Help I'm in UTI misery

[utihelp]

Sorry for posting on AIBU, I'm desperately looking for tips to help with a UTI. I am in so much pain 😩 trying to avoid antibiotics unless I absolutely can't shift this any other way. I've sent DP out for cranberry sachets from the supermarket. What else can I do?

I think it’s worth getting some antibiotics prescribed - then they’re there if you need them. And you may need them. UTIs typically respond very well to them. But I have sometimes found that just knowing they’re there if I need them brings relief.

As some PPs have mentioned, D-Mannose is very effective if it’s an ecoli infection - make sure you take them as instructed. I have used Waterfall D-Mannose in the past - you need to take them every few hours much the way you would take antibiotics.

Cut out all caffeine, alcohol and sugar. Even avoid fruit for now and spicy foods. All of these can irritate. Drinking warmish water with lemon and/or parsley in can be very soothing. And some gentle herbal teas. In terms of foods, good salad vegetables may help also.

You can. Some pharmacists think you can't, so insist if you have to. I take 2 a day, but I have embedded infections now, so 1 should help for straightforward UTIs

I treated a UTI with d mannose when similarly trying to avoid antibiotics. I had blood and nitrites on dip.
Took 2 tabs every 3 hours I think for 24 hours

I have suffered from numerous UTIs over the years, unfortunately, and try to avoid antibiotics if at all possible. But, sometimes you need to take them if the infection has properly bedded in. One thing that has really helped to prevent and treat future ones is Uva Ursi tincture. Good to keep at home in case you ever need it in the future!

Been tested at pharmacy today, protein, nitrates and blood in my urine ☹️ Got antibiotics, 3 day course. Symptoms have eased massively today just from drinking a LOT of water, which I'm so relieved about.

It always flummoxes me that doctors prescribe anything less than 5 days at an absolute minimum. Be prepared to fight for more antibiotics if need be.

I hope you feel better soonest.

Actually I had only 3 days antibiotics last time. I don't know what was in them, but good grief, they did the trick. I felt masses better after only 1.

@MyCatHatesSandals antibiotic courses depend on the type of infection and the antibiotic.

A lot of antibiotics for uncomplicated UTI only need a 3 day course.

If they don't work a longer course isn't the answer, most likely you need a different antibiotic.

Thank you. No doubt I'm drawing on my own experience. Oh to have a UTI cleared in 3 days!

Nitrofurantoin are usually given for utis. They aren’t antibiotics. They essentially react with your urine to make it like an antiseptic liquid, they don’t usually affect the gut at all, and certainly nothing like antibiotics do.

No that's Hiprex you're thinking of. Nitrofurantoin is definitely an antibiotic.

Sorry if others have said this but demannose is great for keeping recurrent bladder infections / irritation at bay.

I thought I had UTI for years but instead it was just irritation from UTIs when I was younger. So when it flared I thought UTI but my samples weren't bringing back anything. A dr finally recommended Dmannose as it was life changing.

But if you have a confirmed infection you need antibiotics as it could spread to your kidneys.

Good luck as know what it's like xx

Sorry, nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic, I was mistaken. But they do get concentrated in the urine and potentially have fewer gut related side effects. Hope you feel better soon op.

Glad you got the abx as kidney infections are horrendous. Take the d-mannose as well as it stops the bacteria embedding into the bladder wall. If you are prone to infections it is worth taking d-mannose as a preventative measure any time you do a triggering activity- sex/wearing tight clothes/swimming etc

Glad to see you got antibiotics and symptoms are easing.

I am a long time UTI sufferer and the best things so far I have found are having a hot bath with Epsom salts (TMI but also peeing in the bath weirdly helps!)
Drinking dissolved D mannose powder in a really small amount of water, holding this in as long as possible then drinking lots of water and peeing to flush it out.
Having a hot water bottle between the legs.
Cutting out tomatoes!