Hi Beloved -- I have just come off antibiotics for a UT infection, so I truly feel your pain! What I learned this time is not to delay treatment -- it wasn't until I had a back pain that I went to the doctor -- not a good idea. I know that you love your cola (my weakness is coffee), and caffeine is one of the primary irritants 

I also used a different laundry detergent (cheap and perfumey), which likely didn't help either. Spicy food, which I love is also a culprit.  I also decreased my fluid intake after supper so I wouldn't have to get up and pee so often in the night, and that wasn't a good idea either. The kidneys need enough fluid, so I guess it was kind of a perfect storm for an infection.

I heard keeping your urine ph right (no clue what that would be) is important and cranberry juice is supposed to help with that, but it has to be unsweetened and I find it too sour. 

Anyway, ((hugs)) and hope you're feeling better soon -- UTI's are nasty.. 

HI Beloved,

I am prone to UTIs.  Cranberry juice can help, as can pills, but they only actually help with certain strains of bacteria.  It's actually not a pH thing like first thought, there's a compound that prevents adhesion of little hair like structures of bacteria to the bladder wall.  There's also a tea I like call cran-aid tea that I take at the start of one, it contains another plant in addition to the cranberry that may help, but no conclusive studies have really been done.

As for avoiding them - not consuming too much sugar and staying hydrated.  There are also physical things to avoid getting bacteria into the urinary tract.  Cotton underwear, hygiene when using the bathroom, urinating after sex, avoiding reflux when urinating.  I'm guessing you've heard most of those things already though.

Thanks . . . by  treatment do you mean anti-biotics.  Despite drinking lots of liquids I feel worse . . . I'm going to head to the clinic in the morning.

Thanks, chemgal . . . drinking cranberry juice tonight . . . hopefully it will help some.

Beloved, if you have one already definately go to the doctor.  You'll need some antibiotics.  I usually feel better by the 2nd day and often get a prescription for 4-5 days so hopefully you can avoid taking them for 10+ days.  Hopefully the juice will at least make you a little more comfortable until then!

Oh, here's some advice for the clinic:

Avoid going to the bathroom right before you leave.  As soon as you check in, mention that you think you have a bladder infection and that you would like to use bathroom and provide the sample now.

It will save you some time (every doctor has always wanted a urine sample) and you'll be a little more comfortable rather than debating if you can go while waiting for the doctor and then again to provide enough for a proper sample.

Glad you're seeing the doctor tomorrow, Beloved. You'll feel better soon. The antibiotic that I was prescribed was for 5 days. Worked well. I was surprised at how quickly the urine results are in. It was about 15 minutes. Great advice re: collecting a sample. I could only manage a dribble, but they don't need much.

Ninja, I could

have written this, thanks,saved me time. lol

If you happen to live on the west coast, Arbutus  (madrone) leaf tea is a very effective cure.

Okay . . . here's the update . . .

By late afternoon the pain became constant, not just when I was voiding . . . by 8 p.m. I had my hubby take me to emergency because it was awful (I believe I have a very high tolerance to pain, and I was in tears!)

I saw the doctor in emergency after waiting for about 2 hours - which was fine, I expected that.

Based on what I described she started treatment for an infection.  We have a small hospital and there are no lab services at night unless a real emergency call-in.  I had to take a sample this morning.  She will change my prescription if the results show different.  Last night she started me on Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim - anybody have any experience with this?  She asked if I was allergic to sulpha drugs . . . I said I didn't think so (this morning I realized I've probably never taken sulpha drugs).  I have taken very few medications in my whole lifetime and I hate taking them.

But, I did start to feel better this morning.  The pain isn't anywhere near what it was last night.

I am continuing to drink lots of water and some cranberry juice.

For those of you who have had this, or get infections regularly, my heart goes out to you - yesterday was not a good day!

For all who offered comments and caring thoughts, thank you!!

I hope you are totally better ninjafaery . . . today I have great empathy for you.

I haven't been drinking cola for quite a bit . . . but have been drinking herbal tea, and sometimes green tea that is caffenated - I am going to stop that!

What is the significance or reason for not wanting to get up and pee in the night?  I get up at least once a night?

Oh chemgal, I have the greatest empathy for you too!  I hope you are UTI free for a long time.

Thanks for the info re: sugar.  I try not to have sugar in my diet, but every once in awhile I binge on candy . . . that's it for awhile!!  I also generally drink a lot of water, but have slipped on that . . . so back to lots of water!

Thanks crazyheart for your well wishes !   I know you have experienced a lot with your own health - and with all of it I hope you don't frequently experience UTI's.  I feel like such a baby in my little spell of unwell when I know what you and many others have had to deal with with your health.  You have been such an inspiration to all of us!

No west coast treatments available for me, witch . . . I'm stuck right dab almost in the middle of the country in Manitoba LOL!

But I will remember that if I ever run across it.

Do you totally rely or use natural products for your health concerns, witch?  If so, is it your experience that it works better than man-made drugs.  I just hate taking medication . . . (man-made) . . .

Here the pharmacy prints off a two page sheet with hows, whys, and what might happens . . . I hate those pages, I keep looking for the reactions . . .

Anyhow - just a chuckle, one side affect could be loss of appetite . . . now of course that probably won't happen to me (so I could lose about 5 pouds I gained over winter) . . . I'll probably get the "peeling skin" one LOL!

Beloved ,it is the burning that gets me but I don't get it often, thank goodness. Hope that part has lessened for you although, I found I felt punky for a few days after.

Beloved, sorry to hear it got that bad but glad to hear you are feeling better.  For me, I know it's time to go to urgent care when instead of blood tinged urine there's just blood.  It's been a long time since they have been that bad.  The last one I had caused some discomfort, but it wasn't too horrible.

Between bladder, sinus, skin and respiratory infections I've taken many antibiotics, so could have taken that combo before.  I know when I get bad ones I'm usually given one that also helps with the pain and turns your pee orange, I forget what it's called though.  If you're worried about antibiotics, start eating some yogurt or probiotics, it helps.  Whether something is man-made or natural doesn't make it 'better'.  Natural products aren't regulated the same and you never know how much of a dose you're getting.  Many drugs are just purified natural compounds, where it's known what and how much is in the pill.

Avoid sugar now while you're sick.  As long as you're not going nuts when you're healthy though, I find it doesn't make a big difference.  For me, staying hydrated is the big issue.  I actually have to consciously think about drinking enough.  When I notice the very beginning of an infection then I cut back on sugar and start with the cranberry (juice, pills, tea, whatever I have on hand) and drinking more fluids.

Yes . . . definitely not feeling up to par . . . I guess you could say "punky" LOL . . . just a bit weak and foggy in the brain.

But so glad to be on the mend.

Beloved - I am glad to hear that you are on the mend today. I had a UTI once, as a child, and that was enough!

I tend to go for the natural cures first, and I tend to use the local cures as much as possible. Ethnoibiology is a passion of mine as well as a useful tool. You should try to see if there was a traditional cure for your condition used by the native population in your area, as Arbutus was the tradiitional cure in my area.

I find that natural cures work for most things, so long as you are willing to listen to your body and not wait until the last minute. Natural cures tend to work slower and less dramatically than commercial medicine.

On the other hand, modern medicine also has it's place. If the natural cure doesn't work, or I've left it too late, or it's for a serious condition not covered in my knowledge, Then I certainly go for the doctor. I'm fortunate to have a doctor who recognizes that natural remedies can have a vlauable place alongside modern medecine, so I always tell her what I've taken and seek her advice for things like interactions.

On the other, other hand, you must be careful for the charlatans in the natural remedy trade, and there are quite a few. Natural remedies require more work and study, but they yeld more gentle results,

If you're drinking a very large amount of fluids,  which is usually good for a UTI (drink lots, pee lots!) be aware that it's possible to throw off your electrolyte balance - you may pee out too much sodium for example,  resulting in feeling foggy, confused, etc.   So if that seems a factor, I would suggest some gatorade or similar sports drink tossed into the mix.

Thanks carolla, I never thought of that!

Beloved, hoping you're feeling more like yourself today!

I'm starting to feel more like myself . . . and for the most part I feel a lot better.  But I don't feel right back to normal.  Still a bit of pain and pressure.  I'm too impatient, I want this to be gone now!!  Feel very sluggish (perhaps from infection, perfhaps from antibiotics).  Still awaiting actual results from culture.  I know I am going to be much better soon . . . and I am so thankful I am not in as much pain as I was on Monday!

Thanks, chemgal!

Sorry you still feel punky. 10 days it will all be over.

Glad you're starting to feel better -- keep takin' care of yourself.

Re: getting up in the night to pee -- I sometimes have to get up at 5:30 am to go to work, so it becomes a real nuisance to be up 2 or more times in the night and then feel tired the next day because I can't get back to sleep.

How are you doing, Beloved? Hope you're back to normal now.

Thanks, ninjafaery.  Feeling better.  Hoping to be 100% very soon :)  Still awaiting report from doctor and whether or not I have to have more antibiotics.

I used to get UTI's rather frequent, trying to avoid washrooms (darn gender issue) and the Dr, told me a big culprit is holding your urine. (Along with wiping wrong and intercourse-massages bacteria from vagina into the urethra) 

But, he did test me for diabetes as it runs in the family and that is another reason for frequent UTI's 

I am getting them more again and they say another fun factoid of menopause.

Well, this is the first one I've ever had (still waiting for it to be confirmed as such), and I hope it is the LAST!

Do you always take antibiotics when you get an infection, SG?
 

Do you always go to the doctor when you think you are getting or have an UTI, SG?

How about others . . . do you always take antibiotics?

Beloved,

My doctor and I do not rush antibiotics because of other health issues.

Most often, I do not even go in to the doctor. I have urine tests strips that test for nitrites. It says "yep, you have a UTI" and I eat cranberries and try to work on my urine pH (reduce acidic foods and yeast/sugars and increase alkaline stuff). I drink lots of water. There are also some herbs that seem to help.

If a UTI was not resolving (I retest) I would not resist going to the doctor or taking antibiotics.

that is one of the things i'd redesign aboot the human female anatomy -- things are really crowded 'down South'.

Yes, I for one have always preferred the male anatomy -on others.

The only time UTI's were a problem for me was in my young hippy days.

Too many shared bathrooms -and too many shared males. (And to think I actually thought "free love" was exciting. Duh!) 

Now that sex just happens in my mind, I'm UTI free.

(I nearly said "between my ears" - but I could see that could be misinterpreted).

Beloved,

Don't much around with these nasties - take antibiotics and recover more quickly.......

Have you checked out that you don't have late onset diabetes? Sometimes, according to friends, the two seem to go together.........

"Crowded down south"... so what parts of the south would secede from the union ?  LMAO

Howzabout "Vaginia" - formerly known as Virginia -until she was courted by a fella called Tex(as)..............

LOL . . . you two are c-r-a-z-y !

Beloved, the anatomy of my kidneys is odd.  I don't know if what is true for me is true for most people.  I was told at a young age to be careful about the number of infections I get, as it could mean having surgery to improve the connection to my urinary tract.  I also think there is a greater worry about it moving up to my kidneys.  I had a really bad infection about 10 years ago.  It wasn't into my kidneys yet, but when I showed up at the ER I was taken in immediately as they considered it to be internal bleeding.

For me, by the time I notice it is usually a full blown infection, and I go get antibiotics.  Sometimes, I do catch signs like the need to go to the bathroom more often (usually I could manage with only 2 times a day) or slight discomfort without too much burning.  Then I might let it go and start the cranberry products.  It tends to either get better ASAP or else it gets worse the next day and I get antibiotics.  Sometimes I think the cranberry products allow me to avoid a trip to urgent care in the evening and delay seeing a doctor until the morning.

I hear Uranus is in talks aboot moving even farther from Vaginia.  Vaginia is still dealing with a lovely boquet of Clitoria Bluepea.

Greetings all!

Thank you so much for all you all have shared on this site.  I learned some new information and had a few smiles and chuckles.

Just a little bit of an update . . . finished the 3 days of antibiotics the doctor gave me on Monday.  I called the clinic this morning but the doctor is away at a course today.  I was curious about the results as I really wanted to know if what I had was a UTI.  The nurse assured me that the doctor would have called if there was something I needed to know or whether I needed more antibiotics.  Anyhow, I guess I will find out for sure on Monday.  I am feeling much better, and hope to continue doing so.  I am continuing to drink lots of water.

When I go for my next complete with my doctor I am going to check into the Type 2 diabetes that some of you mentioned above as that was prevalent in my dad's family as well as my mom (they used to call it "late onset"). 

Just a thought as well Beloved....

Cranberry juice isn't jst a cure, it's a preventative as well. If it turns out that you're susceptible to UTI, a glass of chranberry juice every day will save you a lot of sufferening in the end.

Plus it can't hurt.

Okay, one glass a day it is.  Someone mentioned above that it had to be unsweetened . . . I can't find any here.  I think the only brand I can buy here is Ocean Spray - which is either sweetened or "diet".  Please don't tell me I have to buy cranberries and make my own juice .

Beloved, it's not in the juice aisle.  You usually find it with the organic foods (and at safeway sometimes with the juice in the dairy aisle). 

It tends to be expensive, about $10 for a bottle.  I think it's a 1L, maybe 1.5L?

Beloved, glad you're feeling better. You may want to look into taking lactabacillus acidophilus while taking your antibiotics and for a time afterwards. (Just google lactabcillus acidophilus for UTI's)

Just an update . . .

Feeling pretty much back to normal . . . no more pain or discomfort.

Continuing to drink lots of water and cranberry juice occasionally (no Safeway or organic here . . . in dairy aisle it is Tropicana, which also has sugar).

Never heard anything back from the doctor - the nurse assured me that she would have called it there was anything I should be concerned about or needed to do.  I am due for a complete physical.  When my doctor returns at the end of June I am going to make an appointment for a complete physical and get her to update me on the actual findings in the report.

Thanks to all who answered questions and expressed concern and get well wishes - I believe I am now well!

The ocean spray is fine. Yes you should avoid sugar, but cranberry juice without some sweetening is undrinkable. The benefits of the cranberries offset any harm the little bit of sugar will do.

Owee, I felt that drawing, burning starting on Monday but like Beloved...I don't like to take meds.  I tried the natural remedies but ended up in the clinic this afternoon.  I was given a bit of trouble from the doc about waiting too long and I definitely won't do that again.  Man that hurts!!

I found the unsweetened cranberry juice at the drugstore when I picked up my Novo-trimel and I actuallly like it.  Ibuprofen is helping as well. 

I'm going to google ethnobiology, Witch....thanks for the tip, and thanks everyone for the advice on this thread! 

I like the real unsweetened cranberry juice too.  It's very tart, and they do recommend diluting it which I do if I'm drinking it in the morning .

Beloved, I never hear back about the results.  They just say they will call if the antibiotics are the wrong ones for the strain of the infection.  Glad to hear you're better!