Very painful cystisis, any advice please?

[Pannacotta]

I have developed really painful cystisis today and have spent most of the afternoon sitting in the loo, unable to leave the bathroom.
After an hour or so I started to bleed every time I had a wee, OUCH!

I am drinking loads and have got some ABs from GP. He didnt want to see me but prescribed them and DH collected from chemist.

Is there anything else I can do, am feeling pretty shocking at the mo.

Thanks...

cranberry juice is said to be good I was told be the GP to drink 3 big glasses a day whilst on the antiBs as it inhibits bacterial growth in the bladder.

Hope you feel better soon, it's crap and painful.

Can you get some cranberry juice to drink? My doctor advised it for urinary infections. It does help.

As a topical relief, fill one of those squirty top water bottles with cold water, and as you wee squirt a stream of cold water over your urethra and surrounding area. May help a bit.

Some bicarb of soda in water can help take the sting out of your wee. Also a few painkillers and a hot water bottle in between the legs or on lower abdo/back area.
In my exp and I have had major bladder issues, cranberry juice etc does not help and makes it all so much worse. I'd say stick to the water only.
Sometimes getting in a hot bath and peeing in there can relieve you. Did you hand a sample in to be checked? Hopefully once the AB's kick in you will get some relief, try to rest too cos it is so horrible needing to go all the time and it being painful.
If you are passing very small amounts of wee, sometimes and only if you can tolerate the pain it's better to maybe try to not go for say, 10 mins, then try to build up the time in between visits. However, if you have to go - just go and let it out when you need to, the burning sensation is awful and another thing to try is to pour lukewarm water over yourself (not easy but maybe in a sports water bottle so you can skoosh it) when you are doing a wee, it can help sometimes.
Hope you feel better soon xx

Thanks, will try the water as you pee trick, I did this when I had stitches after DS1 and it helped lots.
Have had a bath and did a zillion wees while in it! Also have a hot water bottle on the go.

I've also read that cranberry juice isnt good while taking ABs but will be necking it once this has gone.

No sample requested (was just a phone conversation with GP as it was late in the day) but will go in if it persists..

Thanks all, I haven't been in this much pain since giving birth...

Hello, I used to suffer terrible cystitis and had so much cranberry juice I now can't even look at the stuff. If you can get someone to go to the shop for you, get a couple of litres of Robinsons fruit & barley squash... the barley neutralises your wee so that it doesn't sting so much. Also, take lots of anti-inflammatories - part of the discomfort is caused by the swelling in your bladder and urinary tract so the anti inflammatories will help with that. And finally - the most fun - wear a loose skirt and no knickers to keep the bacteria at bay!

PS. If you do all of the above and don't feel better tomorrow and there's still blodd in your wee, get yourself to the hospital as they can put you on a drip to flush your system out faster.

Hugs to you - hope you're on the mend soon xxx

Thanks bluecheese, am feeling the need for tea and sympathy (tea not allowed I know)...

Will see if I can persuade DH to brave the rain to pop out for some squash!

you can have cammomile tea apparently but it's a bit yuk IMO and could send you to sleep while you're on the loo = much pins and needles and dead legs! ooh its bringing back all the memories now!

another thing to add - I found it didn't hurt so much if I kept my bladder full (it was the teeny weeny ones that hurt the most)so gulp down as much squash as you can!

much sympathy xxxxxxxx

cranberry should not be taken during an attack- it makes your urine acid and it will sting more.
Take half a teaspoon of bicarb of soda in a tumbler of warm water. Do this 3 times a day.

Stick to cranberry as a preventative measure once you are better.

alos avoid tea, coffee, alcohol and bitter fruit juices until all the stinging has gone.

this website is good www.cobfoundation.org

Apologies for misinformation about cranberry - but thanks all - for useful information .
Hope you are feeling better soon Pannacotta.

Mucho sypmathy. Go to your chemist and ask the pharmacist for a bottle of liquid Potassium Citrate. You need to add a small amount (check dosage) to a glass of water and drink several times a day. It tastes foul but will completely neutralise the acidity in your urine and soothe the inflammation in your bladder.

Trust me - I was a martyr to cystitis for years - this is the quickest way yo get immediate relief from the symptoms. ABs should start working withing 24 hours.

HTH

Sorry about the typos! Hope the above makes sense!

Much sympathy from here as well - I had a terrible case over Christmas and remember feeling nauseous from the pain. I saw a doctor and was given antibiotics, was taking the sodium citrate drinks that the pharmacists advise (to no effect) but interestingly the very credible-seeming doctor said that the best remedy is, bizarrely, Coca Cola, because of the high level of phosphoric acid which counteracts the problem. Sounds wrong, but he insisted it was best. Cleared up after a few days but don't know if it was that or the antibiotics. Best of luck! Xx

Definitely, bicarbonate of soda in a glass of water. Also, you can get cranberry tablets from health food shops which also helps. As others have said Cranberry juice itself can be too acidic. Stay away from all types of squashes and tea\coffee - just stick to water. I was also told to drink Evian as the PH is ever so slightly alkaline.

Thanks everyone, nice to be reminded I'm not alone.

I have the ABs now and they are kicking in, no more blood in urine and weeing is much less painful.

Had forgotten how excrutiating it is though...

Will get some bicarb and coke (coca cola that is!) tomorrow.

MN is great - I did quick google search before posting, but there is nothing to match first hand advice from collective Mnetters....

cranberry juice does nothing to help - it can prevent, but while in full swing im afraid its a big old wives tale

loads of lemon barley water. or water. lots of. also i use those sachets you can get from a chemist - 3 a day for 2 days.

ab's work quite fast- its usually a 3 day course, so kicks in fast.

i had it last in august - dont get it much by omg when i do i really do. you have my sympathies!

I had cystitis a while ago so my deepest sympathies

One very unlikely thing I was advised but which helped through the agnoising stage was lemon juice in water. Very strange as it is acidic but really honestly it does help!

Glad you are over the worst.

Sorry if I'm repeating everyone else's advice -
dissolve a teaspoon if sodium bicarb in water or cranberry juice, that will sort you out fastest until your AB's start to work.

Poor thing - I suffered from this for yonks, it's awful.

I think the cranberry juice thing must be different strokes for different folks as it definitely used to give me relief during an attack.

Don't drink too much liquid though as that can be quite bad for you.

I'd suggest that you get hold of plenty of 'Cystitis Relief Sachets' (that you can get at most supermarkets) and keep a stash of them in your bathroom cabinet. Next time you notice even a twinge on urinating, start taking the sachets - there's usually enough for two days. That's often all you need to prevent a mild attack turning into a full-blown infection and you can save yourself a lot of pain and trips to the doctor if you catch it early.

What Chilli says.

the over the counter stuff has Potassium Citrate as the active ingredient, and doesn't taste so bad (but is MUCH more expensive).

Another top tip though - sadly, if you are prone to these infections, the most important thing you can do is ALWAYS pee after sex as soon as possible - ideally within 5 minutes.

And if you can't pee much at the time, then drink half a pint of water and try to pee again before you go to sleep.

Sorry - not v. good for the romantic side of things, but it beats bladder infections.

Oh please DO NOT drink Coke!

That dr is confusing issues. Coke is good for tummy upsets as it helps kill off bacteria and has a high sugar content if you aren't eating.

However, coke is acidic- it can be used as a toilet cleaner in the loo- try it!

People who have bladder problems are told never to drink coke, or any fizzy drinks, as it literally burns off the lining of the bladder- and you might be left with a more serious longer term bladder problem.

Most people with a urine infection egt over it quckly but some go on to develop a longer term chronic inflammation of the bladder. Please treat your bladder gently during an attack to give it the chance to calm down.

Please also see www.cobfoundation.org

I used to get recurrent bouts of cystitis years ago

I used cranberry tablets daily as a preventative. I think it worked, don't recall getting it for ages once I started them. Only stopped them because I got pregnant

You can get them in health food shops (Holland&Barrett stock them)