[wi_fighter]

Dang it! I woke up this morning with the exact same symptoms I've had with a few other bladder infections. I call my doctor asking if they can call something in for me.

"No, we have to see you. It's office policy. We need to see you to get your history."

IT'S IN THE DAMN CHART!!!!!!

Sometimes I hate my doctor. He's a young guy but is so damn conservative that sometimes it's to the detriment of the patient. Why should I have to pay $85 for an office visit, $20-something for a UA, and then $35 for the meds, when all I need are the meds? There are so many doctors out there who have standing orders for antibiotics for their patients, and I'm not lucky enough to have one of those. He's even quit giving out samples. It's not like he's a stand-alone doc with a private practice. He's part of a huge medical center, just has a satellite office in my dinky town.

I want to be able to pee without it hurting, darn it. Good thing I have a newly-opened bottle of cranberry juice in the house. Only it's cocktail, not pure juice.

Do cranberry pills work just as well as juice?

Update: I just went to the store and picked up some cranberry and garlic pills. I'd rather pay $10 and give it a shot on my own first than go to the doctor and pay $150.

[Rhapsody]

Hmm - I think the pills work better if you use them on a regular basis, where as I find that the JUICE works great for these kinds of emergencies.... I get a 64 oz bottle and drink half of it right away - relief comes quickly.... then I finish off the rest through out the day.

BTW - the Native Americans (Indians) used the Cranberries for their UTI problems..... long before we did, the bad bacteria get attached to the berries when it passes thru our tract and then we eliminate them out through our urine. Very SMART thinking!!!

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

[wi_fighter]

The cranberry comes in capsules and you can open them up and make them into tea. I'm going to try that. I drank a glass of juice and took two capsules already, so sometime in this next hour I'm going to go the tea route.

[Rhapsody]

I usually have to drink around 6 cups before I start to feel any relief.... Good Luck.

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

[Peanuts]

You can purchase over the counter medication at the drug store that will relieve the uti pain - I forget what they are called but they turn your pee pink or orange. It is not a cure but it brings relief from the intense burning and urgency while you wait for antibiotics or natural treatments to take effect and clear up the irritation/infection.

I used to keep some of those pills on hand but when I went to find them so that I could tell you what they are called ... discovered that I'm out. I will need to get a package to have on-hand just in case.

hope you feel better.

[wi_fighter]

Thanks Peanuts. I know what you're talking about. I had some from the last time I had a UTI, but they were expired so I had to pitch them.

I've been pushing fluids, cranberry, and garlic all day and luckily things aren't getting any worse. I can actually go to the bathroom now and everything's working normally.

[Monty_girl]

AZO, those are the OTC pills you can buy for the burning pain.

[wi_fighter]

The ones I had were called Prodium, but it's the same ingredient, just different manufacturer.

Not since the first couple if times I went this morning have I had that irritated feeling where you have to go and nothing comes out. Thank goodness.

I'm going to keep up with the cranberry and garlic for a few days though.

[LMo]

OUCH!!!!! I know how you feel!

i had an episode of this last year!! i hated it!

[Rhapsody]

Don't we all (the females of this world.... and some males). - Eeeek!!

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

[(JD)]

All? ahh hem!

[EJ711]

WiFi -

Doctors with conservative practices can be very frustrating.

I think just plain cranberry juice might help, and lots of liquids. You probably really will need some antibiotics to get rid of it.

I got a urinary tract infection when I was living in Europe. Someone forgot to tell me--don't drink the water - LOL.

EJ