Bladder infection

[remar]

I have a bladder infection. Yes, I am on antibiotics. My questions are, can I take cranberry pills that also have vitamin C in them? And also can I drink Kefir with probiotics in it while I'm on the antibiotic?I'm trying to keep my body in balance while the antibiotics are working. I've also read that a mixture of water, vinegar and honey may help. But I'm wondering if the vinegar might be too acidic and irritate my bladder even more. Please give me your thoughts on all of this. Thanks.   Remar

[Paxiled]

Honey is high in sugar, and will attract and feed certain bacteria.  It does fight certain other bacteria, but probably not the ones that attack the bladder.  Because you're on antibiotics, the Kefir probably won't hurt, but you'll get more value out of a good probiotic supplement.  The reason for this is that the antibiotics will kill off the few bacteria in the kefir, and the dairy might attract the bacteria, while a probiotic supplement has billions of organisms in it.  Once you're off the antibiotic, keep on with the supplement for awhile to replenish the organisms the antibiotic is killing off.  The cranberry won't hurt you any, but the antibiotic is so much stronger.  What cranberry does is prevent bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract, but since you've already gone the antibiotic route, it should be killing off the bacteria anyway and the cranberry could just be a waste of money.  Make sure at any rate you use cranberry juice that is pure and has no sweetener, as sugar attracts harmful bacteria and feeds them.  When you're off the antibiotic, however, cranberry and some other good supplements such as uva ursi might be a good idea to take for awhile so the bacterias doesn't just come right back due to the antibiotic having killed off your beneficial bacteria that prevents the bad guys from moving in.

[remar]

Thanks so much for your comments. I really appreciate them. I'll give the vinegar a try. This is my 4th day on the antibiotic so I was expecting to have a great deal of relief by now, but that's not the case.

[gymdandee]

I don't think it would hurt! I take apple cider vinegar for heart burn just a teaspoonful and it's gone.

[remar]

Thanks so much for getting back to me.That was really fast! I will definitively keep taking the cranberry pills and Kefir.  What do you think about the water, vinegar and honey mixture? I know honey is a natural antibacterial but I am wondering about the vinegar being too acidic.

[gymdandee]

Yes to both