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

Antibiotics.

I also have been plagued by them! My advice is, at the first tingle of symptoms, point of water on the half hour for two or three hours. Try to flush it out!! If it persists, I then move on to over the counter dissolvable remedy and alternate glasses of water with ocean spray cranberry!
I find that chewing some dried cranberries or having a glass of cranberry juice very couple of days keeps them at bay.

Oh, and while it's bad. Try to have very little sugar. I don't know why but it helps me!

Drink a cup of booked water instead of tea or coffee, I find this works for me.

Cranberry juice and lots of water. Works for me. At the first signs ditch any other drinks and move onto the cj and water regime. Has worked every time and thus avoided antibiotics except when the cause was kidney stones.

I have MS and UTI are a frequent occurrence for me.

I only ever wear cotton knickers, drink plenty of fluid, lemon barley water can help as the first sign of infection, the most important thing for me is to ensure my bladder fully empties when going to the loo, use non fragrance soap/shower gel. Take d-mannose if you feel a UTI brewing.

If you are prone to UTI ask your GP if you can keep some antibiotics at home or if you are going away as an emergency measure, as if a UTI takes hold it is antibiotics you need to stop it in it’s tracks.

If ever I feel I have an infection I always drop a sample into the surgery to be checked, as it’s important to keep a record and to ensure the infection has cleared.

Sending big hugs to anyone suffering a UTI as the moment. Horrible things.

If you have a UTI drink lots of water and get a course of antibiotics.

To prevent a UTI
drink lots of water
wear cotton underwear
wash daily - as PP have said soap isn’t necessary
wipe your bum properly so that you don’t transfer bacteria from your anus to your urethra. This means always wiping from your urethra towards your anus and never in the opposite direction.
be familiar with your anatomy.

I make sure to wear plain cotton underwear and always pee after sex!

I used to get them alot and gosh they are horrible. I would really really drink alot of water and when going for a wee if it stung would take a jug and pour water on myself whilst weeing as it seemed to neitralise the wee and stop it stinginging so much. Soft loose clothing and hot sater bottle for tummy pain and regular pain killers. I would aboud anti biotics where possible because they tend to make me feel sick and give me thrush but if it gets worse definitely needs them.

Water, water and more water and a hot water bottle

Cotton undies, drink lots and I only use the tiniest bit of body wash in the shower

I firmly believe in Cranberry juice. I was introduced to this years ago in America by a doctor when my daughter developed cystitis on holiday there. We both still drink it.

As well as drinking lots of water I find if one has started to relieve the pain it helps to sit in a warmish bath. It’s only temporary relief but whilst your dosing with the water and maybe antibiotics it’s good to get some local relief

Don't go anywhere near Ocean Spray or any other cranberry juice - they are full of sugar which makes it worse! I found cranberry extract diluted in water to be much much better. Everyone is different I know but I think it's amazing stuff. You can get it in health food shops.

Lemon Barley Water cordial. Sitting in a warm bath with bicarbonate of soda added.
Loose cotton pants, very careful front to back wiping.

Tend to follow the NICE evidence rather than any study with a vested interest in the outcome.
I've suffered from "honeymoon cystitis" a few times and so urinating before and after sex can be preventative.
3 days of trimethoprim is the only thing that works for a nitrite positive dip test UTI. Paracetamol/ibuprofen for the symptoms.

Most UTI s are not infection it is a case of irritable urinary bladder and the way to treat it is drink plenty of fluid with cranberry and non steroidal anti inflammatory like ibuprofen

I try to drink plenty of water or barley water.

Go for a wee ASAP after sex. Every time. No buts. This has prevented mine for a while. Also 'double-voiding' when you wee. I try to stay for 5mins and squeeze out as much as I possibly can to prevent bacteria growth. Also don't leave it until you're desperate to wee as again that can cause bacteria growth and kidney problems if they can't drain.

GP ASAP when symptoms start for antibiotics. I get relief within an hour or so. My infections tend to spread to my kidneys pretty quick so it's really important to get them treated.

I set myself a timer for going for a wee when I have a UTI. Going more than every 15mins just makes the sting worse

I haven't had a UTI since having children but used to suffer horrendously.

I gave up caffeine and started drinking peppermint tea - it's meant to be an anti inflammatory and calms all the internal irritation.

As soon as I get slightly dehydrated, I can feel the warning signs so drink loads of water and make sure I don't go for a wee until I'm absolutely desperate. That usually seems to flush it out these days but as soon as it starts to sting, antibiotics are needed - I've spent many a long day sat on the toilet in tears.

Oh and although this is probably meant to be advertising cranberry juice, I've always felt it was too acidic to help (sorry Ocean Spray). A teaspoon of bicarb of soda dissolved in water was revolting but did help.

Although like a PP, I do love cranberry juice in a cocktail!

Cotton, loose underwear- like baggy shorts almost

Water water water and cranberry juice

Pray for mercy!

UVU URSI capsules from Holland and Barrett.
Highly concentrated Cranberry

Cranberry juice is usually my first combat drink, plus plenty of liquids...mainly water or herbal tea (I normally make a green tea and let it cool so I always have a cold drink ready). And avoid anything acidic, I don't drink soda drinks or coke at home anyway.

Antibiotics are the only thing that has cured mine but water, lose clothing and underwear plus moderate exercise has helped.