Cystitis - worth going to GP?

[Alyosha]

I've never had cystitis before, and I've now had it (I think...) twice in three weeks. Each time it only lasts for a day - day and a half with relatively mild symptoms - a sharp pain at the end of urination and the feeling of needing to go more frequently.

Is it worth seeing the GP if the symptoms are so mild and short lived? Would antibiotics stop it coming back?

I'd rather avoid taking antibiotics if possible!

I go to my GP immediately if I get cystitis. I once had an attack that I attempted to treat with over the counter lemon/cranberry drinks and the like, because I didn't want to bother them, and ended up in hospital with septicaemia and on iv antibiotics. Got told I could have died.

Don't mess with infections - especially if they get worse!

I'll make an appointment - my symptoms have just cleared up though! Will they be able to see anything in the culture/sample?? I'm a huge Health Anxiety maniac so I'm just worried about concerning myself unnecessarily with tests that will make me anxious for weeks... Also concerned about bothering my poor GP yet again!

I don't think a GP appointment is necessary at the moment. Take a course of cystem (sp?) From your pharmacy and then see how you are. I normally only go to the GP if there's blood and it's not responding to the over the counter stuff. It really does work.

Thanks Lemon. I took some of that alkalizing stuff from Sainsbury's. It cleared it up, but then I had sex and it came back...! However it only came back for about 12 hours and has now gone again. Very odd.

Make sure you go to the loo immediately after sex for the next few times. That should stop it coming back.