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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wait 48 hours to take antibiotic for UTI? Pray it goes away?

25 replies

UtiStress · 31/08/2022 20:16

This afternoon I've come down with what feels like a urine infection. I've had one before so I know what it feels like Mainly a burning feeling in my bladder and urgency. I've been downing copious amounts of water and taken some cranberry supplements.

I have a hand surgery day after next I've been waiting ages for and am obviously worried about what to do now or whether it'll be cancelled.

The NHS website says to wait 48 hours before taking antibiotics because apparently a lot of UTIs pass on their own

I got antibiotics from a pharmacy today. If I start taking them now I'll still be taking them at the time of my operation, is it then likely to be cancelled? I don't know whether to wait a day and hope it starts to gets better on its own first.

The timing is awful!

OP posts:
buzzbuzzybuzz · 31/08/2022 20:18

Who prescribed them? Ask them?

Original poster
UtiStress · 31/08/2022 20:20

buzzbuzzybuzz · 31/08/2022 20:18

Who prescribed them? Ask them?

I did the online Superdrug survey thing you can do where they prescribe you a 3 day course of MacroBID without speaking directly to a doctor

OP posts:
luxxlisbon · 31/08/2022 20:20

You only just felt you were coming down with an infection this afternoon and were prescribed antibiotics hours later?
That is mental to me.

eurochick · 31/08/2022 20:20

You want to try to kick it before you are nil by mouth for several hours!

Is there any way to contact the surgical team to see what they suggest?

Original poster
UtiStress · 31/08/2022 20:22

eurochick · 31/08/2022 20:20

You want to try to kick it before you are nil by mouth for several hours!

Is there any way to contact the surgical team to see what they suggest?

I can try get in contact with the surgical team tomorrow but that is the day before my op

OP posts:
Lougle · 31/08/2022 20:36

I had a really sudden onset UTI. Fine when I went to bed, pain in the early hours, frank blood in my urine. I dropped a sample down to the GP and had a phonecall confirming UTI and antibiotics by lunch time. I took my first dose immediately, but by tea time all symptoms disappeared. So bizarre. I completed the course but it was most odd.

Haggisfish3 · 31/08/2022 20:37

I’d take it as it works quickly.

Original poster
UtiStress · 31/08/2022 20:48

I'm going to start taking the antibiotics and try get in contact with surgery team tomorrow and see what they say :(

OP posts:
SugarDatesandPistachios · 31/08/2022 20:50

Start the abx. If it’s hand surgery being on oral abx for a uti will not be a no go.

If you don’t take the abx and then develop pyrexia/worsening symptoms/pyelonephritis - well that’s much more likely to get your op cancelled and pushed back to 2039

SproutsAtChristmas · 31/08/2022 20:52

There are a few illnesses I will try to battle through but a UTI is not one of them! Take the antibiotics and just let your surgeon know asap. Many people take long courses of antibiotics and aren't denied surgery so I can't imagine why it would make a difference but obviously I'm not medically trained!

KatieB55 · 31/08/2022 20:53

GP prescribed me a one-dose antibiotic that was really good. It was a sachet that dissolved in water. I think it was Fosfomycin.

hedgehogger1 · 31/08/2022 20:53

Just make sure you finish the course if you start them

Original poster
UtiStress · 31/08/2022 20:54

Does anyone know if being on a course of antibiotics for a UTI will definitely result in a cancellation for an op that doesn't involve pelvis at all? I'm starting them now and hoping they don't cancel it on the spot when I call tomorrow but I'm assuming they will.

OP posts:
Original poster
UtiStress · 31/08/2022 20:57

hedgehogger1 · 31/08/2022 20:53

Just make sure you finish the course if you start them

I absolutely will finish the course. I've started them now.

OP posts:
SugarDatesandPistachios · 31/08/2022 20:58

It will not result in a cancelled operation. Only how unwell you are will (or bed crisis, emergency list taking over or understaffing etc).

Candleabra · 31/08/2022 20:59

I’ve never had a uti go away on their own. It’s always agony. I would take the ABs unless you can manage

Original poster
UtiStress · 31/08/2022 21:01

SugarDatesandPistachios · 31/08/2022 20:58

It will not result in a cancelled operation. Only how unwell you are will (or bed crisis, emergency list taking over or understaffing etc).

Hoping this is the case. I would have taken 2 days worth of antibiotics by the time I'm there so hoping this is enough to feel much better.

OP posts:
Irridescantshimmmer · 31/08/2022 21:03

I too had a UTI which was rapid. Went to bed feeling ok, or like I normally do and woke up in so much pain in my left kidney I struggled to lift my left arm in the air - I was reaching for bran flakes in the kitchen cupboard. I am supposed to be prone to UTIs but hardly ever get them and due to a condition I have I was prescribed 500mg of flucloxacillin.

It was the speed of the infection which suprised me, it was crazy fast.

44PumpLane · 31/08/2022 21:04

luxxlisbon

You only just felt you were coming down with an infection this afternoon and were prescribed antibiotics hours later?
That is mental to me.

My GP surgery is like this, if you drop a urine sample in to them before 3.30pm they schedule a daily dip of all the samples and any that come back positive have a script done by the nurse practitioner and sent to the Boots next door. The reception staff then do a call round to everyone who needs to pick up antibiotics and all the samples get sent off to the lab to make sure they have prescribed the right antibiotic etc

It's an amazingly efficient system and probably saves a huge amount of GP resources!

CookieCoo · 31/08/2022 21:08

Hope you’re feeling better soon. Antibiotics usually work quickly on a uti.

I'm not sure why it would stop you having your op

georgarina · 31/08/2022 21:14

I wouldn't wait - a UTI has never gone away on its own in my case. I'd start them before it gets worse.

NancyJoan · 31/08/2022 21:20

luxxlisbon · 31/08/2022 20:20

You only just felt you were coming down with an infection this afternoon and were prescribed antibiotics hours later?
That is mental to me.

You can get them over the counter within a few minutes if you are happy to see the pharmacist and then pay about £20. Worth every penny, if you can afford it.

Looneytune253 · 31/08/2022 21:20

UtiStress · 31/08/2022 20:54

Does anyone know if being on a course of antibiotics for a UTI will definitely result in a cancellation for an op that doesn't involve pelvis at all? I'm starting them now and hoping they don't cancel it on the spot when I call tomorrow but I'm assuming they will.

I don't know if it's the same across the board because my mil was having her cataract op and they said she could absolutely not be on any kind of antibiotic on the day of the op and 2 weeks before. They didn't want to be operating on someone with an infection

Twiglets1 · 31/08/2022 21:22

I couldn’t put up with a UTI I would have to start the antibiotics straight away and hope for the best. Maybe you could space them on the day of your op so you hadn’t taken one for a few hours before surgery

Krustykrabpizza · 31/08/2022 21:24

I'm prone to UTIs, never had one go.away on its own and also very quick onset. I get antibiotics as soon as I can

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