BLODDY CYSTITIS AGAIN!!!

[HeirToTheIronThrone]

Right, for the past couple of months or so I have had recurrent cystitis, having never had it before. I've had three lots of anti b's, drowned myself in lemon barley and cranberry, but the bloody thing KEEPS coming back. Does anyone have any tips for staving it off?? I really don't want to keep taking antibiotics but at my wit's end!

Bloody, even - am so fed up with it it's affecting my spelling

Hello Heir. I didn't want to read and run but this sounds so familiar. I'm still trying to sort mine out but I have recently found out that once the bladder is irritated, the cranberry/ lemon barley has the opposite effect and make the inflammation and urgency worse.
I'm back to drinking only water at the moment and am hoping for the best.
Hope you manage to sort it out. It's so uncomfortable to have recurrent bouts x

I have recently been for anti-biotics for cystitis and it was quite interesting as there was a medical student at my appointment and my GP was explaining to him the latest theories. Basically if it was flaring up after sex to get the patient to take 1 antibiotic pill after sex as a preventative.
If it was recurrent without any known cause to give the patient a supply of anti-biotics and at the first sign get the patient to take one or two antibiotic tablets to knock it on the head before it started because with bladder infections you didn't need to follow the whole course if it was sorted.

Have you had your urine tested. There are different infections that require different anti-biotics.
It's horrid. When I get it I just drink pints of water and use the cystitis sachets and that usually sorts it. Otherwise it's the dreaded Trimethoprim which gives me horrendous thrush which is worse than the cystitis.

hiya :)
I used to get it constantly a few years ago and was always on antibio
tics but then I got a couple of books off of amazon and they have helped so much! try looking there !
Its such a horrid distressing condition that you have my complete sympathy.My symptoms would just appear with really no warning and I used to have blood in my urine and unless you have had it you honestly have no idea.
Over the counter stuff has no effect especially if you have a real infection.My doctor gave me a spare prescription which I keep at home (that is how bad it was ) I always take some on holiday with me in case.
One of the best things you can do is have a wee before sex and straight after,even if it stings a little.
After I had a scan to make sure my bladder was emptying ok (it was) a nurse gave me a good tip; after emptying you bladder, stand up for 10 seconds then sit back down on the toilet and see if you can pass any more wee.The theory is based on gravity - and it works!
No scented bubble baths or soaps or wipes.
Always wipe front to back.
I drink lots of water but not excessively tho and only drink sugar free cranberry juice as sugar can increase irritation. Never drink any lemon drinks or sweet sugary fizzy drinks.
Take a probiotic if you are on antibiotics for your gut lining.
A friend of mine was put on a low level of antibiotics for 6 months as she had an e coli bug in her bladder.
Fingers crossed it sorts itself out!

I had a summer of recurrent cystitis and you have my complete sympathy - it is awful and very distressing.

I agree with advice above - especially the bit about going for a wee after sex - it's a bit of a passion killer (!) but it seems to work for me.

I also got a spare anti-b prescription which I used when needed - ask your GP to do this for you - they are usually obliging.

Hope it clears up very soon.

Sorry you're suffering OP. Cystitis is just awful.

First of all step away from the cranberry juice, it will make your wee acidic and the bacteria will have a party!

I urge you to give Waterfall D Mannose a try- it's been a lifesaver for me. The suppliers, John and Anna at Sweet Cures, are really helpful and knowledgeable about cystitis and will talk to you about it over the phone and how to use the Mannose to help along with how to keep your urine alkaline and other tips.

Info on Waterfall D Mannose Here and Sweet Cures facebook page here

Hope you feel better soon!

Er, sorry about the punctuation fail there..!

My sympathies, it's horrible isn't it. I have had a few recurring bouts but do have a great GP. Take the antibiotics you need to get rid of your current infection once and for all. I had a stubborn infection that required a few courses. My GP banned me from having sex for a month while it cleared up! Defo squeeze out a wee immediately following sex - this has always worked for me. On the one or two occasions I've fallen asleep before going for a wee, I've suffered a bit for it. I also used to take cranberry tablets. No idea if they worked but I didn't suffer when I was taking them. Haven't suffered since stopping taking them but then that could be because I stopped for the purposes of having children and we all know what effect small children have on sex lives....