So, my day was running along fairly smoothly. I got up, I had a coffee, I had a shower. I spent an hour or so trying to curse my hair into place. I was surprisingly unsuccessful with regards to my hair. Normally a good curse will put anything in it's place, but not a cowlick.
I needed to pick up a few things at Ikea, so at around 10:30 a.m. I hopped into the car and made my way directly to their candle section. For the first time in Ikea history, I did not wander, I did not pick something else up. I got the candles and left. I didn't even stop for a 50¢ hotdog, even though it was lunchtime and even though, although not technically hungry, I certainly could have eaten one and enjoyed it.
I got home, made another coffee and decided it was time to pee. If you listen closely you can probably still hear the echo of my screams bouncing off some goat filled mountain range. The thing about a bladder infection is even if you've never had one before, the minute you experience it, you know what it is. Technically I'm not sure if it's a bladder infection or a urinary tract infection. Either way, it hurts like a misplaced red hot fire poker.
I've probably had 4 or 5 bladder infections in my lifetime. One of them just happened to be earlier this year which led me to the discovery of the Frozen Yogourt Tampon. A cure for yeast infections. You see, if you get a bladder infection, chances are your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic which will in turn give you a yeast infection. Fun, right?
Almost as fun as a plantar wart at the age of almost 50. Plantar warts are remarkably easy to remove with those home kits by the way.
So once I realzied I had screaming pain in my nether regions, I immediately called the doctor. And this is what they said.
"I'm sorry stupid, we've left the office for the day and will not be returning until tomorrow, at which point you'll have already visited a hospital or will have attempted to amputate whichever appendage it is that's ailing you with a hacksaw and some dental floss. We're fine with either choice so long as you don't bother us with it."
Or at least that's what I heard when the answering machine at the doctor's office announced they were closed for the day. At noon.
So I did the stupidest thing anyone could do. I searched for answers to my ailment on the Internet. This is risky because as I've said before, the Internet is a big fat liar. Now, this is particularly risky because according to Google, every pain or symptom leads to cancer. Usually a brain tumour. And if you read any forums dedicated to bladder infections chances are they'll have the same advice the make believe doctor's message had. Go the the hospital or cut your own hoo hoo off. In case it's cancer.
In terms of cures I found the regular bizarro Google stuff, stand on your head, eat baking soda, watch the first season of Moonlighting followed by 7 consecutive jumping jacks.
I actually took the advice in terms of the baking soda and immediately drank an 8 ounce glass of water with a ½ tsp. of baking soda in it. I dunno why. It seemed plausible.
But I also found the cure that everyone has heard of for bladder infections. Drink cranberry juice. And ... drink a lot of water. Apparently a bladder infection is bacteria that's attached itself to the cells lining your bladder and urethra. Cranberry juice contains chemical compounds that help stop the bacteria from sticking to the cells. Water does the same thing, along with washing away the unstuck bacteria. Kind of like rinsing out a stinky flower vase.
I whipped to the pharmacy and asked my pharmacist if she had any ideas as to what I could do and she suggested the same thing. In fact, she said she once got rid of a bladder infection using these methods.
So I went to my local health food store and bought some concentrated Cranberry liquid for $16 and headed home where I drank 500 ml of water ever hour. The cranberry liquid is extremely concentrated so you only have to drink a Tablespoon of it a day. I also took a tiny chug of it at the end of the day.
I peed about every half hour. And every time I peed I could feel the infection getting less and less painful.
I continued my regime for a full 2 days and am still taking the Tablespoon of cranberry juice a day. And my infection seems to be gone. Just looking at a glass of water makes me nauseous, but my symptoms are gone. As far as I can tell anyway. If it comes back I'll go to the doctor, but for now it appears as though I obliterated my bladder infection. All on my own.
I wouldn't recommend this method if you have a full blown, raging bladder infection that has you doubled over in pain and cursing your mother for birthing you, but if you're in the very beginning stages of it, this old fashioned cure seems to work.
If you're reading this right now thinking, yeah well ... the Internet is a big fat liar. You're right. It is. But I'm not the Internet. I'm a just a gal typing away on my laptop, who has a perfectly healthy and happy hoo hoo. Hurray.
Please note: I can only endorse cures and methods I've tested myself on myself.
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Elsah Cort, RN
Once you have the symptoms, be very sure NOT to take any antibiotics until you have sent a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity to a lab. If you take an antibiotic for which the bacteria is resistant, it will not kill it. And, it can contribute to making bacteria into super bugs, of which there are several that are already in epidemic form. Prevention is to keep hydrated well, and when you feel the symptoms starting up, the method you described in your post is really good. Don't hold back having to pee when you feel the urge, sometimes keeping the bladder full is like having a party for bacteria. Also, if you get a low grade temp with it, don't reduce the temp with tylenol or advil, your body is doing what is natural to cook the bacteria. If you get lower back pain, it can mean the infection is going into your kidneys.
Michelle
I have a thing called intersistial cytisis, which is kinda form of bladder infection, which means my bladder lining is super sensitive to caffeine. If I drink too much caffeine, i will feel that urge to go to the toilet all the time, luckily unlike full blown bladder infection, peeing doesnt usually hurt. But I SWEAR by cranberry tablets. I take the super high dose milligrams ones. I even take them as a prevention. And if I slip and drink too much caffeine again, I then take the tablets for a while, stay off caffeine, and Im good again. Those cranberry tablets are my saviours!
rochelle
I can tell you exactly when I had my last badder infection. It was Oct 30th, 2002, precisely 15 hours after giving birth to my first child. I cannot remember how painful it was, I was blinded with misery. I was also dealing with nipples that were hanging by a thread from being chewed off by a newborn and the singeing pain of a 'graze' (lord help the women who have to have full episiotomies). Then an angel appeared (generally, I don't beleive in angels)at my flat. (I had gone home from the NHS hospital as soon as I could). She diagnosed my problem and came back with some sort of magic potions (I think cranberry juice and antibiotics). Her name was Orla and I could hardly understand a word she said (so thick was her irish brogue). She saved me. I am convinced that had I been back home in the USA, without the lovely care of post natal, home-visiting midwives, I would have died in my bed and they would have found me days later, nipple-less, with a tiny baby wailing at my side. Bladder infections suck.
KC
Karen,
First, I love your blog. We credited you with our homemade pumpkin pies and maple syrup whipped cream (YUM!) at Thanksgiving and I am forever laughing and your humor and inspired by your ingenuity. I had to write this time as I have had bladder infections and the following yeast infections far too many times. I also have interstitial cystitis which feels much the same but is made much worse by anything cranberry related (or anything else with flavor, pretty much). I have a GREAT yeast infection home cure, which has never failed me and is neater than the yogurt. Just insert one clove of garlic before bedtime. Yes, down there. I have only had to repeat a second night once. The weird part is that a few minutes later you will taste the garlic (that blood stream really does travel everywhere!). You can also take a clove of garlic with you on travels, camping, wherever.
Julie
Thanks for this post! As somebody who used to get frequent UTIs, I'm familiar with the cranberry method, but the pills didn't seem to do much. Glad to know there's extract! I'd like to point out that you should always avoid cranberry juice "cocktail" and other sugary juices, because the sugar can actually PROMOTE bacteria growth. Not good.
I also second the AZO Standard you can get at the drugstore. My gynecologist first recommended it, because it's the same as the prescription stuff.
elisa
cranberry is amazing, great that you found that worked. parsley works just as well too. pour boiling water over, let it steep for a bit, drink it all day. i also find probiotics are good prevention, and avoiding sugar and alcohol for a good while. x
Connor
Aaand I'm continually reminded how glad I am to be hoohoo-less. Thanks, Karen.
Angela N
Oh the timing of this post! I just finished my 5 day supply of antibiotics for a UTI. I know 3 other people also suffering from them right now. Is it the time of year for UTIs?? I ended up treating with AZO and antibiotics and also lots of water. Thankfully it didn't lead to a YI. I did eat a yogurt each day to help keep it away.
Kelly
Wow. I REALLY thought you were going to freeze a cranberry tampon.
I am SO DISAPPOINTED! But glad you're feeling better!
Stefanie
Hey, Karen? I have a request for a blog post topic!
With all the comments here about cranberry pills, Oreganol, Uva Ursi, Vitamin C, AZO...I got to wondering, what in the heck should I be buying and putting into my body on a regular/preventive basis??? Not just for UTIs, I mean - I want to know what you and the Askarens take every day just for basic healthy/happy body maintenance.
I've researched this several times myself but always end up more confused and frustrated than I was to begin with, which means I end up taking no vitamins or supplements of any kind. And I kinda think that's not such a good idea. With all the appropriate health and medical disclaimers...what's your research led you to take?
Karen
Hey Stefanie! LOL. I take nothing. Other than eating about 1/2 cup of plain yogourt every day. I also drink a fair amount of milk. Plus I eat a well balanced diet blah, blah, blah. I think there's much more need for vitamins and such when you're on a vegetarian or vegan diet to ensure you're getting all the "stuff" you need. Often times this can be done with cooking alone, but if you don't like a certain food or whatever then you need the supplements. So I can't exactly post about this because I really don't know much about it! I can't put out information unless I've actually tried it and proven it works or doesn't work. I'm not a doctor. I don't even play one on television. :) Whenever I come across something that I find works I post about it. And I mean, if you go by Dr. Oz, you should pretty much be taking every vitamin and supplement under the sun. And eating a lot of curry and kelp. I know what you're saying though. It's realllyyyyyy hard to figure out what to do. I guess I'm like you. Too much info so ... I don't do nothin'. Oh! I do have one recommendation. Exercise on a daily basis really does make you feel better. Starting this blog made me realize that. Blogging is a very sedentary activity which I'm not used to. About 2 or 3 months into it I felt like crap. Raging headaches, stiff, sore muscles ... lethargic. So I started walking in the morning. BIG improvement. Just moving around can make a vast improvement to how you feel. HUGE. ~ karen
Linda
Eating Whole Foods not man are edibles. Each time you process food you loose nutients.Also need to raw food to get enzymes to help digest. If grandma would not recognize the edible do not eat it. For bladder infection never bath only shower. No bubble bath. Never have infections anymore. When achy take demannos immediately. Watch Dr John Bergman explains how body works.
Peggy, aka MsSippi
Glad you got your bladder/UTI infection cleared up! The first one I ever had was when I was 6 months pregnant with my daughter. I was already really big, and the bladder infection made me feel like I was 6 months OVERDUE! My delivery hospital was 40 miles away and I knew it wasn't labor, so hubby took me to our local rinky-dink hospital to get me checked out. The stupid ER doc said that it was false labor. I told him that it was not false labor, and if I thought it was false labor, I sure wouldn't be talking to him! He gave me a pain shot and told my hubby to take me home before I fell over...that the shot would knock me out. No, it didn't knock me out. I was up and down all night, drinking water and peeing, but the next day I quit hurting. By the time I saw my OB a couple of days later, there was no infection and no problems with the pregnancy, so I guess just the water helped. I finally realized that it was a bladder infection when I got one about a year later. They hurt almost as badly as my gall bladder attacks!
Karen
Hi MsSippi! Welcome over here! I'll be back to the Christmas crafts by next week. :) You'd think even a rinky dink doctor could figure out a bladder infection. Maybe you needed a lady doctor. She might have got it. Rinky dink or not! ~ karen!
Ashley
One thing I found in connection to my (former) frequent UTI's was my ex-boyfriend! I think he was just not a very clean person. He always was against frequent handwashing because he thought it made you more prone to sickness. I had a UTI about every 4 months of the 2 years we had a physical relationship. It makes sense, he worked at a video store, touching all those dirty movies and not washing, well I'm sure you can figure out the rest. I have been with my fiance for 4 years now, and have not had a single UTI. I think if you have to pee after sex to avoid a UTI, you need to make your man wash his hands (and possibly other parts) before you let him touch you!
Dede
YES!! Thanks for pointing that out.....It's true your man should be clean...Would it kill these guys to shower before sex?..I believe guys that don't wash are the source of tons of infections that women suffer from.
But if you do get an infection, at the first sign of it, take two alka seltzer tablets...and poof ! Pain gone and all is well. Or take 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 8 oz water 2 or 3 times a day for 3 days.
kasia
What a great topic Karen! About 6 months ago I started taking cranberry pills, every single day. I always always always do the pee after sex thing, but it seems that is not entirely foolproof! The pills have made a huge difference.... I hope I didn't just jinx myself.
And thanks to your reader, Todd --- what an understanding man! :)
Betty
I always do the pee after sex, but nonetheless I had a UTI last week. I bought a jug of 100% pure cranberry juice and drank a tall glass that night. The next morning I noticed less pain, and by day 2 I barely felt anything. I'm still following up with cranberry juice this week just in case, but I think I'll try cranberry pills as a daily supplement. UTIs are evil!
Lu
Yep. That is the best method to cure a bladder infection. I've done the test as well, and I was in the fetal position cursing the water I had drank the day before that was trying to pry itself out of me carrying needles. Too graphic? I keep just plain ol' juice in my fridge for the slightest twinge. I'm happy that you didn't have to amputate your um...Anything.
Judy
This is my first time on your blog but I must comment. Let's talk about preventing UTIs. Pee after sex - always, without exception. Make it your mantra - 'I will always pee after sex'. I used to get UTIs regularly. Have not had one, I repeat, I have not had one since I started religiously peeing after sex. It is the answer (well that and making sure your are wiping well after going #2 so no bacteria gets in your urethra). UTIs are from bacteria getting up there from an outside source. Sex and poop are that outside source. Nobody should ever have a UTI ever again using this method!
Christina
I wish! This didnt work! I did pee after! I didnt even pee before. Fortunately my D Mannose with Cran-Actin is doing the trick for this UTI! Not always so lucky!
Chris Graham
I let out a small chirp of laughter. Out loud, juvenile, I know... When you seemingly compared your lady parts to a stinky flower vase. I'm apologizing, because I am usually much more empathetic. But it was funny. Glad you are rinsed out and feeling better.
susie
The worst is getting a UTI when you're on vacation. Once, in Hawaii, I sat in the bathtub for a couple hours crying. The warm water does ease the pain of urination, plus you can just pee as you need to and refill the tub with fresh water.
Don't mess around with hippie treatments if you're peeing blood.
Janelle
I started peeing blood the night before my first year law school moot trial. Went to the ER, got the stuff, took the stuff, got very little sleep on account of trips to the john, then proceeded to NAIL my moot trial without peeing my pants. The moral: UTI's make you superhuman (though in my case the effect wore off quite quickly and has actually started to reverse...).
Sarah
Heya : ) As someone who gets UTI's ALL the time, and they commonly lead to kidney infections, my DR has told me to take Ural (a urinary alkanizer) 3 times a day for a week, and then swap and take Vit C three times a day for a week. And to just keep doing this. Apparently it changes the acidity of your urine so dramatically that bacteria cant live down there. If this doesnt work, then I am on low dose anitbiotics for the rest of my live, so fingers crossed!!