I don't know if this is a bit more information than any of
you want, but you all seem like such nice people, and I am
quite worried, so here I go.
I am about to go travelling in South East Asia and I am
worried about getting a nasty bladder infection. I am very
prone to them especially in hot weather. Have any of you
experienced the same thing and do you have any advice?
Any caring advice would be very much appreciated.
Che
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I used to get them about twice a year, but not so much
anymore. Before I went to SEA about 5 years ago, I saw a
travel doctor for all my vaccinations, but also saw my
regular doctor. He gave me several prescriptions for both
bladder infections and yeast infections (the latter was not
treatable with over-the-counter drugs in those days). I had
them all filled before I went and traveled with the
medication. As it turns out, I didn't need them, but it was
a comfort having them just in case. I was a bit worried
about crossing international borders with prescription
drugs, but had no trouble. By the way, your travel doctor
should be able to give you a pamphlet of
internationally recognized doctors in most countries.
Are you on good terms with your personal physician? I had
the same problem and my doctor wrote me a perscription for
an antibiotic called azo gantrisene (I can't remember the
exact spelling), which I took with me. (With all the
lawsuits, doctors are getting paranoid and they don't want
to write perscription unless you
have a currently occuring problem.) Gives immediate relief
from the pain and most symptoms clear in 3-5 days of daily
doseage. I feel empathy for you, bladder infections really
hurt and even cause fevers, as you undoubtedly know. If s/he
does give it you, you need to follow the doctors
instructions and take ALL the pills or you could have a
relapse, or develop an immunity to the antibotic. Hope you
can find a sympathetic doctor. BTW, are you drinking lots of
water? Once I increased my water intake, I didn't get as
many occurances.
drink lots of water - I know that's difficult when
travelling. Also, use cotton underwear and change it daily.
Drink lot of water and take high dosage of Vitamin C (2x500 mg tree times per day) that's what I do when I feel the first symptoms. Avoid carrots, spinach and lentils. In some health stores you can find cranberry tablets, taking them helps.
Travelling with a bladder infection can be a nightmare so I would suggest that you take the antibiotics with you. I personally do the vitamin C thing first because I always get a yeast infection after taking antibiotics.
Take care, you will love SEA.
Thank you all for your advice. I will go see my doctor and
get the prescription. And the Vitamin C and cranberry
tabllets thing is also great. I didn't know about carrots
etc, Gudrun, but I will steer clear of them now.
Thanks agai
PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE THE BEST THING. THREE MONTHS AGO I
GOT A BLADDER INFECTION HERE IN S.E.A. THE PHYSYCIAN GAVE
ME SOME ANTHIBIOTICS AND THIS THREE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS:
DRINK ABOUT 1 LITER OF WATER DAILY (SPECIALLY ON VERY HOT
DAYS) THIS WILL CLEAN YOUR BLADDER (AND BY THE WAY THE REST
OF YOUR BODY).
ALWAYS BRING WITH YOU TISSUES BECAUSE MANY TIMES PAPER ON
PUBLIC TOILETS IS ALREADY INFECTED SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF INFECTION.
TRY TO CONTROL YOUR ANXIETY THAT MAKES YOUR IMMUNOLOGIC
SYSTEM WEAK SO IT FACILITATES GETTING SICK.
SO, I HOPE THIS MAY HELP YOU. ENJOY YOUR TRIP, AND AS
GUDRUN WROTE YOU'LL LOVE S.E.A.
cipro is a short course wide effect anti biotic that is
recommended for bladder and urinary tract infections. its
also generally handy for many other infections.
talk to your doc and get a few courses of cipro (3 days 12
pills) to take with you. if your doc is unsympathetic, go
elsewhere. I can think of nothing worse than trying to get
basic care in a country where you have no contacts and dont
speak the language.
You need to drink lots of fluids, especially in hot
climates! You bladder probably becomes infected because
the bacteria are not properly "rinsed out" (because you use
up the fluids you drink for - sorry, sweating. )Just
drinking plenty of mineral water or juices helps- But avoid
coffee, tea or alcohol - they only dehydrate your more.
You need to drink lots of fluids, especially in hot
climates! Your bladder probably becomes infected because
the bacteria are not properly "rinsed out" (because you use
up the fluids you drink for - sorry, sweating. )Just
drinking plenty of mineral water or juices helps- But avoid
coffee, tea or alcohol - they only dehydrate your more.
Most bladder infections are bacterial, a strain of E.coli, I
believe, but the kind I kept getting for two years was
actually a case of Acidosis. No, it's not related to LSD (I
wish), but its simply that my body is overly acidic. The
treatment was totally different and the antibiotics and
cranberries (VERY acidic) were just making things worse. I
am now practically immune to most normal strength
antibiotics and the stronger ones like Cipro often give
women nasty yeast infections. Don't get me wrong, in acute
situations antibiotics are a good thingà just make sure your
doctor gives you a prescription for Diflucan or some other
medicine for yeast infections. SO, after two years of
these damned things I have become somewhat of an expert in
just about all treatments of Cystitis. WHITE cotton
underwear is important- in sensitive individuals the dyes
can cause irritation. LOTS of water (during an infection
try to drink a coke can's worth of water an hour) and
avoiding coffee/caffeine/alcohol is another good one for
both bacterial infections and acidosis. As much as you want
to lie around in your swim gear all day, switch the damp
ones for something clean and dry-it really makes a
difference in the hot SEA climates. Wipe front to back
(I'm not trying to insult your intelligence her but some
women still do this backwards). Don't use soap on the
vaginal area during an infection, some people are allergic
or sensitive to it-wash (rinse) oftenà before and after
exercise/intercourse if possible. It sounds dumb, but I was
so paranoid that I washed myself with bottled water in
places with really suspect water. Use a gentle all-natural
soap from a health food store-ask some knowledgeable female
working there for a recommendation if you are unfamiliar
with the different brands. In a pinch I have used a very
weak solution of Body Shop's Jojoba Shampoo and water. Pee
as often as you have the opportunity, even if you don't
think that you have to go-it's worse to hold it too long. I
have heard that excess Iron and Zinc can help the bacteria
grow and depress the immune system, respectively-thus the
advice to avoid spinach lentils and the like from an above
post.
I used to carry lots of different herb, oils and supplements
with me just to treat an infection but I have narrowed it
down to just a fewà One is Goldenseal (I use the
alcohol-free bottled extract) it acts as an (natural)
antibiotic, cleanses the body, has anti-inflammatory and
antibacterial properties. You shouldn't ever use it longer
than a week at a time but its good also for colds, the flu,
inflammation, infections and sore throats-after being on
smoky Java I needed it! I take vitamin C (those fizzy
tablets to put in your bottled water might help you drink
more water to boot) and eat lots of citrusà don't eat citrus
if you have a bacterial infection at the time as it produces
alkaline urine, a bacterial breeding ground. I bring a good
women's vitamin, though I often forget to take it in the
road. Cranberry supplements will be a lifesaver and good
preventative if you are prone to bacterial (not acidic)
infections, but always drink a big glass of water when you
take the supplement. If there is a bath available I take a
hot bath for the pain that accompanies sever infections, I
put a drop of tea tree oil or natural soap in the water as
it is has antibacterial/antifungal agents.
Incidentally I always bring tea tree oil with me, I use it
nearly straight on my feet after having them in damp sweaty
boots for too long, it's in the soap I use ( I throw in some
bergamot, citronella and pennyroyal oils in to keep the
mosquitoes away) and it can be used directly on cuts and
most skin problems. Some people are sensitive to it full
strength so I sometimes pop a vitamin E capsule and mix it
together.
If you think that you have a case of acidosis, eat at least
50% raw foods (peel it first in SEA) to clean out your
system and boost the alkaline level. Drop the Vitamin C (use
a buffered form at least) and start eating more citrus
instead. Fresh coconut, soy products, honey and soured milk
products (like yogurt) are all alkaline-forming. This is
getting TOO long. I know that I have overwhelmed you with
information probably, but you can take what's useful for you
and forget the rest.
Thank you all. I had never expected such caring, sympathatic
and practical advice. Thank you Lynda for your extensive
tips and I shall take all of your advice in hand. By the way
how do you tell the difference between a bactaerial
infection and a case of Acidosis? It is so good to know that
others have been in the same position but that you were
still able to enjoy your travel despite it all. Many many
tha
Well the way that I test it away from the doctor's office is
to take along blue litmus paper and check my urine..
sometimes if I am not sure if mine is overly acidic I make
my boyfriend do it to so I have something to compare it too
(a very sympathetic man he is) the redder the blue litmus
paper the more acidis it is... I always get it backwards
untill I am looking at the little graph on the bottle.
Anyway, ask you chesmist when you but it. Also, if yo have
been to the doctor and they say that your bacteria count is
low then it's likely that it's acidosis and not bacterial.
My big dilema was most of my doctors told me that the
acidosos thing was hogwash, but all they did was give me
more antibiotics. Hey, if I can save even ONE other woman
from going through two years of hell and frustration like I
did then I feel like I have done a good job. I forgot to
mention my new favorite find!!! It's amazing stuff, it's
called "Urinary Ease" and it's tincture (Extract mix in a
bottle) amd it's made by "Gaia Herbs" the only address I can
find is the one on the bottle and it is "GAIA HERBS, INC.,
Brevard, NC 28712 USA" I have started taking whenever I
think that I might be getting an infection, right after I
have sex and after hot sweaty sports or if I splurge and get
drunk some night. The best thing for drinking or combating
the effects of coffee, alcohol or other "no-no" beverages is
to drink double the amount of water. It also keeps me from
getting hangovers!
I didn't spell check and I am usually a terrible typist,
sorry everyone for all the mistakes, but you get the point I
hope.
Lynda, i am so greatful for all you excellent advice. And
don't worry about typos, look what a mess I made of trying
to put just one message up.(see postings 12-15, sorry about
that guys). Thanks I will check out that Gaia herbs stuff.
My doctor gave me doxycycline (antibiotic used for malaria)
he told me to take two a day instead of one a day for 7
days if I got a bladder infection....I know that antibiotics
are not great for you, but I have had a bad bladder
infection that turned into a kidney infection! I had to
take the pills anyways for malaria!
Also, drink tons of water...you probably alrady knew that
though!
I know this may be a "radical" way to approach the problem but, when I travel in really hot climates I usually wear loose cotton pants and NO underwear. It was some advice given to me by a Tropical Disease Doctor once and its works great. After at least four years in tropical climates, I have only gotten a yeast infection once and I've never had bladder infection. Good luck to you!
Actually now that I think about it, NO underwear has been
really effective for me as well. I got the same advice from
a
"western" female doctor as well. In my line of work, it's
regrettably necessary for me to wear underwear with my
business suits
(too many cleaning bills otherwise!) Particularly in the
case of a yeast infection. loose fitting clothes in any
case are the way to
go. I wear all natural fabrics too, they breathe better.
Linen and rough silk are wonderful!
Well I am off now to south East Asia, with my Cranbery
tablets, my anti biotics and not as much underwear as I
though I'd need. Thank you all. I hope i will have a
wonderful time while travelling and I am sure you advice
will make that certian. Happy travelling all of you.
by
Water, water, water , water, water, Drink, drink, drink, drink, water , water , water. I can not stress the importance of drinking water. drink in the morning, in the mid morning, at lunch time, snack time, mid afternoon time, afternoon, diner, apres diner. try and incorporate this into everyhting you do. you will not only feel better, but you will look better. consider water before dabblinginto expensive antibiotics and doctors appointments. remember that the answers are always there, right in front of you, you just have to look to find them.
Wearing no underwear has been effective for me as well, I
you wear the right clothing. I tend to wear light canvas
pants.
When traveling in hot humid areas, stay away from tight
jeans! Even without underwear, sweat gets trapped in the
crotch area and over time will cause problems. I learned
my this lesson a few summers back after a unexpected
prolong side trip in SE Asia. To get right to the point. I
ended up wearing the same jeans for four days in a row --
yes, gross! By this time the jeans tend to ride-up into
certain sensitive parts; therefore, the seam comes into
contact causing bladder infection from a yeast infection
that had just started. I did alot of walking, and by the
end of the third day was painful. I found a doctor that
not only gave me medication but also a sarong to wear after
he saw me putting my jeans back on, since I did not have
anything else at that time. I was grateful. Therefore, I
never pack jeans again when I travel. Drink lots of
water! And think hygiene.
I ended up having to go see a doctor 3 times in a trip to
Sweden. It was only after I got there that I found out the
Swedes haven't yet taken a liking to cranberry juice -- a
juice I drink daily at home to avoid bladder infections.
*
But there's hope! Cranberry tablets. I buy them at Trader
Joe's. If you have no TJ's where you are, look them up on
the www and order about 1 bottle for each planned week of
travel -- it's money VERY well spent.