Recurring UTI

[Bubblegum89]

I have suffered with UTI's since I was about 17. Mostly I get them mildly, maybe once or twice a month, in that they'll last for an hour or so, I drink water or a sodium citrate solution and then I'm fine. But about 4-5 times a year I get them really bad. I'm stuck in the bathroom for hours, the burning pain is unbearable both while peeing or when I need to. I have one of those at the minute. I'm suffering quite badly and I'd say this is the worst one I've had yet. It started Saturday evening and hasn't eased at all. I've tried the sodium citrate, all I've drank for two days is water and lots of it, I picked up a three day course of antibiotics from the chemist and as of day 2, I feel like my symptoms are getting worse, there's no break in the pain like there usually is. I am on my feet all day in work, I don't get to sit down at all and today I was in so much pain. I need to finish these antibiotics before I go to my doctor and ask for different ones, does anyone else have any other advice as to how I can get some relief to at least get me through tonight and tomorrow? I can't cope with another day of being in pain at work. I've tried painkillers, sodium citrate, peeing immediately after sex, warm baths... I know cranberry juice doesn't work so I've not bothered with that.

Also my doctor doesn't seem concerned that I have UTI's so often. For anyone else that suffers chronically, have you ever been referred to a urologist or anything?

[FellOutOfBedTwice]

Amitriptyline really worked for me. It's used for nerve pain (it's primarily an antidepressant) but also weirdly works on recurrent UTIs and sensitive bladders in some people. Do some reading on it. I was on it for around 2 years and touch wood in the five years since I've only had about one UTI a year, and I used to suffer very similarly to you.