Need some quick health advice, please, re UTIs...

[Colleen]

I have a UTI for the first time in forever (thank goodness ~ about the forever part, I mean). No question in my mind that's what it is, between the discomfort and also blood in the urine. I almost never go to the doctor and would normally just treat this with lots of water and real cran juice and/or cran tablets. I'm flying out on Monday and of course hope this is cleared up by then. Just trying to decide if I should go the dr. route this time to nip it in the bud. Or maybe go the "natural" route today and tomorrow and if it's still an issue, go into the doctor on Friday? What do you think?

[krazzymommy]

My son just had one (but no blood) and it took about a week with lots of water and cranberry juice. If you want to get rid of it faster, I would go to the dr.; they may be able to give some antibiotics to get rid of it faster?

Sorry!

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

I have a UTI for the first time in forever (thank goodness ~ about the forever part, I mean). No question in my mind that's what it is, between the discomfort and also blood in the urine. I almost never go to the doctor and would normally just treat this with lots of water and real cran juice and/or cran tablets. I'm flying out on Monday and of course hope this is cleared up by then. Just trying to decide if I should go the dr. route this time to nip it in the bud. Or maybe go the "natural" route today and tomorrow and if it's still an issue, go into the doctor on Friday? What do you think?

Hmm, well the infection can easily travel up the system into the kidneys. I would honestly just go in today. They can so easily go south on you (or north, depending on how you look at it). Otherwise if you are NOT going to do this, I would go aggressively natural today with a no milk/sugar/flour/yeast diet and have an appointment *scheduled* for tomorrow first thing.

[Diana in OR]

I would go in. Pam is right. It can go into the kidneys fairly quickly and you would be really miserable if that happens.

I had one a few months ago and thought I would just treat it on my own with cranberry juice, etc. 3 days later, I was asking dh to come home from work so I could get to urgent care b/c I was in so much pain. I got antibiotics and was better in just a few days.

I would also add that the symptoms can come and go, so you might think you're getting better and then they come back with a vengance.

[Danestress]

And under normal circumstances I would try that first.

However, given your travel plans, I'd just go into day. I have had two turn into kidney infections, and that is NOT fun.

[True Blue]

Go to the doctor. Really. Don't take a chance.

[dangermom]

If you've got blood, then I say go in to the doctor. Maybe you're different than I am, but I've only had blood once and it was a pretty serious one. (I'm really prone to them and take cranberry pills like M&Ms!)

[mysticamethyst]

There is an OTC medicine called Uristat that will treat minor UTI's, that and Cystex; antibacterial and analgesic,for any pain associated with it. I take as directed on box for 7 days, always worked for me. Both of these I get at my local Wal-Greens. However, with blood, I MIGHT go to the dr. I do not like going to the dr. Have a safe trip and I hope you are better quickly.

[shell in SC]

I am awed and amazed at you women that tough it out. OMG, a UTI is one of the worst things I've ever experienced! I can usually tell when one is coming (my ur*ne gets cloudy a few hours before the burning starts) and I'm on my way to the dr. immediately (after the AZO of course). I am the biggest baby when it comes to UTI's! So my hats off to you all that can fight it off w/o antibiotics!

shell

[KidsHappen]

go to the dr. They rarely clear up without meds and this point and could damage your kidneys. Plus the meds take a few days relieve the pain which would be good considering that you are traveling soon. I don't like the dr either and don't go if I don't have to but I would go in this case. Also continue natural treatments and drink lots of water. Hope you feel better soon.

[abbeyej]

Considering the blood and the upcoming travel, I'd encourage you to go to the doctor. And yes, I prefer to treat UTIs naturally myself too -- but that can take more time than Wed-Mon in my experience. I usually have to keep drowning myself in pure cranberry juice and garlic tablets for a number of days after symptoms subside if I don't want a recurrence.

Because your symptoms are as advanced as they are, and because of upcoming travel, I'd go ahead and go in. And try to get as much treatment in before traveling as well. (Since it always seems hard to get enough water while traveling anyway.)

[Reesegirl]

I am prone to them too and have only successfully washed one away in my life. Make sure that you don't take uristat if you plan to go in today...it turns everything orange and and then they can't diagnose by sight...they will have to grow a culture and it takes a day or two. I have also washed the infection from my sample in the past too and had a dr. tell me that there was no evidence of infection. I was so mad and in such pain and had to beg for an anitbiotic. It was very frustrating because I know the symptoms and can even feel that edgy feeling coming on. I would go in if I were you, especially if you have blood. So sorry that you are feeling misreable!

[Nicole not in CA]

If you weren't going to be traveling, I would recommend the cranberry/wait-it-out approach, but since you will be traveling soon, a doctor's visit is probably a good idea. You definitely don't want it to turn into a kidney infection. If it were me, I would make the dr.'s appointment and continue to treat naturally. I would fill the doc's prescription, hold onto it and take it on the trip, while continuing to treat with cranberry capsules, concentrate, juice, etc. If it doesn't clear up with natural treatment, then you would have the meds as a backup. FWIW, I've had 3 UTIs. The first one was treated with meds because I didn't know about the cranberry treatment, and the last two were taken care of with cranberry capsules or concentrate and juice. (I had much more success when I took the capsules or concentrate rather than just the juice alone.) I did have blood with two out of three of the infections, so the cranberry treatment can be successful even when it gets to that point.

[angela in ohio]

I rarely go to the doctor, nor do my dc, but I will never mess with a UTI again. I ended up in the hospital with a severe kidney infection, complete with wees of follow-up appointments and scans, after trying the cranberry juice plan the last time.

[Tammy]

nt

[Colleen]

Thanks for the replies. Because we pay out of pocket, and because I generally avoid meds, I'd normally opt out of the doctor, like I said. The upcoming travel is my concern, though. I'd just hate to be dealing with this during 15 hours of flying. Bleh. At least the dr.'s office is just a couple of miles away; that lessens the annoyance. I appreciate your advice!

[sleepy]

Good. :001_smile: Hope you're feeling better soon.

[farmgirlinwv]

When it's gotten to the stage of having blood in the urine I'd go get some script. However, when I or dd get the feeling like we're getting a uti we use cranberry pills to get rid of it. I hate to take antibiotics. There are also some OTC pills for relief of urgency that work well....uristat maybe.

[Rich with Kids]

I am very prone to UTIs. I get them 3 or 4 times a year. I had always gone straight to the Dr for meds and it cleared up w/in a few days. When we lost the MacDaddy insurance, I researched natural ways to clear them up. And let me say, my symptoms come on fast and furious. I start to notice mild burning and w/in an hour I have chills and cramping. That's why I never messed around.

I swear by Apple Cidar Vinegar. I get an 8oz cup of lukewarm water and add about a tablespoon and gag it down. I just had one last week. I did this in the morning and it was gone by afternoon. No lie! I usually do it 2xday for a couple of days to insure it doesn't come back, but it never has. I take cranberry and garlic everyday as a preventative.

[dangermom]

Thanks for the replies. Because we pay out of pocket, and because I generally avoid meds, I'd normally opt out of the doctor, like I said. The upcoming travel is my concern, though. I'd just hate to be dealing with this during 15 hours of flying. Bleh. At least the dr.'s office is just a couple of miles away; that lessens the annoyance. I appreciate your advice! Fifteen hours on a plane, chugging water and juice and going to the bathroom all the time? That sounds like torture. I'd say it's worth the money and the doctor visit! I don't think they even let you take much water on a plane these days.

[DB in NJ]

I just read in Runner's World that when you run long, cells in the kidney can leak and bleed, causing blood in the urine. The same article says that the bladder can also suffer minor injury on a run.

They recommend you wait until 48 hours after a run to see a doctor since blood in the urine could alarm an unsuspecting physician. It states, "if you notice that your urine is still off-color 48 hours after a run, see your doctor to rule out other issues."

HTH.

[Colleen]

By the time I saw the doctor the amount of blood in my urine and pain/discomfort had increased dramatically. He said it was already pretty raging. I had thought about just getting the meds and holding off on using them, like someone else suggested, but I'm starting them now. Definitely want to get it under control asap. Thanks again for helping me think it through.

[Rich with Kids]

I will pray for quick relief! I forgot to mention Uristat or AZO to help with the cramping and burning.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Just saw this. Colleen, I am so glad you went! Can you imagine how terrible you would have felt trying to travel given how bad that was! Hope relief comes very quickly with the meds.

[frogpond1]

it isn't worth the alternative consequences. If you let it go too long then even antibiotics may need a double course. I take daily cranberry pills from Costco to avoid this. The thing about cranberry is it is a great preventative, but it doesn't kill the actual infection.