Help! Bladder Infection!

I would get on acidophilus and other probiotics ASAP, cut out all sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, fermented foods,and anything with malt. If you get on antibiotics I would also supplement with caprylic acid tablets (Vitacost.com)oregano drops under the tounge, and cod liver oil, all 3x daily. Probiotics are especially important when on antibiotics. If you are going to drink cranberry, go to trader Joes and get the no sugar-full strength cranberry. UTI's are hard to get rid of. Many times they may seem like they are gone, but the bacteria just gets reduced and symptoms go away for a while only to come back after a few months when the bacteria has repopulated. I fought a UTI with my daughter on and off for 3 years using the conventional antibiotic method. It took a lot of strategy and other methods to get that stuff knocked out.

I heard a few years ago, and it does seem to help me, that drinking Alka-Seltzer right when you start feeling symptoms help. I think it basically is a combination of aspirin and vitamin C?

I get them lots, used to *always* need antibiotics pretty much every month for the 4 yrs before I had my son (in fact, was on a "take a pill after sex" regimen). After childbirth, it hasn't been as bad, but I still feel symptoms oftener than I like!

Uristat is just to take the pain/symptoms away, you still do need to have it treated. I'm so glad you did go get it treated, those things are not funny!

There is an OTC called AZO and they make test strips for at home UTI testing as well as an at home UTI treatment pill that works. AZO also makes a cranberry pill, Yeast pill, a standard pill and a max strength pill. I just bought some for my employer at Rite Aid and she swears by them for bladder and UTI infections. Good luck! I know how painfull bladder and UTI's can be and I simpithize with you.

T.

Hi B.--I'm so glad you have gotten some relief from this awful feeling infection! Since that is thankfully taken care of, what you need to do now is figure out a way to get some health insurance!! No one can afford to be without it these days, especially a mom. If you were to need an operation or came down with some big disease that needed treatment you could be in debt for years! Things are ridiculously expensive at hospitals! Doesn't your husband's job offer insurance? I"m assuming your nanny job doesn't. Your child can be covered by the state's insurance for children. There are plenty of places on the internet that can sell you decent health insurance for you, or your whole family for a reasonable amount of money each month. Take a look at eHealthInsurance.com Take care and be well!

D-Mannose is excellent. It healed my daughter's (she's 2) UTI completely! It's been shown to be 100% effective against E. Col, which causes something like 80% of UTI's. It's available online or at Whole Foods. The brand I used is called Clear-Tract.

Whenever I had a UTI I just drank cranberry juice. No antibiotics, no OTC pills... just cranberry juice and water. Problem solved.

B.,

For UTIs (both prevention and clearing them) hydration is very important. Try to drink a lot of water- it helps flush out the bacteria. Cranberry extract tablets and Vitamin C can be taken throughout the day. Also, consider taking herbal uva ursi- this herb works wonders in clearing UTIs.
If you've had the pain for more than a few days, do consider taking antibiotics, as advanced UTIs are hard to resolve with home remedies.

Good luck!

Uristat is just a pain killer to mask the symptoms. I suggest you get to a clinic to get an antibiotic before it goes to your kidneys.

Hi B., sorry those are no fun!
You can take Azzo Standard - they are an OTC medicine you can get at the drug store, around $7.00 - they help immediately with the pain! They may stain your panties a little too, but the relief is worth it! I would recommend still to continue with the cranberry juice, powder or capsules to flush it out. Also, drink tons of water... stay away from coffee, teas & sodas... anything with caffeine. If you have blood in your urine I would go to the doctor right away as the infection is serious.
Best wishes...
C

It is good that you will be gong to the health clinic. UTI's should be treated by a professional, even if using alternative remedies.
Drink as much as you can, lots and lots of water!!

Hi B.-
I know you have had lots of input on this already, but I recently could have sworn I had one and now nothing. What I did was take the AZO cranberry supplements with a load of water, and I treated myself like I had not only a UTI but a Yeast infection. I took a "vinegar bath." Also, I am a firm believer in vitamins to supplement what you may not be getting. If you have time, look up foods that "cleanse" your body. A good one is the wheat grass shot at jamba juice. It does taste like lawn clippings, but it does wonders for me. The combination of all of that helped me alot. I also used the AZO test strips. If you are in that much pain, you may have a serious issue.
My suggestion to you and to all women is to pay really close attention to your body so that you can feel any and all minor issues and notice any changes. It takes alot of effort (I know it does for me) but it's worth it. ANd I belong to the "didn't have insurance" club for a long time. If you can get to a local clinic, do it. They are cheap to free and worth every minute verses a huge doctors bill.
I hope you feel better!
-E.

Good luck! About 8 years ago and I had a few UTI's in one year. Then I thought I was going to die when I got a kidney infection from not getting treatment for my UTI. I was in the ER at 3am, its a pain only compaired to child birth. Then I found cranberry tablets for prevention. I was on heavy antibotics for the kidney infection and I started the cranberry and I haven't had a problem since. Water is my hard part, drink as much as you can.

Oh No!

have you tried AZO? - it's an over the counter med that helps loosen you up and relieve the pain associated with UTI - i'm not sure how similar it is to Uristat - maybe call a local free clinic and see if they can help? it's worth a shot, 'cause I know the pain is like, UGH!

take care, and feel better.

Uristat or Cystex give the best relief I know of until the antibiotics do their job. Cranberry does help with prevention - as far as irritating it more, I think that's just because having to go to the bathroom is irritating. You need to drink LOTS of fluids to flush your system.

I am not sure how Uristat compares, but I take AZO when I get them. It is over the counter and works wonders. It takes the pain and discomfort away in about 30 minutes or less. But beware, it turns your pee orange! Also make sure you are drinking a lot of water.

I cant take the antibiotics due to allergies. I used to get baldder infections often. Cranberry does work for eliminating and prevention. I use Cranberry Extract and Uva Ursi. DO NOT GET OCEANSPRAY JUICE. The sugar makes the infection worse. If you want to get juice instead of cranberry pills, get Just Cranberry. Its awful stuff but it works. Personally, I prefer the pills. Drink lots of water. Take the cranberry 3x per day and the uva ursi as directed on the bottle. pain should go away within 1-2 days but continue for 1 full week. Cut as much sugar and carbs out of your diet as you can for the week you take the herbs. Good luck. I have been there too many times, so i know how awful it is!!

As soon as I start feeling an infection coming on I stop eating all sugar, start taking vitamin C (5- 6 pills/ day)Cranberries irritate my stomach. Also, drink lots of water. The bacterias that cause the infection like the sugar in your urine, so cut out the sugar and eat foods that will make your urine more acidic. Bacterias don't like acid. Drink lots of water to keep flushing the bacteria populations out of your body before they have a chance to multiply. I have only been to the dr. for my fist infection and have been able to stop all others on my own.