Ladies, I think I have a UTI... What helps?

[DizBelle]

My gynecologist never mentioned this and I did not really start having problems until I got married, if you know what I mean. But thank you for mentioning it and I will definitely look into it. I have a family history of UT and kidney problems.

Uh, "action" can move bacteria into places you don't want it. There are precautions you can take to help minimize having "action" causing a UTI. Evacuate your bladder before and after "action" to flush out anything that shouldn't be there before it has a chance to set up camp.

Hopefully, you get my drift.

 

[Nette]

I wish I had wrote it down... I wasn't listening 100%.

Does the AZO stain the toilet? LOL. I am REAL worried about that!

No, I've never had it stain the toilet... just underpants.

 

[LilyWDW]

What is your prescription for? Which antibiotic? If it is sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (brand Bactrim), that is THE antibiotic for UTIs and you should feel right as rain (ha! I made a pun!) in a couple of days (but finish the prescribed course even after you feel better).

Bactrim hasn't worked for a UTI for me since my first one. I usually need something much stronger.

I always keep AZO on hand in case of a flare up. If AZO doesn't work for some reason, ask your doctor about UTA. I find for some things UTA works better then AZO. For me, UTA works better for things like urgency while AZO works better for the pain/spasms. UTA is available by prescription only and is more expensive (but has been a life saver for me).

 

[smschex]

Azo will stain clothes, but not the toliet. However, do not take it if you are going in to have your urine tested. Part of a urinalysis involves a dipstick that changes colors, indicating various substances in the urine. The bright orange color really messes up that part of the test.

 

[dis-happy]

Definitely go to Urgent Care and get antibx. An untreated UTI can lead to a kidney infection...had that happen once it it was HORRIBLE! (not to mention dangerous and possibly damaging to the kidneys).

My gyno has called in a script for me when I was sure it was a UTI and I was travelling. If you can't see your regular doctor, call your gyno!

 

[PrincessBelle09]

Uh, "action" can move bacteria into places you don't want it. There are precautions you can take to help minimize having "action" causing a UTI. Evacuate your bladder before and after "action" to flush out anything that shouldn't be there before it has a chance to set up camp.

Hopefully, you get my drift.

Lol! Yes, I am aware of that. I literally did everything I could to prevent them, including evacuation before and after, antibacterial soaps, vitamin C tablets, extra cranberry juice, Azo cranberry tablets, and nothing worked. Haven't had one since I started taking the low dose antibiotic though and my doctor says the dosage is low enough that there is little risk of it becoming ineffective.

 

[ols386]

What is your prescription for? Which antibiotic? If it is sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (brand Bactrim), that is THE antibiotic for UTIs and you should feel right as rain (ha! I made a pun!) in a couple of days (but finish the prescribed course even after you feel better).

AZO (OTC drug) works well to relieve the pain and burning. It makes your pee look like orange kool-aid so be prepared.

You can get AZO over the counter? That's good to know. I thought it required a presceiption. I need to remember that.

To the op, hope you feel better soon. If it is a UTI, you need to seek medical treatment and get antibiotics. As someone earlier posted, the pain can turn from mild to severe very quickly.

 

[mickeyboat]

Your Rx should make you feel better very soon. Good luck.

 

[TiggerStac]

Wow, you called today ? Uti and they can't get you in until Thursday?? That's crazy. I've had 3 different dr's since my pedi and I've had 2 of them see me for UTI. One I had to just go to office and do urine sample. They would call in prescription and test in office, then send out for more in depth testing. If the rx they had called in wasn't the right one, they would have called something else in. The dr I go to now, they get you right in, with MD, PA or NP, whoever has the openings. I actually see dr, and do urine test. Then they still send it out for further testing. I have had 2 in the last month and gone into dr's both times. I was in same day. I just had follow up and PA was offering to send me to urologist if I wanted to see if we can figure out why I'm getting them frequently. I'm waiting for one more than I'll go. I am taking azo now, she had recommended this & plenty of h20, which I do anyways.

 

[mickeyboat]

I think many responders are missing the part where she said her Dr. was calling in a Rx for her and will see her on Monday if it's not better by then. She is doing what she is supposed to be doing, and I suspect she will feel a lot better when she has been taking the antibiotics for a day or so.

I had a UTI years ago and had blood with it. The doctor said it was pretty common and I started feeling better almost immediately after I started taking the antibiotics - mine was a sulfur-based medicine.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

How timely. I was at the clinic for a UTI this morning! This is not my first UTI, but fortunately I don't have them often. I had taken AZO Standard at home, but once I ran out, the symptoms return. The problem with AZO is that it eases the discomfort, but it doesn't get rid of the bacteria that's causing the problem. So I now have an antibiotic and the prescription strength "orange pee pill."

 

[JessicaR]

So I now have an antibiotic and the prescription strength "orange pee pill."[/QUOTE]

That is SO tag worthy.

 

[Abbie]

What is your prescription for? Which antibiotic? If it is sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (brand Bactrim), that is THE antibiotic for UTIs and you should feel right as rain (ha! I made a pun!) in a couple of days (but finish the prescribed course even after you feel better).

AZO (OTC drug) works well to relieve the pain and burning. It makes your pee look like orange kool-aid so be prepared.

It really would be so much better to have a urine run BEFORE starting an antibiotic! Sometimes we will start a patient on a certain antibiotic (often Bactrim, but just as often Cipro or Macrobid for uti's) then after getting the culture back, find out that particular strain is resistant to what was prescribed. So while the patient might feel better, they have not gotten an effective antibiotic and the uti will return.

OP, can't you find one of the Minute Clinics or an urgent care center where you can make sure you have an effective antibiotic? The only way to make sure is to collect a urine sample BEFORE you start whatever your doctor put you on.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

When I get them ... they are HORRIBLE! I have all of your symptoms and a lot of blood in my urine (so sorry to be so graphic on here). I truly cannot stand the urge to go and the pain so I usually go straight to the emergency room. If the blood doesn't go away, I would recommend going to the ER. They will do a work up to confirm what you have and prescribe an antibiotic that will work. I am so sorry you have this!

 

[Magpie]

I get regular UTIs and it sure does sound like you have one.

For me, it's pretty intolerable the moment it starts. It's a BIG deal if I have to wait six hours to get into a clinic. But, that said, I know other women have milder symptoms.

Here's my usual sympoms:

*Overall funky, headache-y feeling.
*Cramping in my abdomen.
*Tension in my lower back, but - and this is VERY important - no actual pain in my kidneys. You can test that by gently thumping your lower back, off on the sides - if it makes you scream, you should go to Emerg. right away, because you probably have a kidney infection.
*Visible blood in the urine, or on the toilet paper. Sometimes even blood clots. It's not constant - it lasts a few hours and then stops.
*Orange-y, strong-smelling urine
*Frequent urination (but of course I'm drinking more water)
*A burning feeling
*A feeling of urgency, like I've got to go, even if I don't actually have to
*A feeling that I'm not completely emptying my bladder when I do pee
*A particularly sharp ouch-y sensation right at the end of peeing

What do I do?

*Get to the doctor and get me a prescription of antibiotics. It sounds like your doctor is sure enough of your diagnosis that he's willing to skip the testing and just give you the antibiotics.

How do I TRY to prevent future infections?

*Always wipe from front to back
*Pee before and after any "action".
*Drink unsweetened cranberry juice (cut with LOTS of water) or mix whole frozen (thawed) cranberries into my fruit flavored yogurt.
*Drink lots of water on a regular basis
*Don't try to hold it - if I have to go, I find a bathroom. I don't wait.
*I don't take baths, I take showers
*I don't put anything "down there", like a spray or a douche. I rinse very well in the shower, to make sure I don't leave any soap behind.
*I take vitamin C
*And I avoid sugared drinks, like soda pop

That last one isn't usual, but my doctor thinks that part of the reason I get so many infections is because the extra sugar in my pee provides a healthy environment for growing bacteria. I've noticed that I tend to get them after I've been drinking a lot of pop, such as during a holiday.

HTH! And I hope this is your one and only infection.

 

[JessicaR]

When to see a doctor

Although many cases of hematuria aren't serious, it's important to see your doctor any time you notice blood in your urine. Keep in mind that some medications, such as the laxative Ex-lax, and certain foods, including beets, rhubarb and berries, can cause your urine to turn red. A change in urine color caused by drugs, food or exercise usually goes away within a few days. However, you can't automatically attribute red or bloody urine to medications or exercise, so it's best to see your doctor anytime you see blood in your urine.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-in-urine/DS01013

 

[focusondisney]

Hi! I see you are doing what your doctor told you & that's great. Just wanted to add a big plug for the cranberry juice. It actually changes the PH of your urine, so it inhibits bacteria growth. Will help clear up the infection quicker. Feel better!

 

[disneymom3]

My gynecologist never mentioned this and I did not really start having problems until I got married, if you know what I mean. But thank you for mentioning it and I will definitely look into it. I have a family history of UT and kidney problems.

Just a note (sorry to be OT) but if you are pregnant, you probably want to find out for sure if you have reflux. I didn't know until I was preg with my second child that it's a hereditary condition. I had it too growing up.

 

[bumbershoot]

*Drink unsweetened cranberry juice (cut with LOTS of water)

Most definitely.

The two times I've felt something odd starting, I run to the health food store and buy a cranberry concentrate...nothing but the juice of cranberry. Dilute it in water, choke it down, works like a charm. Tastes sickening. But you really do NOT want to drink the sugared stuff.



Any chance that the blood wasn't from the urine, but from, oh, I don't know, a new pregnancy? Things felt funky down there at the very beginning of DS's life, so I immediately wondered!