NWR- UTI help... TMI!

alanna91

So I've had maybe four or UTIs in the past two years. I don't think I've ever finished the medication my doctor gave, and my mother said that I should always finish antibiotics or the infection will come back...with vengeance (muahaha!)

I got another UTI on Thursday and I've been drinking water like crazy...I think I flushed it out of my system because the symptoms are definitely like a 2 compared to a 10 when it started. I was taking OTC stuff from CVS to help with the pain over the weekend.

So my question is, is it really possible to self-treat UTIs? I'm getting mixed results on Google and I know we have some nurses here as well as very knowledgeable ladies. Some people say they don't ever take antibiotics when they get a UTI and others say it's impossible to cure it without antibiotics. Or, is my UTI just becoming dormant and ready to attack me again whenever it wants?

Thanks, you all always seem to help!

jaycee7389

Your body can fight it off without antibiotics, but just because the symptoms go away doesn't mean you actually did fight it off.

I would always take prophylactic antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading to your kidneys..which would be bad news bears!

jorja86

Ok, first of all...it's not a good idea to start antibiotics and not finish them. This creates a situation where the "weak" bacteria are killed off, and the "stronger" bacteria (that were able to live through the initial several doses of antibiotics) are left to reproduce and either make you ill again, or be passed along to other people. In fact, it's likely that you've never gotten rid of the bacteria fully, and that's why you're having recurrent infections. This is also how we end up with drug resistant strains of bacteria like MRSA.

Also, even if you have antibiotics left over, don't take them prophylacticly without seeing your doctor. UTIs can be caused by all kinds of different bacteria that are best treated by different types of antibiotics. Also, anything you have sitting around is not likely a full dose, leading to the same issue with taking an incomplete course.

So, to make a long story short...as a nurse, I'd recommend you see your doctor, get some good antibiotics-and finish the full course and hopefully knock those buggers out for good.

[Deleted User]

I agree with PP's. Go to the doc, drink cranberry juice, take all of your meds. Done and done!

polkadot111

I've had sooo many UTIs in the past few years. In the past 3 months, I've had 3 UTIs. Stupid body.

I don't think you can make it go away on its own- you need to get the meds. Plus, having a UTI for too long can make it go to your kidneys- not cool. I'd go in. Cranberry pills are just preventative. Last time I was in, my doctor said to take those, but that they wouldn't CURE the UTI, just help prevent me from another one.

[Deleted User]

I used to get UTI's very frequently and ended up having surgery that fixed the problem.  they really suck! 

if you start an antibiotic, you need to finish it.  not only are you screwing around with your body, but you're only killing weak bacteria (not the strong bacteria) which then spreads to other people.  you also shouldn't take an antibiotic unless you need it.

the cranberry pills are preventative, so once this one is cured you can take those to hopefully keep future UTI's from happening.

UTI's are so painful!!  I hope you get it cleared up fast.

Hazel_B

Once you have a UTI I say go to a doctor because a kidney infection is awful. Also, once your body has a history with UTIs I think they get worse faster. I think you can do a lot to prevent them, but once you have one I say doctor.

csousa1

Pure cranberry juice (which is pretty nasty because it has no sugar), cranberry pills, and tons and tons of water will help. Stay away from sugar and alcohol as much as possible. My sister gets chronic UTI's and hates the doctor's office, so this is what she does and if she catches it in time, it gets rid of her symptoms. If your symptoms start to go away, that's great, but like PP's have said that is not a guarantee that the infection has completely gone away.
 
Also, always, always pee right after sex. Seriously.

If you go to the doctor, and you get antibiotics, TAKE ALL OF THEM. It is not just that the infection may come back if you didn't take all the meds, it also means that your body is building up an immunity to the drugs and the next time you try to take them, they won't work. I know this because I have done it. Between that and being allergic to penicillin, the ONLY anitbiotic I can take that works and won't kill me is Z-pak.

I hope it clears up for you soon, those are no fun Good luck!

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_nwr-uti-tmi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:762e9ecb-4e11-4636-9ea2-d7872bf01a5bPost:dbb6834a-b7e1-4313-9ca7-fec3979dab7d">Re: NWR- UTI help... TMI!</a>:
[QUOTE]Pure cranberry juice (which is pretty nasty because it has no sugar), cranberry pills, and tons and tons of water will help. Stay away from sugar and alcohol as much as possible. My sister gets chronic UTI's and hates the doctor's office, so this is what she does and if she catches it in time, it gets rid of her symptoms. If your symptoms start to go away, that's great, but like PP's have said that is not a guarantee that the infection has completely gone away.   Also, always, always pee right after sex. Seriously. If you go to the doctor, and you get antibiotics, TAKE ALL OF THEM. It is not just that the infection may come back if you didn't take all the meds, it also means that your body is building up an immunity to the drugs and the next time you try to take them, they won't work. I know this because I have done it. Between that and <strong>being allergic to penicillin, the ONLY anitbiotic I can take that works and won't kill me is Z-pak.</strong> I hope it clears up for you soon, those are no fun :( Good luck!
Posted by csousa1[/QUOTE]

me too.  :(

alanna91

First of all, thanks everyone! I ended up going to the doctor because I figured it wasn't worth a kidney infection, and the UriCalm OTC stuff wasn't cutting it. I had never heard of cranberry pills but I'm definitely going to get some because I can't stand cranberry juice and I'm really tired of UTIs!
Sousa and Cocobella, what do you mean about the penicillin allergy and antibiotics? I'm also allergic and he definitely didn't prescribe me something called Z-pack. Of course he knows I'm allergic to penicillin, but maybe whatever he prescribed me won't work now... x(

cu97tiger

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_nwr-uti-tmi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:762e9ecb-4e11-4636-9ea2-d7872bf01a5bPost:8abe7aa0-0e51-4f7a-aae3-6aa5f9a2b50d">Re: NWR- UTI help... TMI!</a>:
[QUOTE]First of all, thanks everyone! I ended up going to the doctor because I figured it wasn't worth a kidney infection, and the UriCalm OTC stuff wasn't cutting it. I had never heard of cranberry pills but I'm definitely going to get some because I can't stand cranberry juice and I'm really tired of UTIs! Sousa and Cocobella, what do you mean about the penicillin allergy and antibiotics? <strong>I'm also allergic and he definitely didn't prescribe me something called Z-pack.</strong> Of course he knows I'm allergic to penicillin, but maybe whatever he prescribed me won't work now... x(
Posted by alanna91[/QUOTE]

<div>I'm also allergic to penicillin but have successfully taken other antibiotics (not z-packs) for UTI's. For me, the cranberry juice/pills helps me fight off the UTI to start with. For example, (TMI alert) I usually get a UTI if I have sex, and don't pee immediately after. So in that case, I would take some cranberry juice to help wash the bacteria out before it starts growing. </div><div>
</div><div>Also, if you start feeling the symptoms, the cranberry pills can help reduce the symptoms but you still should see your doctor and yes, FINISH the antibiotics.</div><div>
</div><div>Finally, try to identify what it is that gives you the UTI. One of my ways is above, the other is a certain pair of underwear I had. If I wore it on a car trip, or when it's hot outside, I'd get a UTI (apparently they weren't a breathable material). If you lessen your exposure to that bacteria and the conditions that breed it, you'll get less UTIs!</div>

csousa1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_nwr-uti-tmi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:762e9ecb-4e11-4636-9ea2-d7872bf01a5bPost:8abe7aa0-0e51-4f7a-aae3-6aa5f9a2b50d">Re: NWR- UTI help... TMI!</a>:
[QUOTE]First of all, thanks everyone! I ended up going to the doctor because I figured it wasn't worth a kidney infection, and the UriCalm OTC stuff wasn't cutting it. I had never heard of cranberry pills but I'm definitely going to get some because I can't stand cranberry juice and I'm really tired of UTIs! <strong>Sousa and Cocobella, what do you mean about the penicillin allergy and antibiotics? I'm also allergic and he definitely didn't prescribe me something called Z-pack. Of course he knows I'm allergic to penicillin, but maybe whatever he prescribed me won't work now... x(
</strong>Posted by alanna91[/QUOTE]

It will work! I have never gotten anitbiotics for a UTI because it has never gotten to that point for me (***knocks on wood***), I just meant that I have made myself immune to certain anitbiotics by not taking the whole dosage when it was prescribed. This was for other ilnesses, and I legit did it every time I was prescribed anything. I have been allergic to penicillin since I was two, so it had nothing to do with that either. No worries!

[Deleted User]

Z pak ended up being the main antibiotic I could take because I'm allergic to penicillin and a couple other common antibiotics. 

Sparrow87

I've struggled with kidney stones, UTI's, and kidney infections since I was a teenager.  I self medicate all such infections for a week or two with water, cranberry juice and aspirin.  If it still doesn't go away then I go to the doctor but I usually just flush it out with time and fluids. 

As for stones I used to go to the doctor every time I had one but it was getting expensive so now I only go if one gets stuck.  But I wouldn't recommend someone with an acute infection to wait it out like I (a chronic sufferer) do. 

I'm glad that you went to the doctor and I hope you feel better soon!