of water (you want to make your urine look pale) but yeah don't drink too much. Aim for 2 - 2.5 litres of fluid.
Avoid bladder irritating things such as coffee and alcohol.
Wear 100% cotton pants with a big gusset.

If you are unwell, have a fever, have back pain, if the pain is unbearable, or if it is not going away with the general cystitis care above, you'll need antibiotics.

Do you have any local minor injury units?

PonteLaCorona · 31/01/2020 17:59

Oops sorry, saw that you do have a MIU. Go there and in the mean time, do the shower thing.

JenNtonic · 31/01/2020 18:02

Bicarbonate of soda in water - even when you've drunk so much that you think you can't drink anymore... drink some more.

Cranberry juice- double points for half a pint of it in half a pint of water.

Ibuprofen and paracetamol - helps with the swelling/ pressure and painful sting.

Sit in a warm bath or in bed on a warm towel with a pad on.

Barley water (any flavour).

Sit on hot water bottle wrapped in a hand towel, quite low down (between vagina and bum).

I feel your pain OP and hope you feel as good as you can. ThanksCake

weegiemum · 31/01/2020 18:11

Just a tip (from my urologist when I was suffering chronic kidney infection and stones) - don't take cranberry anything while on antibiotics, the cranberry magic whatsit stuff prevents the antibiotic from getting to the seat of the infection.

HTH!

weegiemum · 31/01/2020 18:12

And hope you feel better soon Smile

VodselForDinner · 31/01/2020 18:13

For this saying bicarbonate of soda in water, can you tell me what measurements to use?

songsanddancing · 31/01/2020 18:22

Thrimethoprim is a shit antibiotic that never works so I'm glad it's not available.
Nitrofurotin was my saviour but I had to take it 3 weeks in a row in order to clear the infection and because the infection had been active so long (fobbed off by doctors), it took my bladder 6 months to heal. Was horrendous.

My remedies are- water. Tons of the stuff. Always. Drink drink drink.
Avoid spicy food, citrus food and red wine (most alcohol)
Get cystitis sachets (think they are a nicer tasting version of bicarbonate of soda)
Wee in the bath
More water
Hot bath
Hot water bottle
Paracetamol.
More water

tinysnickersaremyfavourite · 31/01/2020 18:32

Be a bit careful with bicarb and the otc cystitis relief stuff. I used these to ease the sting (they reduce the acidicty of your urine) but ended up really ill a kidney infection, and doctors told me it was because the otc stuff had masked the symptoms until it got really bad.

ScoobyCan · 31/01/2020 18:32

Cranberry juice all the way. By the gallon. Can you get some this evening?

NotALurker2 · 31/01/2020 20:05

@TheoriginalLEM I'm guessing it keeps bacteria in the bowl from splashing back up. I heard on the radio a good 20 years ago that people with chronic UTIs get less infections if they flush first. I always do this in public bathrooms now. Once you get the idea, it's hard to get it out of your head....

Aurea · 31/01/2020 20:09

D Mannose is a life safer.

Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 31/01/2020 23:02

That actually makes sense lurker

OP posts:
lightandfluffy · 01/02/2020 00:44

I had over twenty UTIs in two years. Ended up having scans etc to find out why.

Was on antibiotics a lot.

Consultant urologist then recommended D-Mannose.

It worked so well I have not had to take antibiotics since. Not had any UTIs for four years now. One was coming so I took a load of the D-mannose for. 24 hrs which completely stopped it.

Pumpkinspicewhatever · 02/02/2020 02:41

I really recommend this:
www.amazon.co.uk/AZO-Standard-UTI-Treatment-Count/dp/B07BKZYT46?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I think you can only buy it in chemists in the US rather than over here but I stock up whenever I go there and now it seems to be available on amazon prime. It’s a urinary pain relief that is intended as a short term treatment, turns your wee orange but it works fast and usually my symptoms are gone within the day, without returning.