Ask Dr Miriam

QI’m not young and recently had an attack of cystitis. I didn’t go to the doctors because I didn’t want to waste their time. Did I do the right thing?

ANever put off going to the doctor becausee you’re concerned about wasting their time. You’re not. And your doctor will always be pleased to see you and treat your complaint.

Cystitis is common as we get older because the hormones that keep the bladder healthy start to decline. A golden rule is to drink a lot of fluids. They don’t have to be water, they can be tea, frufruit juice, or coffee. The important thing is that they keep the bladder flushed out regularly. As we get older our bladder tends not to empty completely and it’s in this little pool of urine that infections can start. Next time you get symptoms of cystitis go immediately to your doctor so you can receive a treatment for your infection.