Cystitis

Ginger girl
Homeopathy has been completely discredited.
Why would you recommend consulting a homeopath? It’s a bit like recommending a witch doctor.
Yes I know homeopathic remedies work for some people. It is called the placebo effect!

Keeping yourself very well hydrated is so very important - not only for helping to prevent cystitus, but for many other conditions.

I treat my daily intake of fluids rather like I do my medication. Regular amounts. Ensure that at each meal I also have a large mug or glass of water-based drink. And, another drink in between those meals. Whenever I need to use the loo in the middle of the night, I also have a drink of water whilst I am there.

A minor attack can often be treated with those over-the-counter sachets, but a serious infection usually needs appropriate anti-biotics.

The longest spell free from symptoms was when I stopped all caffeine,

I tried the D mannose and it made no difference , except to my bank balance!
Same with Cranberry
Hot weather , not drinking and constipation all bring on my symptoms and only the correct antibiotic works , how is it that I “forget” to drink , so cross with myself !

D mannose...you should be able to buy it in a health food shop. Possibly Uva Ursi. An alkaline diet. Homeopathic remedies( you would need advice from a homeopath) . Antibiotics ...but they increasingly are ineffective for UTIs.

You have all my sympathy - it’s horrible.
I get it occasionally, and usually the sachets you can buy over the counter - my Asda has them - are enough (with of course loads of fluids) to see it off. Just once it persisted and I did need antibiotics.
Should add that I always keep a packet of those sachets handy now, just in case, since they lessen symptoms dramatically quickly. I always take some on holiday, too.

My sister in law told me that she’s been taking a cranberry tablet every day since her last bout of it many years ago, and has never had it since. Since my last bout over 2 years ago I now take one daily, too, but whether they really are that effective I couldn’t say.

I always have a bottle of potassium citrate (liquid) in the cupboard, I find it eases the pain of passing urine, however, antibiotics are still necessary if there is infection present.

I haven’t had cystitis for a few years now, I used to suffer regularly, but I’m still ready, just in case.

aggie - I find your post extremely worrying. Am beginning to think we no longer have an NHS - just a Corona Virus Health Service.

It is so important to find out exactly what sort of infection you have, and the ONLY way to do this is have a sample tested.

Last summer (thankfully before CV19 had appeared), I had almost continuous bad infections. Each time, would have a 7-day course of ab's, which helped, but did not get rid off. Within 48 hours of ending a course it would flair up again, and a different ab was needed. Was also using Vagi-fem daily.

After five weeks, and four different courses of anti-biotics, requested from GP a referral to hospital - this was treated as urgent and so, a very short time later I had a camera check on my bladder which showed a small growth.

Within two weeks I was in hospital and had a TURBT - removing that growth, which, fortunately, was benign. I was also put on a low daily dose of an anti-biotic for several months.

Since that I have only had one attack of this, and that responded well to a weeks course of anti-biotics.

I had my very first attack of cystitus on Christmas Day 1969 - five weeks after the birth of my first baby. Did not even know what it was. Meant a trip to A&E near my parents home, where we visiting. Anti-biotics dealt with it. Next attack was just after birth of third child, I was in hospital at that time,as she was premature.

Over the next few years, these would occur, seemingly with for no reason, always needed anti--biotics to deal with. No samples bothered with back in those days,. In fact, quite illegally, I was actually given an undated, but signed prescription for anti-biotics, by my GP so that I would not have to get an emergency doctor should this occur over the weekend when he was closed (he had to pay for patients to access emergency doctor) - okay this was back in the 1970's/80's.

They did increase after I was 60 years of age, but a good and sympathetic GP practice and their receptionists, meant I could get a prescription for ab's very quickly. I learned to listen to my own body with regard to this, and not try to ignore the early symptoms. Paracetomol would help to ease symptoms overnight .

I am not a great believer in either Dannose tablets or cranberry juice. I still use Vagi-fem on a weekly basis, have sample bottles at home, ready for use if necessary, and ensure that I do always drink several litres of fluid every day.

I have just finished 3rd course of antibiotics for this , fingers crossed I think this one has worked.
I can’t get a sample tested as the GP told me the labs are too busy so he is trying different antibiotics to see what works.
It is very debilitating

If you don't have backache or blood in your urine then you can continue with the bicarbonate of soda and plenty of fluids . D Manoose is excellent and worth having at home. Anaglesia such a Ibroprofen will help too.

If symptoms persist beyond three days then contact your GP as you need an antibiotic.

DO NOT take cranberry juice , it's proven to be totally ineffective .

Contary to what you might think a glass of hot water with lemon first thing is good as the lemon in the water helps the urine to remain alkaline which is what you want.

I hope you start to see an improvement soon and can I also say how very fortunate you are to only have cystitis now . However if it does persist you might benefit from some topical Oestrogen such as Vagifem, and also using a vaginal moisturiser such as YES VM or Sylk

If you have high blood pressure do not use bicarbonate of soda . Latest thinking cranberry juice is useless . I bought the pills for years and wasted my money. I have been a sufferer since childhood.

If it is a minor case of cystitus, then you may be able to 'flush' it through. Take in as much fluid as you can, at least a couple of pints every hour through the day Plain water is best, but if you get fed up with this, then flavour it very lightly with squash flavour of your choice.

Research has not found any basis for so many people's belief in Cranberry Juice. And, anything containing a lot of sugar is not good for this condition.

When passing water, try to sit upright (do not lean forward), and try to ensure you are fully emptying your bladder.

If it persists or get worse, then anti-biotics may be needed. Usually, doctors will need a sample, simply because some of these infections can be resistant to certain anti-biotics, and without a sample test there is no way of knowing this.

When showering each morning, try to turn the shower head onto that area of your body, and given it a good flush with plain warm water. If bathing, do not use any sort of bath creams or oils, etc.

Do up the amount of fluids you are taking in each day. Best way of preventing future infection is to ensure that you drink lots and lots of water every day.

I think you have to have a telephone triage at the moment, we do here anyway. Maybe your surgery has the same system? We go on line and fill in a form then get a call back.
Take a urine sample in with you when you go. Easier than doing one whilst you are there. I have had to have antibiotics for mine. All the lemon barley water, etc. doesn’t seem to sort it for me.

Evie 64 is peeing blood common then?

Thank you for all your help. It seems a little better today compared to yesterday but certainly not gone. I think I’ll speak to the doctor on Monday though just to be on the safe side.

As B9exchange said, D-mannose is an excellent supplement to take, although the weekend is a bit awkward for ordering it.
It has always cleared up my UTIs when I've been unlucky enough to get them and always keep some in the cupboard.

If you order from here - www.waterfall-d-mannose.com/d-mannose-tablets.html?s=GA-UK-WDM-PR&keyword=d'mannose&apos=&device=t&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3Nv3BRC8ARIsAPh8hgKS4zHV3fOduoDHEvN2hVKTbcPF3xxrWgmv8YJgU0-cvK8oIMj9BgQaAqLfEALw_wcB
They usually deliver the next day.

(Sorry about the long link!)

And also, I have read that Cranberry is no good while you have the infection, but helpful to take prophylactically.

My sympathies. Mine was controlled with antibiotics after starting with it when first pregnant.
Various things can bring it on. The hot spell recently so you may be dehydrated could have caused it.

If it’s caused by bacteria it might eventually affect the kidneys.

I give a sample every time but get an immediate prescription for 3 days of antibiotics. Not necessary for more than that. According to my doctor.

Sample necessary to establish type of bacteria etc, if any in urine. If they do find bacteria you’ll be put on a specific antibiotic to shift it.

My surgery do call backs. From me ringing them in the morning, there’s a prescriptive ready for me by end of day. I do the sample when I pick up the prescription.

Lots of water is a must.

Thanks Esspee about the cranberry juice on this one, I posted early to say the jury still out on the effects of the juice and having read the Google details you are quite correct. The real juice is so very expensive and as bitter and tarty as drinking pure lemon juice. But these tales go into a health page on a woman's magazine or such and we all still think it is a cure.

Cranberry juice does NOT help with cystitis according to the most recent scientific research. Google it for details.

Unfortunately old wives tales are difficult to eradicate.

I suffered with this condition for years. Drank gallons of water, cranberry juice etc and nothing really worked unless I took antibiotics. Eventually an American friend told me to take an anti-inflammatory pain killer such as Nurofen as soon as an attack started. Drink normal quantities of water but nothing excessive as this just adds to the swelling of the bladder. I've done this ever since and it never fails to cure the problem within a day or so. Good luck.

The antibiotic treatment cleared mine very quickly so don't suffer for more than a few days.

Ouch, my sympathies. It hurts, doesn't it? As others have said, you may well be able to clear it yourself, without antibiotics, by drinking lots of water to flush it out and by getting something from the pharmacy (at which point, if I remember correctly, you don't drink so much, because otherwise it won't have chance to work). But if that doesn't work and there's blood, I would call the doctor. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Go to your local pharmacist. They can prescribe for minor ailments which includes cystitis. I always keep a few satchets of Cystopurin in the house as well as a carton of light Cranberry juice. Whenever I get it, within about 2 hours I'm peeing blood and in pain, so I don't wait to see if it will settle.

Alypoole. Sorry you're unwell but first time in your life with Cystitis? Wow, you've been lucky! For what it's worth, Cystitis - for those who have had this on a number of occasions in life - always increases after the menopause. The symptoms are usually from a fairly straightforward UTI or perhaps ASB - asymptomatic bacteriuria. Both are common in older women (but much less common in men). It's said that the menopausal changes in oestrogen levels leads to changes in vaginal flora, therefore an increase in vaginal pH which increases the risk of infection.

I was told all this by a very kindly GP in France who specialised in Geriatric medicine.

You went to seek help quickly which was good and of course it's very uncomfortable. If what you bought from the pharmacy helps, keep taking it and as others have said, drink plenty of water. You need to increase your intake of water whilst you are having treatment. If you can get it, 10oz Cranberry juice each day is also a great help. But if you are in any discomfort on Monday, you should ask for a prescription from your GP before it becomes more complicated. Maybe someone at your surgery will want to test an early morning mid-stream sample which you should provide, but the sooner you seek treatment the sooner you'll feel comfortable and on the way to recovery. Good luck.

I really offer my sympathy here as been a life long sufferer. Would strongly recommend you do not take antibiotics until you have a water test. Over the years I have been subscribed them and totally a waste of time as my problem never showed any infection and told I was suffering from Interstitial Cystitis. Drinks loads and loads of water, avoid any soap and bubble bath, shower gel for showering in that region. Avoid sugar and any acid fruits should as oranges, lemons, grapefruits. The jury is still out on the Cranberry route, the juice you buy in the supermarkets is full of sugar and the pure Cranberry juice is so tart and expensive I soon gave up with that! Remember that PLJ lemon drink from the 70's aimed as a slimming drink, that gave me awful bouts of Cystitis. Took me some time to make the connection. See the Dr. if no better and take a water sample and he will do a water test and see if any infection and take it from there. Hope you feel better soon Alypoole, it really is a horrible condition. My best wishes to you.