More on UTI 'cures'
April 11th 2009 08:45
The women's health site (men supposedly are less prone to UTIs, so I'm kind of having to put myself in women's shoes at this point, you might say) tells us the same things that the Health Centre nurse told me: plenty of fluids and cranberry juice. But they add in Vitamin C (so are oranges in or out here?)
What about the Mayo Clinic's view on keeping UTIs at bay? Well, they tell us that antibiotics are the prime approach to treating the problem, and list five common ones:
* Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox)
* Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin)
* Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
* Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
* Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim)
I've had all of the first three, and have probably had the other two under a different name!
But then they go on to add: Your doctor may also prescribe a pain medication (analgesic) that numbs your bladder and urethra to relieve burning while urinating.[/I
Well, my doctor hasn't offered anything like that, so I've been putting up with the pain. Which, by the way, after three days of antibiotics, is still there whenever I pee.
They also note that: [I]One common side effect of urinary tract analgesics is discolored urine — bright blue or orange. That's interesting: I seem to remember I managed to have purple urine without having any analgesic! I wrote about this some time ago, but can't remember in which particular post.
The Mayo people have another page in which they discuss lifestyle and home remedies. Avoid coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks containing citrus juices and caffeine until your infection has cleared, they say. Hmmm. And, of course, drink the ubiquitous cranberry juice!
There are only a few other results from Google on the subject 'uti health' and none of them vary much from what I've already written. Basically, you can go via some herbal treatment or via antibiotics (and cranberry juice). There's little else to do - unless you want to pay for the famous UTI Report!
One last note: tests to show cranberry juice is actually effective in treating UTIs haven't been conclusive. It obviously does no harm; neither is it guaranteed to do any good. In other words, the jury is still out on cranberry juice and UTIs, even though it seems everyone is recommending it!
What about the Mayo Clinic's view on keeping UTIs at bay? Well, they tell us that antibiotics are the prime approach to treating the problem, and list five common ones:
* Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox)
* Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin)
* Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
* Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
* Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim)
I've had all of the first three, and have probably had the other two under a different name!
But then they go on to add: Your doctor may also prescribe a pain medication (analgesic) that numbs your bladder and urethra to relieve burning while urinating.[/I
Well, my doctor hasn't offered anything like that, so I've been putting up with the pain. Which, by the way, after three days of antibiotics, is still there whenever I pee.
They also note that: [I]One common side effect of urinary tract analgesics is discolored urine — bright blue or orange. That's interesting: I seem to remember I managed to have purple urine without having any analgesic! I wrote about this some time ago, but can't remember in which particular post.
The Mayo people have another page in which they discuss lifestyle and home remedies. Avoid coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks containing citrus juices and caffeine until your infection has cleared, they say. Hmmm. And, of course, drink the ubiquitous cranberry juice!
There are only a few other results from Google on the subject 'uti health' and none of them vary much from what I've already written. Basically, you can go via some herbal treatment or via antibiotics (and cranberry juice). There's little else to do - unless you want to pay for the famous UTI Report!
One last note: tests to show cranberry juice is actually effective in treating UTIs haven't been conclusive. It obviously does no harm; neither is it guaranteed to do any good. In other words, the jury is still out on cranberry juice and UTIs, even though it seems everyone is recommending it!
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Comment by Anonymous
Just to pass on some useful info, below I've listed a few other (mostly anecdotal) remedies that friends and my parents' patients have found helpful, some of which may seem a bit weird....
- Cranberry capsules
- Zinc and Garlic supplement capsules
- Dissolving bicarbonate of soda in your drink at regular intervals
- Having a hot bath and not holding back if you want to pee in there (mmm, nice)
- Keeping your crotch warm, using a hand warmer or wearing multiple pairs of underwear
Hope this helps!
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
Anyway, since I wrote this a few weeks ago things have improved greatly, and I certainly haven't had any further UTIs. I have been using the fizzy cranberry capsules in water - pretty bland, I must say. And I keep on drinking far more than I used to, so I guess it's all good!
Thanks for your comments.