I have a wicked bladder infection -- and no health insurance. Help me!

denise26 · 08-26-2003, 08:16 PM

Hi all, I have developed a pretty bad UTI -- it came out of nowhere on Monday (the first day of school -- figures). The big problem here is that I have no health insurance. I just started a new job and am in the waiting period for insurance. I also don't have a primary care physician, so there is no one I can call to ask for an antibiotic. So far I am guzzling unsweetened cranberry juice (and can I say blecch!), forcing down as much water as I can stand to drink, and drinking Smirnoff Ice (I am hoping it will have the same effect as beer), and taking grapefruit seed extract. Does anyine have any other suggestions? If all else fails I will try calling my ob/gyn to see if they will give me a prescription without seeing me, but based on past experience with them I doubt it.

And, just by way of ranting -- I have been insured for 3 years, and nothing happens. I go 6 weeks without insurance, and BAM! -- problem. Grrr.

AmieL · 08-26-2003, 08:26 PM

(((Hugs))))

I know how bad those things can be! Try some hot tea, stay warm and get lots of rest.

I know the warm thing sounds crazy, but dig out the old heating pad or hot water bottle and put it on your lower back. If you are outside put on a 3/4 length jacket (even if it is warm out

) The goal is to keep your kidneys from getting infected too. Believe me you don't want that...(that is a two week hospital stay telling you that

)

As bad as the cranberry juice is, keep it coming. Good Luck!

Amie

Joanne cira 1973 · 08-26-2003, 08:43 PM

Sorry to hear about your infection.

I used to get bladder infections a couple times a year as well as the worst thrush.

So to help fight it, I have a warm bath twice a week (doesn't have to be deep - just enough to cover your reproductive area, when sitting in the bath); but my secret is to have about 5 or 10ml of TEA TREE OIL in the water, nothing else.

Just for the record, I still shower daily. But since I have been doing this bath thing, my infections don't appear as severe and the time between infections is getting longer. Might also have something to do with cleaning up my lifestyle/diet.

Have been told lavender oil is also good - just haven't tried it yet, so I can't say for certain.

Sari · 08-26-2003, 08:56 PM

I don't really have any Alt. Remedies help, but I know how bad a bladder infection can get. I tried not getting mine treated last year. I drank cranberry juice, lots of water, and took those pills that take away the pain. The pills worked, but that UTI can spread into your kidneys and that will make you very sick! IMO, the best thing you can do is go to an ER, a public hospital, rather than a private one, and as far as I know, they can not refuse treatment if you don't have insurance. Just tell the docs that you don't have insurance and you don't have any money but that you are in pain. They will just give you antibiotics, but if you let that go too long, you will really regret it. Mine got into my kidneys and it was to the point I was urinating blood. NOT FUN! Go to the ER and get some treatment, for your own sake!

lucie_nc · 08-27-2003, 10:34 AM

Denise,

I'm so sorry!!! I have totally been there. While I was conducting my dissertation research in Poland, I had no health insurance, so I had to suffer.

Here are the remedies that I've tried that really work.

First of all, STOP the cranberry. Cranberry will not help you get over the infection; it helps prevent infection. Once you have an infection, all it does is irritate the bladder tissue - it can really burn your bladder. Likewise anything incredibly acidic.

The "miracle" quick-fix herb to take is Uva Ursi. Uva Ursi alone can cure a UTI. I would take the maximum dose for a week and see its result.

Another longer term treatment is Arginex (made from Arginase, available through Standard Process), which is a kidney tonic - it also does WONDERS for healing an angry, inflamed bladder. After I had a series of UTIs, I took Arginex 6 tabs for 3 straight months. That was a really long treatment, but I was desperate - I'd had a recurring UTI on and off for a year. RESULT?? I have never had a UTI since - and it's been 3 years. So, I would definitely recommned Arginex.

Lastly, do some general overall immune system boosting - I would take mega doses of Vitamin A for about a week (though not longer 'coz it can be toxic), as well as Echinacea. Also, cut out sugar, alcohol and refined carbs entirely for a while, and try to eat veggies and whole grains. Lastly, some good probiotics (to push out the bad bacteria) are olive oil, garlic, and sauerkraut - eat as much sauerkraut as you can stand.

Hope this helps. I suffered for a long long time with UTIs, and finding these home remedies completely saved me.

L

~X~ · 08-28-2003, 03:55 AM

The berries (blueberry as much as cranberry....many people don't know this) contain hippuric acid, which actually does help cure the infection, contrary to the prior poster's info. It helps prevent the bacteria causing the infection from adhering to the inner tissue linings, so they don't "stick" and are flushed out.

You can eat the whole fruits as well a the juice but juice is recommended so often because you need LOTS of water. You will need to be peeing constantly for a few days......drink so much water and juice that you go all the time and not just a dribble, but enough to be flushing the area out each time.

This increase of water will also be needed to balance any acids in the fruits or juices....the water will help alkalize your urine (TMI?? sorry)

Other nutrition/lifestyle info:

-Continue exercising gently. Don't lay around and do nothing. Don't work out like a maniac.

-The prior suggestions (e.g. warmth, comfy clothes) are good.

-Good foods: lots of veggies,especially salads (skip the vinegar for now) and cruciferous vegetables including starchy veggies okay but go easy on other starchy carbs (bread, pasta, etc.) Consume ZERO sugar until your infection is over. I mean it! Sugar will make your infection WORSE.

-Plenty of protein, especially fish, yogurt, soy, chicken, lowfat cheese, etc. Emphasis on fish/seafood and yogurt.

-You MIGHT have success with something like echinacea or goldenseal or yellow dock or astragalus or zinc because they generally would help fight an infection to your body's mucosal linings, but that is an educated guess on my part based on what I know of those herbs, not 100% knowledge.

But the cranberry is 100%. You can read studies about it in the New England Journal of Medicine (a medical journal for doctors) or the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.

Good luck!
X

~X~ · 08-28-2003, 03:57 AM

Just wanted to say I agree about using these as well! (forgot to mentino that)

X

lucie_nc · 08-28-2003, 10:32 AM

Sorry -

Still have to disagree about the cranberry thing. If your bladder is inflamed from the infection, and it's likely to be, you will only get greater discomfort from the cranberry.

Check with any naturopathic/homeopathic healer on how to cure a bladder infection. Hands down, I would guess, 90% of them would say ecchinace plus Uva Ursi.

Trust me - I have gone through many many painful UTIs in my life - probably 20 bouts of UTIs altogether, and I never felt better as when I finally gave up on the cranberry (and all other acidic foods) altogether.

My source is Dr. Gillian Gillespie, author of "You don't have to suffer from cystitis" - she is a female urologist with decades of experience focusing solely on women's bladder problems.

http://pinksunrise.com/mta/gillespie.htm

As Dr. Gillespie says, cranberry is a good preventitive, it does as X says, create a barrier between the bladder wall and the infection, but it does not help during an acute infection; it only causes pain.

So anyway, if you want to keep dosing on cranberry and it works for you, go for it. But, if after a few days you are still in pain, I'd suggest giving it up. As I said TRUST me - I took massive doses of the Cranactin cranberry pills for YEARS and it never stopped my UTIs from coming back.

L

ttrumps · 08-28-2003, 06:32 PM

Cranberr Juice will elevate the pain and there is some over the counter medicine called Cystex that will stop the burning and the urge to go to the bathroom. Drink PLENTY of Cranberry Juice and you will feel better!!!

Joanne cira 1973 · 08-28-2003, 07:55 PM

Denise 26, as it has been a couple of days since I found this thread you started & if your infection hasn't improved by now. I would suggest you take Sarabelle's advise and turn up at your local er.

My limited knowledge of cranberry is that it is great at preventing bladder infections - don't know anything about it curing infection.

I am not certain why you mentioned you are drinking Smiroff Ice (instead of beer)? My doctors are always asking me NOT to drink alcohol. (Isn't alcohol HIGH in carbs too?) Beer has alot of yeast in it - so I would assume it would aggreviate bugs in the system, particarily thrush bugs & possibily bladder bugs. If you have a reason for drinking the Smiroff Ice - could you let me know? Because I actually like Smiroff Ice too.

For as long as I can remember, my grandparents always have told me little sayings. One of them is: PREVENTION IS BETTER THEN THE CURE!

Good luck & hope you get better soon.

denise26 · 08-28-2003, 10:00 PM

Thank you all so much for your suggestions!

I am feeling much, much better -- I am still drinking lots of water to keep things flushed out, but I think the infection is gone. I got some tea with cranberry and uva ursi, so I will keep drinking that.

Joanne, to answer your question -- I had heard from several sources that beer was very effective in getting rid of UTIs, but I can't stand beer, so tried smirnoff instead.

Thanks so much! you guys are great!

Ajani · 08-29-2003, 01:01 PM

From what I've read, it isn't the alcohol in the beer, but the hops, that helps. Hops are believed to prevent kidney stone formation. So Vodka isn't likely to help.

denise26 · 08-29-2003, 01:14 PM

I always wondered how on earth beer could work on a bladder infection.

By the way, Smirnoff Ice isn't Vodka -- Smirnoff does make vodka, but Smirnoff Ice is a malt beverage -- it is similar to hard lemonade.

Joanne cira 1973 · 08-29-2003, 07:33 PM

Ajani, so if it is the HOPS that help, is there a better way to have HOPS instead of drinking beer?

I didn't know Smiroff Ice wasn't VODKA - obvisiously they need to remarket that in Australia then!

~X~ · 08-30-2003, 03:01 AM

Hey, if you just a drink to unwind, no problem. But it def. won't help your infection. In fact alcohol IS a sugar, you know? It's going to lower your body's resistance to infection!

X