UTI treatments

ArkansasLady · #1 09/28/11, 01:16 PM

what are some of the things you do to treat a UTI??

Sawmill Jim · #2 09/28/11, 01:23 PM

Cranberry juice and plain water

Melissa · #3 09/28/11, 01:28 PM

You can try 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water, twice a day. Also drink at least 8 ounces of plain water every hour. Take extra vitamin C. Oregano oil is a useful antibacterial. Eat blueberries and pineapple, and drink cranberry juice. Plain cranberry is hard to handle, but the kind mixed with real juice is just as effective.

I actually just looked up a lot of this because I think I have one also...

suzyhomemaker09 · #4 09/28/11, 01:40 PM

Cranberry juice and more cranberry juice....

thequeensblessing · #5 09/28/11, 01:54 PM

Cranberry juice and baking soda and such are great to use as a preventative, but if you have a full blown UTI, you need to get some antibiotics. Once the bacteria has proliferated in your bladder, these won't kill it, just like they don't kill it in your gut. (Most uti's are caused by the same e-coli that lives in your intestines). If you don't nip it in the bud right away, it can easily become hemorrhgic or even move up into your kidneys, and then you've got worse problems on your hands. Can you just call your doctor and see if he'll call you in something?

Jan Doling · #6 09/28/11, 02:00 PM

In the feminine products section of the drug store, get the AZO Standard capsules that anesthesize the pain so you will drink more water to flush out the infection and also AZO Cranberry maximum strength soft gels, which is more convenient that drinking gallons of cranberry drinks.

bluesky · #7 09/28/11, 02:14 PM

I'm going with antibiotics. I've seen too many people, especially those of us who are no longer youngsters, get septic from UTIs. It's nothing to fool around with.

ai731 · #8 09/28/11, 03:27 PM

In Europe there is an over-the-counter treatment for UTIs available in all drug stores. The "active ingredient" is sodium citrate, and it changes the pH of the urine so the bacteria can't live. Works best if you catch it early. I get my sister to bring me a couple of boxes whenever she visits from England. I have no idea why it isn't licensed/approved/whatever in North America, but it's preferable to going straight to antibiotics, IMHO.

blynn · #9 09/28/11, 03:30 PM

If you are prone to frequent UTI's, it's important to get a urine culture done at the doctor's office before starting any antibiotics, that way they can make sure that the antibiotic that they give you is actually working on your specific bacteria.

Keep drinking lots of water!

lemonthyme7 · #10 09/28/11, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thequeensblessing

Cranberry juice and baking soda and such are great to use as a preventative, but if you have a full blown UTI, you need to get some antibiotics. Once the bacteria has proliferated in your bladder, these won't kill it, just like they don't kill it in your gut. (Most uti's are caused by the same e-coli that lives in your intestines). If you don't nip it in the bud right away, it can easily become hemorrhgic or even move up into your kidneys, and then you've got worse problems on your hands. Can you just call your doctor and see if he'll call you in something?

This. If you know for sure that you have a UTI you need to be on an antibiotic. Sometimes when you first get the tingle that you MIGHT be getting one you can catch it in time but by the time you are thinking that you already have one you want the antibiotics. My daughter (now 23) has had terrible problems getting UTI's ever since she was around kindergarten age. She is the most clean person I know regarding feminine hygeine because she has had so many problems.

If you drink cranberry juice it needs to be 100% cranberry not the cocktail kind and believe me it is tart on it's own. Now "they" are saying blueberry juice is just as effective but I'm not sure you could find that. You want to make sure any juice does not have added sugar either. My daughter has found some of her triggers are drinking to much sweet carbonated beverages and just to much sweet/carb related items with not a balance of acid/sweet in her system. Unfortunately for her having a boyfriend means she is more likely to get an infection and I will let you figure out why. She is very careful but sometimes it just happens. Last time she was on such a strong sntibiotic she ended up in ER because of stomach pains. They took her off the meds after only 4 pills but I guess it had done it's job. She is now immune and has developed an allergy to sulpha drugs as a result of being on them so much. I hope yours goes away quickly. Sorry, I got off track from your situation it's just that I have had to deal with this so much that I know it's important to get the antibiotics when you need them.

Melissa · #11 09/28/11, 04:03 PM

Personally I am concerned about taking antibiotics at all because I had c-diff last year. I have had a few minor infections since then and my doctor tells me to just try and "tough it out" I have an appointent on Friday, so will have to see what he thinks in this case.

Nevada · #12 09/28/11, 04:10 PM

When they don't have a urine culture to guide them, more times than not they'll try Cipro. It doesn't take a lot either. Normally 500 mg once a day for a week does it. But don't let it go too long before treating it or you run the risk of becoming colonized.

Unfortunately, as Alma has learned, there is a lot of Cipro resistant bacteria out there. It doesn't look like we're ever going to beat Alma's UTI now.

Oakshire_Farm · #13 09/28/11, 04:19 PM

I went through a time when I had a had a bunch of UTI's. I went to the dr, they ran tests, could not find a reason?? I went to the drug store and got some cranberry capsules, I take one every 30 minutes when I feel one coming on. and drink LOTS of water!

vicki in NW OH · #14 09/28/11, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakshire_Farm

I went through a time when I had a had a bunch of UTI's. I went to the dr, they ran tests, could not find a reason?? I went to the drug store and got some cranberry capsules, I take one every 30 minutes when I feel one coming on. and drink LOTS of water!

If you feel like a UTI and they cannot find a reason, it could be interstitial cystitis.

FunnyRiverFarm · #15 09/28/11, 04:44 PM

Antibiotics and lots of water. Sitz baths can help with discomfort and improve healing time.

andabigmac · #16 09/28/11, 05:12 PM

I take uva ursi tincture and marshmallow root tincture. Most health food stores carry it. D-mannose is supposed to work really well. I haven't tried it because the other two usually do the trick. Along with one of those remedies I would drink tons of water and take some probiotics, kefir, or good yogurt. Cranberry in capsule form taste better than the juice.

Classof66 · #17 09/28/11, 05:29 PM

I used to have them a lot. One summer was one long uti. I was under my doctors care too. It would clear up and reappear. I started using pads. They are a pain, but it worked. I had big babies, and all it takes is a sneeze so the pads were very helpful. Keeping dry seems to help a lot. I am down to a uti about every two or three years now. I just had a doozie in August. My sweetie passed away so I can't blame him. Usually I feel tired or get a fever blister ahead of time. Also I have heard that taking a decongestant can trigger one.

TheMartianChick · #18 09/28/11, 06:34 PM

I use the cranberry capsules. I usually start with a massive dose and then follow the directions on the bottle.

acde · #19 09/28/11, 07:25 PM

Apple cider vinegar in water, also salt water and vitamin c. most importantly no no no sugar it will feed the infection

Sarabeth · #20 09/28/11, 07:29 PM

At the first sign of one, take alkaseltzer. Usually one dose is all it takes. You know how you get that feeling....like you are pretty sure one is coming on. Thats the time for the alkaseltzer. This really works. I dont remember where I heard it, but it works. It has to be done at the first sign, I think. Probably wont work on a full blown one. But you could try it.