Does anyone know anything about cystitis?

[IHateBacteria]

I’ve never had it before, but I think I might have it now. There’s no pain, but for the last couple of days, I’ve had a chronic urge to pee, which gets worse when I sit down (it’s making work absolutely impossible ), even though there is usually nothing to pass (ie I am not actually weeing any more than normal, just constantly feeling as if i need to).

Now I’ve realised it’s the weekend and it doesn’t look like it’s getting better by itself. Can you have cystitis where the only symptom is an urge to urinate? And is there anything good I could get OTC, or can a pharmacist give antibiotics for something like this without a prescription? I know nobody can diagnose online, but it’s keeping me awake and thought of waiting for a GP appointment next week is killing me now!!

TIA!

It sounds like In my opinion a Urinary Tract infection, I hope it isn’t but from my experiences and trust me I have had a few I would say it is.

1. Feeling uncomfortable down below ( like if you put pressure on it then the pain slightly goes ) If you have it then you know what I’m talking about .
2. having to pass urine a lot more and feeling a urgency to go .
3. you can also have lower back pain, and pain to your sides ( this is your kidneys ) and it’s essential that you contact your GP or out of hours if you have these symptoms as this could be a infection in your kidneys and needs immediate medical attention .

I'm sorry OP.
If its bad throughout the night-ie if you're up now because of it, call them now. They can get you antibiotics very quickly.

Urinary tract infections can be a funny thing, and they can get bad very quickly.
I hope you feel better soon

Yes I agree , urinary tract infections can just come on very quickly, so don’t hesitate contacting out of hours.
Good luck

D mannose is a must have for me with cystitis

You can even get it on Amazon prime if you can’t get out

Phenazopyridine works wonders. It isn’t available over the counter but you can buy it on Amazon under a brand name such as Azo. It makes your bladder totally numb. It’s not worth the hassle for mild cases but if you’re in absolute agony and waiting for antibiotics it’s a blessed relief.

Long term sufferer here, eventually caused scarring and had to have my bladder stretched.

• cranberry juice and tablets are preventative. Once you have symptoms they will make you worse due to the PH
• alkaline works wonders (cystitis sachets and powerade are amazing)
• drink a tonne of water, get the above in along with some painkillers
• if it keeps going, book an appt with Dr and take a urine sample with you. Will save time and they can check if there's bacteria

Hope you feel better soon, bladder issues are so uncomfortable

Sounds like cystitis drink lots of water as much as you can . Lots of chemists sell powders to put in water that adjust the ph of your wee . These are very helpful . Also try a hot water bottle on your tummy/bladder . Even if you have no pain it may relax your bladder muscles . Oh and as my mum would tell me keep your back/kidneys covered . If it gets worse or you start getting pain ring 111 as you may need antibiotics

Please be careful with the 'drink as much as you can' advice.

It is very dangerous to drink too much water. I'm speaking as someone who had cystitis, drank as much as they could, and ended up in hospital in a drip because of it.

Oh you poor thing. Cystitis and UTIs are utter hell. I’ve suffered my fair share of them. They’re god awful.

Our pharmacy attached to the Doctors will test your urine for any sign of infection and as long as you’re a simple case the pharmacist will prescribe a 3 day course of antibiotics for you which is an absolute godsend when you manage to get a UTI over a bank holiday weekend (as I always manage to do, never a Wednesday on a normal week ).

Might be worth looking up if you have a similar pharmacy close by? Even if they can’t prescribe antibiotics they can test you and you’ll know what you’re up against then.

@NotExactlyHappyToHelp - that’s a brilliant service.

Thanks all, you’re so kind.

I went to Boots and they gave me a 3 day course of antibiotics. It definitely feels a bit better today, but that could be because I’ve been running around after the DC rather than sitting on my arse all day long for work . I’m really hoping that the antibiotics will knock it on the head quickly, it’s surprising how depressing and worrying it is to need the toilet all the time.

Hope that everyone else who has it now feels better too!

You need to take a wee sample to the dr. They will then rest it and give you antibiotics if you need them.

Argh just reading this thread has given me the 'ping' feeling that let's me know a bout of cystitis is coming on. It's the worst thing ever. I always have d-mannose and bicarb in, works wonders

I nearly wrote this exact post earlier in the week. I've not really done anything different and booked a doctors appointment for next Wednesday but in last day or so it seems to be clearing up so will probably cancel appointment. Hope yours does too

The Cranberry juice is an urban myth thing............
Funny how it works. Drinking a load of water doesnt help for me. Drinking Cranberry juice does. Ergo not such an urban myth after all.

Get a telephone appointment and a three day antibiotic course from your GP. You can drop off a urine sample to check but this shouldn’t stop you getting the antibiotics.

Last time I had a uti I was on the phone to the gp and the antibiotic prescription was with my local pharmacy within half an hour.

You shouldn’t do it regularly but every now and again is ok. Take some probiotics too as it will kill all the good bacteria as well as all the bad ones. I take a ProVen probiotic for this every day now, from Holland & Barrett - not sure tbh whether it is an expensive waste but it makes me feel like I’m doing something.

@KihoBebiluPute

Cystopurin available at pharmacies and from 24hr supermarkets. Don't waste your time with cheaper alternatives. Make sure you stick to the fill course. Also but cranberry juice and chug down as much water and cranberry juice as you can.

If you are lucky that will knock it on the head but if you still have symptoms after finishing the course you will need antibiotics.

Back in the olden days, before anyone on the UK had really heard of cranberries, I was told to drink Robinsons Lemon Barley water and it did seem to do some good.

I have had some support from the D Mannose tablets, as a regular sufferer.

Also worth knowing that you can get antibiotics for cystitis online. I think Superdrug do a service where you can collect same day. I keep some in the house now.

I somehow missed your update - glad you are sorted!

The advice is "drink plenty of water", as in the normal amount of water that is generally recommended anyway. The advice is NOT "torture yourself by drinking ridiculous amounts of water so that you need the loo every five minutes."

Another thing to consider is that constipation can put pressure on the bladder and make you feel a bit like this. And constipation can also be caused by not drinking enough water, so you've got the combination of strong urine and a bladder under pressure.

@Lockheart

CRANBERRY JUICE DOES BUGGER ALL, IT'S AN URBAN MYTH.

Water will serve you just as well as cranberry juice.

Cranberry juice is non-acidic and it’s far easier to drink large volumes of fluids if they have some flavour, rather than plain water.

Citrus juices would make the pain vastly worse. As would carbonated sugary drinks.

And there is little research on the effects of cranberry juice so I’m not clear how some people are spouting so confidently that any benefit is a placebo effect. Based on what
clinical trial exactly? Adding it to antibiotics isn’t the same thing at all.

It’s back with a vengeance this morning. Looks like I will have to call the GP tomorrow after all

Make sure you keep taking the antibiotics even if you think don't they're working!!!!

I meant don't think not think don't obviously lol

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. As the antibiotics haven’t worked the GP may ask you to take in a urine sample and check it.