Cystitis

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 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

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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 !

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

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.

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!