Treatment for a bladder infection?

Question

I've been self treating a bladder infection for 4 weeks (cranberry juice, live culture yogurt...) I'm only a little better (Still have frequent urges, but I'm actually going when I think I have to now) No back pain. Should I go see a doctor or give it 4 more weeks? Any other treatments that might help? Thanks!

I have been drinking lots of water, but I have drank cola sometimes, too. About one every two days. I'll scedule with my doc. Thanks all who answered this!

Answer 1

Infections need medicine. Great job on the juice and yogurt but with a bladder infection, antibiotics are necessary. An untreated infection can turn into a kidney infection. My girlfriend had a bladder infection and it wasn't treated quickly all the while it was turning into an unsymptematic (no symptoms) kidney infection and she ended up in the hospital for 7 days.

I say, go to the doctors office and get yourself checked out. This really isn't something you can self treat. The juice and yogurts surely helped but lets nip it all in the bud and take the meds.

Answer 2

Most people don't know that when you are reccomended Cranberry juice, it is suppose to be the unsweetened kind from the health food store-- not the sugary stuff from Ocean Spray. The cranberry juice doesn't taste good at all but it works.
The yogurt doesn't help a bacterial infection unless you have a yeast infection in your mouth and are eating it or are inserting it vaginally-- make sure you use unsweetened! And avoid sugar!
You should also be drinking a ton of water to flush out the bacteria.
At this point you may want to go to the doctor. Are you peeing blood yet?

Answer 3

The natural remedies should have worked by now, if they were going to. One other thing you might want to try is to drink ALOT of water; they also have cranberry extract in pill form that works well. It is more concentrated than cranberry juice. A doctor will prescribe an antibiotic; that will clear a bladder infection up, usually. But a bladder infection can come back if you don't continue to drink plenty of water. Drinking colas will irritate your bladder in a major way.

Answer 4

A bladder infection needs to be treated with antibiotics. It's serious and you should go to an emergency room or your doctor as soon as possible. Are you sure it's truly a bladder infection? Usually bladder infections become intolerable within a few days after your bladder becomes initially infected. In any case, you should see a doctor if you're still having symptoms.

Answer 5

To prevent a bladder infection one drinks cranberry juice and eats yogurt however for treatment you need and should see a doctor for a prescription.

Answer 6

Mild bladder infections can clear up quickly in response to simple home remedies, such as drinking plenty of fluid. But if you experience no relief within 24 hours, you should consult a physician for more aggressive treatment. Delay in clearing your body of the infection can lead to more serious problems. A common home treatment is phenazopyridine (pyridium). This is merely an anesthetic agent for the urinary tract and won't actually treat the infection. This can be helpful while waiting for antibiotics to work.

There is a wide variety of antibiotics to treat bladder infections. Most uncomplicated infections can be treated with just three days of medication. Sometimes with some drugs and some organisms it takes up to a week. In most cases, you should feel better shortly after taking the first dose. Complicated infections should be treated for about a week. Kidney infections may take longer. Elderly people and those with a chronic underlying health condition, such as diabetes or HIV infection, are often prescribed a longer course of antibiotics - sometimes up to 14 days.

After the treatment has run its course, you may be asked to come in for a follow-up urine test to make sure your bladder is free of all signs of infection. People with frequently recurring bladder infections are often prescribed low daily doses of antibiotics for an additional six months or longer. Patients whose infections are related to sexual activity may be given a small dose of antibiotics to take each time they have intercourse.

Some doctors prescribe the hormone estrogen, either as a topical cream or in pill form, to prevent recurrences in postmenopausal women. For cases where the infection is the result of a blockage or obstruction, such as a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate, surgery may be needed.

Answer 7

go to the pharmacy and ask them for medicine that will help. i can't remember the name of it right now. but its the same medicine that your doctor would prescribe. it acts as a numbing agent for your bladder so you don't have the frequent urges to pee. don't worry if you pee is a different color (orange) after taking the meds - its supposed to be. i always self treat mine with cranberry juice, yogurt, and those meds. but since your has gone on for 4 weeks - you might need to see your doctor to get some antibiotics.

Answer 8

Four weeks is way too long to go without seeing a doctor. Why are you doing this to yourself? Those buggers hurt!

I'd do the cranberry and yogurt to help prevent future infections.

Answer 9

I use URISTAT. It works wonders. It usually is gone in a day, with pain subsiding in minutes to the next time you pee. If it comes back then go to your doctor because you might have an more serious infection and need antibiotics.

I have a chronic condition and even the doctor(s) have no answer for me so i use it year round.

Answer 10

Cranberry Juice and you should see a DR they can give you meds that will only take 3 days