Treating Urinary Tract Infections: UTI

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are among the most common complaints in the ER. What causes them? Lot’s of things however most of time it’s a mystery. Of course diabetics have a predisposition to getting UTI because their increase blood sugar makes the urine sugary too. The sugar, is like food for the bacteria and they grow like crazy! Here’s the symptoms you’ll feel if you get one.

• Pressure in the bladder area
• Pain to one or both flank areas. Thats the area on your back, below both lungs
• Pain on urination
• Blood with urination
• Fever and chills
• Feeling like you have to go again, right after you just went!
• Urinary retention which means you can’t urinate and get it all out. Unsatisfying urination.

Treatment and Expectations:

• If you have a true UTI and are urinating blood or have a fever, you need to go to the doctor.
• If your not sure, or you have discharge coming out where urine should be coming out, go to the doctor
• Until then, you can take some Azo, an over the counter medication for relief. It calms down the pressure and stinging when you pee, but does not cure the infection.
• Drink lots of water to keep the bad stuff coming out
• For prevention, follow these simple rules:

• Urinate often, especially after sex. Keep the bacteria flowing out of your body
• Drink lots of sugarless fluids to you can urinate often
• Wipe you behind from front towards the back when toileting
• Urinate often!
• Urinate often especially after sex!