Cystitis -what to do

[WidowWadman]

Woke up this morning with stinging sensation in bladder, also feel quite crampy, am 6 weeks now.
Only symptoms is stinging and crampiness. No blood, no temperature, no cloudiness.

Have been drinking cranberry juice all day with little success, and all the books and the internet tell me to see a doctor.

My question is, is that something I can reasonably call the out of hours service?

Surgery opening times are a nightmare, so I couldn't make it without taking time off. And I actually really don't have time for that.

Feel super foolish, too, as I had just been to GP yesterday for an unrelated matter, but obviously didn't have those symptoms then, otherwiese would have mentioned. Normally I wait for symptoms to pass by themselves, but guess in pregnancy it's different?

WWYD? Out of hours or take time off (I'd loathe to call in sick)

Could you call NHS Direct? They might be able to advise whether it can wait or not...

I'd go to the out of hours as it might get worse and speaking as someone who has suffered quite badly from recurrent cystitis in the past you want to catch it early.
I (foolishly) left it for a while when I was on holiday and the doctor told me off (in a nice way!) as it isn't good for the baby if it gets too bad either. Out of hours won't think you're wasting their time as they do take it seriously when you're pregnant.
Hope you feel better soon x

Drinking cranberry juice is almost futile except as a preventative, I find. Taking cranberry juice tablets (see holland & Barrett) is another matter. There's no sugar in the tablets (sugar can make the situation worse if you're one of those people whose cystitis is associated with thrush) and you get a more concentrated dose. As far as I know cranberry juice tablets are safe to take in pregnancy in the dose suggested on the bottle (check the internet - there's loads of discussion on this), and doctors do prescribe them in preference to antibiotics (as evidenced by previous discussions on mumsnet - I've been lucky enough to avoid cystitis in this pregnancy so far).

The longer you leave the infection to take hold, the more likely you'll need antibiotics because of the severity of the infection. Drink loads and loads of water through the day and night and ensure you completely empty your bladder when you do go to the loo - wait a little while after you pee, then push again. If the bacteria have started to make their way from your bladder up towards your kidneys (generally takes some days) there will be no alternative to antibiotics. Get to see the doctor as an emergency patient tomorrow am/pop into A&E if your GP is that inflexible, and bring a urine sample from your first pee of the morning if you can.

By the way, I'm not a doctor, just a seasoned sufferer.

Husband saw me posting, told me to stop being silly and take myself to the out of hours. Just came back with a prescription for antibiotics. They were really sweet and reassured me that I was right to come in.

Thanks.

Well done to your DH! :) feel better soon!

NHS has an emergency number where you can leave your details and a doctor would call you within 2 hours if assistence is needed in the middle of the night. This happened to me with a cyctitis once. To be honest, they were not particularly helpful -- suggested that I drink a lot of water and then walk to the nearest ER (I had a fever of 39C). I ended up going to the ER at 6am when it was fairly empty, but still it took me 2 hours to see a doctor who was a medical intern, and I (with my finance degree) actually knew much more about anti-biotics than her... She took my urine sample and then prescribed anti-biotics. I decided that I would never again go through such an ordeal and bought anti-biotics over the counter in Europe. The key is to start taking them asap because cystitis can get quite severe very quickly (I developed a fever of 39C within an hour - was really shocked - 1st time this happened to me ever). Picillin based anti-biotics such as co-amoclav (amoxil, amocyllin, etc) are safe in pregnancy. Drinking lots of fluid to cleanse the system also helps. If the pain is severe and goes up the back, one must see a urologist as the infection might be spreading to kidneys... Hope you feel better soon!

2 hours, that's hefty. Out of hours doctor called me within 20 minutes, told me to come in and I was seen 20 minutes after that.
Although there was a sign up in A&E saying that the A&E waiting times were 3 hours (Out of hours service in same building)

I can't take Penicillin because I'm allergic, but have been given Nitrofurantoin, the stinging is already much better.

When you next pee, do it in the shower / bath with running water over your bits! If that feels too yucky, use a large jug of tepid water and tip over yourself whilst peeing, it won;t cure it but will take the stinging out whilst the antibiotics do there thing.

Also make sure you drink plenty of water as this will help dilute you pee.

Best of luck!