Hi all — I have a mild UTI. I noticed the symptoms starting late yesterday afternoon. I’m stressed because I feel like I just got through the worst of my WD symptoms and started to very slowly stabilize, and I really don’t want to take antibiotics and cause a bad wave. I’m drinking lots of water to try to flush out my system, but I’m not sure what else to do. Any tips??

58 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

Hi all — I have a mild UTI. I noticed the symptoms starting late yesterday afternoon. I’m stressed because I feel like I just got through the worst of my WD symptoms and started to very slowly stabilize, and I really don’t want to take antibiotics and cause a bad wave. I’m drinking lots of water to try to flush out my system, but I’m not sure what else to do. Any tips??

Good morning SarahMc, sorry to hear your dealing with a UTI, I have come to find that cranberry juice and plain yogurt to be quite helpful. And I've also have used a heating pad on my lower abdomen to help with and pain discomfort. Hoping this will pass for you quickly. Threw this process I have incorporated raw honey, I put it in my decaf tea, which has 5 grams of caffeine or in my camille tea, we call it heroin Wisconsin nature's antibiotic. Well its 5:45am and need to get into work. Hope your day improves. Sending warm thoughts xxxx Bernadette

8 minutes ago, Bernadette said:

Good morning SarahMc, sorry to hear your dealing with a UTI, I have come to find that cranberry juice and plain yogurt to be quite helpful. And I've also have used a heating pad on my lower abdomen to help with and pain discomfort. Hoping this will pass for you quickly. Threw this process I have incorporated raw honey, I put it in my decaf tea, which has 5 grams of caffeine or in my camille tea, we call it heroin Wisconsin nature's antibiotic. Well its 5:45am and need to get into work. Hope your day improves. Sending warm thoughts xxxx Bernadette

Thank you so much @Bernadette. I found some unsweetened cranberry juice in our fridge so I’ll be drinking that today. Much appreciated 🙏🏼.

1 hour ago, SarahMc said:

Hi all — I have a mild UTI. I noticed the symptoms starting late yesterday afternoon. I’m stressed because I feel like I just got through the worst of my WD symptoms and started to very slowly stabilize, and I really don’t want to take antibiotics and cause a bad wave. I’m drinking lots of water to try to flush out my system, but I’m not sure what else to do. Any tips??

Hey @SarahMc so sorry you're dealing with this, I don't really have advice from personal experience but adding a link to natural treatment options that might be helpful.

Feel well soon friend 🩷

National Association For Continence

12 UTI Home Remedies To Ease Symptoms — And When To See A...

The National Association For Continence provides education, community and support to those living with bladder, bowel or pelvic floor health disorders.

Edited July 22Jul 22 by Fullhealing

20 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

Hey @SarahMc so sorry you're having to deal with this, I don't really have advice from personal experience but adding a link to natural treatment options that might be helpful.

Feel well soon friend 🩷

Thank you @Fullhealing 🙏🏼💜. Hope you’re doing a bit better today.

3 hours ago, SarahMc said:

Hi all — I have a mild UTI. I noticed the symptoms starting late yesterday afternoon. I’m stressed because I feel like I just got through the worst of my WD symptoms and started to very slowly stabilize, and I really don’t want to take antibiotics and cause a bad wave. I’m drinking lots of water to try to flush out my system, but I’m not sure what else to do. Any tips??

Stay away from acidic drinks (I had constant UTI'S and kidney infections in my teens and early 20s needed a urethra dilation) no orange juice. If you get intimate shower after and drink a pint of water. Keep drinking. Usually the rule is if you can't clear it on your own in 48-72 hours you need antibiotics.

Hope you manage to get rid theyre awful things. Let me know how you get on xx

17 minutes ago, cherrysquid said:

(I had constant UTI'S and kidney infections in my teens and early 20s needed a urethra dilation)

Yeeeeesh so brutal!!

18 minutes ago, cherrysquid said:

Keep drinking. Usually the rule is if you can't clear it on your own in 48-72 hours you need antibiotics.

Hope you manage to get rid theyre awful things. Let me know how you get on xx

Thanks @cherrysquid 😊. It's pretty mild and hasn't gotten worse (but also not better) since yesterday evening so I'm reeeaalllyyy really hoping I can get rid of it on my own. I'm drinking constantly and peeing like every 10 min 😅. Fingers crossed!

SarahMc, how are you doing? Better I hope. I've had a few UTI's and took a few days to clear, hoping you get some relief, and feel better soon,

12 hours ago, Bernadette said:

SarahMc, how are you doing? Better I hope. I've had a few UTI's and took a few days to clear, hoping you get some relief, and feel better soon,

Aw, thanks for checking in @Bernadette. Pretty much the same today unfortunately, UTI is still mild but still present. I did a lot of Googling yesterday and found that the first line antibiotic prescribed here for uncomplicated UTIs is pretty targeted and doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier, so hopefully if it becomes necessary I’ll be ok!

Thanks, appreciate you 💜

20 hours ago, SarahMc said:

Aw, thanks for checking in @Bernadette. Pretty much the same today unfortunately, UTI is still mild but still present. I did a lot of Googling yesterday and found that the first line antibiotic prescribed here for uncomplicated UTIs is pretty targeted and doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier, so hopefully if it becomes necessary I’ll be ok!

Thanks, appreciate you 💜

Sending some love @SarahMc I think you are doing great avoiding the antibotic, the body is smart and can clear this for you, however it is nice to have that option in your back pocket should you feel you need it. How are your symptoms atm? xxxx

31 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Sending some love @SarahMc I think you are doing great avoiding the antibotic, the body is smart and can clear this for you, however it is nice to have that option in your back pocket should you feel you need it. How are your symptoms atm? xxxx

Joining! Hope it's a getting better @SarahMc

Much love your way 🩷

Edited July 24Jul 24 by Fullhealing

Thanks @Chippy and @Fullhealing💜💜. Things had gotten a bit worse yesterday evening so I did end up taking a dose of antibiotics last night because I didn’t want to risk the infection spreading to my kidneys and then needing to take a stronger antibiotic for that…Anyways, this morning the UTI symptoms are improved and I don’t seem to have worsened anything WD-wise. So all is well! Thanks for checking in 😊.

12 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

Thanks @Chippy and @Fullhealing💜💜. Things had gotten a bit worse yesterday evening so I did end up taking a dose of antibiotics last night because I didn’t want to risk the infection spreading to my kidneys and then needing to take a stronger antibiotic for that…Anyways, this morning the UTI symptoms are improved and I don’t seem to have worsened anything WD-wise. So all is well! Thanks for checking in 😊.

Sometimes there's no way around antibiotics, I'm so glad you found something that works without causing problems and you're getting better @SarahMc 🩷

32 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

Thanks @Chippy and @Fullhealing💜💜. Things had gotten a bit worse yesterday evening so I did end up taking a dose of antibiotics last night because I didn’t want to risk the infection spreading to my kidneys and then needing to take a stronger antibiotic for that…Anyways, this morning the UTI symptoms are improved and I don’t seem to have worsened anything WD-wise. So all is well! Thanks for checking in 😊.

Ah that’s great that it helped. An educated gamble sounds like it has paid dividends.

Hope things settle down once this infection leaves you.

On a completely different topic, I finally bit the bullet and got myself a copy of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.

2 hours ago, SarahMc said:

Aw, thanks for checking in @Bernadette. Pretty much the same today unfortunately, UTI is still mild but still present. I did a lot of Googling yesterday and found that the first line antibiotic prescribed here for uncomplicated UTIs is pretty targeted and doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier, so hopefully if it becomes necessary I’ll be ok!

Thanks, appreciate you 💜

2 hours ago, SarahMc said:

Thanks @Chippy and @Fullhealing💜💜. Things had gotten a bit worse yesterday evening so I did end up taking a dose of antibiotics last night because I didn’t want to risk the infection spreading to my kidneys and then needing to take a stronger antibiotic for that…Anyways, this morning the UTI symptoms are improved and I don’t seem to have worsened anything WD-wise. So all is well! Thanks for checking in 😊.

SarahMc, good to hear the antibiotics are helping and your getting some relief and it hasn't disrupted your system. Prayers to continued healing. Sending hugs and prayers xxxx Bernadette ❤️

Hi all -- bear with me as I'm freaking out a bit this afternoon. I decided to take an at-home UTI test because after some progress the first day the antibiotics didn't seem to be clearing things up quickly like I remember from past UTIs. The test came back negative even though I'm still symptomatic. I had not taken a test beforehand because this feels exactly like a couple UTIs I've had in the past.

I'm now super worried that this is a new WD symptom or an adverse effect of Cymbalta. I know Cymbalta can cause urine retention and bladder irritation, and I'm now on quite a high dose. I slept really poorly last night because I was up going to the bathroom a lot, and I'm having my worst day that I've had in a long time WD-wise as a result. I'm scared that this is going to set me back a long ways.

Sorry for the negativity, I'm just having a hard time today.

I just read about your UTI.....did they actually take a culture and identify the bacterial strain. This is the most important step. Also, a number of us on SA had withdrawal mimic UTIs and when we had the lab work, everything was negative. We called them fake UTIs.

I have known cultured UTIs to be successfully dealt with using d-mannose.

D-Mannose: This naturally occurring simple sugar is one of the most popular supplements for urinary support. It works by binding to E. coli bacteria, preventing them from sticking to the walls of your bladder so they can be flushed out when you pee. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Edited July 25Jul 25 by LostinCanada

9 minutes ago, LostinCanada said:

I just read about your UTI.....did they actually take a culture and identify the bacterial strain. This is the most important step. Also, a number of us on SA had withdrawal mimic UTIs and when we had the lab work, everything was negative.

No, I just went to the pharmacy. I assumed it was a UTI because I've had a couple before and this is exactly the same. But now I'm quite concerned that it's actually an adverse effect of Cymbalta, and I'm not sure what to do if that's the case because I'm not stable enough to taper.

50 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

Hi all -- bear with me as I'm freaking out a bit this afternoon. I decided to take an at-home UTI test because after some progress the first day the antibiotics didn't seem to be clearing things up quickly like I remember from past UTIs. The test came back negative even though I'm still symptomatic. I had not taken a test beforehand because this feels exactly like a couple UTIs I've had in the past.

I'm now super worried that this is a new WD symptom or an adverse effect of Cymbalta. I know Cymbalta can cause urine retention and bladder irritation, and I'm now on quite a high dose. I slept really poorly last night because I was up going to the bathroom a lot, and I'm having my worst day that I've had in a long time WD-wise as a result. I'm scared that this is going to set me back a long ways.

Sorry for the negativity, I'm just having a hard time today.

So sorry to hear that @SarahMc

Have you seen a doctor to rule out other issues? whether it's from the withdrawal or Cymbalta you know better than any doctor but it might be the best to get checked out first and continue from there

try to stay calm I'm sure it's treatble 🤍

Edited July 25Jul 25 by Fullhealing

9 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

So sorry to hear that @SarahMc

Have you seen a doctor to rule out other issues? whether it's from the withdrawal or Cymbalta you know better than any doctor but it might be the best to get checked out first and continue from there

try to stay calm I'm sure it's treatble 🤍

Thanks @Fullhealing you're right as always. Apologies for my freak out, I'm just struggling with the neuroemotions today. Whatever it is, I'll figure it out. It's just another hurdle to overcome in this process, and we all have them. 💜💜

Appreciate you as always and hope you're doing a bit better today.

1 hour ago, SarahMc said:

No, I just went to the pharmacy. I assumed it was a UTI because I've had a couple before and this is exactly the same. But now I'm quite concerned that it's actually an adverse effect of Cymbalta, and I'm not sure what to do if that's the case because I'm not stable enough to taper.

You haven't held your dose very long....there has been a lot of changes. Rushing a taper is never a great idea unless a very severe adverse reaction. I know for myself, it was just another symptom that faded.

Definitely never take an antibiotic without a confirmation of the exact bacteria and which antibiotic is most effective for that strain. Our bodies are strong enough most of the time to fight an infection. Antibiotics can really cause multiple problems for the CNS.

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/9285-cipro-levaquin-azithromycin-z-pack-and-other-antibiotics/?do=findComment&comment=9979

❤️🙏

Edited July 25Jul 25 by LostinCanada

1 minute ago, LostinCanada said:

You haven't held your dose very long....there has been a lot of changes. Rushing a taper is never a great idea unless a very severe adverse reaction or drug supply has been cut.

Definitely never take an antibiotic without a confirmation of the exact bacteria and which antibiotic is most effective for that strain. Our bodies are strong enough most of the time to fight an infection. Antibiotics can really cause multiple problems for the CNS.

l

Thanks LiC 🙏 💜 I definitely won't start a taper for a while yet, neuroemotions just getting the better of me today 🫣. If this an adverse reaction of some sort I will find ways to cope until I'm much more stable. And I shouldn't have rushed to that conclusion anyways, apologies I'm a bit embarrassed. One day I will learn not to post when I'm in the middle of an intense freak out! Thanks for weighing in, always appreciate your wisdom.

Edited July 25Jul 25 by SarahMc

1 minute ago, SarahMc said:

l

Thanks LiC 🙏 💜 I definitely won't start a taper for a while yet, neuroemotions just getting the better of me today 🫣. If this an adverse reaction of some sort I will find ways to cope until I'm much more stable. And I shouldn't have rushed to that conclusion anyways, apologies I'm a bit embarrassed. Thanks for weighing in, always appreciate your wisdom!

Hey, we are all trying to cope with this Insanity.....this week has been a rollercoaster for me too. Lots of deep breaths. 💯

4 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

And I shouldn't have rushed to that conclusion anyways, apologies I'm a bit embarrassed. One day I will learn not to post when I'm in the middle of an intense freak out!

That's exactly the time when you should be posting! That's why we're here--to get you through the tough times!