sort of OT: anyone know much about UTIs??

[alesh31]

So I'm pretty sure I have a UTI...I woke up at 3 in the morning and felt like I needed to pee, so I got up and did so. Afterwards, I STILL feel like I needed to, but nothing came out. And sorry, TMI, but the urethra hole is extremely itchy. I am so incredibly uncomfortable right now, I don't know what to do. My bladder actually feels FULL but if I tried to go to the bathroom right now, I know I wouldn't be able to pee. I searched online for instant relief as it is 4:22 am here and I can't really do much about this right now, but couldn't find anything. I can't fall back asleep, the feeling is far to uncomfortable...not exactly painful but BEYOND irritating. I'm definitely going to call the campus health center tomorrow and see what they can do for me.

But another question: I read online that UTIs are cured with antibiotics. I'm currently taking Celexa, do you think I can take both at the same time? I guess I'll let the health center know this as well.

UGH, I wish there was some form of instant relief, this is the worst feeling ever...

[Da_Coffee]

I actually get these frequently and yes, they are treated with antibiotics, but I chose to do the cranberry juice way because it doesn't wreck your immune system. For the itching, I advise baby powder, it might not work, but it always worked for me on those tough days of UTI's. Also, this may be more than a UTI ( STI / Vaginitis ), so you might actually want to get it checked out (just watch out for foggy urine / tinges of red in urine). No need to worry though, it's most likely and UTI and most of the time these tend to go away on their own if you're a generally healthy person.

[jotini]

I also took a shop-bought cystitis remedy rather than antibiotics. It cleared up in a few days. I did need to pee all the time and it felt like peeing glass.

[AoD]

I actually get these frequently and yes, they are treated with antibiotics, but I chose to do the cranberry juice way because it doesn't wreck your immune system. For the itching, I advise baby powder, it might not work, but it always worked for me on those tough days of UTI's. Also, this may be more than a UTI ( STI / Vaginitis ), so you might actually want to get it checked out (just watch out for foggy urine / tinges of red in urine). No need to worry though, it's most likely and UTI and most of the time these tend to go away on their own if you're a generally healthy person.

Antibiotics don't wreck the immune system at all, they help to kill bacteria that overwhelm it so it can kill the rest. Cranberry juice is good for prevention, but once symptoms start it is important to get antibiotics and not just wait it out. My doctor told me last time that a UTI can easily go from mild symptoms to renal infection in 24 hours. Actually it happened to a friend of mine, she had mild symptoms one evening and the next day she had pyelonephritis. Which often causes permanent damage to kidneys. Honestly, I think this is an illness where antibiotics should be taken ASAP. I agree that for some illnesses it's safe to take a wait and watch approach, but not with a UTI.

[JellyBn83]

If you feel like it could be a uti, then you need to get checked out!!! I get them all the time and have been warned not to wait!! I take cranberry pills every day to help prevent them and drink it when I have one, but I will always get checked!