Cystitis/Bladder infections

WelshWoofer

Hi,
Yet again I have acute cystitis. It's even worse this time as I'm in Japan on business and had to go to a Japanese hospital for treatment and antibiotics (must say though that it was the most efficient and pleasant doctors visit I have ever had - they had my sample mounted on a microscope slide and diagnosed within 5 minutes of me arriving!)
Apparently this time I have a high white blood cell count in my urine and its classed as severe/acute - I knew it flipping hurt!
I seem to get it all of the time and it's not "honeymoon" cystitis - there seems to be no particular cause.

Does anyone else get recurring bouts like this (it's only a month since my last round of antibiotics for this) and if so what can you do to help the symptoms / cause ?
I do all of the usual stuff - cranberry juice everyday, try not to get too dehydrated, perfume free toiletries etc but no joy.
This is really starting to get me down and it seems to be hereditary as my gran (who's 87) gets it frequently too.

Any advice on practical things would be gratefully received!

PS. Will go back to doctors when I get home and ask them to investigate further as this has been a problem all of my adult life but would like any tips from fellow sufferers !

Many Thanks
R

feelinggood_2

I get regular bouts of cystitis, only things that I've found that help me is potasium citrate and drinking about 3-4 litres a day. Also, I tend to get the 'honeymoon' cystitis, everything anything gets anywhere near that area, so I have to drink a glass of water before and after and go to the loo straight away.
I'd go back to your GP when you can, I think there are long term antibiotics you can get, that might help. Also, make sure you have a smear done.

aurora_borealis_2

One of my DDs has this as a legacy of a congenital kidney problem.
If it's very regular - say once a month, you need to ask your GP for prophylactic antibiotics, i.e. a low dose of Trimethoprim or similar to be taken every day.

**purpleprincess**

I used to get cystitis regularly and it was a pain!! (excuse the pun ) I went to the GP several times and had loads of tests for all different things. After nothing coming back on any of them, he asked me, how do I wash down there. Well, with soap and make sure I am clean, I said. That ended up being my problem. I'll never forget what he said, "it's a lot cleaner down there than someone's mouth" :eek: no idea what he must have been talking about :whistle: So now, I don't wash "down there" with soap and I've been much better!! I do still get the odd bout of cystitis, but nowhere near as often as I did before. Also I bought some cranberry juice tablets and take these as well, or have a glass of cranberry juice before bed.

Luis

I used to get horrific cystitis all the time, and only one set of antibiotics would work - did all the right things, cotton undies, loose clothing, rinsing after 'romance' :rolleyes: , wipe from fron to back :rolleyes: :rolleyes: not using soap or perfumed bubble baths etc. Even had 2 flexible cystoscopies (sp?), which were effective for about 12 months each time.

However, once I got my out of control hormonal problems in check - no further occurences.......................so far

Get yourself referred to a urologist.

Savvy_Sue

the September / October issue of the Boots magazine has a feature on Cystitis. Apparently there are two types, one caused by infection which responds to antibiotics, and another which doesn't ...

Would be worth picking up on your return to UK rachel, and hope it improves for you while you're away!

WelshWoofer

Thanks to all of you that have replied.
Feeling a bit better today but it's still there
At least I don't seem to be weeing every 5 mins now - I'm up to every 15mins! Shoudl make an interesting 13 hour flight home tomorrow.

Apologies if you are on my plane!!

resinman

Have you tried mannose? I'll let you find it via the web, but it worked for me.

I had recurrent UTIs (and being a bloke that's apparently unusual) and was prescribed antibiotics twice. I tried drinking (even) more than usual - many litres a day - tried cranberry, but then read this can aggravate things!!

I reached the point where anything was worth trying, and mannose cleared it up within a day.

I'm no doctor, but the explanation offered, that it makes surfaces slippery to bacteria, made sense.

And this can be seen as moneysaving as my prescriptions weren't free!

Best of luck!

JennyW_2

I've been suffering with cystitis all my life, I remember an attack when I was a child on a potty!

Ten years ago I underwent exploratory surgery, scans etc and nothing was found

In the last 6 weeks I've had 2 attacks and have had antiobiotics on both occasions and on each occasion the urine sample results come back negative.

I think some women are just prone (like some women get thrush). I drink lots of water and cranberry juice to keep it at bay, but it still comes back. I've accepted now that it's something I have to live with.

cupid_s

don't eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice
(if you do already)

also what cranberry juices do you drink?
check the % of actual cranberry juice in them

springchicken

As soon as I feel a bout coming on ,I drink about 5 pints of water and this tends to clear it .
Make sure you drink lots of water every day as this clears the nasties out of your urinary tract.