I know others have already said cranberry juice. This works well because it keeps the acidity high in your urine and can help prevent bacteria from growing. It can help prevent, but will not cure. Good luck!
Drink Cranberry juice. I used to get these a lot but now I drink a glass a day and I haven't had one since. Hope this helps!!
Gloria,
I know EXACTLY what you're talking about! Here is my daily prevention method. I take Triple Berry Complex (has three berries in it, blueberry, bilberry, and cranberry). It is a simple easy thing to do. You can contact me, or Herbalife International via their website www.herbalife.com for more info. I can say last year I had 4 UTI's in 6 months (hell!!) and since I started taking just one of these each day, I haven't had a single problem. Not even a scare. But when you do get a UTI, antibiotics is the way to go. You cannot drink enough cranberry juice! Ask your doctor for the pill that fights ONLY the bad infection. There is one out there, I took it 4 times! It didn't give me yeast infection (it was specifically designed for that purpose) and I am quite prone to those too even with one dose of amoxicillin.
Hope that helps!
Vicki Wight [email protected]
married to dh for 8.5 yrs, dd is 6, ttc#2 for 5 yrs in August, and sending in adoption papers TODAY! Wish us luck!
Gloria
I too get chronic bladder infections. I am now pregnant with my first child, so my mid-wife gave me a corn silk tincture(this a a herb mixed with alcohol to create a more potent herb, that you take in smaller quantities. Normally I would take Uva Ursi ( also a herb, but this herb you should only take for up to two weeks and not while you are pregnant). I am a firm believer in herbs, because unlike "western medicine" they work with my body to heal me. No more yeast infections from the antibiotics. I would suggest going to your health food store to find these products.
I hope this helps. :)
Once you get an infection antibiotics are about your only option. However, there are some things you can do to help prevent them. Take cranberry extract pills like Azo, the juice is just not potent enough to do anything for you. Also, really limit or remove your sugar intake, including juice. Sugar provides tons of food for the bacteria that cause UTIs. Also, drink lots of water and pee on a schedule. Set a timer and go to the bathroom again 5-10 minutes after you first go. Often if you have had a lot of UTIs your bladder won't empty all of the way the first time and old urine is left to generate lots of bacteria. And lastly, make sure you are regular. Constipation leaves your torso full of bacteria that can cause infections.
Just so you know my background, I have a daughter who has struggled with UTIs for 5 years. She has seen doctors in three states and had surgery twice. This is all of the advice we have gleaned from the different doctors over the years. It has really helped. On another note, when you do have an infection, take acidophilus to help with the yeast infections.
You poor thing. I've had more UTIs in the last few years than the 20 prior. Weird. Any way, I have come across several things that work.
First, drink LOTS and lots of fluids. Cranberry juice is good, Pomegranate is much better. You need to really flush the area and virtually 'wash' the UT.
Lots of vitamin C. Something with other minerals in it is best like Emergen-C.
Uva Ursi (tincture is best, but capsules will do if that's all you can find), taken at least 4 times per day while pain is present and then three times a day for another 3 - 4 days to make sure the infection is completely healed.
Echinacea tincture, two droppers full, every two hours, from the very first sign of UTI. Continue until 3 -4 days after all symptoms have subsided. The key to success with echinacea is to only use tincture, get on it at the very first inkling of infection and KEEP taking it, right through past the point where you think you're healed.
REST! Infections usually happen in run down bodies that don't have the normal, healthy, immune responses.
And if you are prone to yeast infections I highly recommend you get yourself on a very high quality probiotic - as a regular course with your daily vitamins.
Take good care.
Mari
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Lots of fluid, especially cranberry juice and other dark red/blue/purple juices (natural color, not artificial)
Once you do have an infection, I would not wait long at all before getting medical treatment. Since it has happened regularly and you know the symptoms your doc may call in a prescription for you. But if left untreated, UTI can lead to bladder infection, and then kidney infection. 20 mintues to the doctor is nothing compared to the time and cost of dialysis!
I have had many UTI's and I try to prevent with the cranberry juice. I have had times that I don't catch it in time and I have to go the doctor then I get the yeast infections. Yogurt prevents these. If you let it go to far, these UTI's will go to the kidneys. Prevent it or see the doctor. Good luck!
When you already have a UTI, I think you need antibiotics to get rid of it and can then use preventative measures to stop or reduce them in the future. I made the mistake of treating the symptoms(which worked for a month) but it turned out it never healed me and I needed to get on antibiotics after dealing with it for a whole month. If you take probiotics and eat yogurt with live cultures, that should help a lot with yeast infections.
Drink about a gallon of water. Drink so much water you are sick of it and you feel like you have had so much water. And then drink more. The more water you drink the faster the infection will be flushed out. It is a killer for the first 24 hours and then it will get better. It is a lot better then antibiotics becuase they cause a yeast infection for me too. Drink water!!!
My daughter also has issues with UTI's. I hated always giving her antibiotics, so I went to the natural health food store by my house and did some research. I was able to find some 'cranberry pills' that have really seemed to help her. She has to take 2 at a time, probably 3 times a day, but in the end, it is grealy worth it because in a day or two, he infection is gone. I hope this helps!
Water and the cranberry pill work wonders. But don't stop taking the pills even thought the infection is gone. You can use it to help keep it away and the same with water. Just cut back on the amount after the infection is gone.
I have found, like the others said, if you catch it right away you can treat with cranberry. I would drink pure cranberry juice (like you'd fine at a health food store), not the sugared kind like you'd get at a grocery (the sugar can fuel a bacterial infection). You have to drink it really cold or it is way too bitter! Also, there are cranberry tablets and another OTC drug made by AZO that will relieve the symptoms, but I wouldn't count on it to fix an infection. Also, they used to make an OTC pill called Cystex which was an anti-pain, and anti-bacterial, which might help in treating the first signs of an infection. Once you have a full blown infection, though, don't hesitate to go to the doctor. Serious infections can lead to bladder and kidney damage.
Also,(a little personal but...) my doctor told me to drink a lot of water always and urinate after sex, every time. I used to have chronic UTIs for years, but I have been able to prevent them like this for almost a decade!!
I take a cranberry capsule everyday with my MVit., Calcium/Magnesium (bones), Acidophilus (intestinal), and Omega-3/DHA (for herart health). These all seem to keep my flora a flonas balanced and I have not had an issue in many years. My daughter (4) also was holding it all the time and having issues. I put half a capsule on her sereal nd call it Princess sugar" as it is pink. That seemed to help her too. She won't drink the cranberrry juice and it makes me have to use the bathroom too much (and I really don't drink juices either).
cranberry juice. just keep it on hand. works great. and no doctor visit or prescription to pay for.
Hi Gloria,
I thought I might be getting a UTI recently and put a pro-biotic pill up inside where my tambon usually goes;; I was fine the next morning. I also know an old remedy is to put plain yogurt on a tampon and stick that up inside. The live bacteria cultures will kill unwanted bacteria--similar to the probiotic. Both work very well. Also, drinking lots of WATER so that you are peeing often helps avoid UTI's and eating a low sugar-based yogurt (non-Yoplait type) helps your good flora in fighting UTI's and yeast infections.
Since you have kids, it might be harder to pee and clear out your bladder; pushing out babies can make our vaginal walls weak and they can "sink" a little, putting pressure on the urethra--called a urethracele. Kegal exercises are crucial to helping keep this muscles strong and preventing UTI's as well.
Good luck with these ideas.
Julia
Hi, I used to get them chronically growing up. Drinking Cranberry juice and lots of water helps. Also, cut out alcohol and caffeine and try to go to the bathroom every hour. You should drink enough fluids to make this happen. It will help flush out the bacteria causing the infection and the acidity of the juice will help kill the rest. I can't take antibiotics because I am allergic, but if the infections are extremely bothersome, you can ask your Dr. for some type of iodine pills as these help with the pain and irritating sensation. Not all Dr's will prescribe them as there can be an allergic reaction with this as well, but you can ask if they are too bothersome. Good luck!
Cranberry juice!
HI there, I too have had UTI's and antibiotics always result in terrible yeast infections. When I was pregnant my midwife used Uva Ursi Tincture (get it at the health foods store) and used it for five day, five times a day + and then slowly decreased over another five days. It really worked and helped the pain, as it is has pain blocking properties. Also, high doses of Vitamin C, Garlic and tons of water are great with cranberry caps (better than the juice) - I mean like 3 quarts of water to flush the system...
Good luck! I hope it works great for you!
Oh, I forgot the most important rule: pee after sex! That has really prevented tons of UTI's for me!
Try cranberry juice once you have it, or cranberry pills every day.... Worked for me! Good Luck!