Recurrent cystitis - ouch and any advice?

Drink lots of water, and stay near a bathroom. We're talking unfeasible amounts of water - more than you think you can possibly hold. When you think you're full, drink some more. It'll dilute your pee so it hurts less, and if you're lucky it might also flush it out. Cranberry juice (or those cranberry tablets from H&B) and barley water also help.

I got lots to cystitis a year or so ago, and found by trial and error that if I drank at least 2 litres of water every day that I can avoid it. If it starts, I constantly drink pints of water and go for a pee until it passes - I end up shuttling between the kitchen and the bathroom for about 2 hours, but I haven't needed antibiotics since.

As Rachel says really - Even now years after a bad bout I find the symptoms returning after a couple of days of not drinking enough water. But as long as I drink lots of water, squash and a cranberry juice every morning I'm fine.

And as a plus point, so much liquid means that my skin looks fab!

Just be careful after a night on the booze though...You really do need to to drink water when you get in otherwise the next day is not fun!

I used to get this all the time but nothing for the past 2 years.

The Dr told me cranberry juice will only work as a preventative, it won't help once you've already got the symptoms. The only thing I've changed is that I drink a glass of cranberry juice every single day and I no longer hold my wee. As I'm based in the car all day, its a bit of a nightmare finding decent public loos so I tended to drink very little in the day and hold my wee till I was home. Now I schedule in a break every 2 or 3 hours so I can have a drink and a wee. Since then I've had no problems at all.

Hope you get some relief from it soon. Its thoroughly miserable when you just keep getting bouts of it ?

I had a killer bout the last few days which caused bleeding and all sorts. I found a long hot bath really helped and going to the toilet as often as i felt the need (think i spent all day in there!). Also second what the others said about drinking bucketfulls of water.

Looking online aparently lemon juice is supposed to help - but not sure if ya drink it or dab it?!?

Https://www.cystopurin.co.uk/ - makes it less painful - tastes bloomin horrid - but I did find it helped relieve it.

Think a lot of pharmacy's do it.

Thanks so so much for replying everyone - time to go to Asda and stock up on cranberry juice, which was on 2 for 1 on sunday.

A woman at my son's school said she takes acidophulus (sp?), which is in one of the yakult type drinks, in tablet form from a local emporium of that nature. I am going to try all of your suggestions AND that. Belt and braces.

Many many thanks x (PS extreme cranberry consumption today seems to have relieved the symptoms. All this peeing though, it's like being pregnant).

I have duplex kidneys and used to gets loads of infections.

I now drink 2-3 litres of plain water per day and take a cranberry tablet every morning. I only drink cranberry juice as an extra when I have an infection as its high in sugar and just don't want that in my diet.

I've found this great at keeping infections at bay.

I was also advised to empty my bladder immediately after sex.

Thanks MD - I have a kidney condition too - good to hear that the cranberry tablets work. I agree re the sugar, but the Light stuff is made with sucralase, this is what I've been buying. But it's an expensive way to do it!

Wow, I've just looked up Duplex kidneys - says you're at particular risk of urniary infection. Ow!

I find the cranberry tablets work - I think it's the Sanatogen ones you can take up to 4 a day so I tend to do that if I have an infection. Also gallons of water as everyone else said - and definitely what MD said about peeing immediately after sex - apparently (tmi) it flushes any germs that may have been worked up your urethra during.

I have to admit that I have tried cranberry juice and it's just too vile. Boots do a sachet to take 4 times a day which is cranberry flavour but you can knock that back!! It's not nice and when I get it hurts to wee and hurts my stomach all the time. Try the boots stuff and the cranberry if you can, drink plenty fluid and I have also heard the advice about going to the toilet after sex. I have it so infrequently it doesn't really come into the equation.....

The Minor Ailments document for pharmacists released by the NHS actually says that cranberry juice is not proven to prevent/heal cystitis but it does seem to be a commonly recommended 'cure'. I drink it too when i have cystitis but i don't know if it actually works as i combine it with plenty of other attempts at killing the pain - such as bucketloads of water, hot water bottles, paracetamol and the liquid oral medicine someone mentioned above (can't recall the name - i've been cystitis free for nearly 3 years, yaaay!)

I used to get really bad bouts, almost monthly sometimes and i hated it. Here are a bunch of things that i found have really helped:

- pee before and after sex (as soon as possible afterwards)

- this is way TMI but using condoms helps (or having your partner wash right before sex, never tried this, i don't think MrH would be impressed!) as it cuts down any bacteria travelling up the urethra. Using lubricant also helps prevent it

- wear cotton underwear (ie no sweaty materials) and avoid thongs/gstrings. They transfer bacteria from the bottom (yuck!)

- don't 'hold it in' when you need to pee, try to go straight away. When on the toilet seat, lean back in a sitting position as it allows the bladder to empty fully. Wipe from front to back.

- cut down on alcohol, or make sure you drink plenty of water as well as alcohol. Don't let yourself get dehydrated

Hope this helps and that you feel better soon!

I'm a sufferer of this and so is my Mom so I think I have her to thank!

Pretty much I echo the advice of the others. The main things I do are:

1) Drink at least 2l's of water a day

2) I keep some sachets in stock. Tesco do an own brand and they are only 98p so I keep about 6 in stock at any time and take them with me. I find if a I nip it in the bud as soon as it starts I can just take one sachet and not a course.

3) http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/402705_Clearspring_Organic_Kukicha__Bancha__Twig_Loose_Tea__125g.html is a GODSEND, every woman should have this in their store cupboard! I now drink a cup everyday but even if you just take it when you have the symptoms it's fab. You can also use to cool to pat on the area, which is soothing after 50 trips to the loo. I've even been known to add it to a bath. Order some, it's pretty vile but it works!

4) I avoid white wine. By process of elimination I found that this was a factor and by cutting it out I get it far less often

I have it now, it's horrid! I usually get it about 5/6 times a year and try to drink loads of water, as someone else said drink it even after you feel you can't drink any more! Cranberry juice is supposed to help prevent it but not cure it once you have it. I always keep the sachets in the house just incase and sometimes find using thrush cream helps with the burning after going to the loo.

Stay away from tea/coffee/alcohol/fizzy drinks etc as they seem to make it worse. oh and spicy foods seem to make it worse when I have it.

I had a bad time last christmas with it (it also caused bleeding) and antibiotics didn't help I just had to pee and bear it !

I was always getting it but now I have a glass of cranberry juice every morning, go for a wee as soon as I need it and I always go for a wee after sex. If I don't do these things I can guarantee I will get cystitus.

Again, thanks so much everyone for taking the time to reply. I have upped my water intake today, bought some cranberry capsules and weed straight after sex. Here's hoping!

xx

? How can you bear to have sex during a bout of cystitis? The last time I had it, even wearing underwear was painful...

I have had recurrent cystitus since November its a nightmare. 3 lots of antibiotics and still no joy. Like the others I have had cranberry overload and am making sure i drink water constantly at work. Tried to cut down on booze and fizzy drinks but didnt really seem to affect it (plus i can't do with not having the odd pint). Hope it's feeling better for you xxxx

Ah Rachel, that was after the day of cranberry juice knocking it on the head. I agree though, the first big bout I could only get through the day with my dwindling supplies of co-proxamol.

Thanks Sophie, I am glad to hear that about alcohol as have girly night planned. It seems to have gone bar the slight sensitvity that heralds either the beginning or the end.

Big pots (100s) of cranberry capsules are on special at Holland and Barret btw.

Right. lets hope I can leave this thread here and not come limping back on moaning..

Thanks again everyone, your advice has been as helpful and timely as ever

xx