UTI Dilemna

 Hey there woman! Are you having a hard time relieveing yourself in the bathroom?  You feel pain and burning sensation while peeing, and you see blood in your urine?  You might have a Urinary Tract Infection!

I am not an OB-Gyne, but I had been a victim of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).  And just like you, I searched the web to get to know more of this illness.  In this article, I would give you an overview of what UTI is, its symptoms and tips on how to recover from it and avoid it in the future (as from what I researched and what my OB-Gyne told me when I finally had a check up).

Urinary Tract Infection or UTI is a bacterial infection that affects any part of urinary tract, especially the baldder and kidneys. This bacteria multiply in our urine. It is frequent in women because of how our body was designed...the urethra in women is much shorter and closer to our anus, giving an easier way for the anal bacteria to enter our genitals and urethra. It can get worse for women during sexual activity because the bacteria is pushed deeper in our urinary system, making it accessible to grow in deep in the bladder and kidneys. And of course, if you have UTI while you get busy in bed with your partner, your partner might get infected too.

Symptoms include: discomfort or pain in urinating, frequent urination but there may be little urine to pass and sometimes with blood, cloudy and foul smelling urine, shaking chills and fever, and abdominal and lower back pain. UTI can be cured by antibiotics prescribed by doctor.  Drinking lots of cranberry juice, buko and juice, and water can also minimize UTI.

I had my first UTI when I was in college, and began to be sexually active. At first, I thought the cause of my UTI were salty foods (especially chicken gravy which I often make it as ulam or food with my rice) and too much softdrinks. According to most people, salty foods, acidic foods, and not drinking enough water are the common known causes of UTI. These are not the root cause of UTI, but they can be suspects in helping the bacteria inside our urinary tract multiply (because as we know, urine contains salt and other fluids). But since I was a college student back then and it's my first time to have UTI, I had thought it's all in the foods I take.

I visited a doctor in our school hospital and she prescribed me an antibiotic which I should take for 2 weeks. Gosh, I never thought UTI medicines were expensive! Anyway, my UTI was gone after few weeks. However, I observed that after several sexual activities again with my former boyfriend, UTI had come back again! And therefore I took the antibiotic again.

My health life was like that for years... UTI had come and go or several times, even after college, and even when I was already working.  And to tell you the truth, it was irritating!  Until a dreaded day came--- my family rushed me to the emergency room of the hospital because I was having severe shaking chills and abdominal pains.  I was really shaking that time, even though it was very hot.  I was diagnosed by a Urologist of having UTI and I had to stay in the hospital for almost a week for treatment.  After that, I felt cleansed because I thought that every bit of bacteria in my kidneys had been killed already.  But I was wrong.  UTI came back again after a year.  When I went to the hospital to have a check up, I was directed to the OB-Gyne's clinic.  I had always thought that OB-Gyne's are doctors for female reproductive organs, not kidneys and urinary tract.  Anyway, the doctor had performed a gram stain and pap smear on me (it was my first time), as well as urine test and the result was-- I had anal bacteria in my female reproductive system.  She told me that that was the cause of my never ending UTI problems.  The bacteria in the kidneys and urinary tract might be gone, but the bacteria in my female reproductive ogans were not yet killed.  And she told me that the bacteria pushes more inside my body during sexual activities.

The OB-Gyne gave me suppository antibiotics to kill the bacteria in my female reprodutive system and oral antibiotics for the urinary tract system.  I was also advised to drink plenty of water and not hold urine too long.  No sexual activities while I'm medicating. And she also told me to always wash my genitals with soap and water (do not use feminine wash everyday because it might cause yeast infection and may also cause UTI). She also told me that dirty water can also be the source of the bacteria.

It is then that I became aware of the illness--- its source, its cause, how to prevent it.  When I was done medicating, I really flt a new person because I had no chilling sensations, no mysterious abdominal pains, and my urination became normal.  I also took extra care with my genitals after that.  Before I have sex, I urinate so that the bacteria in urine would be gone (no pushing of bacteria deep inside) and I also urinate and wash my genitals after the acivity.  I always make sure to drink lots of water and have also a time to drink cranberry juice or buko juice when I can.  I also make sure that my sexual partner have no UTI or STD!

It's really a freeing feeling to be cured from UTI! All you have to do is to take extra care of yourself. Here are some pointers of what to do when you have UTI and how to prevent it.

> As soon as you feel the symptoms, consult your doctor, especially your OB-Gyne as soon as possible! Do not fear that the doctor would scold you or something. I'm sure that they had lots of patients who had the same issues. They know how to handle your case. They are there to help you, not scold you.

> Wash your genitals with soap and water. Make sure you're not allergic to the soap or gets irritated to it because it might cause yeast infection and UTI. Mae sure also that the water you use is clean.

> No sexual activities while medicating from UTI. No sexual activities if you suspect or if you have UTI.

> Drink lots of water. You can also drink cranberry juice or coconut (buko) juice.

> Clean your rear entry from behind to avoid passing the bacteria to your genitals and urethra.

> Do not self medicate! Learn from my experience, even though I took antibiotics several imes before, UTI still comes and goes. Consult your doctor to now the best drug you should use to kill the bacteria, and also to know if you really have UTI or other illness related.

I hope this article would give you an eyeopener about UTI. It's just that, I want you to know that you're not the only person who's expeiencing this dilemna...many people are! And since you own your body, you should take good care of it. Cleanse yourself, be free from UTI! :)