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Original poster

Suggest an over the counter remedy for cystitis someone PLEASE!!

23 replies

multitasker · 28/09/2006 18:56

Have been running to the loo like a mad woman all day and its really uncomfortable. Pretty sure its cystitis - any suggestions?

OP posts:
hana · 28/09/2006 18:57

cranberry juice?

tribpot · 28/09/2006 18:58

Seconded - cranberry juice, plus if you can, a trip to your nearest late-night pharmacy (if you have a Sainsburys or similar, the pharmacy is probably open as long as the supermarket is).

SoupDragon · 28/09/2006 19:00

Yes, Cranberry juice. Or just ask at your pharmacy - canestan do a medicine for cystitis and I'm sure theres another one.

WigWamBam · 28/09/2006 19:00

You can buy things like Cystemme and Cymalon from the chemist, or just get a bottle of potassium citrate - but it's best to see the GP in case there's any infection which might need antibiotics.

Drink plenty of water as well.

Cassoulet · 28/09/2006 19:01

Thirded cranberry juice. Also live natural yoghurt (which you can also put it 'down there'}.

If you want chemicals there's cysteme and another with a similar name. Always better to lay off tea coffee wine as well

kellywellyboots · 28/09/2006 19:09

as a veteran of repeated, vicious attacks of cystitis, can recommend the following measures:

if still early days you can help by flushing out with TONS of water. literally drink loads and loads of water and you might just shift it without need for any other treatment.

if you must drink anything welse, make it pure cranberry juice

NEVER drink anything else esp tea, coffee, alcohol or citrus juice until it is fully and completely gone - will flare it up and have you in agony as soon as it hits your bladder.

dont try to hold your we coz it hurts - keep drinking water and peeing even if it hurts.

you can get concentrated cranberry tablets from health food shops like holland and barrett. take a handful of those - even if its already quite sore this can cure it. again with the water though, always the water...

if nothing else works and you need to see the doc, dont let them give you general antibiotics, make them give you Nitrofuantoin (or Nitrofurantoin sp). take one after each sore wee, up the dose if its really bad and keep for the next attack.

good luck!

Original poster
multitasker · 28/09/2006 19:15

Thanks - I will be buying the cranberry juice. Had a feeling I should drink loads of water so will do that too.
KWBoots - is there no way of preventing it? why do you keep getting it. I think I had one attack before but that was over 10 years ago.

OP posts:
kellywellyboots · 30/09/2006 13:27

ways to prevent it are:

always wipe front to back after weeing (delightful)

really take care of yourself, esp following a bout as it actually takes longer than you think to really go. keeping your strength and natural defenses up are pretty important. i always get ill when im run down.

apparently i get it a lot just from bruising caused by normal everyday sex (hence i havnt had it in ages) because my urethra is short (eh??)

and then the best defence is just to be aware of early signs and head it off at the pass STS with the water and cranberry and all that malarky. simply not a good idea (nor does it seem to work anyway) to keep taking courses of antibiotics.

highly recommend the cranberry concentrate capsule thingys. equivalent of a whole carton of juice in just a few caps.

you feeling better then?

kimi · 30/09/2006 14:10

could i also add, cotton underware and no scented soap, bubble bath etc...

kellywellyboots · 30/09/2006 14:19

yes, good points.

natural fabrics (cotton, silk etc) allow you to 'breathe' which helps, so avoid nylon knickers and tights too...

after a 6 month period of repeated bouts of cystitis a bunch of years ago (was hell on earth) when i finally saw the doc who prescribed the nitrofuantoin stuff - i LOVE that man - i went and treated myself to a few sets of silk french knickers and cami things and hold-up stockings (i had to wear tights or stockings as part of my work uniform back then, i was a croupier). not that there was anyone spesh in my life to appreciate all these yummy undies but it didnt half feel nice to pamper myself and justify it totally as necessary for my health!

makemineadouble · 30/09/2006 15:22

For over counter i'v always used cystopurin works for me

swedishmum · 30/09/2006 15:38

Bicarb and water - pretty vile but it works really quickly. Always thought yoghurt was for thrush - does it work for cystitis too???

GeorginaA · 30/09/2006 15:46

I've always found cranberry juice to work really well... so fourthded?

Original poster
multitasker · 30/09/2006 15:53

Got an over the counter remedy from Boots yest, will finish the course tonight, hope it works this is NOT pleasant - feels like someone is wrenching a large catheter from me
Thanks - may just treat myself to some new undies soon - for medical purposes ofcourse!!

OP posts:
sansouci · 30/09/2006 15:54

Cranberry juice! And litres of water.

Original poster
multitasker · 30/09/2006 16:04

I'm drinking so much water its not funny.

OP posts:
sansouci · 30/09/2006 16:12

Getting into a v. warm bath & weeing while in it helps sometimes. (shower after). or getting into bed with a hot water bottle between your legs. Take the strongest pain killer you've got & keep drinking water, tisanes & cranberry juice.

makemineadouble · 01/10/2006 11:44

My mum told me to boil pearl barley and drink the water?

Original poster
multitasker · 01/10/2006 21:25

I'm going to have to ring the doctor in the morning as the Boots remedy didn't work. Might give the pearl barley a go, and I didn't drink enough water today so if anything its got worse

OP posts:
mumtogusnalbie · 01/10/2006 22:02

you should really try the bi-carb and water. Put about a level tea-spoon in a small cup of water and drink it down quick.
This is a miracle cure unless you have a real infection then it might have to be antibiotics.
If you do end up with antibiotics then I recommend you take acidopholus as well (available at any health food shop) because antibiotics will kill off good bacteria as well as bad and you could be left with thrush which in my opinion is more annoying than cystitus.
Hope this helps and that you get everything sorted soon.
Just an after thought - when I was pregnant I had problems with bladder spasms which gave a very similar symptom to cystitus but without the infection - may be worth mentioning this possibility to your doctor if you going to make a visit.
Lindsey

kellywellyboots · 01/10/2006 22:07

oh dear - you MUST keep up the water. drink till youre sick of it, then drink some more. about a litre an hour (!)

and if its not gone quickly, its taking hold, so its doc time im afraid. never heard of bicarb or barley water remedies, but the cranberry capsules do work, honest.

if you go to doc, write down the name of the drug i wrote earlier. 'tis truly the best thing you can get from the doc (i had it on holiday in the US once and saw a doc there, told him only thing that worked for me was that and he was amazed id be given anything else. apparently well known over there)

good luck

mawbroon · 01/10/2006 22:15

I would second what people have been saying here about drinking water. When you are feeling a bit better, you might want to read this lady's book It helped me tremendously when I was suffering recurrent attacks about 9 years ago. I haven't had one single attack since.
Hope you feel better soon, it really is horrible.

kellywellyboots · 03/10/2006 20:18

hey, thanks mawbroon. i'll buy that - think i have it more or less under control, but happy hear of any tools to eliminate it totally...

good luck multitasker - how are you feeling btw? any better?

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