Mumsnet users share their tips for treating UTIs with Ocean Spray

[EllieMumsnet]

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If you have experienced a urinary tract infection (UTI) then you’ll know how uncomfortable and painful they can be. There can be quite a few different causes of UTIs, as well as ways to treat and/or prevent them, which is why Ocean Spray would love you to share your methods for treating or preventing them.

Here’s what Ocean Spray have to say: “One in every two women will suffer from a UTI at some point in their lifetime. Many GPs and other health professionals advise women (as well as men) to drink cranberry juice for UTI resistance. Independent research has found drinking a glass of cranberry juice every day could help reduce the likelihood of a UTI by 40 percent, potentially cutting down on antibiotics use in the process. Which is good news particularly when experts claim antibiotic resistance is on track to kill more people than cancer.

Ocean Spray’s research into the health benefits of cranberries and cranberry juice is ongoing. And it’s always good to hear from people about their own experiences of drinking cranberry juice for health – and of course taste – reasons.”

Do you use a hot water bottle to comfort the stomach or back pain you may get? Perhaps you try to always wear breathable clothing around your lady parts to try prevent a UTI from occuring? Maybe you swear by the home remedy of drinking lots of cranberry juice? Or have you found the perfect no-perfume body wash that helps keep everything balanced?

Whatever your tips and methods are, share them on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Drinking loads and loads of water! I don’t get them any more but when I did this almost always worked

oh god, I'm another one who used to get them a lot!

Loose fitting underwear, lots and lots of water. Galloons of the stuff.

I did eat cranberries when I had them, not sure if that helped or not, made me feel I was doing something to help.

On a serious note, if you're a regular sufferer visit your GP. Mine has given me antibiotics to take just one tablet when I feel it coming on. If I take it as soon as the symptoms appear I'm alright within an hour. Life-changing.

Lots of water with the tiniest drop of orange squash in

Agree with lots of water. Loose fitting clothes, avoid dtd and 3 days of trimethorpin if necessary.

Drinking enough fluid is really important, especially as we get older. UTIs can be serious - my mother had one and needed to be hospitalised. She keeps track of how much fluid she drink drinks each day now, she fills a measuring jug each day and uses that to put in the kettle etc -

I find drinking plenty of water is the best prevention.

I get them co scantly and anything sinister has been ruled out.

Bicarbonate soda I. A glass of water (tastes disgusting but takes the acid out of your wee and helps the sting)

Lots of water and antibiotics ASAP, I've also found taking a supplement of D-Mannose which is Concentrated cranberry helps prevent them. Cranberry juice just makes it worse once I've got one due to the acid content.

I used to get them quite often but I've not had one in a few years.

No home remedies worked for me.

I always went to GP ASAP and put on antibiotics. Instant relief started from just the first tablet

Drinking plenty of fluids to flush it out is the best way to clear them and also prevent them.

Pharmacies in Scotland now prescribe antibiotics for UTI without seeing a GP.

Lots of liquids to prevent and help flush out. I always drink cranberry juice and also tried diluting bicarbonate of soda in other juice - that doesn't taste as good though!Antibiotics from GP if they persist. Used to suffer when younger but haven't had one for a while.

Last few times I had one, the doctors and nurses advised NOT drinking gallons and gallons during an attack as it stresses an already inflamed urinary tract. They said to drink more to compensate for increased urination and to ensure adequately dilute urine but going overboard was not helpful.

I had to cut out sugar to stop constant UTIs. D-Mannose is good too.

Drinking water or cranberry juice does nothing once the UTI has started in my experience. Antibiotics or D-Mannose are the only thing that helps.

Prevention - cotton underwear, no bubble bath, scent free soap, drink water.

When it happens - I go to the GP because no amount of drinking water and cranberry juice works once it’s kicked in. Antibiotics gives relief within about an hour.

Cranberry juice, water, hot water bottle and loose coorton underwear, plus planning proximity to loose if out of house.

I've recently discovered d-mannose and it's been amazing! I get them regularly despite following all recommendations but now when I feel a twinge I just double my daily d-mannose pill and it goes straight away!

DO NOT drink cranberry juice that has added sugar or sweeteners like Ocean Spray does, as sugar feeds the infection.

You can get sugar/sweetener free cranberry tablets instead.

I have found the supplement Waterfall D-Mannose amazing for treating recurring cystitis and kidney infections.

I remember reading this article back in May - has it been debunked?

Quote: “The guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that there is very little evidence that consuming cranberry juice can reduce the risk of developing UTIs for those who suffer from them regularly, and “no evidence” that it can treat cystitis.”

Lots of water, paracetamol, sugar free cranberry juice and those sachets that make your urine less acidic (sodium citrate). Cranberry has been shown to stop e.coli adhering to the urinary tract, so more a prevention than treatment.

The NHS has, I'm afraid, changed their advice on drinking cranberry juice at all and it's benefits for UTIs.

I'm a little loathe to believe that any research funded by a cranberry juice company which had the outcome of the product being a miracle preventative for infections when taken DAILY is truly independent.

Seems like confirmation bias to me.

However, I had a recent UTI and drank plenty of water (not too much or you'll cause other illnesses), went knickerless under skirts / dresses in house, wore cotton knickers under skirts / dresses out the house, and generally tried to keep the area clean, aired and free from soap etc.

Like many of you - I swear by cranberry juice every time!

As a long term UTI sufferer:-

Lots of water
Wash down below before sex - both of you!
Peeing immediately after sex
Ensuring you are emptying your bladder fully - after you think you have finished, stay there for another 10 seconds and then push again - you may find more comes out, if you leave behind some urine each time you wee you increase the chances of bacteria developing
Ensure you are not dehydrated - drink less caffeine if possible and drink water inbetween
Cranberry juice as a preventative but NOT concentrated - has to be pure - once you have an infection do not drink cranberry juice, it will make it worse!
Waterfall D-mannose in powder form is also good as a preventative
Bicarbonate of soda - a teaspoon in a glass of water to help make your wee less acidic, but only do this short term - not be repeated over a number of days.
If you start to feel sick and have a temperature get to the doctors - it can spread to your kidneys if not treated in time.
You actually dont need to use any soap on your lady bits! But if you have to then use a PH neutral wash like dove.

Another shout for d mannose