t0ri Posted November 11, 2010 Posted November 11, 2010 Two days I felt oncoming symptoms of a UTI. Burning/shocking pain when urinating, body aches, pain in lower abdomen, frequent urge to urinate with not much coming out. They weren't terrible, but I definitely recognized them, as I've had a UTI once before. So I thought I would try flushing my system with lots of water, cranberry juice, and vitamin C. I was going to go to the doctor today if my symptoms had not improved, but they have. I have nothing now but a little bloating and discomfort in my lower abdomen. So I was wondering if it is possible to cure a UTI, or kill the bacteria causing it, with the regimen I stated above, or is this just masking my symptoms? Should I still go to the doctor anyway?
shadowofman Posted November 11, 2010 Posted November 11, 2010 Yes, it can be cured. And it will be. Staying hydrated will help. Flushing of the bladder and urethra will keep the infection down only to a certain degree. E coli has strong adhesive properties which helps them avoid being completely flushed. I am currently working on analyzing the anti-adhesion properties of Proanthrocyanins and Anthrocyanins in cranberries. Depending on the particular strain of E coli causing the infection, PACs show promise as a stimulator of anti-adhesion oligosaccharides. Once thought to be an effect of D-mannose, which can be bought in all the health food stores as "cranberry pills". This may be helpful for some strains of E coli but not the majority of infections. PACs in cranberries are mostly found in the skin of the berry. Processing the berry into cranberry juice, sauce, or craisins greatly reduces the concentration of PACs. So far, my tests have shown PAC content remains high in fresh, frozen, and freeze dried samples.
TaraMaiden Posted November 11, 2010 Posted November 11, 2010 I found drinking a cold glass of water 3 times a day with bicarb of soda helped tremendously. Also,a herb tea made with fresh nettle tops, dandelion root (you can buy it roasted) and cleavers, (a "sticky" grass that sticks to your clothing.... the seeds resemble tiny furry balls - no jokes please!) has a wonderfully soothing and healing effect. I drank about six large mugs a day, unsweetened. but you can add honey if you want to... Avoid foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, beetroot and spicy foods. Also, avoid coffee and alcohol. personally, I actually found cranberry made my UTI worse.....
Els Posted November 11, 2010 Posted November 11, 2010 Your body and urine will naturally fight the UTI anyway (which is how people were cured before the advent of antibiotics). If the symptoms are mostly gone, I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as you don't get pain on your flanks (where the kidneys are) or a fever.
desertIslandCactus Posted November 11, 2010 Posted November 11, 2010 Two days I felt oncoming symptoms of a UTI. Burning/shocking pain when urinating, body aches, pain in lower abdomen, frequent urge to urinate with not much coming out. They weren't terrible, but I definitely recognized them, as I've had a UTI once before. So I thought I would try flushing my system with lots of water, cranberry juice, and vitamin C. I was going to go to the doctor today if my symptoms had not improved, but they have. I have nothing now but a little bloating and discomfort in my lower abdomen. So I was wondering if it is possible to cure a UTI, or kill the bacteria causing it, with the regimen I stated above, or is this just masking my symptoms? Should I still go to the doctor anyway? I'm not a stranger to bladder infections .. had them so much when I was first married that I had to be dialated. They are horrible.. Didn't have the body aches and pain though. And yes, the cranberry juice just may have helped you to get better.
shadowofman Posted November 11, 2010 Posted November 11, 2010 personally, I actually found cranberry made my UTI worse..... This is a link selling D-Mannose, therefore not to be a trusted source of information. There are many scientific papers published about the inhibiting properties of some strains of E coli. D-Mannose is known to prevent adhesion of some minor pathogens. The typical infection which is noticeably problematic (painful) is not inhibited by D-Mannose. Also, consuming large doses of indigestible sugar (mannose is indigestible and therefore passes out through the urine) may increase your chances of developing diabetes. D-Mannose is also a very important target of your immune system. A method by which macrophage recognize and destroy bacteria with glycoprotein containing mannose. This is beta-D-mannose. So mannose is an important compound in the body, but one that you might not want more of, lest you stress your immune system and sugar/insulin homeostasis. The science is still working on the complete picture. As I have said before, there is a lot of interest in some other compounds called polyphenolics. Specifically in this case, PACs. This New England Journal of Medicine article is very clear on the subject. http://www.mednews.it/public/pdf/lavori/INFURIN1.pdf A more recent study. http://www.jurology.com/article/S0022-5347(07)00252-2/abstract
Star Gazer Posted November 20, 2010 Posted November 20, 2010 I've staved off sooooo many UTIs, but I never had abdominal pain or bloating - JUST the frequent urge to pee and a slight burning when peeing. I'd take cranberry pills and drinks TONS of water, and take Azo for the pain/discomfort. If you're still having bloating and abdominal pain, I'd go to the doctor. The urinary/bladder infection symptoms can disappear, but it might have already crawled up to your kidneys.
TaraMaiden Posted November 20, 2010 Posted November 20, 2010 This is a link selling D-Mannose, therefore not to be a trusted source of information. There are many scientific papers published about the inhibiting properties of some strains of E coli. D-Mannose is known to prevent adhesion of some minor pathogens. The typical infection which is noticeably problematic (painful) is not inhibited by D-Mannose. Also, consuming large doses of indigestible sugar (mannose is indigestible and therefore passes out through the urine) may increase your chances of developing diabetes. D-Mannose is also a very important target of your immune system. A method by which macrophage recognize and destroy bacteria with glycoprotein containing mannose. This is beta-D-mannose. So mannose is an important compound in the body, but one that you might not want more of, lest you stress your immune system and sugar/insulin homeostasis. The science is still working on the complete picture. As I have said before, there is a lot of interest in some other compounds called polyphenolics. Specifically in this case, PACs. This New England Journal of Medicine article is very clear on the subject. http://www.mednews.it/public/pdf/lavori/INFURIN1.pdf A more recent study. http://www.jurology.com/article/S0022-5347(07)00252-2/abstract I thank you for the information, and I'm sure you are in a far better position than I to give such details. Nevertheless, when I drink cranberry juice, or take tabs, it makes it worse, not better. For me. That's all I'm saying.
xpaperxcutx Posted November 20, 2010 Posted November 20, 2010 I'd only had UTI once, and it's a pain because I was constantly going to the bathroom. I had to see a doctor who prescribed me antibiotics.
Author t0ri Posted November 28, 2010 Author Posted November 28, 2010 Thanks for the replies! Quick update: Although my UTI symptoms went almost completely away, I had a feeling the infection hadn't been cleared, and began getting intense itching, which I presumed to be a yeast infection. I made an appointment with the doctor 5 days after the initial UTI symptoms, and woke up the morning of the appointment with horribly intense pain in my lower right abdomen, which brought me to the brink of tears. The doctor tested my urine and said it immediately showed positive for a bladder infection, and I did indeed have a yeast infection on top of that! Lovely. Dang vaginas! I was prescribed a week's worth of antibiotics and I'm all good now. I was quite scared and in terrible pain after the doctor's appointment, because the lower abdominal pain had began radiating to my back. I considered going to the ER, but took a tylenol and my antibiotic, and the pain vanished. Anyway, I won't wait as long as I did again to see a doctor once UTI symptoms appear. I may use cranberry juice and water as a preventative for UTI's, but definitely not a cure.
Star Gazer Posted November 28, 2010 Posted November 28, 2010 Thanks for the replies! Quick update: Although my UTI symptoms went almost completely away, I had a feeling the infection hadn't been cleared, and began getting intense itching, which I presumed to be a yeast infection. I made an appointment with the doctor 5 days after the initial UTI symptoms, and woke up the morning of the appointment with horribly intense pain in my lower right abdomen, which brought me to the brink of tears. The doctor tested my urine and said it immediately showed positive for a bladder infection, and I did indeed have a yeast infection on top of that! Lovely. Dang vaginas! I was prescribed a week's worth of antibiotics and I'm all good now. I was quite scared and in terrible pain after the doctor's appointment, because the lower abdominal pain had began radiating to my back. I considered going to the ER, but took a tylenol and my antibiotic, and the pain vanished. Anyway, I won't wait as long as I did again to see a doctor once UTI symptoms appear. I may use cranberry juice and water as a preventative for UTI's, but definitely not a cure. WOW! Good thing you went to the doctor!! There are cranberry pills you can take with water that have the same preventative goodness. I take those rather than drinking caloric juice.
Recommended Posts