Burning P

It was a cold...

2011-09-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, folks. The cold has broken - I now have a runny blocked up nose and am sneezy. This is no doubt the answer to my weird symptoms. Feel so much better now.

Not about cystitis

2011-09-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

Went to a festival weekend before last and still feel absolutely rubbish. Am worried that have done too much and got adrenal fatigue/developing M.E. Thought I'd record my list of symptoms and then hopefully watch myself get better soon. (Please, please!)

- Exhausted. Wake up feeling like have not slept.
- Dull headache at back of head.
- Muscle weakness.
- Blood sugar feels out of whack - feel hungry, faint, and shaky very soon after eating. Just about goes away after eating, but not always.
- Eyes really tired and puffy.
- Congested air passages.
- Feel slightly nauseous, slightly dizzy.
- Pins and needles in my hands and feet that does go.

Most likely explanations:
- Stress: have been stressed out at work recently, and then had a load of relationship stress with A at festival. Feeling ok about the latter now, mostly. But a bit worried my poor system has finally gone caput. This is generating second-order stress about feeling stressed, which is surely not helpful! Am trying to do yoga and meditation regularly. Know I need to get on top of this, even if it's not the reason I currently feel like shit.

- Anxiety: the above really, but thinking of this as a bit more acute. Spent the last week worrying about A and me, and think may just be worn out.

- Virus: have an inner ear something or other that comes and goes. Perhaps am run down and it has taken me by force.

- Anaemic: have been taking a liquid iron supplement that usually sorts me out; also trying to eat a bit more meat. Not convinced it's this. Also, nothing showed up on recent blood test. But have felt pretty ropey before and had a clean blood test, then cured with liquid iron supplement. Lack of relief from taking supplement however suggests not this.

- Thyroid: nothing showing up on blood test again. Not entirely convinced the tests are sensitive enough.

- Lack of something in diet: what though? Am taking vast number of vitamins and supplements to try and sort it.

Would very much like to feel better now, though. Because this is rubbish.

Cystitis again

2011-01-19T04:47:00.000-08:00

Minor episode. Currently treating with Chinese herbs, probiotic capsules, cider vinegar in water, hot lemon.

Had another such episode the week before last too.

:(

Will cutting out sugar help?

Cystitis

2010-12-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Things have been reasonably ok on the pee front recently. A couple of minor episodes that I failed to report on here. But not too bad at all. Today though, after some porn-watching-shagging sessions two days running, got that old burning feeling and the sensation of needing to shit. Taken two paracetamol, a salty sachet, some Chinese herbs, plenty of hot water with lemon, and currently cooking up some barley water. Wish me luck...

Finally

2010-05-14T00:11:00.001-07:00

Seem to be getting better - a bit up and down in the week - felt better on Wednesday, then worse again yesterday. But this morning definitely seems to have cleared up.

Ouch

2010-05-11T03:57:00.001-07:00

The cystitis wore off a bit yesterday - as always, not thinking about it makes a huge difference to how much it hurts. But am now pretty sore. Drinking tea this morning was a dumb idea. Took some more Chinese bladder herbs. Just got to keep keeping on and wait for it to go :(

Sore twat

2010-05-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

My bits have been pretty sore recently. Feel really chafed, and can't manage penetrative sex more than once or twice a week. Not sure what's going on. Wondered if it was thrush, but have no other symptoms. Should perhaps go to doctors. Not particularly hopeful that they'll be able to do anything.

Small (hopefully) episode

2010-05-10T04:26:00.000-07:00

Had some vigorous sex yesterday and this morning got the old twinges. Did the trick of putting a probiotic pill up my twat yesterday, so hopefully this is going to be ok. Drank some water, and some cystitis salt, and had some paracetamol and some Chinese herbs. So now we wait... Did have to dash out of aerobics like an idiot, as thought it was getting worse. It has calmed down a bit now though.

Things down there...

2010-05-04T09:31:00.001-07:00

It's going ok, fingers crossed and touch wood. No serious flare-ups for a while. I am finding that the inside of my puff is really sore at the moment, so we're only having penetrative sex about once or twice a week. It hurts for about a day after having sex, and is much worse if I don't drink enough water. But it's not a bladder sort of pain. After having sex, I use a probiotic capsule as a pessary, which seems to help with the cystitis prevention, and with any thrush, which I suspect might have something to do with the soreness. It would be nice not to have to worry about these things all the time, but hey, I guess things are better than they were last year...

Small cystitis episodes

2010-03-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

After having sex, about twenty-four hours later, have a small bout of cystitis. Have taken to putting a probiotic capsule up my twat after sex, about once a week. It seems to help quite a lot. Guess bladder must still be a bit sensitive and easily irritated by booze, sex, cups of tea, etc.

Better!

2010-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

Had residual cystitis feeling for a few days after outbreak that then felt like thrush. Used a probiotic pill as a pessary and it cleared up. Had sex at the weekend (Sunday morning) after drinking alcohol. Was very sore afterwards and felt like getting cystitis again. Put another probiotic pill up twat, and touch wood, think I am ok now! Trying not to drink too much tea and coffee. Starting each day with hot water and lemon seems like a good thing.

Sunday

2010-02-14T04:39:00.000-08:00

Woke up to feeling of pressure in bladder and needing to poo. Sure enough, developed into a little bout of cystitis. Taken paracetamol, Chinese herbs, salty sachet. Drunk some water and some barley tea. Need to drink more water and less tea, methinks. Why has this developed? Not entirely clear. Think am more likely to get cystitis if me and the man (particularly) the man haven't washed first. But not exactly romantic is it? - Err, can you stop kissing me and wash your knob...

Thursday

2010-01-28T04:42:00.000-08:00

Argh. Bout of cystitis. Seemingly not brought on by shagging for once - think it is because was wearing tight crack-flossing pants and a pair of tight leggings. Bloody minefield! Oh yes, also have thrush. Need to sort that out, as that could be another reason for the cystitis...

Update

2009-12-07T04:21:00.000-08:00

Getting better, but bladder still feels very sensitive. Got acupuncture appointment on Wednesday - hopefully that will help a bit.

Update

2009-12-03T05:06:00.000-08:00

Bladder still sore. Rode bike to tai chi and back yesterday, but thought it best not to risk riding bike to work today. Not doing very well in keeping of the tea. Did a probiotic suppository on Tuesday. Still taking the herbs. Would love a cup of coffee right now.

Cystitis

2009-12-01T07:54:00.001-08:00

Got cystitis on Sunday evening. Think it came on after having sex on Saturday morning, then drank no water all day Sunday. Fool. Treating it with Chinese herbs and lots of water.

Grumbling bladder

2009-11-12T04:03:00.001-08:00

Think I'm not drinking enough water - difficult to in Winter.

Mild cystitis episode

2009-11-09T03:35:00.001-08:00

Started on Saturday night. Very mild. Took Chinese herbal medicine, drank some salty sachets, and used probiotic suppository. Clearing up. Need to stay off the tea and coffee...

Fucking cystitis again

2009-09-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, whaddya know, I've got cystitis again. Had two lots of sex last weekend, and the second lot was a bit rough, and he hadn't showered beforehand. Developed cystitis on Saturday night. Took herbs, salty water and paracetamol. It cleared quite a bit on Sunday. Monday no cystitis and had acupuncture for the hives. Tuesday, cystitis stinging and rode bike to work. Tuesday night really sore. Took herbs and salty water. Felt better yesterday, although could still feel it. Then today, felt loads better. So had a cup of coffee like a twat this afternoon, and think it's that that has caused it to flare up right now. Mental note: he needs to wash his cock before sex.

Honeymoon cystitis!

2009-08-25T05:46:00.000-07:00

Had an episode of cystitis on holiday - coffee, wine, and too much sex. Took Chinese herbs and drank salty water, but it didn't resolve. Ended up taking antibiotics for it. Cystitis has cleared up but now have hives. Had them for a week now. Itchy welts that appear out of nowhere, burn and itch, last for a couple of hours and then vanish without a trace, only to appear somewhere else. Had acupuncture for them today and thought they might vanish straightaway - but no such luck. Bollocks, eh?

Slight bladder disruption

2009-06-16T02:18:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend drinking tea and coffee and eating sugary items. Had sex on Sunday evening - olive oil but no shower beforehand. Then on Monday drank three cups of tea and a can of Red Bull. Slight stinging today. Taken Chinese herbs, and drank some salty water. Need to stay off the caffeine :(

The Lowdown

2009-04-27T11:30:00.001-07:00

Well, I had a bad episode, took two Chinese capsules a day, had more acupuncture, and guess what? Things seem to have calmed right down. The other Magic Bullet is NO tea or coffee. And that really means NO tea. (If only I could continue to take my own good advice.) Even just two cups of Earl Grey a day makes things uncomfortable Down There. I'm trying to train myself to do without caffeine and only drink rooibos. Wish me luck.

Had another appointment with the urologist today too. He told me what I've known all along - they've no idea why some women get this and they've no idea what to do about it. Great. Good job the acupuncture and Chinese herbs are working, or else I'd be crawling up the wall.

Ketamine

2009-04-04T00:47:00.000-07:00

Bad for your bladder, apparently.

Aargh

2009-04-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

Had sex yesterday morning. Woke up this morning with cystitis. Funny how you can feel it coming on - woke up with tender feeling in bladder and also urgent need to poo. Now have the shits, bladder hurting and pee burns. Have taken one of the Chinese herbal capsules (didn't take one last night) and a paracetamol. Am drinking a cup of hot water. Suppose could take one of salty sachets although don't feel very inclined. Hands very cold. Kidney area very cold and tender to touch. Food-wise got no idea what might have contributed. Had pancakes (wheat) with sugar on them yesterday, also had curry. Perhaps that didn't help?

Bladder update

2009-03-31T02:32:00.000-07:00

Well, spent five days in US where drank insane amounts of coffee. Am now covered in eczema and bladder is sore. Then came home and drank alcohol every night and ate a lot of cake. Then had sex on Sunday and Monday - two days in a row: really pushing the boat out. Randomly had the shits last night and feel that am hovering on the edge of cystitis bout now. Need to completely cut out coffee and sugar. Why can't I do what I know is good for me? :(

Update: drank a lot of water and cystitis never surfaced. Taking Chinese herbs one a night.

Cystitis

2009-03-18T02:30:00.000-07:00

Drank loads of coffee at the weekend, ate lots of pudding, and also had alcohol (all heat-forming in Chinese medical parlance). Then came back to Notts and had sex. Twelve hours later, had a brief bout of cystitis. Not very bad, and wore off fairly quickly.

Update

2009-02-27T00:10:00.000-08:00

I've forgotten to update for a while. Past two weeks - continuing to have acupuncture once a week (will do so until clocked up 8 sessions - can't afford any more for a while after that). Past two weeks have been cystitis-free, although things still feel a bit sensitive and tickly down there. Pushed the boat out in the last week by having sex three times. Today, things feeling quite prickly. Need to make sure drink lots of water today to try and get back on top of it. Put probiotic capsule up twat last night. Also started taking some Chinese herbs, which are supposed to be good for clearing fire.

Sex and sugar

2009-02-15T14:48:00.001-08:00

Had sex this morning. Also ate loads of sugar this weekend (Valentine's Day yesterday so had lots of cake and ice-cream.) Will see how I am I guess. More acupuncture this week. Winter eczema has come back on legs.

Acupuncture

2009-02-15T14:46:00.000-08:00

Had session today. Belly just above pubic bone feels tender. Mentioned it to acupuncture lady and apparently in Japanese diagnosis that is the bladder area and tenderness there indicates problems with the bladder!

Update

2009-02-09T14:45:00.000-08:00

Drank quite a lot of alcohol at weekend due to mom's birthday. Cystitis came back today - not so bad, but uncomfortable.

Acupuncture

2009-02-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

Decided to have an extended course of acupuncture - one session per week to try and get on top of this thing. Had first session today. A lot easier afterwards.

Update

2009-02-03T01:46:00.000-08:00

Went in bath last night - put some lavendar oil in it - was soothing at the time, and doesn't seem to have made any difference to the cystitis. First pee of the day wasn't too stingy, but second pee hurt. Difference between the two was a cup of tea. Really need to get on top of this thing, so am thinking need to be a lot stricter about diet. No sugar, as little wheat as possible, no dairy, no coffee and no tea. Think I am also going to have some acupuncture, although it's expensive. Wonder whether to go and talk to urologist again - have an appointment for the beginning of April, but wondering whether should phone up then go and see him sooner. Trouble is that the most obvious next course of action would be to take an extended course of antibiotics, and wonder if that's such a great idea in the long run. Will maybe explore other options first. Started taking uva ursi again. Also taking cranberry (apparently they don't interact after all), D-mannose, probiotic supplements. Also put another probiotic capsule up twat. *Sigh*

Monday

2009-02-02T02:34:00.003-08:00

Aarrgh. Got up and have much more definite cystitis-ish feelings now. It is stinging when I wee, my twat hurts, and I keep needing to go to the toilet. Have drunk a salty sachet. Am now in work.

Update

2009-02-01T02:32:00.000-08:00

Drank a lot of water, didn't go in the bath, took the usual tablets. Twat started burning in the evening, so put a probiotic capsule up it. Think I need to try and get this sorted. It's been going on for ages now :(

Party, sex

2009-01-31T01:15:00.000-08:00

Went to a party last night, and spoke to Beatrice and Kevin. Then came home and had sex this morning. Didn't hurt at the time, although didn't feel completely right either. Drank a lot of water all day and took a salty sachet. Took D-Mannose, cranberry, and oregano oil. Decided I should maybe not go in the bath.

Sex

2009-01-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Had sex this morning. A little bit sore - felt painful where I think my urethra is - but used olive oil, took D-mannose, cranberry, oregano, and probiotics afterwards. Have drunk a lot of water today. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Ultrasound scan

2009-01-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

Discovered cyst in right kidney - apparently completely nothing to worry about. Only possible thing of interest is that I didn't fully empty my bladder. Old wee sitting around in the bladder is a common reason for recurring UTI's. Doctor doing the scan asked me if I'd had a long course of low dose antibiotics. Think he was implying it as a possible course of action. Not due to see the urologist until early April. Depending on how things go, might ring up and request an earlier appointment.

Update

2009-01-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

Better, but still slight pain in twat. Tried to have sex, but too painful.

Probiotics

2009-01-27T10:02:00.000-08:00

Put another capsule up my twat in attempt to get rid of remnants of infection.

Update

2009-01-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

Faded to a niggling pain if need wee, or if haven't drunk enough water - same old, same old. It's not that bad, but it's not normal either. And it gets in the way of sex.

Damp Heat

2009-01-24T12:05:00.000-08:00

In Chinese medicine, recurring bladder infections are the result of damp heat in the body. There's more info here.

Cystitis again and urologist

2009-01-24T07:01:00.000-08:00

Was fine after having sex all week. Had sex on Thursday night. Did the probiotic-capsule-up-twat thing, but have now developed hot wee. Also, went to see urologist yesterday, and typically had no symptoms. He reckons I've had a sub-clinical infection which has been rumbling on. I've got to have an ultra-sound scan, and then go back to see him in twelve weeks time. In the meantime, he suggested cranberry capsules (been there, done that), and having sex with a full bladder so that properly flush it out afterwards. The bottom line is that there doesn't seem to be much he can do. There's the old antiobiotic after sex trick, but it seems like a bad idea (to him and me) because people end up getting immune to the antibiotic, and presumably it upsets the balance down there. He could also stretch my urethra, but only two thirds of people find any relief from that. I don't fancy it, quite frankly. Anyway, soreness isn't too bad right now. I'll keep you posted...

Sex and...

2009-01-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

Had sex on Friday morning. Afterwards, put probiotic capsule up twat. No symptoms as yet...

Also had sex this morning. Intend to put capsule up twat later...

Wouldn't it be great if this was the answer?

More on probiotic suppositories can be found here.

Update

2009-01-13T05:35:00.000-08:00

Inserted probiotic capsule inside my twat on Sunday when felt cystitis coming on. Also took some D-Mannose and oil of oregano. Capsule up twat hurt at the time but felt like it helped a lot. Symptoms cleared up a few hours later, apart from residual pain when I wee. Phoned up and booked urology appointment for a week on Friday.

Cystitis

2009-01-11T10:05:00.001-08:00

Been away since 12th December, so no sex. Bladder finally calmed down. Then came back two days ago and had sex. Twat burning a lot straight afterwards, then twenty-four hours later got cystitis again! Also, forgot to phone up and sort out my urologist appointment before I went so think I have lost my referral. Bollocks. Will get on the phone to sort it tomorrow.

Acupuncture

2008-12-09T07:41:00.001-08:00

Had acupuncture. Bladder loads calmer. Taking double dose of D-Mannose.

Doctor

2008-12-08T02:55:00.000-08:00

Went to doctor. Nothing in the sample I produced 25th November. Produced another sample, dipstick showed white blood cells, but nothing else. Referred to urologist. Need to book appointment for kidney and bladder scan.

Update

2008-12-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

Taking:

D-Mannose

Oil of oregano

Cranberry tablets

Homemade barley water

Feeling: ok, not really painful, but a bit uncomfortable. Feel ok in the morning and more painful in the evening. Going to doctor tomorrow.

'Urethral syndrome'

2008-12-05T04:43:00.000-08:00

This is what doctors call it when you (a woman) continually turn up in their office complaining of a UTI, but nothing shows up in your pee and you don't have IC. In the bad old days, you'd be officially classified as a drain of the doctor's time and resources. Typically, you'll undergo fun procedures like having your pee-tube stretched, and they might give you tranquilisers - apparently to relax your hypothesised spasming pelvic floor muscles. Well, turns out, according to this article that you might have 'female prostratis' - i.e., an infection of little tiny glands attached to the urethra. It results in an area of tenderness on the front wall of the vagina.

Cystitis and diarhoea

2008-12-05T01:35:00.000-08:00

Was feeling completely better, so had sex yesterday morning. Washed before and after (well, ok, washed before bedtime, but could I really have got so dirty whilst asleep?!), drank a pint of cranberry juice and then a pint of water. Greased up before the act (olive oil). Took D-Mannose, cranberry tablet, and oil of oregano capsule. Felt fine all day - no pain of any sort, not even any chafing. Woke up this morning with cystitis and diarhoea.
Cystitis symptoms:

Bladder feels a bit tender if I touch my belly

Inside of twat burning a bit

Localised pain in top wall of twat where I imagine my urethra to be

Pain at the end of weeing, but not too severe - sends the shiver up my body, but haven't felt it in my teeth

Have drunk water and a cup of tea. Now drinking some homemade barley water with honey. It feels less painful than it did an hour ago. Have appointment to see doctor - actually to talk to this time - although am not very hopeful that she'll have any answers. The boy is ace.

Coping

2008-12-05T01:32:00.000-08:00

Cystitis lasted for about a week. Much better after the first day. Didn't take the antibiotics - worried about disrupting the delicate balance of bacteria in my bladder. Instead, took oil of oregano every day, cranberry tablets twice a day, and lots of probiotics. Also put a probiotic capsule up my twat twice in the last week. (Why you ask? Read this.) Sent off for some D-mannose, which started taking yesterday. Cystitis cleared up.

Doctor

2008-11-25T01:31:00.000-08:00

Tried to see doctor. Couldn't get an appointment, but spoke to her on the phone. She reluctantly agreed to give me some antibiotics if I went down to the surgery and pee-ed in a pot. She dipped my wee and then prescribed me a week's worth of nitrofurantoin.

Cystitis

2008-11-24T20:00:00.000-08:00

Got cystitis around 8pm. Had sex twenty-four hours previously.

Update

2008-10-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

Got cystitis. Taking uva ursi and sodium citrate. Calmed down a lot after first day, but lingering discomfort.

Cystitis

2008-10-04T03:06:00.000-07:00

Got cystitis again. Not very bad, but uncomfortable.

Doctor again

2008-09-12T03:04:00.000-07:00

Symptoms got worse, was worried about having some infection grumbling on. Went back and got antibiotics - 10 cefalexin 500mg, take 2 times a day. Cleared up, but things still feel a bit odd down there.

Doctor

2008-09-10T03:03:00.000-07:00

Went to see doctor. Explained about symptoms, and tried to explain that localised sore patch in urethra, also sort of 'thick' feeling - looked at me as if mad. But said could give me antibiotics. Traces of blood in urine when she dipsticked it. Refused antibiotics.

Cystitis

2008-09-07T03:01:00.000-07:00

Since the episode on holiday, things not been quite right down there. Things fine in the morning, but by evening, quite uncomfortable. Have been drinking sodium citrate most days. If forget to drink enough water am in loads of pain. Then today, on way back from London, was in agony on train as hadn't drunk enough water, and been drinking alcohol at weekend.

Cystitis

2008-08-06T02:57:00.000-07:00

Had sex a few times in the last few days, then woke up today with cystitis. Not brilliant as am camped in a field in middle of Slovakian countryside and the van is stuck in mud and won't budge. Am drinking lots of water and sodium citrate, and weeing and pooing for England (so to speak).

Update: when van came unstuck, was driven at haste to Budapest. Travelling in car very painful, but when arrived, cystitis calmed right down. Went out drinking and chatting to Kevin, and things all fine. Weird.

Cystitis

2008-07-12T02:54:00.000-07:00

Put a tampon in after having sex and suddenly in loads of cystitis-ish pain. Localised pain in urethra and diarrhoea. Drank a couple of pints of water and some sodium citrate. Settled down again to being fine in about an hour and a half.

Irritated

2008-06-25T02:52:00.000-07:00

Feel like need to wee even though bladder empty. Feel like haven't completely emptied bladder. Pain at end of weeing, although not in teeth. Diarrhoea. Wore off by afternoon.

Cystitis

2008-05-26T02:49:00.000-07:00

Bad bout of cystitis - bleeding, screaming, up all night sort. Went to doctor in morning and given 30 nitrofurantoin 50mg, taken 4 times a day. Cleared up.