Thursday, March 28, 2024

Can You Get Rid Of A Uti Without Taking Antibiotics

Are Bananas Good For Utis

Herbal Treatment For Recurrent UTI: Dr. Ashley Girard, N.D. (Part 3)

The American Urological Association calls bananas a bladder-friendly food. Thats because bananas arent likely to irritate the bladder in most people. Other bladder-friendly fruits and veggies include: pears, green beans, winter squash, and potatoes. While eating bananas may help to lessen bladder irritation, eating bananas alone wont make a UTI go away.

Use Essential Oils With Caution

Oregano essential oil is well known for its strong antibacterial properties. Studies have shown that oregano oil can be very effective at killing E.coli, but it should be noted these studies are generally done in vitromeaning in a lab using scientific techniques, not performed in humans with infections. Lemongrass oil and clove oil may also be a home remedy for UTIs because of their antimicrobial properties, but both have been studied against harmful bacteria in similar experiments as Oregano oil.

Its important to take care before using essential oils as a treatment. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy advises against ingesting these oils. Instead, essential oils may be safely used topically with a carrier oil or inhaled from a diffuser.

Antibiotic Warnings And Treatment Concerns

The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for uncomplicated UTIs are similar in efficacy. But its important to note that ampicillin, amoxicillin, and sulfonamides are no longer the drugs of choice for combatting UTIs because of the emergence of antibiotic resistance. In addition, amoxicillin and clavulanate has been shown in previous research to be significantly less effective than others when it comes to treating urinary tract infections.

Also, as noted above, the FDA advises against using fluoroquinolones for uncomplicated UTIs. These medicines should only be considered if no other treatment options are available. In some cases, such as a complicated UTI or kidney infection, a healthcare provider may decide that a fluoroquinolone medicine is the best option, notes the American Academy of Family Physicians.

For pregnant women, some common antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, should not be prescribed because of possible toxic effects on the fetus. But oral nitrofurantoin and cephalexin are considered good antibiotic choices for pregnant women with asymptomatic bacteriuria and acute cystitis, according to past research.

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A Uti Or Something Else

There can be considerable overlap between the symptoms for UTI and sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Bacterial vaginosis, vaginal thrush, vulvodynia, lichen sclerosus, endometriosis, bladder cancer and overactive bladder may also cause similar symptoms. Antibiotic use may also trigger vaginal thrush in some women and require additional treatment.

“Recent unprotected sexual intercourse, discharge from the urethra and pain within the pelvic area or sexual organs would increase the likelihood of an STI,” says Ali. “Again, an assessment by an appropriate healthcare professional would be advised and various swabs or urine tests may be required.”

Interstitial cystitis , also known as painful bladder syndrome, may also be a cause of recurrent bladder symptoms. IC is a chronic, non-infectious condition of the urinary bladder that causes frequency and urgency of urination and significant pelvic pain that worsens as the bladder fills up. IC is a difficult diagnosis to make and requires tests and input from a urologist. If you think you may have IC, visit your GP, and contact the Interstitial Cystitis Association and Bladder Health UK for advice and support.

Why Antibiotics May Not Work

How I Beat Urinary Tract Infection UTI (Without Antibiotics!)

Sometimes antibiotic medications are not effective, even in some dental issues. If you encounter that, Sure Smile Dentals clinic in Coopers Plains can check your condition and prescribe the best treatment option. In any case, antibiotics may not work in UTI when bacteria become resistant as they outsmart and outlast the bactericidal properties of the drug.

If your UTI is not responding to the prescribed antibiotic, your doctor may recommend another kind of medication. Most microorganisms are not resistant to all the antibiotics out there. Hence, odds are your primary care doctor, or urologist has experienced this situation before and knows what to do.

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Increase Your Intake Of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to improve immune system function. Vitamin C also reacts with nitrates in urine to form nitrogen oxides that can kill bacteria. It can lower the pH of urine, making it less likely that bacteria will survive.

In one sentence, increasing vitamin C intake may decrease the risk of UTIs by making the urine more acidic, thus killing off infection-causing bacteria.

When Do You Need Antibiotics

In its SIGN 88 guidelines for UK healthcare, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network recommends antibiotic treatment for otherwise healthy women, under 65, who have three or more symptoms of UTI.

Potential symptoms of UTI are listed as follows: pain passing urine , frequency of urination, bladder pain, urgency, passing lots of urine , and passing blood in the urine .

“The guidelines recommend using dipstick tests to guide treatment decisions in otherwise healthy women under 65 years of age presenting with mild or more than two symptoms of UTI,” comments Ali. “Put simply, if symptoms are severe, urine testing is not required before initiating treatment.”

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How Long Does A Uti Last

The common treatment for UTI is a course of prescribed antibiotics. In terms of how long a UTI lasts, you can expect it to go away completely while taking antibiotics for a week. However, youll probably notice signs your UTI is going away even a day or two after starting the treatment. Just make sure that you continue taking the prescribed amount of antibiotics for as long as the doctor instructed. During this time, its recommended to drink a lot of water and sustain from engaging in sexual intercourse.

Some bacteria might not react to a certain type of antibiotics, but thats no reason to despair. If you dont notice any signs your UTI is going away even after three days of antibiotics treatment, report it to your doctor, and they will prescribe another kind of antibiotics. This isnt too uncommon, and doctors are generally familiar with the right course of action when presented with this situation.

How Can You Support Antibiotics For Uti Treatment

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To help the antibiotic work as effectively as possible:

  • Drink six to eight, 8-oz. glasses of water per day.
  • Dont ignore the urge to urinate. Use the bathroom as soon as possible.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear.
  • Strive to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
  • Manage your stress levels.
  • Take the drug as directed without skipping doses.

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Boost Your Immune System

When your body is fighting off an infection, focus on behaviors that strengthen your immune system.

Rest is one of the best ways to ensure your immune system can actively fight off your infection. If you feel tired, take a nap, and aim to get enough sleep at night that you wake feeling well rested. And while it can be stressful to be sick, try your best to stay relaxed too much stress can impair immune function.

Along with proper hydration, its also important to maintain a nutritious diet. Focus on nourishing your body with healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains and avoiding sugar and alcohol, which can compromise your immune system.

Why Wouldnt I Just Take The Antibiotics Instead Of Worrying About All This

This is a fair question, and I understand that it may seem tempting to simply get a prescription and not have to worry about your symptoms. Unfortunately, any kind of antibiotic prescription has devastasting long-lasting impacts to your health, specifically your microbiome. Up to 50 percent of all antibiotics prescribed are not actually needed .

Instead of rushing to get antibiotics straight away, I recommend trying some of the above methods to see if it gets better on its own. If not, and you start to notice your symptoms get increasingly worse, then it is time to see a doctor and take the drugs. For myself, luckily, the pain was never too excruciating that I could not go to work or function. It was irritating, but I stuck with the above methods and now I am pretty much back to 100 percent. Your body was built to be able to heal on its own, as long as your immune system is strong and healthy. Keep in mind that antibiotic resistance is a huge problem and taking several courses of antibiotics without considering the long term impacts is not smart. Antibiotics work because they wipe out the bad bacteria, but these drugs do not pick and choose between bad and good bacteria. They kill everything. After a single course, your gut flora is pretty much wiped, which leads you vulnerable for getting more infections. If you do taking antibiotics, please, please take a high quality and strong probiotic . This is the best way to mitigate the damage!

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What To Do If You Must Take Antibiotics To Minimise Their Negative Effects

Following a natural protocol does take more time, effort and products so in some cases you might not be in a position to get it done. Like, you might be in the middle of the Inca Trail with a raging infection and no access to D-Mannose. In these cases, you take the antibiotics and you do everything you can to minimise their harmful effects. Lucky for you, Ive written a blog that covers 5 steps to save your gut after antibiotics.

If you are a UTI sufferer, I urge you to give the natural options for UTI treatment without antibiotics a go. If you would like more information on how to get to the root cause of your UTIs, so that they stop being a regular issue, please head to the Work With Us page to learn more about how we work online with clients in many countries to test for and treat the many root causes of UTIs, IBS symptoms and other GI conditions.

Note: Affiliate links for iHerb and Amazon have been included in this blog post. These do not adversely affect the price you pay.

Common Causes Of Utis:

How to Get Rid of a UTI Without Antibiotics in 2020

Wiping the wrong way

Women have the misfortune of having the urethra located just around the corner from the anus, so its easy for bacteria from the colon to make their way over to the urethra and cause infection. This is why its so important to always wipe front-to-back.

Sex

Insufficient lubrication during vaginal sex can cause too much friction/irritation to the urethra, increasing your chances of infection .

Bad bacteria can also be introduced by your partner or a sex toy. Bacteria thats in/near your vaginal opening that is shoved into the area near the urethra during sex can lead to infection as well.

UTIs that are related to sex can be avoided when both parties practice proper hygiene and toys are properly cleaned. It can also help to pee before and after sex to flush out unfriendly organisms around the urethra before they have a chance to wreak havoc.

Too warm and moist

Having an excessively warm and moist environment in the crotch can create an environment that unfriendly organisms love. This can be caused by: wearing tight-fitting pants, wearing non-breathable underwear made from synthetic fabric , wearing panty liners or pads all the time, and so on. Sitting around in a wet bathing suit or wet clothes is also a recipe for disaster.

Certain undies

Not peeing often

Messing with Mother Nature

Pads and tampons?

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Signs That Uti Is Not Responding To Antibiotics

What if you feel lower back pain? Is this a sure sign that infection is progressing to the kidneys and antibiotics are not working?

While lower back pain could be an important sign of kidney infection, in many cases low back pain alone is not a sure sign that bacteria ascended to the kidneys, it could be just pain radiating from the bladder due to UTI, clarifies Dr. Hawes. However, if you are experiencing fever and/or nausea, these are very serious symptoms and you should seek immediate medical attention.

This is when the chances are higher to get sick with an infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria:

  • You underwent multiple UTI treatments in your lifetime
  • If you have been using the same antibiotic for previous infections
  • Stopped taking antibiotics and didnt finish all the pills that your doctor prescribed you
  • If you are guilty of keeping a stash of antibiotics and self-treating UTIs, cold, travel diarrhea, etc.
  • Youve been recently hospitalized
  • If you are immunosuppressed or have any serious chronic health issues, for example, uncontrolled diabetes.

Dr. Hawes highlights that it is important to request a urine culture test before deciding on a type of antibiotic. If you are taking multiple antibiotics without checking bacterial drug sensitivity, its a guessing game that only increases your chances to develop resistant bacteria.

Read how torevert antibiotic resistance with diet.

Do I Really Have To See A Doctor For A Uti

It may seem unnecessary to see a doctor for such a common illness. Why not just let it go and treat it on your own? Dr. Elizabeth Rice, a licensed naturopathic doctor and primary care physician at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, has tips for natural treatments, but says you always have to be careful. A partially treated or mistreated UTI can quickly become a serious condition known as pyelonephritis , so care must always be taken when treating UTIs naturally.

If youre just starting to feel or see potential UTI symptoms, you can try a few natural remedies to try to flush out the bacteria and reduce inflammation before the infection really takes hold, Rice says. Increase your intake of fluids to help flush the bladder. But if the symptoms persist more than a day, or get worse, you have to go to the doctor.

Going to the doctor may be a bit annoying, but a UTI that morphs into a kidney infection is way worse than an afternoon in the waiting room. Kidney infections can lead to potentially life-threatening sepsis or permanent kidney damage. Seeing a doctor to prescribe antibiotics may ultimately help you avoid a lifetime of medical complications.

You know your body best, so listen to it. You may not run to the doctor after one weird-feeling pee. If you start to have mild symptoms, here are a few natural choices that may help you out.

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What Is A Uti And Why Do Doctors Prescribe Antibiotics For Them

UTI stands for urinary tract infection. This basically means you have an infection in any part of your urinary system-kidneys, uteres, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract, namely the bladder and the urethra. Women are at a greater risk for developing a UTI. Symptoms of a UTI include persistent urge to urinate, burning when you do, cloudy urine and pelvic pain. Not fun. UTIs are caused when bacteria enter through the urethra and multiply in your bladder. The most common reasons people get UTIs is not peeing after sex, but they can be caused by other sneaky things like sitting in sweaty workout clothes and not having good hygiene in general. Here is a well written article explaining a UTI.

When To See A Gp

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Women do not necessarily need to see a GP if they have cystitis, as mild cases often get better without treatment.

Try some self-help measures or ask a pharmacist for advice.

See a GP if:

  • you’re not sure whether you have cystitis
  • your symptoms do not start to improve within 3 days
  • you get cystitis frequently
  • you have severe symptoms, such as blood in your urine, a fever or pain in your side
  • you’re pregnant and have symptoms of cystitis
  • you’re a man and have symptoms of cystitis
  • your child has symptoms of cystitis

A GP should be able to diagnose cystitis by asking about your symptoms.

They may test a sample of your urine for bacteria to help confirm the diagnosis.

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Reasons Why Antibiotics Did Not Resolve Your Uti Symptoms

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I took antibiotics for UTI but symptoms are still there, its a common complaint among chronic UTI sufferers but it could mean a lot of different things. I askedDr. Lisa Hawes a urologist at Chesapeake Urology to help to navigate different case scenarios and discuss what they could potentially mean. However, do not attempt to self-treat based on this information only.

This post should rather serve you as a guide for a conversation with your doctor. When you know what to mention during your doctor visit, you have higher chances to get better care.

What Is A Urinary Tract Infection

The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection occurring in any part of the urinary tract.

A UTI can happen in any part of the urinary tract, but bladder infection and urethral infection are the two most common types. The bacterial infection causes inflammation in those areas, leading to the classic symptoms of pain and irritation.

While anyone can get a UTI, theyre more common in females, occurring in 1 in 5 women at some point in their lifetimes. This is because the urethra in women is shorter and closer to the anus, which can harbor harmful bacteria.

In some cases, a urinary tract infection can spread to a persons kidneys, which can cause serious complications. It is important to seek medical care if you suspect you might have an infection in your urinary tract. Health care providers generally treat UTIs with antibiotics, but its also possible to treat a mild UTI at home and take measures to prevent them.

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