[Pepper44]

I think I'm getting a UTI. I've never had one before, but it burns when I pee and for awhile afterwards it still kind of hurts and feels like I have to pee more. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
I got some Cranactin and some cantharis to take, but I don't know how much and how often it's safe to take it. On top of taking those two things and drinking loads of water, is there anything else I can do?

 

[gabysmom617]

Get some d-mannose.<br><br>
It's kind of like a glucose, it comes in powder that you put in a glass of water and drink, and it comes in pills.<br><br>
D-mannose is found naturally in blueberries and some other fruits. Natives of America used blueberries for UTI's.<br><br>
D-mannose works this way.<br>
The bacteria that usually causes UTI's (bacteria from the lower intestinal tract) is very sticky inside of the bladder, and sticks the bladder walls, causing a UTI.<br><br>
D-mannose is more sticky than the bacteria, but at the same time, does not stick to the walls of your bladder the way the bacteria does. Once d-mannose is in your bladder, the bacteria sticks tightly to the d-mannose molecules, and when you go the bathroom, the d-mannose is voided and takes the bacteria along with it.<br><br>
(D-mannose doesn't act like sugar does in your bloodstream, it is goes directly to your kidneys and into your bladder after you take it, it doesn't make your sugar go up.)<br><br>
I haven't had UTI's in a long time since I started taking d-mannose.<br><br><a href="http://www.iherb.com/Search.aspx?c=1&kw=d-mannose" target="_blank">http://www.iherb.com/Search.aspx?c=1&kw=d-mannose</a><br><br>
I think you can take d-mannose something like every hour. For something like a couple of days. (I'd say that if it is not obviously going away by day 2 after taking d-mannose, you may need an antibiotic, because d-mannose only works on the bacteria that is from the intestinal tract, and not working is a sign that it may be a different type of bacteria causing your uti.)<br><br>
The first one or two time you pee after taking d-mannose, it may feel worse because all that bacteria is leaving out at once. But it should start feeling drastically better after that. But keep taking it for another day or two to make sure all of the bacteria is gone.<br><br>
Just my personal experience. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> feel better soon.<br><br>
(Some people say d-mannose is in cranberries, but I don't believe this to be so. Crandberries help prevent uti's by blocking the way the bacteria can stick to the walls of the bladder, but it doesn't cure an infection that is already occurring. I do know that d-mannose is in blueberries, though.)<br><br>
Edit:<br>
I need to correct myself there. I think d-mannose IS in cranberries, just not as much is in them as in some other fruits like blueberries. Plus that, it may not be enough in cranberries and cranberry juice alone (or in blueberries for that matter) to really heal an infection. It may work better to get the d-mannose in the more concentrated form to fight your infection than to simply eat the fruit. Ok, that's all.

 

[nccrunchymama]

I'm not sure what the ingredients are in Cranactin, but I have successfully used cranberry capsules or pills for many years. I used to get UTI's often, but I finally figured out what triggered them for me and so now I can usually prevent them. I take 400-500 mg standardized concentrate (depends what I have) 3x daily for 5-7 days. The reason cranberry works is because it prevents the bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. It doesn't kill the bacteria or bind them (as pp mentioned d-mannose does). It just prevents the bacteria from sticking to the walls, so if you increase your water intake, the bacteria just gets flushed from the bladder. The first few times I tested cranberry, I went to the dr. to verify the UTI with a urinalysis and then self-treated (with dr's agreement) with cranberry, then returned for repeat urinalysis just to be sure it worked. I didn't want to mask the symptoms and have a repeat later. It worked every time. Now I don't bother getting checked. I just treat. If you want to prevent, you can take one pill/capsule daily or if you know you've triggered one, take one pill twice in one day. It's not a homeopathic remedy, but it is an effective natural remedy. Hope it helps. Oh. Definitely increase your water intake. And cranberry will relieve symptoms long before the UTI is gone, so don't stop dosing just because you feel better.