# Tell me your UTI home remedies **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867 "2013-08-10T13:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/21 "2013-08-11T11:28:15Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > In my personal experience with antibiotics for a UTI it should’ve cleared up by now and you shouldn’t be feeling unwell. Call the GP and at the very least just ask the nurse! > > (Just my experience of course! I’m not a doc/nurse and just a random internet stranger who’s had UTIs in the past.) Yeah - when I get a UTI (all too frequently) and I get antibiotics, I usually feel sweet sweet relief after the second dose. If I were you I’d call the doctor and report in. Don’t tough it out. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/22 "2013-08-11T11:44:31Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever had serious abdominal pain with a UTI. Adding my vote for a recheck pronto, kidney stones/infections are no joke. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/23 "2013-08-11T12:06:32Z")
Thanks all, I rang the after hours number and have an appointment at the hospital in an hour. Wish me luck! ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/24 "2013-08-11T12:11:26Z")
Good luck. UTIs are truly miserable :-(. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/25 "2013-08-11T12:57:17Z")
You’re probably already there and they’ve done this, but just in case not - pick up a pregnancy test on your way home. A switch to new birth control that causes no periods has my bells ringing that this could just possibly maybe be an ectopic pregnancy, not a UTI. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/26 "2013-08-11T13:53:31Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > Thanks all, I rang the after hours number and have an appointment at the hospital in an hour. Wish me luck! Good they could get you in! This sounds worse than UTI. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/27 "2013-08-11T14:22:37Z")
They were lovely at the hospital, another round of peeing on demand and yes, I still have an infection, so they’ve given me a stronger set of antibiotics and if I’m not improved in 2 days, I’m to go back to my GP. Thanks for all your good advice! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/28 "2013-08-11T14:30:49Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > They were lovely at the hospital, another round of peeing on demand and yes, I still have an infection, so they’ve given me a stronger set of antibiotics and if I’m not improved in 2 days, I’m to go back to my GP. Thanks for all your good advice! I’ve had UTIs that didn’t clear up immediately too and made me feel crampy. My first one was the worst, since I didn’t recognize the symptoms until I was far into it. After that, I know a UTI is coming on at the first twinge! Clears up quickly then! Feel better. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![yams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/848f3c/32.png) [@yams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yams)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/29 "2013-08-11T16:44:12Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I vote drink more to flush you out, especially since fighting an infection can affect how well hydrated you are anyway. > > I also favor cranberry in such situations. I hate the taste, so I get the capsules or tablets. On the one hand, there is, at best, conflicting evidence that cranberries help prevent UTIs. On the other hand, there is some evidence that blueberries are equally effective, which is great news for people who figure (a) it can’t hurt and (b) hate cranberries (otherwise known as sensible people; cranberries, blech!). love yams!! ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/30 "2013-08-11T18:00:55Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > In my personal experience with antibiotics for a UTI it should’ve cleared up by now and you shouldn’t be feeling unwell. Call the GP and at the very least just ask the nurse! > > (Just my experience of course! I’m not a doc/nurse and just a random internet stranger who’s had UTIs in the past.) I agree. Glad you went back for further treatment. Be sure to get tested one more time after this next round of antibiotics. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/31 "2013-08-11T18:25:16Z")
I have found Aspirin, some cranberry and a warm salt bath can help soothe it until the antibiotics help. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/32 "2013-08-11T18:29:34Z")
> [@yams](#): > > On the one hand, there is, at best, conflicting evidence that cranberries help prevent UTIs. On the other hand, there is some evidence that blueberries are equally effective, which is great news for people who figure (a) it can’t hurt and (b) hate cranberries (otherwise known as sensible people; cranberries, blech!). > > love > yams!! I might try blueberries next time around, since I do like those. The whole cranberry thing may or may not be placebo, but it does work for me, and the stuff’s safe to consume so I’m not risking problem side effects, so I figure there’s nothing wrong with that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/33 "2013-08-11T20:59:17Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > They were lovely at the hospital, another round of peeing on demand and yes, I still have an infection, so they’ve given me a stronger set of antibiotics and if I’m not improved in 2 days, I’m to go back to my GP. Thanks for all your good advice! Glad you went! I hope the stronger antibiotics kick in soon and that you’ll feel better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/34 "2013-08-11T22:40:25Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I might try blueberries next time around, since I do like those. > > The whole cranberry thing may or may not be placebo, but it does work for me, and the stuff’s safe to consume so I’m not risking problem side effects, so I figure there’s nothing wrong with that. 😃 True. I always say, “As placebos go, blueberry is one of the nicer ones!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/35 "2013-08-11T22:41:44Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > This bears repeating. Cystex, AZO, Uristat, cranberry juice or tablets, phenazopyridine etc are not cures for a UTI. Only antibiotics will cure one. Going without antibiotics can lead to kidney infections, scarring of the urethra, or severe UTIs. > . Yep. My last one I “treated” with AZO & cranberry juice. I finally went to urgent care when I realized that I was running a constant fever and my kidneys were aching. They didn’t even wait for the pee test to write the script - they still did one to make sure it was something that what they prescribed was going to help, but they knew (as did I) what it was. I hope to never feel my kidneys throb like that again. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/36 "2013-08-12T02:40:21Z")
My UTI MO: 1. Get to a doc asap for those sweet, sweet antibiotics. 2. Drink massive amounts of water. Flavored water or carbonated water is fine, just make sure it doesn’t contain sugar or more than a trivial amount of sodium. Don’t drink cranberry juice unless you know what you’re doing. Most people drink cranberry cocktail that has too much sugar, which generally is not as helpful as straight H2O (although it does taste delicious, and is better than drinking nothing at all if you hate the taste of water). 3. Take OTC AZO pills for symptom relief until the antibiotics kick in. Or the generic, I use the Walgreens brand with same active ingredient %. They will turn your pee day-glo orange, but they are a godsend for the pain and itching. Also helped with the kidney pain and chills. The only problem I had with my most recent UTI (in January) was the doc seemed unfamiliar with the effect AZO has on the color of your urine (wtf?). He questioned the color of my piss and treated me like a drug addict or something. Fortunately, the urinalysis revealed micro-droplets of blood and I got the scrip I needed. Also, I had the box with me and showed it to the guy. He was really a dick. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/37 "2013-08-12T07:48:22Z")
These new antibiotics have certainly done the trick - I slept right through the night and woke up with just mild discomfort in my guts. Huge improvement! ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/38 "2013-08-12T15:13:24Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > These new antibiotics have certainly done the trick - I slept right through the night and woke up with just mild discomfort in my guts. Huge improvement! Oh good! Should you have another UTI, remember the one that worked and the one that didn’t; Bactrim’s my antibiotic buddy. ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/39 "2013-08-12T19:12:22Z")
I had a UTI for about a week once. I did everything including drinking a gallon of cranberry juice, taking cranberry capsules, drinking apple cider vinegar + water, lemon juice + water, pouring acv/water mixture into basin and sitting in it (in the hopes that some might “flush” up into my urethra). Finally I filled a big bottle with water, acv, lemon juice, cinnamon powder, ginger powder, honey, and a bit of cayenne, and drank it. It tasted good at first but I drank it all day long, refilling it when I ran out, and eventually it got to be really gross. It did the job, though, and the next day my UTI symptoms were gone. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/40 "2013-08-13T01:44:56Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > I had a UTI for about a week once. I did everything including drinking a gallon of cranberry juice, taking cranberry capsules, drinking apple cider vinegar + water, lemon juice + water, pouring acv/water mixture into basin and sitting in it (in the hopes that some might “flush” up into my urethra). Finally I filled a big bottle with water, acv, lemon juice, cinnamon powder, ginger powder, honey, and a bit of cayenne, and drank it. It tasted good at first but I drank it all day long, refilling it when I ran out, and eventually it got to be really gross. It did the job, though, and the next day my UTI symptoms were gone. Your symptoms may have been suppressed, but the infection almost certainly remained. This is why so many women think they get recurring UTIs–because they never treated the one they got 2 months ago. The only thing that cures an infection is antibiotics (or your own immune system, if it’s mild and you’re lucky). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867.md?page=3)