Healing My UTI Naturally Without Antibiotics: A Personal Journey
Getting my first Urinary Track Infection (UTI) was something I never saw coming.
I gave birth via a routine C-section a few months earlier. Everything went smoothly. I healed well. Then, out of nowhere, I got hit with my first UTI.
I remember feeing that first sharp pain when I went to the loo. Unless you experience it yourself it is hard to explain how awful it feels. Like a sharp stab in your inside! And it only got worse as the hours went by.
When I went online to find out more, I could see was that I had to go and see my GP, get tested and then take some antibiotics. That would resolve everything apparently. So off I went to my GP. I took the usual urine test. I was shown the different colours on the test stick and was told that my infection was at its early stages. All I could think was that if early stages felt like that what would advance stages feel like?? I got my antibiotics and was told that everything should clear within 3 days.
Clear it did, but then it kept coming back, with a vengeance.
The UTI Cycle
Over the next few months, UTIs kept coming back. I was told it might be a recurring infection, meaning it hadn’t fully cleared the first time. Each time, I was given stronger antibiotics, for longer, then different types, and so it went on. On one occasion it got so bad, I felt very feverish and passed out on the bathroom floor while my baby was sleeping next door. For someone who was generally healthy their whole life, I never felt so helpless or powerless.
My physical health was deteriorating. My gut was taking the brunt of it. What they don’t tell you is that antibiotics, great as they are for killing bacteria, they kill ALL bacteria good and bad. Your gut needs its good bacteria and my stomach started playing up with new sensitivities and discomforts.
Then the anxiety kicked in. What if I got another UTI and didn’t have access to a doctor or antibiotics? Like on a plane or on holiday? The idea of being stuck without help terrified me. I knew I had to find another way to manage this better.
How I Healed Naturally
Desperate for a change, I dived into research and started reading all I could find on the subject. I first focused on trying to find the causes for my UTIs. Was I doing something wrong? Why did it start after I gave birth? I soon gave up on findings the “whys”. There are so many causes, it’s impossible to pin point just one. I focused on the “hows” and that changed my life.
1. Drinking Loads of Water
I started drinking at least 2-3 litres of water a day. This is non negotiable.
It can be annoying of course, especially at the beginning. Life is extremely busy anyway and adding another “item” to my mental load is never great but I had to do it. Making sure I was constantly flushing out my bladder is a priority now. During the cold UK winter months, rather than drinking cold or room temperature water, I add boiling water from the kettle to room temperature water and drink it warm instead. I sometime squeeze a bit of lemon into it for an extra detox opportunity.
I include herbal teas (but not coffee) within my daily water count so things like: caffeine free green tea, peppermint tea etc are also great.
My first drink of the day though is always water. If you think about it, your bladder hasn’t had a chance to empty itself for around 8 hours. That’s never good news for UTI sufferers! So I always drink 2 glasses of (warm) water first thing in the morning. That gets your bladder working in no time!
2. D-Mannose – THE Game Changer
I first came across D-Mannose on the internet. Lots of people had great many things to say about it but when I mentioned it to my urologist (yes, it got so bad I consulted specialists who also couldn’t find a cause for my UTIs) they didn’t take it very seriously. Some even asked me what it was!! This simple sugar, found in cranberries, latches onto UTI-causing bacteria and helps flush them out and…. IT WORKS!!
I first started taking the D-Mannose pills (1,500 mg per day), but to be honest they didn’t make much of a difference to me (at that point!). Looking back, I think I know why, but more on that later.
The big change happened when I started using the powdered D-Mannose. It’s by the same manufacturers (details below) as the pills, but the powder was a game changer. The difference, I think, relates to timing.
I used to take the pills first thing in the morning like I would with normal vitamins or supplements. I used the powder ,on the other hand, when I felt the first sign of pain and/or just before I would be doing something that could potentially cause a UTI e.g. when I had no access to a toilet, couldn’t drink for a while or was getting intimate with my partner. So I wasn’t using it as a supplement but as medicine when I NEEDED it and that made all the difference.
I am delighted to say that I have not taken any antibiotics to treat a UTI in years now and I have not actually had a UTI in ages. I was able to prevent and treat it all by myself and I cannot be happier.
This Is How I Did It
- I drink lots more water (see above)
- When I know I could potentially get a UTI I dilute 1 full scoop of D-Mannose in water, drink it and then another one 45- 60 minutes later (every pack contains a small scooper so its very easy to use)
- When I actually have a UTI or when I feel the first sign of pain or discomfort I take 1 full scoop every 3 hours for a day (up to 3 days). That stops it in its track. Problem solved!
This personally works for me and has done for years. Obviously, If I did all of that and nothing helped I would go and see and doctor, but luckily I didn’t need to so far. I travel with my little powder pouch (and pills) everywhere and feel complete confidence in myself and my body! No need for doctors, emergency antibiotics and all that nonsense I had to worry about it before. I feel I have my body back!
Final Thoughts
Antibiotics have their place, and they can be lifesaving, but I realised they aren’t always the only solution. Healing a UTI naturally takes a bit of effort, but for me, it was 100% worth it. If you’re struggling with recurrent UTIs, I’d definitely recommend looking into taking D-Mannose (alongside speaking to your doctor first, of course!).
Our bodies are capable of so much more than we sometimes give them credit for—we just need to give them the right support.
This is where you can find the D-Mannose powder I use on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jOanEb
If you prefer using the tablets, they can be found on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/4aMyVJw
I wish you luck on your UTI journey!!
