Firstly, if you have a UTI you are perfectly within your rights to insist on an emergency appointment with your GP. Infections which aren't treated promptly can sometimes worsen rapidly and lead to kidney infections or further damage. So never think it's a minor complaint.
Secondly - I've suffered most of my life from UTIs. I've bought, and read, most books on the subject and tried most preventative measures in an attempt to prevent or cure attacks. Angela Kilmartin is an authority on the subject and I'd recommend reading one or her books - I have adopted her method of bottle-washing after bowel movements (sorry, couldn't find any other appropriate euphemism!) and before bed. It's important to make sure you drink regularly throughout the day.
Antibiotics will indeed help, BUT....there are fewer and fewer which are effective for UTIs these days because of antibiotic resistance. Trimethoprim used to work well for me years ago - no longer. Ditto Ceflex. The only one I can take now is Nitrofurantoin ( macrodontin).
I was worried that I'd develop resistance to this one too, but then I discovered D-Mannose. Initially I was sceptical, but to my surprise it worked. It's very expensive but cheaper if you buy it online and in bulk, which I do. I take a maintenance dose of 1 tsp twice daily. If I get twinges which I know from experience will worsen if I don't take action, I take more doses of mannose. It's something you have to work out for yourself dose-wise, but it's very safe to take and the only side-effects I've noticed when I have to take more frequent doses to cure a full-blown attack is flatulence!
It works by attaching itself to the e-coli in the bladder (or vice versa), and preventing them sticking to the bladder wall. It doesn't kill them, so there isn't a problem with resistance or killing good bacteria. You then drink plenty of fluids to flush the e-coli out, and keep repeating that till the symptoms have gone and your urine is no longer cloudy/smelly and the burning feeling gone.
It's a good idea to finish a whole pack to make sure it's really gone. Only once in the last few years have I had to resort to antibiotics - and that was when we were travelling and it wasn't easy to keep dosing with mannose, drinking loads and then going to the loo loads till it was better. This is evidence enough for me, but I'd recommend it to anyone in a similar situation.
According to the relevant websites, most UTIs are caused by e-coli, but occasionally it's a different bug and in that case d-mannose wouldn't work as well. If you've tried d-mannose and it hasn't helped, then it might not be e-coli (and the vast majority are). In that case it's best to get a urine culture done and take an antibiotic asap.
D-mannose is the active constituent of cranberry, without the sugary sweeteners. To get the same effect from cranberry juice you'd have to consume huge amounts of juice.
numberplease - I too spent years in desperation. I never thought I'd find anything that helped and I can't understand why it's not being more widely tested in clinical trials (though there is some evidence out there on the internet). Give it a go - for me, it's well worth the price. I never go anywhere without my little bag of white powder and won't ever again.
Now all I have to do is find something equally effective for anxiety and depression!
