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

lots of water. teaspoon of bicarb in water to relieve symptoms

I was told drinking any kind of fruit juice made a UTI worse by a urologist. Just plenty of water to alleviate the sting, antibiotics have been the only thing that have shifted mine.

Fingers crossed I'm not jinxing myself, but I've never had a uti . However coming from a house of females I've been around when others had had them. A big yes to Cranberry juice, and yes again to drinking lots. Another tip is to get a warm jug of water and pour it over yourself ( obvious place - not head ! 😂 ) whilst peeing !

I'm lucky enough to be one of the only women I know that hasn't had a UTI (jinxed it now haven't I?)

The only thing that I can give as a tip is to always stay hydrated!

Tongue tied baby

Hi my 6 month baby has recently had his tongue released- he breast feeds fine but when I try to bottle feed him expressed milk he gags on the bottle (tried different ones) any other mums experienced this?

Thanks in advance

Drink loads. Resist the urge to wee lots, even if it stings. Filling up your bladder properly is the best way to flush out the infection.

Recently had a UTI and tried to fight it off with loose clothing, cotton underwear, drinking cranberry juice/water etc but it wouldn't/didn't shift. I ended up in A&E after it spread to my kidneys where they tested my urine and found blood in it. I then had to have an ultrasound scan to rule out kidney stones or any other underlying problem.

My advice is see a GP if it doesn't clear up after a couple of days. I'll never leave it again. The pain in my kidneys had me on my living room floor doubled up in excrutiating pain, not what my DS needed to witness (poor kid thought I was dying)! Also agree with others that prevention is better than cure and to really make sure you're drinking enough water on a daily basis and keeping in good general health.

Cranberry juice and plenty of water. Also, cut out sugar, hug a hot water bottle and chatting with someone who is sympathetic! painkillers rather than antibiotics.

I don't drink cranberry juice, don't really drink enough water at all in fact, usually wear tight/fitted trousers and not all my knickers are cotton , but for some reason I've never had a uti!! I don't even always shower every day either in the colder months. I'm either lucky or building up to the mightiest uti of a lifetime.

Cranberry juice makes no difference at all to UTIs, unless there was nothing to drink except cranberry juice in which case it would be better than nothing.
Most people who drink a lot of water, or dilute squash or weak tea clear them faster, unless it's an infection in which case antibiotics are your friend.

Cranberry juice is the recommendation but the sugar needs to be avoided. Loads and loads and loads of water. And antibiotics if necessary.

The only thing I've ever done is to try loads of water. It does seem to flush everything out. So much easier to do this when not at work so you can go to the toilet a lot!

I'm suffering from one now! It came on on Friday so I can't see a doc until Monday. I study clinical herbalism & have been putting some of it to the test with good effect:
Obviously lots of water, avoid processed foods, dairy, spicy things, sugar etc.
Drinking nettle tea
Dosing on fire cider which I made a few months back - it's filled with all sorts of things that are meant to be good for a UTI: honey, apple cider vinegar, ginger and so on.

For me it means taking prophylactic antibiotics after sex, baths and swimming. And an additional course of antibiotics as soon as any signs of UTI appear. I was also recommended cranberry tablets, but I have not taken them, as they have not been shown to help (conclusively) by research.

Find a wall - bang your head into it?

I get the cranberry sachets and some cartons if cranberry juice plus drink lots of water. The last time I had it though, i had to get an antibiotic from a doctor in france. I felt absolutely horrendous and didn't realise just how bad it could be.
Similarly, my granny had symptoms for 10 days and didnt tell anyone because shes had it in the past and says it usually clears up on its own! Ended up with her being hospitalised for 5 days....

I have had 32 UTIs and kidney infections over the space of 2 years.

Some I have needed antibiotics and others not.

Removing caffeine from my diet completely has really reduced the severity of my UTIs, now if I have caffeine at all I get a UTI.

Eliminating sugar from my diet while I have a Uti really helps as sugar increases the pain of a UTI.

I also found that upping my intake of water, avoiding baths and cutting down on animal proteins while I have an infections really helps.

Sitting in a warm bath always soothes the pain. Then it's lots of water, paracetamol and ibuprofen. This method pretty much always works and gets rid of it in a day, but when it doesn't then go and get antibiotics.

Lots of water-mixed with cranberry juice. Cotton undies, and frankly anything that you can lose yourself in to distract you! A movie, a book...whatever floats your boat.

D-Manose sped up my recovery whenever I had one, and loooots and lots of water

Cranberry juice is the last thing I would take for a UTI. Don't know how Ocean Spray can claim that 'many' HCPs and GPs recommend cranberry juice without any actual evidence. Thankfully they have stopped short of saying that a Urologist would recommend it. After 55 years of suffering with UTIs, antibiotics are the only thing for me.

If only it was as easy as drinking a glass of juice 🙄

Drink plenty of water especially after sex and/or alcohol.
Empty your bladder after sex.
At the initial sign of discomfort, drink water, drink some more then drink some more.
Go to the GP if you are bloated/have a temperature/passing blood.
Don't drink sugary drinks or caffeine.

Lots and lots of water
Like queen I’ve been given tablets where I notice immediate effect from first one.

Unfortunately I get them often.I use D-Mannose,plenty of fluids,Cranberry juice and pain relief.

Bath in plain water: showers just don’t keep you as clean, especially without detergents.

Avoid sugar, caffeine, alcohol.