How I managed to deal with recurrent UTIs
UTI is a more common problem than what you think. It’s not only uncomfortable but also painful at the same time. One of our female readers suffered from the same problem and shared with us her experience - the myths, the facts and how she dealt with recurring UTI.
"After taking off for several days in two years due to the recurring UTI, I finally realised I need to do something about it"
After taking several offs from work in two years due to my recurring UTI, I finally realised I had to do something about it. Not only because I didn't like missing my work but because it is extremely painful than you can imagine. I did come across some women who had less painful UTIs but in my case the pain was torturous.
"The very first time it happened was when I was in school"
The very first time it happened was when I was in school and one day, suddenly after my class when I went to pee, I couldn’t. Yes, you read that right. The pain and the irritation were so high that in spite of the dire urge to pee, I wasn’t able to relieve my bladder. I rushed to my teacher and explained her the entire episode. She was of the opinion that this happened probably because I did not drink enough water. I immediately drank 2-3 glasses of water.
"The urge to pee was constant because I wasn’t able to empty my bladder fully even once"
The urge to pee was constant because I wasn’t able to empty my bladder fully even once. Anyhow, I managed to spend the entire night in extreme discomfort until I went to the doctor in the morning. The doctor asked me to undergo an ultrasound and a urine test. The reports revealed that I was not only suffering from UTI but also kidney stones, and such was the reason behind my grave condition. Till that day, I did not even know what a UTI was. I was given antibiotics along with some general medicines and was asked to drink lots and lots of water along with cleansing my vagina twice a day.
"I felt much better just after having two doses of the prescribed medicines"
I felt much better just after having two doses of the prescribed medicines. Things were back to normal in 3 days and I forgot about the UTI until I caught it again approximately 6 months later. I felt the same kind of pain and uneasiness but this time it was a little less severe than the last time. I again had to undergo the same tests post which I came to know that my kidney stones had thankfully disappeared but my UTI was back to trouble me. My doctor told me that I must've caught the infection after using a public utility (toilet). Well, it was true, I had indeed used the train washroom just 2-3 days before I picked up the infection. This made me scared of using public toilets and especially the train toilets. I started carrying tissue paper with me wherever I went so that I could make a bed of them before I sat on the seat to pee.
"Nothing really helped as I picked up the infection thrice in the next 1.5 years"
Nothing really helped as I picked up the infection thrice in the next 1.5 years. Things became a little easy as I knew which tests to undergo even before I went to the doctor. It was bad the last time I got it, this time around it felt like someone had set my vagina to fire. Nothing was able to soothe me. I was given a strong dose of antibiotics to get rid of the infection. This time, the infection came along with fever followed by weakness.
"It was then when I started searching and reading about what to do if one has a recurring problem of UTI"
It was then when I started searching and reading about what to do if one has a recurring problem of UTI. I busted some myths I had about the infection, like making a bed of tissue paper on the seat won’t help in any way and neither squatting on the toilet seat would.
"I started avoiding the public toilet until it was a dire need"
I started avoiding the public toilet until it was a dire need. I started carrying a toilet spray which I sprayed on the pot before I sat down to pee inside a public toilet.
"I started carrying my own tissues since then"
I also learned a few minor things like how important was the quality of the tissue paper with which you wiped yourself after you are done. I started carrying my own tissues since then. I also got to know that going to water parks can also make one catch a UTI as water parks are more of urine pool and not water pool. Also, it’s a myth that cranberry juice can help cure the infection, the truth is it’s not so. Cranberry juice can help relieve the symptoms but cannot cure or prevent UTI. Having lots of fluid is one most important thing.
"You cannot control getting the infection, but if taken care the symptoms can be minimised"
You cannot control getting the infection, but if taken care the symptoms can be minimised. Drinking water, taking cranberry juice, applying an anti-fungal cream and keeping the area clean and dry are some key points one should follow to ease the discomfort and pain of a UTI.
Garvita Awasthi
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