UTI's/Cystitis

Solarball10

Does anyone else suffer from these frequently? I'm suffering at the moment (had another one about 2/3 weeks ago, it's probably the same one which didn't clear up properly)

It's so PAINFUL

Loopy

Its awful you poor thing. I used to suffer terribly with it along with urinary infections the only thing that worked was cranberry juice and anti-biotics..

You have to take all your anti-biotics and clear the infection up properly.
I know of someone who ended up on dyalisis because he didn't look after UTI's properly.

Beruthiel

ozzyoh wrote: »

Does anyone else suffer from these frequently? I'm suffering at the moment (had another one about 2/3 weeks ago, it's probably the same one which didn't clear up properly)

Have you changed your diet so you don't get them frequently?

Solarball10

I always finish my course of anti-biotics..the dialysis thought really scares me! I think my diet is relatively ok...fruit, veg, etc...I drink loadsa water and cranberry juice...Cystopurin is a lifesaver, that take away some of the pain at least - I used to suffer from them when I was a kid, and then they just stopped. They only started again when I became sexually active, which is awful cos now whenever I have sex I can't help worrying that I'll get one after wards...and yes I drink plenty water before/after and always have a shower every day.....GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Latex allergy to condoms can cause UTI's. If you do use them, you could try avanti to see if it is that.
Btw you pee after right?

Solarball10

Moonbaby wrote: »

Latex allergy to condoms can cause UTI's. If you do use them, you could try avanti to see if it is that.
Btw you pee after right?

Yep always...(btw condoms aren't used much as I'm on Pill and in steady relationship)

Thats so annoying.
All I can suggest is that you keep drinking cranberry juice to ward them off.

dh2007

you poor thing. I know exactly how you feel. I'm always getting them and they are so debilitating!

don't drink any tea or coffee or eat chocolate - the caffeine is an irritant. I've only recently discovered this to be a major trigger and I've been much better since

get well soon

Lil' Smiler

Ugh UTI's!! I suffered badly with them about 3 years ago, was very run down, used to drink sooooooooooo much caffeine.

Got cystitis, was treated with Anti B's but was too late and developed into a Kidney Infection, which was the worst pain I have ever experienced then that cleared up but a week later the cystitis came back So nearly a month and a half of this!!

I always make sure to keep myself very well hydrated and to make sure I go to the loo often and especially after sex.

Solarball10

dh2007 wrote: »

don't drink any tea or coffee or eat chocolate - the caffeine is an irritant. I've only recently discovered this to be a major trigger and I've been much better since

get well soon

I didn't know caffeine was bad :eek: Me mam is always tellin me to drink plenty of tea and I do! ooooooh I wont be making that mistake again....

Oryx

Regular paracetamol helps with the worst of the pain. I was also told to drink Robinsons barley water (you can get it mixed with fruit flavour) its very good. Barley water from boiled barley is an old cure when we werent posh enough for cranberry.
Be careful with cranberry, if it has lots of sugar it might not help you. Cranberry powder is supposed to be good, try a health food shop for that.

I had cystisis chronically for a few years. I had to stick rigidly to a no tea no coffee regime, and plenty of barley water, peeing after sex, all of that. It took a while to clear fully, but its never recurred once I got rid of it fully.

Eviledna

I used to get these all the time, they always developed into kidney infections too. The best advice I got was from my doc when I asked him straight out how sex affects it. He said:

1. Pee after sex, immediately
2. Be extremely careful how you wipe yourself when you go to the loo, front to back, and be accurate!
3. Most of all, even if you think you don't need it, use lubricant.

Number three there cracked it for me. I didn't think I needed it at all, but invested in a bottle of the durex play (big purple bottle) and started to use it liberally (which is giggly fun when all slippy:D) and it made all the difference. I now use it every single time and I haven't got one in a year.
The pill can really reduce fluids down there and you can sometimes not even notice it. Hope this helps!

tinkerbell

Oh god there's nothing worse than a UTI / cystitis / kidney infection! What you need to do is buy a tub of cranberry capsules & Acidophilus capsules from the pharmacy (they are available in all pharmacies - made by Sona I think, they are just supplements) and take them every day. The cranberry ones have very high potency and a pharmacist told me that they are far better than drinking cranberry juice.

The acidophilus is taken to restore the good bacteria in your body. You up your dosage when you are taking antibiotics so that you don't get thrush so if you are on antibiotics and a woman take the god damn acidophilus!!!! You don't want to have to suffer with a kidney infection or whatever only for your antiBs to fix it and then for you to get thrush because the antiBs kill off your good bacteria and have to take more antibiotics!

EDIT: since you are suffering now, I'd defo recommend the cranberry tablets. Seriously, go talk to your pharmacist and they'll more than likely tell you to take them. Also they will stop you suffering from them in future. I haven't had a kidney infection since I started taking them - I had to coz my doc went mental the last time I got one coz it was so bad, I'll never ever forget the pain of driving to the doctor that evening, I don't ever want to go through that again! So cranberry tablets all the way

allabouteve

ozzyoh wrote: »

I always finish my course of anti-biotics..the dialysis thought really scares me! I think my diet is relatively ok...fruit, veg, etc...I drink loadsa water and cranberry juice...Cystopurin is a lifesaver, that take away some of the pain at least - I used to suffer from them when I was a kid, and then they just stopped. They only started again when I became sexually active, which is awful cos now whenever I have sex I can't help worrying that I'll get one after wards...and yes I drink plenty water before/after and always have a shower every day.....GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Something to try might be a probiotic supplement or drink for a week after each course of antibiotics to rebuild your intestinal flora and fauna so to speak, as this helps reistance to further infection.

scoot on

I get cystitis quite a bit aswell, although I haven't had it in a while. I'm always completely paranoid that I can feel it coming on! It's such a dose! The most uncomfortable thing in the world. I don't really know what's made the difference but I haven't suffered with it in a while. Anytime I feel like I may be feeling it about to start I drink loads of water and cranberry juice.

b3t4

Thankfully I've only ever had cystitis once. I remember it being very painful. Thankfully the antibiotics cleared it up and I haven't had another one since. I do try to follow the pee immediately after sex and drink plenty of fluids rule.

I have a friend who suffers from them regularly. I'll send her on a link to this thread to see if it helps her any.

A.

bronte

I had a rotten case of this about a year ago.
It was horrible :mad: Four weeks of hell!
Def take the antibiotics, plenty of water etc.
They're awful

Lil' Smiler

scoot on wrote: »

I'm always completely paranoid that I can feel it coming on!

Ditto, it's a horrible feeling, I must seem like a have the tiniest bladder to everyone, am always going to the Loo or if I do feel it coming on i'm drinking as much as a I can.

Isn't there meant to be something about the type of underwear your wear aswell that can make a difference?

Miss Fluff

Yep cystitis is a bummer and often caused by enthusiastic lovemaking. Important that you pee after sex as holding it in can cause it too OP, you need to get rid of any lurking bacteria.

FYI

How can I prevent cystitis?

Use condoms during sex and anal sex.
If cystitis often occurs after sex you and your partner should both wash (just with water) before sex. Also try using lubricant to lower the risk of friction.
Pee immediately before and after having sex to flush out any dodgy bacteria.
Always drink 8 or more glasses of water a day.
Pee at least 6 times a day.
Try to avoid sugary drinks, alcohol, strong, tea or coffee.
Drink unsweetened cranberry juice.
Wipe from front to back after going to the toilet to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Don't use any strong soaps, creams, deodorants or powders in the vagina area: just cool water.

Solarball10

Thanks for all your tips guys A lotta stuff there that I didn't know before!

cuckoo

Miss Fluff wrote: »

Pee at least 6 times a day.

That's a lot of peeing. I'm a fiend for drinking water and wouldn't go that often.

+1 on the peeing after sex, once i got diligent about that never had a dose of cystitis again. It works, but i would feel terribly jealous of himself as he would be snoozing in the afterglow and i'd have to drag myself out of the bed, and off to the loo to run the sink taps and think of rivers and oceans in order to pee on demand.

amtc

nothing worse than cystitis.....read somewhere that 30% of women get once and 70% of those get more than once. have got 2/3 times every year in last ten! doctor gave me antibiotics but now resistant to ipral, macrodantin (standard ones) so gave me broad spectrum ones (augmentin, clorom)...which cause thrush. Great!

Ended up having full STI screen, all clear, and then ultrasound to see why so may UTIs.

Answer: just cause you're a woman. sick of them. Would love to find something that would help. Take cranberry tablets and juice but regular as clockwork (sex or not) get every 2-3 months.

bronte

I got given augmentin , you can combat the itchy with acidophilus.
Gets rid of any nasty side effects.

catxxx

they are the most painful things ever and its so annoying how sex can be a trigger... my doc told me to pee before and after sex but I was thinkin its not the biggest turn on in the world for your guy if you get up during foreplay to pee!
but yeah loads of water and pain killers too and if that doesnt work I guess it'll have to be anti biotics.... feel better!

molmoo

i have suffered from uti's, kidney infections and cystitis for the past year. i only had this trouble when i became sexually active on a regular basis. i was so bad at one stage i couldnt work for 3mths and didnt bother going out. i went to a consultant it was so bad. she advised me to use hypoallergenic condoms and lubricant all the time. this helped greatly. also the usual cranberry juice/tablets/ water/ pee before and after sex(essential), also to change sex positions(from behind & woman on top allows women to controll how penetrative it is), dymanose is good if you cant stomach cytopurin(which i cant). you can get it on www.dymanose.com.

i had a copper coil inserted which also makes you prone to infection. getting this was the biggest mistake of my life. i was never so sick with kidney infections in my life. awful. im am advising young women who have not had kids not to get this done. i only got the coil cos i was desperste cos i cant take the pill. i am only saying this because the coil causes uti's and can lead to cystitis...so advoid like the plague ladies....

quinevere

I had my appendix removed 2 years ago immediately afterwards I got some severe kidney infections and am now prone to them get them in winter every month, I always have a dull ache in my right hand side of my back and My back at the right hand and left hand side gets extremely cold and hurts and a few days later i'll get a kidney infections they are more common in winter for me.

I normally am perscribed ciproxin and have no other symptoms till i start to feel very sick and the pain in my back worsens

Pythia

Thankfully I have never had this.

Clare Bear

Pythia wrote: »

Thankfully I have never had this.

Me too. Sounds horrible

gcgirl

Miss Fluff wrote: »

Yep cystitis is a bummer and often caused by enthusiastic lovemaking. Important that you pee after sex as holding it in can cause it too OP, you need to get rid of any lurking bacteria.

FYI

How can I prevent cystitis?

Use condoms during sex and anal sex.
If cystitis often occurs after sex you and your partner should both wash (just with water) before sex. Also try using lubricant to lower the risk of friction.
Pee immediately before and after having sex to flush out any dodgy bacteria.
Always drink 8 or more glasses of water a day.
Pee at least 6 times a day.
Try to avoid sugary drinks, alcohol, strong, tea or coffee.
Drink unsweetened cranberry juice.
Wipe from front to back after going to the toilet to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Don't use any strong soaps, creams, deodorants or powders in the vagina area: just cool water.

Pretty much bang on here !! you can't go wrong with this!

Solarball10

I'm not sure but I think I still have mine...this has been going on a month now First I had one, took tablets, seemed to clear, then the following fortnight I started feeling awful again...more than likely, it was still the first one which hadn't been cured completely. First I took Augmentin, didn't work, on my last Cifloxager tab today, it doesn'y hurt anymore peeing or anything...it's just I can still FEEL something there...still a bit uncomfortable in the mornings but then it seems to go away later in the day...I'm not being paranoid, I'm still def not 100%! I've spent nearly €200 on doctor visits/antibiotics on this one bloody infection AAARGHHHHHHHHHHH!

mollybird

i knew i wasn't imagining it. i don't drink tea or coffee but how i do love my coke a cola. my daily can of coke was my trigger!! i got them every 2 months for a full year nearly. the last one i got was the day of my boyfriends bro's wedding over in spain. his dad had to try find me a chemist two hours before the wedding i felt so bad. after that i went to a specialst and was on anti biotics (a low dosage) for 3 months. and have not looked back since even though all my tests came back clear.

i don't believe in all that drinking water and cranberry stuff crap. i feel it doesn't do anything for me. as for cystopurin. oh how i am so grateful but i did find in the end it really didn't do anything for it. it's like i took it so much that my insides were immune to it.

jezza

I have only ever had it once in my entire life and i tell ya. It was more than enough.

ilwk

ozzyoh wrote: »

First I had one, took tablets, seemed to clear, then the following fortnight I started feeling awful again...doesn'y hurt anymore peeing or anything...it's just I can still FEEL something there...still a bit uncomfortable in the mornings but then it seems to go away later in the day...I'm not being paranoid, I'm still def not 100%! quote]

totally agree with you!!i had one there last feburary thought id never get rid of it!!!eventually it went but i had that uncomfortable feeling for ages after i had completed my anti-biotics especially in the morning when i woke.

sounds disgusting but i used to drink alka-seltzer dissolved in a little water in the morning and it stopped that irritating, uncomfortable feeling. worked wonders:)

hope your feeling better soon

tinkerbell

mollybird wrote: »

i don't believe in all that drinking water and cranberry stuff crap. i feel it doesn't do anything for me. as for cystopurin. oh how i am so grateful but i did find in the end it really didn't do anything for it. it's like i took it so much that my insides were immune to it.

Cystopurin is just cranberry stuff to get rid of the UTI. Cranberry juice ain't that good for you anyway unless you actually make it yourself coz the shop bought stuff is just full of sugar which is gonna trigger off the UTIs again. Just take the cranberry tablets, much better plus no horrible taste, unlike cranberry juice!

dee8839

My deepest sympathies OP. What I find eases the pain is gallons of water. As in, I used to sit down with a 2L bottle of water and just down it in 4 pints. It doesn't cure it, but it does somewhat ease it. Thanks to the poster about cranberry tablets, must try that.

My worst one was in New York on J1. It got so bad that I ended up in hospital with a hefty bill. I collapsed in the middle of Times Square. Its also horrible how it can make you feel you need to urinate very frequently. Can be horribly embarrassing and limiting.

Take care of it early, when I was about 14 one got so bad I had to go for an exploratory surgery to see if my kidneys were permanently damaged. They weren't thank god, but it put the fear into me!!

Best of luck with it.

Bottle_of_Smoke

ozzyoh wrote: »

I'm not sure but I think I still have mine...this has been going on a month now First I had one, took tablets, seemed to clear, then the following fortnight I started feeling awful again...more than likely, it was still the first one which hadn't been cured completely. First I took Augmentin, didn't work, on my last Cifloxager tab today, it doesn'y hurt anymore peeing or anything...it's just I can still FEEL something there...still a bit uncomfortable in the mornings but then it seems to go away later in the day...I'm not being paranoid, I'm still def not 100%! I've spent nearly €200 on doctor visits/antibiotics on this one bloody infection AAARGHHHHHHHHHHH!

There's a psychosomatic affect as well. For months after I had a kidney infection cleared I was still going to the toilet every hour, went back to doctor, said it was still fine. Like an annoying pressure on the bladder yeah? Perhaps the system is just being paranoid & making you take no chances.
If it still keeps at you go back to the doctor, I know it costs a lot but worth it for peace of mind.

Innocent cranberry & rasberry has no added sugar btw. Damn tasty too. Also, some pharmacies sell dipsticks you can check your own urine with, the one on pearse street at grand canal dock does anyway.

Solarball10

I think it is actually gone, hopefully I won't get another for a loooooooong time *touch wood* (no point saying never again, cos I'm prone to them.....) I've started taking the Sona cranberry capsules every day religiously, and increased my water intake so hopefully it'll be kept at bay that way......the worst thing is it kinda messes up the love life too - every time I have sex I'm just basically thinking "please don't let me get one..." Kinda ruins the mood!

The worst one I ever had, my b/f's grandad was in hospital at the time and I had a constant pain in my side...no uncomfortable feeling, nothing! Just that pain...in the end, it was like it the pain exploded into this unbearable SUPER-pain! I was lying on my side bawling me eyes out....then the doc saw me (handy that I was in the hospital!) and told me I had a really severe infection...oh god I'll NEVER for get that one!

LivingDeadGirl

I've got one now, it's been keeping me awake and all(I'm one of those people who are hell on earth without enough sleep) I've been taking Cystopurin but I think I started taking it too late! Today is the second day of taking it and it's worse instead of better. Going to the doctor this afternoon, stupid expensive doctors!!

do you love it?

yeah i kept gettin the ole cystitis, went to the doc and the problem he said was that i wasnt peeing before sex, nevermind after, cause i always pee after! apparently the pee being held in there while youre doing the deed can cause it.
cranberry concentrate tablets all the way!

Solarball10

well, have another one. 3rd one in 3 months. The doc is getting a bit concerned and said if I get another one soon he'll refer me to a urinologist. Tho I was checked out in hospital a couple of years ago and they couldn't find anything wrong at all. I'm so bloody sick of them - WHY ME! I do everything I can to prevent them, not to mention the fact my bank balance is bloody deteriorating rapidly due to doctor's fees and antobiotics. Current antiobiotic I'm on isn't working either, so have to go back AGAIN today to get a different one...

Clare Bear

Ah God you poor thing, it really does sound like you need to go see a specialist. Never had them myself but my Mum has and she said it's unbearable at times. Maybe getting referred to a Urinologist they might finally find a solution for you.

tinkerbell

ozzyoh wrote: »

well, have another one. 3rd one in 3 months. The doc is getting a bit concerned and said if I get another one soon he'll refer me to a urinologist. Tho I was checked out in hospital a couple of years ago and they couldn't find anything wrong at all. I'm so bloody sick of them - WHY ME! I do everything I can to prevent them, not to mention the fact my bank balance is bloody deteriorating rapidly due to doctor's fees and antobiotics. Current antiobiotic I'm on isn't working either, so have to go back AGAIN today to get a different one...

Oh you poor thing Have you been taking the cranberry tablets?? If you're on antibiotics, for gods sake buy a bottle of acidophilus capsules and take them otherwise you could get thrush as well and you don't need that on top of a UTI. Or just drink yakults / probiotics. I take the capsules, I find they work a lot better but each to their own!

Solarball10

I'm taking the Sona Cranberry tablets...have been taking them for the last month or so, mustn't be that good though, or I wouldnt have got another infection so soon

FlexiLexi

gallons of water, cranberry juice, cranberry tablets....and if needs be, a perscription for augmentin.

Solarball10

Nope, I had augmentin before, didn't work...best ones are Cifloxager, they cost around 40 euro though!

jells bells

OP: I feel your pain...years ago I was up to three/four infections a year, to the point where I was spending hundreds on GP visits and scripts. I had a good diet, drank loads of water, watched caffeine and alcohol, good hygiene....

The folks at a vitamin shop on Grafton Street recommended citricidal capsules. I take one in the morning and no joke I haven't had an infection in over two years. On a few occasions I've felt a UTI coming on, so took an extra citricidal and a few cranberry tabs through the day...infection never developed.

It's not expensive (maybe 25 euro for a bottle of 90), so worth a shot. Hope it works for you too.

Best of luck

Solarball10

Jells Bells thanks for that! My dad also just told me that years ago my granny used to suffer terribly with them...he said she used Pearl Barley, apparently it's like a packet of rice, you throw it in a saucepan, hot water, and drink the juice ONLY...he said it should still be around in shops...has anyone ever heard of it? I'll try ANYTHING at this stage!

Maple

ozzyoh wrote: »

Jells Bells thanks for that! My dad also just told me that years ago my granny used to suffer terribly with them...he said she used Pearl Barley, apparently it's like a packet of rice, you throw it in a saucepan, hot water, and drink the juice ONLY...he said it should still be around in shops...has anyone ever heard of it? I'll try ANYTHING at this stage!

Yep, you'll get it in any supermarket.

Deadevil129

I get them all the time... I had one while on holidays a while ago and it was absolute hell. I've gotten them so often I've had an ultrasound and cystoscopy, just to make sure there was nothing abnormal that was causing them. Unfortunatly every doctor or consultant I've seen just shruggs their shoulders and can't offer any sort of long term solution apart from more antibiotics.

I've been on Trimetoprin so many times I might as well be eating Smarties. I was also put on Ciproxin for a while which worked wonders.

The best thing I find that works for me is taking an Uva Ursi tincture three times a day, along with two sona cranberry capsules three times a day. Eating plenty of fruit except for Citrus fruits, plenty of water, keep warm and no caffeine. If I'm really bad a paracetemol in the morning helps slightly for a few hours. Even after antibiotics I always felt a bit off going to the bathroom in the mornings but so far by following this I'm pretty good. Fingers crossed!

Puddleduck

Yep, I got cystitus a couple of weeks back while I was on the first holiday in years and it was absolutly mank. Couldnt go to the docs and was in agony. I bought these tablets over there that had painkillers and cranberry in them, they saved me, then I was eating the cranberry tablets like smarties

I always have to pee both before and after sex..and I can pee on command..so thats not my problem. Ive a bad habit of holding it for aaaaaaaaaaaages though