Cystitis

If still hurting on Monday morning, phone the GP first thing and tell the receptionist it is cystitis. At our GPs you get a doctors phone call fast and an antiobiotic prescription if necessary. Meanwhile drink loads of water.

I wouldn't wait till monday. I would ring 111. Over 70s dont even have to provide a sample now - not sure what happens with under 70s

Just keep drinking water! I had antibiotics for cystitis at the start of lockdown after trying to fight it for three days. My doctors said I had done the right thing to wait three days as mild cases can be helped by increasing fluids.

Cranberry juice is also good for cystitis. I hope you feel better soon.

Drink lots, avoid sugar, it feeds the bug.
I would get onto antibiotics as soon as you can, I have tried to fight it many times but it makes you feel so unwell and usually you end up on antibiotics anyway.

It's a judgement as to whether you need to ring the doctor.
The first time I had it flushing it out with the chemist's stuff worked in three days.
The second time it progress very quickly to my kidneys and I became very ill.
After that (it's been a long term problem) it's always progressed to the kidneys in a few hours. I have a permanent prescription for antibiotics so that I can deal with it as soon as it happens.
If you get back ache, blood in the urine, puffiness in the face or hands get help fast.
?

I've had cystitis as a longterm problem. Sounds like you've had excellent advice here but for what it's worth as I've got older (I'm 67) I've found that anything in my bath water - ordinary soap, shampoo, bubble bath - has been the trigger. Hopefully this is a one-off for you but just thought I'd add my experience. Hope it passes soon.

One of the worst symptoms is the burning sensation when urinating.
Just mix water and bicarbonate of soda, there’s plenty of online information regarding the quantities.
The horrible tasting sachets from the chemist are basically bicarbonate and cranberry flavoured sugar.

It won't help you before Monday, but useful to have a supply of D Mannose in the house, good for treatment and indeed for prevention.

www.trustpilot.com/review/www.waterfall-d-mannose.com

I m a bit like mellowyellow I suffered and yes it was
Suffering for about 40 years when I hit menopause which was around the same time my last relationship finished, it stopped I ve only had it once since which was quickly knocked on the head with antibiotics Now whether it was my own hormones or whether it was connected with my sexual activity I ll never know but it was a blooming blessing
As others have said lots of water to flush it out, bicarbonate of soda in the water reduces the acidity, I just put a desert full in a big glass of water and drink it every half hour I have some cranberry fizzy tablets I got in NZ and can’t find them here were very helpful but over the counter stuff may help in the very early days but if it gets hold anti biotics are really the only answer
Don’t hold on, get help if it’s not responding
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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Evie 64 is peeing blood common then?

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.

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.