Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Why Do Bladder Infections Hurt So Bad

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Sooowhat Happens If A Uti Gets Worse

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Signs & Symptoms (& Why They Occur)

There are a few reasons why your UTI might not improve, the first being that you stop taking your antibiotics. Survivor bacteria that have been exposed to a short course of antibiotics will evolve to resist that antibiotic, explains Dr. Kaufman. That means the infection will no longer respond to the medication, making it much tougher to get rid of the UTI.

If you have more than two UTIs in six months or three in one year, docs will typically recommend you get a cystoscopy or CT scan to look inside the bladder and make sure there’s nothing there that shouldn’t be there .

That brings us to another reason your UTI could be getting worse: It might *not* be a standard UTI and is actually a more serious kidney infection that requires emergency care. This can occur when bladder infections are left untreated, Dr. Mueller says.

Symptoms of a more severe kidney infection can include:

Sex & Uti: What You Need To Know

Many people know that distinct burning sensation when you pee that indicates a urinary tract infection. Its no fun, and its unfortunately pretty common around half of women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime.

Its also natural to wonder, does sex cause UTI? If so, how? And is there anything you can do to stop that from happening? Were going to dive into the connection between sex and UTIs and what you can do to minimize your risk of getting one.

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Can I Treat Uti Symptoms With Over The Counter Medicines

Weve already talked about the most common UTI symptoms, but what can you actually do about them?

  • Drink lots of water. Drinking water helps keep your urine diluted which makes urinating less painful. Staying hydrated also helps you urinate more often so that you continue to get rid of the bacteria in your bladder. This however will not cure a UTI once you have it.
  • Avoid irritating beverages. Water–good. Caffeinated and alcoholic drinksnot so good. The caffeine in beverages like coffee, tea, and alcohol can build up in the urine, which could make urinating even more painful while you have a UTI.
  • Try a heating pad. It might be time to pull out that good, old-fashioned heating pad your grandmother gave you. A low level of heat can help ease any abdominal pain or cramps you feel. This however will not cure a UTI once you have it.
  • Try over-the-counter pain medications. Many women search for over-the-counter UTI treatment. Even though some OTC medications can help relieve your symptoms, they cant cure a UTI.
  • Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are OTC pain relievers that could help ease some of the pain and discomfort UTIs can cause. Phenazopyridine is another pain reliever that could help relieve uncomfortable symptoms. Some forms of phenazopyridine are OTC while others require a prescription.

  • Antibiotics. Taking antibiotics is the only way to get rid of a UTI completely.
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    How Quickly Can You Get A Uti After Intercourse

    Data shows that UTI symptoms most often begin about 2 days after having sexual intercourse. Sex can cause a UTI. This is because the friction involved in sexual activity pushes bacteria toward the urethra. Anything that allows or encourages bacteria to enter the urinary tract increases the risk of UTI.

    How Is A Uti Diagnosed

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    To find out whether you have a UTI, your doctor or nurse will test a clean sample of your urine. This means you will first wipe your genital area with a special wipe. Then you will collect your urine in midstream in a cup. Your doctor or nurse may then test your urine for bacteria to see whether you have a UTI, which can take a few days.

    If you have had a UTI before, your doctor may order more tests to rule out other problems. These tests may include:

    • A cystogram. This is a special type of x-ray of your urinary tract. These x-rays can show any problems, including swelling or kidney stones.
    • A cystoscopic exam. The cystoscope is a small tube the doctor puts into the urethra to see inside of the urethra and bladder for any problems.

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    What Is A Urinary Tract Infection

    A urinary tract infection often called a UTI is an infection of any part of your urinary system. This includes your:

    UTIs can be classified as involving the upper tract or the lower tract . Since infections usually come into the urethra from the outside, most infections involve the lower tract. UTIs can affect people of all ages, and they tend to be more common in women. In fact, some studies have shown that women are eight times more likely than men to develop a UTI.

    The most common cause of a UTI is a bacteria called Escherichia coli , which causes more than 80% of infections outside of the hospital. Other types of bacteria and certain types of fungi and viruses can also cause UTIs.

    How Are Urinary Tract Infections Treated

    You will need to treat a urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria and fight an infection. Antibiotics are typically used to treat urinary tract infections. Your healthcare provider will pick a drug that best treats the particular bacteria thats causing your infection. Some commonly used antibiotics can include:

    • Nitrofurantoin.

    Its very important that you follow your healthcare providers directions for taking the medicine. Dont stop taking the antibiotic because your symptoms go away and you start feeling better. If the infection is not treated completely with the full course of antibiotics, it can return.

    If you have a history of frequent urinary tract infections, you may be given a prescription for antibiotics that you would take at the first onset of symptoms. Other patients may be given antibiotics to take every day, every other day, or after sexual intercourse to prevent the infection. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment option for you if you have a history of frequent UTIs.

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    First: What Is A Uti Exactlyand How Do You Usually Treat One

    Essentially a UTI is a bacterial infection that can form in your urethra, bladder, or kidneys, causing unpleasant symptoms like frequent urination, a burning sensation while you pee, pelvic pain, and more.

    When UTI symptoms rear their ugly head, trying to treat them yourself will only give the infection more time to spread. The longer you wait to get medical attention, the more you’re putting yourself at risk for more serious health complications.

    One in five women gets a UTI at least once in her life, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

    Waiting too long to start treatment can allow the infection to progress from a simple bladder infection treated with three days of oral antibiotics to a complex kidney infection requiring intravenous antibiotics, says Ekene Enemchukwu, MD, assistant professor of urology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

    Dr. Enemchukwu also points out that there’s also the chance you’re actually not dealing with a UTI at allanother reason to always check in with your health care provider about any concerning symptoms. “UTI-like symptoms, in the absence of bacteria, can be caused by other conditions, such as vaginal infections, STDs, kidney stones, severe constipation, and vaginal atrophy,” says Dr. Enemchukwu.

    How To Know When A Uti Turns Into A Kidney Infection

    Urinary Tract Infection – Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, causes and treatment)

    The main job of the kidney, a part of the urinary tract, is to remove waste and take extra water from your blood.

    When bacteria or viruses create problems in either one or both of your kidneys, its known as a kidney infection.

    This can easily happen when bad bacteria or viruses travel up your uterus.

    When a kidney infection is left untreated, it can become life threatening, so its important that you seek medical attention immediately if you notice blood or pus in your pee, pain in your lower back, upset stomach or vomiting, fever and chills or loss of appetite.

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    What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Utis

    UTIs can cause such signs as:

    • pain, burning, or a stinging sensation when peeing
    • an increased urge or more frequent need to pee
    • waking up at night a lot to go to the bathroom
    • belly pain in the area of the bladder
    • foul-smelling pee that may look cloudy or contain blood

    If you have any symptoms of a UTI, you’ll need to go to a doctor right away. The sooner you begin treatment, the less uncomfortable you’ll be. Call your doctor’s office or clinic. If you can’t reach your doctor, you can visit an urgent care center or hospital emergency room. The most important thing is to take action as soon as possible.

    Fighting Infections With Antibiotics

    For a lower UTI, a 3-7-day course of antibiotics helps treat the bacteria. Serious upper infections need hospitalization for IV antibiotics. This helps with the back pain, fever, and vomiting that happens. Once doctors get the fever under control, treatment will then move to oral antibiotics. The doctor will give a longer course of antibiotics for a secondary UTI. There are cases where antibiotics do not work or the UTI returns multiple times in a year. In these cases, consult a urologist to advise on next steps.

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    Relief Without A Prescription

    An over-the-counter drug called phenazopyridine can help ease your pain, burning, and irritation. It also controls your need to pee frequently and urgently.

    But there’s a catch. It only works on your symptoms. It doesn’t cure your infection. You still need to see your doctor to make sure you get treatment to fight the bacteria that’s causing your UTI.

    Also, one common side effect: It turns your pee dark red or orange while you take it.

    Ways To Conquer Painful Uti Symptoms

    Best Remedy for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

    Did you know that females are up to 30–thirty!–times as likely to get a urinary tract infection as males are? Theres a whole list of things to love about being a woman, but the increased likelihood of having a UTI isnt one of them.

    Painful symptoms can make UTIs burdensome and inconvenient. So lets talk about the home remedies and medications that could help you manage UTI symptoms or cure a UTI.

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    Will A Uti Go Away On Its Own

    Some UTIs can go away on their own. A 2022 article states that some uncomplicated UTIs can resolve spontaneously without treatment, but that some people need to see a doctor to relieve their symptoms.

    A person should always see a doctor if they develop symptoms of a UTI as they can progress into a kidney infection.

    What Does Bladder Pressure Feel Like

    The most noticeable symptom of IC is pain and pressure in the bladder. The pain you experience may range from mild to severe. For some, the pressure can come and go. For others, the feeling doesnt let up.

    These symptoms may lead you to think that you have a bladder infection, but IC isnt an infection at all. Its a chronic condition, which means that there isnt cure.

    Other symptoms of IC include:

    • pain while bladder is full and relief when its emptied
    • pain during sex

    Signs and symptoms vary. Some people may need to urinate up to 60 times each day. You may also experience periods of time when you have no symptoms.

    Although IC isnt a UTI, getting an infection can make your symptoms worse.

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    When To See A Gp

    See a GP if you feel feverish and have pain that will not go away in your tummy, lower back or genitals.

    You should also see a GP if you have symptoms of a UTI that have not improved after a few days, or if you have blood in your pee.

    Contact a GP immediately if you think your child may have a kidney infection.

    If you cannot get a GP appointment and need urgent medical attention, go to your nearest urgent care centre .

    If you do not have a local UCC, go to your nearest A& E.

    How Do Utis Begin

    UTI l Urinary Tract Infection & Pyelonephritis Treatment for NCLEX RN & LPN

    Many types of bacteria live in the intestines and genital area, but this is not true of the urinary system. In fact, urine is sterile. So when errant bacteria, such as the E. coli shown here, is accidentally introduced into the urinary system, it can start a UTI. Typically, bacteria travel up the urethra to the bladder, where an infection can take hold. Women are more susceptible than men, probably because they have shorter urethras.

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    When To See Your Doctor

    See your doctor right away if you have signs of a urinary tract infection. A bladder infection is generally not a medical emergency — but some people have a higher risk for complications. This includes pregnant women, the elderly, and men, as well as people with diabetes, kidney problems, or a weakened immune system.

    Eating Diet & Nutrition

    Experts dont think eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in preventing or treating bladder infections. If you have any type of UTI, talk with a health care professional about how much to drink each day to help prevent or relieve your infection.

    The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and other components of the National Institutes of Health conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

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    How Are Utis Treated

    Treatments for UTIs often depend on the severity of the infection. Doctors often divide UTIs into simple and complicated infections.

    Bladder infections usually fall into the simple category. Doctors can usually treat them with antibiotics over the course of three to five days. Common antibiotics used to treat bladder infections include trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium.

    If you have an infection, you should always take all of your antibiotics, even if you feel better. This keeps the infection from coming back.

    Complicated UTIs are harder to treat. Kidney infections usually fall into this category. If you have a complicated UTI, you may require IV antibiotics and have to take antibiotics for a week or more.

    How Common Are Urinary Tract Infections

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    Urinary tract infections are very common, occurring in 1 out of 5 women sometime in their lifetime. Though UTIs are common in women, they can also happen to men, older adults and children. One to 2% of children develop urinary tract infections. Each year, 8 million to 10 million visits to doctors are for urinary tract infections.

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    Myth: Hygiene Habits And Clothing Fit Contribute To Utis

    You may have heard that certain hygiene practices are risk factors for UTIs, particularly for women. But UTIs are not caused by how you wipe in the bathroom, by tampon use or by failing to empty your bladder after sexual intercourse. Theyre also not caused by wearing tight clothes.

    A lot of women express concern about these, said Dr. Dielubanza. But studies have shown there is no association between these practices and UTIs.

    What Is The Most Common Cause Of Bladder Infection

    According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , most bladder infections are caused by Escherichia coli . This type of bacteria is naturally present in the large intestines. An infection can occur when bacteria from the stool get onto the skin and enter the urethra.

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    Dont Sabotage Your Recovery

    Dont give in and reach for the foods that are hurting you. I really sabotaged myself for a while because I would not give up that one cup of coffee in the morning. Once I got past that, I started to get better. Dont undermine your recovery with that one glass of wine or cup of coffee, the way I did. Just stop. If all goes well, this will be a temporary situation. You can go back to enjoying those things later, but for now, you have to get this situation under control.

    Instead of your regular acidic indulgences, milk or vanilla ice cream can be pleasant and very soothing. Make sure you get a brand of ice cream that does not contain a lot of chemicals.

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    What Is The Urinary Tract

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    The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body’s liquid waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:

    • Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body removing waste and water from your blood. This waste becomes urine.
    • Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
    • Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine before it leaves the body.
    • Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.

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