So I did a bad bad thing.  I had to go, bad, but held it... for probably 12 hours.  And now, I have a UTI (urinary tract infection). I'm doing my best to avoid anymore antibiotics (long story short, allergist kept making me taking them until I threw them in his face because they weren't helping, let alone what I needed).  I usually do well just taking those pills that make you pee orange... See, I no longer have the packaging for them.  Yup.  I don't know if they are vegan or anything like that... but I've been taking them for so long it was in my nature to do so after I crawled out of bed today (and after lots of water and some toast).  It's only been a bit since I took it, really, and I am sure the stuff will "kick in" soon... but... I was just wondering if anyone had any advice, home remedies, and so on.  And maybe ones that would help with the whole bladder & kidney infections a UTI can turn into before we realize it sometimes?  Oh, yes.. I know about cranberry juice.  I used to have these things all the time... so I definitely am aware of cranberry juice... but is there another juice that can help? 

Every time I get anything like that I take a VegiCap of concentrated Cranberry for a day or 2  and it knocks it right out. I don't remember what brand . But I'm sure real Cranberry juice NOT COCKTAIL would work too. But you would have to drink ALOT of it.

I'm in the same boat... I get them ALL the time.  going back to the urologist this Friday actually and will let you know if I get any tips. 

in the meantime, I like those heating pads that you can get at the drug store- the type that stick to you or your underware and they stay hot for like 9 hours.  that always makes me feel a bit better.  keep up drinking the water, don't drink caffeine or alcohol, go to the bathroom whenever you need to (which i know is sometimes hard to tell with a uti!).  the orange-pee drugs (uristat) will help a ton, i'm sure.  they are miracle-workers.  but be sure to eat w/ them!!  otherwise you'll get a nasty stomach ache... actually i sometimes get the stomach ache even if i do eat.  uti's are such a curse!!!  good luck, feel better soon!!

A lot of people suggest cranberry juice (not the cocktail, but the actual juice). The only thing is, I was reading (I can't remember where, but I promise it was credible or I wouldn't even mention it) that you should see a doctor when you have a UTI so that they can tell you, and yes, possibly prescribe you something. The article says this is b/c cranberry juice just helps with symptoms, it doesn't actually treat the infection. Kind of like you can take pain relievers or use a heating pad for cramps when you're on your period, but that doesn't make your period go away!

I just wanted to let you know what I heard, even though you are not wanting to take meds. I just think it is something worth knowing and considering.

Wishing you the best! I hope you feel better soon!

Vitamin C. And Garlic is bacteria's enemy so load up on it!

"Looking up",thank you for your concern.  It's true I really do not want to go to the dr, let alone take anymore antibiotics... and honestly, I can't afford either.  It's so bad i can't even make rent right now. I've talked to docs about this before, and with the way my body is (I can sense one even before the pain really starts, plus kind of know what I to that causes them and what to look for) as long as it isn't affecting my kidneys we're ok.  no peeing orange pills (my mom once puked those guys up before, leaving read foam to stain everything, so definitely eat with them) today, and i'm doing alright.  finally got some cranberry juice (yup, NOT cocktail) yesterday, and am planning to finish the bottle shortly.  The juice doesn't care for my stomach, though... so I am still having to make sure I eat with it. Fun.  Post-poning my jogging again... hopefully will do it later today. That being said, thank you everyone for your advice.  When I have some income again I will buy some of those cranberry capsules to keep on hand!  Right now I am feeling much better! Thanks again!!!

 I have only tried pure cranberry juice and lots of water and vitamin C and that seems to help me recover. One theory about cranberries is that they prevent and treat UTIs by stopping bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall. I drink a bit every day as a preventative. I also avoid caffeine and alcohol and nightshade family foods and drink lots of water at first symptoms.  GO regularly, even if you don't feel the urge! If UTIs are left untreated the infection can spread to your kidneys. Please don't take my word for any of these but research them further yourself or check with an expert. Hope you feel better soon!

I've had issue's with getting a lot of them... mostly because of drinking more coffee than water and not peeing 'after the deed' ;)
I take cranberry tablets on a daily basis (and don't drink so much coffee!). Tons and tons of water, cranberry juice and I double up on the cranberry tablets when I feel one coming on. Honestly I haven't been able to heal myself once it's started, I've always had to give in and take some anti-biotics. I know it's not really recommended, but even if you have one or two lying around in your house, take those and that will give you the head start on healing if your doing all of the above.
I know it's a pain (literally and financially) but don't wait to go to the doc's on this one - I've had it spread to my kidneys twice and was hospitalized for it. It would have been a lot cheaper for me to just get the antibiotics in the first place.

The best thing is prevention - peeing and washing after sex is key!  But if you get one, suffering through without antibiotics sounds just plain awful.  The tablets that turn your pee orange have no curative properties, they just take the burning sensation away.  There are lots of different antibiotics out there and they can treat the infection within hours and prevent it from spreading to your kidneys. 

I do know how to avoid them.. just that one night... well, I held it.  Let's just say if you saw the bathroom option, you would have as well (nope, going outside was not an option but I sure would have).  I usually catch it so early that I can fix it quick before it sticks... but I didn't do things I should have and BAM woke up with it one morning. It went away over the weekend... but came back even worse Monday morning.  I said forget this and went to the ER... yeah, it was that bad.  So now I'm on antibiotics, and got a pelvic exam and tested for all kind of things since the doc helping me must be uber paranoid.  I bought some cranberry tea bags (the pills were outrageously price and I in no way felt like driving all over creation to find a decent deal) and it's pretty yummy.  It's been a couple of weeks since I felt like having coffee, and I don't keep soda in the house.  I know how to prevent it, just... yeah... that bathroom was nasty. See, I drank too much one night and ended up crashing at a friends place.  Yes, that friend is a guy and all his roommates are guys and you can imagine how nasty that bathroom was... ick.  I just wasn't having to that night.  I did look for more cranberry juice, but even the organic kinds at the store I was at all said they had "natural flavors" in them.. .and I can't help but wonder what the natural flavor is?  Urine?  Dirt?  Who knows.  So I passed and got the tea bags.  Would have been better if they had the loose tea.  But anyway I feel much better, and I want to thank everyone for the advice and tips and so on! And yes, I know to pee after sex.  I usually always do.  I do normally catch it so early I can just take those tablets and I feel no more symptoms... but not this one...Oh, well... Thanks again!

i just found great cranberry juice at trader joes.. it's 100% juice, there's no sugar or anything.  well, i say "great" bc of ingredients, but it's pretty disgusting actually!  SO tart.  but with 1 stevia per cup, it's actually not bad.  i've been drinking it everyday, been reading a lot and apparently it really works to prevent utis by keeping the bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall.  hope you're feeling better, kris!

I get these a lot, too, and can usually stop them before they get bad if I know it's coming on.  However, I did have a couple last year that I didn't catch quick enough.  I thought I was going to have to get antibiotics (which I hate doing) and I also do not have money for doctors and meds.  At that same time, I had been giving my dog a medicine for a cut he got on his foot that got a bit infected (it was in the pad and I didn't see it until it started getting red and puffy).

The medicine is called Vibactra Plus, made by Amber Technology.  It is basically an herbal antibiotic.  The description on the package says, "A special combination of herbs demonstrated to enhance immunity through natural antibiotic, antioxidant and microscopic parasitical activities."

Although it is marketed as for pets, I checked into all the ingredients and there is nothing that would be harmful to humans.  I took the recommended dosage for my weight, four times daily for ten days, as it recommends.  It cleared everything right up!  The next time I started getting a bad one, I just did 3 times a day for 3 days, and it still had a great effect!  Although the bottle is about $30, it is a big bottle and the dosage is pretty small, so my 10 days barely made a dent in the bottle.  It tastes terrible (and this from a whiskey drinker!), but it is worth it.  Way cheaper than a trip to the doctor, and way better for you than the manufactured antibiotics we've all already been overdosed on!