Uti - Cherryville,MO

Try dinking lots of cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar. Thay also make cranberry juice concentrate pills you can take.

Hi S.~

This is another area I'm kind of a pro at. :/

I've had many from childhood into adulthood...

I've discussed this at length with my doctor, and he said this:

You DO NOT need to receive antibiotic treatment every time you have a UTI... he recommended drinking lots of water AND lots of 100% cranberry juice (not juice cocktail), and to drink at least a 4 oz. glass everyday as a preventative. The Azo tablets can and do relieve the pain from a UTI, but beware they will turn your urine bright orange, which can and will stain your clothes...

My only reservation in your case is that you've never had a UTI before to be sure that's in fact what you're dealing with. Once you've had one that was actually diagnosed by the doctor, then recognizing it again will be pretty easy, generally.

My symptoms are usually 1) a distinct pungent smell to my urine, 2) an urgency to pee that is almost constant, 3) burning when urinating... if I have 1 or all of those symptoms, I know what I'm dealing with. I have a prescription of Cipro (commonly prescribed antibiotics for UTI's) that I keep on hand, and I will take one pill at the onset of symptoms, drink a ton of fluid and cranberry juice, and usually use Azo for a day or two, when the symptoms generally subside. I've done this for some time now, and I've never had a UTI progress into anything more serious. Not saying it can't or doesn't happen, just that it never has with me.

So to answer your question, no, you do not need an antibiotic for a UTI... but in your case, since you've never had one, I'd just be a little cautious. By all means, try the cranberry route first... see what happens. If things don't let up within a couple days, I'd go see a doc.

Good luck!

I would try the AZO Cranberry pills. There are also little test kits that will tell you if you have a UTI. I always purchase the little home test kit before I call the doctor. Saves me time and money in the long run. You can get both of these at Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target etc... I never had any of the common symptoms with mine, but just had to pee every 5 min.

If it's really a UTI (bacterial infection) you NEED to see the doctor and get on antibiotics. If you don't, it can spread to your bladder and even kidneys, causing damage that could be irreversible.

Try drinking extra water and 100% cranberry juice for a day, maybe two at the most. If it's very very early, you may be able to flush it out ... maybe. But if it gets worse over that time, or isn't better right away, don't delay at going in. I know you don't have time to see the doc, but you have even less time to be sick if you don't get treated properly. An hour or two off work (and whatever else you have going on) is much preferable to days in bed!

I never had UTIs until after my second child was born. But I knew the instant I woke up what it was - so miserable. I can't imagine not being sure, so maybe you don't? Anyway, being so miserable, I love antibiotics :) I use AZO for pain relief - not their cranberry pills but the actual traditional pain meds you can get in the grocery store. It is roughly the same as the pain meds my doctor perscribed at one point. But I have never been able to actually get rid of an infection on my own without antibiotics. I have waited occasionally because it was the weekend or something and it was misery.. I will also add that I actually have bladder damage (inflamed lining) because of the number of infections I have had, so I wouldn't recommend waiting it out, because a lingering underlying infection could be bad.

If you happen to be pregnant, a UTI can be dangerous so definately go to the doctor.

I used to get them a LOT. (I've pee'd in cups around the world--haha)
O. time I do believe I "cured" it by drinking, drinking, drinking TONS of water.

I used to get these and always found them to be pretty miserable. I have cured them in the past by drinking tons and tons of cranberry juice...as soon as I'd feel the onset of one I'd start pounding water/juice.

It would be easier and more comfortable for you if you could just get to the doctor, I've even gone to the ER with one before because I was too busy to go the following day. They'll give you an antibiotic which will give you relief fast, after the first dose in my experience. Take care!!

Yup, Julia N.'s answer is spot on & is precisely the same info I was going to give you. I've had a few UTI's & 1 that turned into a kidney infection which was truly awful because I let it go for too long. Try the water/cranberry juice route for a day or 2 at the most & then you've got to squeeze in a dr.'s visit. Trust me, no matter how busy you may be, you do not want to let this go.

100% cranberry juice (not cocktail) , and you can get cranberry pills made by azo. Chug the juice all day long as much as you can stand. This may not completely rid the problem (or it may, I never went to the doc), but at least it can offer some pain relief until you get to the doctor.

Yes, I've had one, and no, you shouldn't cure it on your own.

It would likely go away eventually, but why would you want to suffer through that? That's the beauty of living in the 21st century, not the 19th century. We now have these wonderful things called antibiotics.

The worst UTI's involve blood in your urine and an intense need to pee even though nothing comes out; and a milder case just feels like you have to pee all the time.

I've had mild and extreme cases, and I took antibiotics both times.

When I had a UTI in high school, they told me to drink A TON of organic cranberry juice. They did give me one antibiotic, but cranberry juice is what the doctors say to drink!

If your back is tender, you may have kidney problems. That, unfortunately, you should see a doc for =(