UTI came on overnight and I have a 5 hour journey to get home today - help!

[BlueyTuesdays]

I’m staying at a friend’s on my way home from holiday and have been up since 1am with a UTI that suddenly turned up out of nowhere. I have to get home today and it’s a 5 hour drive (DH is with me so can do the driving).

How on earth do I make it back?! I need to wee about every 30 seconds right now. Its so painful and I can’t hold on for more than a few minutes at a time.

Nearest large supermarket opens at 7 so hoping they have some over the counter stuff - but that’s the granules you have to drink I think - will that help alleviate the burn and need to wee?

We have to get back today!

Pharmacists can prescribe for simple uti under the Pharmacy First scheme in England. Look up where does pharmacy first close to where you are this morning?

I had UTI on plane once and used incontinence pad. Hope it's not too bad for the journey OP!

If I can't get anti biotics then my go to is industrial strength Cranberry tablets or Dmannose both from Amazon. Cranberry juice is useless it's just not strong enough. Maybe Holland and Barrett might stock these?

Can't you get to a chemist? I'm sure I read on here that you can now get anti biotics from a chemist without going to the GP. This would defnitely be your best bet.

You have my sympathies UTis are awful.

By chemist I meant pharmacy.

Boots do a prescription you can collect if you think it requires anti biotics otherwise I would wear an incontinence pad.

As well as the above, I find a heat pack helps distract from the burning when I have a UTI. Could you get some of those self heating patches to put on your lower abdomen? Then maybe you could keep replacing throughout the trip?

Sorry though OP, maybe not the best idea in this heat! Bless you, hope you manage to get somewhat comfortable in your journey X

I’ve had a recent serious of UTIs. First buy the over the counter stuff, the Canesoasis brand is the strongest and quickest relief. Drink lots, sip all the time, you can probably get away with a wee every 45 mins once it starts working, so plan those service station breaks and wear the incontinence pads for support.

im sorry you’re going through that it’s utterly miserable.

In the meantime does the friend have any bicarbonate of soda?its foul but a tsp in water does the same thing for relief. Also a hot water bottle helps.

Look for the nearest pharmacy first in Google, most pharmacies can provide antibiotics for this now.

Yes try a pharmacy , you can order ahead with Boots and Superdrug online
Also these take the edge off and are handy for any future flare ups

www.boots.com/lucovital-urinary-tract-14-effervescent-tablets-10261258

Another vote for the pharmacy first scheme for antibiotics. Also lots of cranberry juice. It'll be a difficult drive though with lots of wee stops

If your friend has some sodium bicarbonate, stir a teaspoon into a large glass of water and drink, then repeat after an hour. Tastes revolting but very effective.

Mind over matter works for me. You know when you go the the loo there will be nothing there so just keep telling yourself that.

Tena type pants have been a life saver when I've had UTIs and been away from home,

At least you don't have to worry about getting to the loo

Thank you all so much! DH is at the nearest big supermarket stocking up as the pharmacy doesn’t open until 9am.

Pharmacy First online won’t work - get all the way through the questions and the page then goes nowhere and only offers a link to start the consultation again. Anyway I will see if I can get some antibiotics sorted once I’m home

Don’t ignore usual pain relief - paracetamol helps me quite a bit with pain and burning (and no burning means less urgency to pee)

Orange juice and paracetamol do have an effect for my DC.

If you call 111, they can connect you to an out of hours GP that will prescribe antibiotics for you to pick up. Good luck - UTIs are the worst!

Hope you feel better soon!

Glad you have managed to get the powders at least now OP.

I had the start of one yesterday.
Fortunately i was at home with a supply of 'Cystopurin' (Amazon) and took 2 Nurofen lemon meltlets (paracetamol makes me heave and has never worked for me)
Amazingly, I managed to catch it in time using both methods.

Usually I would always need antibiotics, so my theory is that taking an effective pain killer early on can settle down your bladder (and yourself) so the Powder can get to work.
Just a theory though..