Cystitis is an inflammation or infection of the bladder. Your bladder feels full even when it isn't, and you may also suffer pain, backache and misery. It's one of the most common and most painful everyday health problems that affect women. In the past, many women resigned themselves to being recurrent sufferers, but if you read this book you need never suffer again.

This book explains the causes of cystitis, including the role of sex, diet, bacteria, and candida. It gives emergency advice, to show you how to cope as soon as an attack begins, along with information about talking to your doctor, and self-help approaches to make cystitis a thing of the past."

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

What is cystitis?- Why cystitis can be a big pain in more ways than one

A woman's problem-Why a woman's plumbing makes her prone to cystitis

Cystitis and sex-When bacteria and bruising spell double trouble

What else can cause cystitis?

Thrush and cystitis

Diet, diabetes and cystitis-Alcohol, food allergies and the anti-candida, anti-cystitis diet explained

Emergency! How to cope when a cystitis attack begins

Cystitis and your doctor

Treating cystitis

Specialist help

Self help: helping yourself to a happy ever after

Cystitis-free sex

Alternative remedies

Other problems: when cystitis is not cystitis

Interstitial cystitis

Some case studies

Getting to the root of the problem

Notes

Useful addresses

Introduction

The first time I got cystitis I was meeting a friend for lunch. I went to the loo just before she arrived and immediately had to go again. She was waiting for me when I came out. 'I'm sorry,' I said, 'I don't know what s wrong but I think I'll have to go to the loo again.' 'I think you've got cystitis,' she said.

Cystitis is one of the most common and most painful everyday health problems around. In fact, cystitis is so common that it is very difficult to estimate exactly how many women are sufferers. Research suggests an amazing four out of five women suffer from cystitis at some time in their lives. One survey revealed that many women regard cystitis-like feelings as normal because they occur so frequently. Another survey confirmed that one in five women between the ages of 20 and 64 had experienced burning or pain on passing urine in the past year; in nearly 10 per cent of these cases, the pain had lasted for more than two weeks. But only one in ten of the sufferers had consulted her GP. Official figures, therefore, if there were any, would only serve to underestimate the extent of the problem.

During the course of my research, one thing was very noticeable: virtually every woman I spoke to about cystitis knew something about it. Those who hadn't had first-hand experience of cystitis themselves had at least some knowledge of the illness through a friend's or relation's suffering.

For most women, their first attack is the worst— simply because they do not understand what is wrong and fear the worst. That's why information is so valuable in helping prevent cystitis and pinpointing a permanent cure. In the past, many women have resigned themselves to being recurrent cystitis sufferers, believing there is little they can do about it. This is a tragedy because it needn't be the case. If you read on, you'll find out why.

About the author

Caroline Clayton is a journalist with a keen interest in women's health. Caroline is also the author of Coping with Thrush, the new edition of which was published by Sheldon Press in 1994.