Misery of cystitis

Quick update. I've now been symptom free for the longest time for months. I drink a glass of water with cranberry powder and take a pro-biotic on rising. With breakfast I start the doses of D-mannose. I chose the tablets and they're rather large to swallow so have to break them in half. Next time I'll buy the powder.

It was great to have a whole day away from home today and not feel anxious.

Thank you for all suggestions. Clearly between all of them we have a solution!

Dandibelle that's my remedy too and its a 100% effective... for me.

Watch out with the cranberry juice - best ask at the pharmacy if it would have an effect on your medication.

Yes, I noticed they won't sell it to the over 60's. Anyone know why?

I used to get cystitis all the time but now at the first sign I take Cystopen or cystopurin) ,( it also has a few other names ) and after 30 mins or so the symptoms disappear . You can buy it over the counter and even in the £1 shop! It is a powder that you mix with warm water and it really works quickly . I tried to buy it in Boots once but they wont sell it to the over 60`s so I go elsewhere . Give it a try

I may have misled with my comment about cutting out bread re the cystitis. I cut it out because it gives me palpitations. True. I've tested it over a period of two years and found no bread, no palpitations.

Ginny42 I am so pleased you are feeling better.

This is Gransnet at its very best: people coming together to help and advise. If one person gains the smallest insight to their problem or new ideas to try and help themselves, well done us all!

Have had this problem for years. Following various procedures it was discovered that I had a duplex ureter (the tube from the kidney to the bladder) on one side. Nobody has satisfactorily explained why this should cause recurrent UTI's but apparently it does. I have an emergency supply of antibiotics so I can start a course at the first sign, and if I have more than 4 infections in 6 months I go on a daily low dose of antibiotic for 6 months. Although this is only one tablet a day it does seem to keep attacks at bay.
Cotton underwear, no fizzy drinks or sweets, always make sure bladder is empty especially when using a public loo as sometimes if you are crouching you stop before this is the case. Has anybody mentioned always wiping from front to back?

Hope you are more comfortable now.

I had recurrent cystitis years ago, and bought Angela Kilmartin's book. I found her advice worked for me, and have had no trouble since.

Sorry I forgot to say that drinking lime juice is better than cranberry juice for me. Like Dandibelle I have also found relief with bi-carb of soda dissolved in warm water.

Hi there, I seldom post but daily read and felt I can share my experiences with you. After years of misery in this department I now have to take a daily antibiotic which is changed by my doctor every three months. Additionally I drink only decaf tea and coffee, restrict my alcohol intake and avoid all acidic foods including oranges and strawberries both of which I used to eat in large amounts. Carefully watching my diet and taking the antibiotic has kept me free of cystitis for a year now. I have had bladder infusions which helped for a short time only.

I have a friend who suffered badly with this for years and years, one day she went to a new doctor who felt that she had suffered long enough, she took samples, which confirmed what the doctor had suspected, it had originated from a vaginal infection, which once treated cured the cystitis problem, so sad that she suffered for years unnecessarily. I tend to get it when I am stressed or when I have a heavy period, and usually end upon antibiotics.

At the very first feeling. Teaspoon of bi-carb in pint of water every 2-3 hours for the first few hours. This very often stops it in its tracks.
It really does work!

Hi Ginny, I to have recurrent cystitis but luckily have a very understanding GP who lets me have a spare prescription, which I have dispensed and carry with me at all times, as it can come on v quickly. I
have had loads of tests and have white blood cells in my urine, even when I have no symptoms. Have to learn to live with it, I have MS which maybe be a connection but ?! Hey ho got to get on with it X

I am not a regular sufferer but have had a couple of bouts which flared up very suddenly and were horrendous. Both times I needed antibiotics and the pharmacist also recommended keeping a bottle of Potassium Citrate mixture to hand. I've occasionally had the feeling that the waterworks were going to play up and seemed to keep it at bay after a couple of doses. Might be worth a try although probably no help in the case of a bad infection.

It sounds as if there are a few different causes for cystitis, and each needs different treatment. I thought the urine test that your doctor does was to find out which cause and which antibiotic etc.When my Mum was in her late 70s she used to get that kind of soreness and used that lubricant cream some people use for sex. She was a bit embarrassed to ask for it , as Dad had been dead for a few years.

Ginny 42 it's good to hear you are feeling more comfortable. I have had intermittent cystitis attacks since the onset of puberty about 50 years ago. It returns whenever I am under stress or when my hormones were changing (pregnancy, menopause...).
I was interested in your remedy using tea tree oil. I have used that and lavender oil, sometimes together, but always well diluted, with success for both cystitis and thrush. (And I have sometimes had both complaints together.)
None of the other women in my family seem to have suffered from these horrible conditions so I sometimes wonder why me? I have read that the additives and pollution we are subjected to nowadays may be to blame.

I thoroughly recommend D-Mannose too. I've suffered from recurring UTI's for years and since the menopause they became more frequent and more painful. I saw D-Mannose recommended on here and thought, what the heck I'll give it a try. I take 1 multi probiotic capsule and 1 D-Mannose capsule every day...and it really works. I had to do something as I became allergic to the antibiotics resulting in a visit from paramedics after suffering anaphylactic shock!

Good posts NemosMum I agree with you.

Sorry to argue but my thrush was once diagnosed as being caused by the yeast present in bread and wine. This was after a negative result from the GP. Went to the STD clinic. Wonderful people. Got intensive treatment. (Was some years ago! Don't think I would be comfortable going there now).

A treatment that worked for me if I caught the cystitis early enough is as follows (sounds a bit gross but tbh I would have tried anything to feel better): run a warm bath and make sure you can easily reach the taps to top it up. Take a large jug/flask of warm lemon barley solution (at least two pints) and a cup or beaker and place within reach. Lie in the bath for as long as possible, drinking as much lemon barley as you can and peeing into the bath as you get the urge. Stay there and keep drinking and peeing. Being in the warm water allows you to pee with minimal pain or stinging. Constant drinking helps flush out the infection. Let some water out of the bath after each pee, top the bath up to keep comfortably warm and to help muscles relax.

This has worked for my daughter too. It may not get rid of it completely if it's a bad case but it can tide you over until you get the antibiotics or other treatment underway.

When it makes you nervous to leave home (or the nearest loo) you'll try anything.

As others have said, repeated courses of anti-biotics often results in thrush, another niggly discomfort you have to cope with.

I have used a little E45 cream and a drop of tea tree oil mixed in the palm of my hand, and applied to the area. Tea tree is powerful, so be sparing with it. It just feels cold, no stinging. Alternatively I put a drop in the gusset of panties and always iron the cotton gusset with a hot iron.

Inishowen you have to be careful with cranberry drinks with sugar. I use Lambert's cranberry complex powder.

It's important to find something that works for you. I worried when I read that the infection can backtrack to the kidneys, so will continue to test all suggestions. I've now had several days feeling comfortable.

D-Mannose. I can recommend it. Have suffered cystitis for years, have had investigations to no avail. I have to keep antibiotics at home because of the swiftness of onslaught and severity of pain. I always try D-Mannose at the first twinge and 90% of the time I avert the attack. It annoys me that many people think cystitis is just a burning sensation and urination frequency, I don't think they understand the chronic pain it produces, to me its like someone grabbing hold of a muscle just above the pubic region and twisting and squeezing! Agony.

tigger - I used to make "pot.cit" with boiled up barley, then drain off the water and use that, which is the potassium, plus orange juice
Much nicer than the horrible pot.cit. stuff the doctor used to give.

I can't believe this topic has come up. I had my first attack of cystitis yesterday, at the age of 63. I've drunk a carton of cranberry juice and the symptoms are less painful.