Frequent urination, at my wits end

[PJBanana]

I just need a good moan as I am well and truly at the end of my tether now.

Started with UTI symptoms before New Year, no pain or stinging, just a constant urgent need to go every few minutes.

I was prescribed Trimethropim which didn't touch it. Went back to my GP who then prescribed a 7 day course of Nitrofurantoin. Had my urine tested both times but it came back clear with no signs of infection.

I started to feel slightly better after I'd finished the course of Nitro, but a few days later my symptoms started up again.

I've now seen a different GP who referred me for bloods and a bladder scan, but who knows when the scan referral will happen. He said I might be waiting a couple of weeks to hear anything about it.

I am frustrated, exhausted and just sick of it all. In a month I haven't had a full night's sleep as I'm up and down to the loo all the time. I haven't left the house apart from to go to the doctors or work. I've missed a lot of work too as I have a 45 minute commute which makes me panic about needing the loo and getting caught in traffic.

In the meantime, my GP prescribed Tolterodine to relax my bladder, been taking it for 4 days now and not seeing any improvement. In fact, today my frequency and urgency seems to be worsening again.

Some comforting words would be nice. I'm just at my wits end with it all, and I'm sick of moaning to friends and DP about it. I also haven't been able to even have sex etc so I just feel so shit I get so tearful at night when all I want to do is relax and go to sleep and I can't because of this. It seems like such a small thing but it's affecting my life so much

[SadAboutTheBoy]

How old are you? Could it be peri/menopause? My sister suddenly started needing to go to loo frequently when she was 49/50. She started on HRT and it disappeared overnight! Bladder irritation can be a side effect of lack of estrogen...

[PJBanana]

Hope not, I'm 25!!

Think that's why my doctor was so confused, it really shouldn't be age related menopause/incontinence.

[Piehunter]

Pee stuff is not small, it's totally crap and can really take over. My problem is the opposite of yours (can't pee!) but just wanted to say don't be too hard on yourself. I'm 25 too and it feels like something that shouldn't be a problem at this age! In my area urology is bloody slow (they've also been useless thus far for me but I do have complex health stuff that I believe makes them lazy in terms of investigation!) but I hope you can get seen swiftly and that's there's a resolution available

[Iamastonished]

Are you drinking a lot? Have you been checked out for diabetes?

[tigerdog]

Any gluten issues? One of my issues when I eat gluten (although I'm probably Coeliacs) is needing to pee all the bloody time. I don't know if it irritates my bladder or something else is swollen and pressing on it but it is very annoying.

I was also told to look at bladder training. Sometimes the 'I'll just squeeze one out before I go' mentality can lead to a bladder that is a bit over sensitive.

[empirerecordsrocked]

When you go are you actually seeing a lot?

Any chance you could be pregnant?

[PJBanana]

Thanks all. Supposed to be getting my blood test results back soon to hopefully rule out any infection or diabetes etc. I'm just worried I'll be waiting months for a proper referral, sounds selfish as I know there are people with much more serious problems but this is really taking over my life. I had holidays and things planned for this year which I'm now worried about, there's no way I could travel abroad in the state I'm in now.

I've always been someone who 'needs to go a lot'. And yes to be honest I did used to go to the loo 'just in case'. My mum is the same. I maybe used to go every 2 hours or so, no idea if that's normal or not. Obviously I'm much worse at the moment though. Going every 30 mins - 1 hour.

This is just worrying me now as it has gone on for a month. So sick of it

[iamEarthymama]

Try giving up caffeine, hopefully you will find a huge improvement

I spent 4 years, dreading leaving the house, worrying about drinking alcohol, terrified that I would wet myself.

I have great bladder control now, and can go for long walks, then drink a few pints of cider!

[PJBanana]

Also, probably should've said this in my OP but I have no other medical issues (that I know of). I'm never ever ill apart from the odd cold.

Had my period about 2 weeks ago. Did take a pregnancy test too. So not pregnant.

[PJBanana]

And I only drink water really. This was the case even before these problems started.

Drink alcohol about once a month, fizzy drinks once every couple of weeks and never drink tea or coffee.

[SorrelSoup]

Sounds to me like you've still got the infection, especially as it started to clear and then came back. The Trimethropim doesn't work on me and in my county is not effective anymore. I have to have co-amoxiclav (think that's right). They never find anything in my wee either. I don't know what Nitrofurantoin is? Is that a hardcore antibiotic?

[PollytheDolly]

Are you on hormonal contraceptives?

[PJBanana]

Nitrofurantoin is supposed to be a stronger antibiotic.

I'm taking Ovranette, been on it for about 4-5 years now with no issues.

[ILikeBigBooksAndICannotLie]

It could be interstitial cystitis?

[ILikeBigBooksAndICannotLie]

I have it, and I really feel for you as I have had similar to what you described. I found one thing that was helpful was taking a very small amount of bicarbonate of soda in water.

[PollytheDolly]

Nitrofurantoin is supposed to be a stronger antibiotic.

I'm taking Ovranette, been on it for about 4-5 years now with no issues.

Ok. I was on nitrofurantoin and like you, after a few days back it came. I had a water infection at least twice a month for 18 months. It drove me to distraction.

I had a gut feeling it was contraception but the doc dismissed this because a lot of them know fuck all (or pretend to) of the real side effects. Came off it 5 months ago and never had a hint of one since.

Not saying this is you but just wanted to throw this in as a possibility.

[PJBanana]

Thanks for all the replies, it's good to know that at least I'm not alone!!

No idea whether it could be the Ovranette causing it, surely it would be weird to suddenly develop these symptoms after years of problem free use?

I looked into interstitial cystitis but one of the main symptoms of that is pain I think. I don't have any pain at all, just bladder pressure.

I think what's strange is that this seemed to start out as such a typical UTI (obviously without the stinging), but I was on the loo every 5 minutes.

I'm not much less frequent but still nowhere near back to normal.

Just to add, I just rang my GP for my blood results and they said that both my blood and urine came back normal

Is it awful that I hoped they would diagnose me with something just so I could start getting this sorted?! God knows how long I'll be waiting for a referral.

[SorrelSoup]

I'd ask for a try at some really strong antibiotics for a week or so. Finish off anything that may be lingering. I've been a uti sufferer for nearly 20 years now. Touch wood nothing in the past 3 years so really chuffed. I've been in your position but just needed stronger antibiotics and for longer. It's always worked for me. My gp gives me an emergency pack to keep at home now.

[indyandlara]

I have an overactive bladder. It started with recurrent uti almost 2 years ago. I have been taking solifenacin for 8 months with some success. I also had scans for bladder emptying and things like fibroids. I'm seeing a physio now for bladder retraining. Although I felt I drank lots she has said I could do with more. I'm also to hold off when I feel the urge. I've upped my drinking and I think it's bizarrely better. I constantly carry a 500ml water bottle and aim to drink by whole bottle by break/lunch/end of school day/ bedtime. I'm a teacher so very clock regulated! Yesterday I only drank one bottle without realising and was really uncomfortable with urges last night.

[nmg85]

I also have IC and your story sounds exactly like me 5 years ago. I also don't have pain most of the time just frequency, urgency and the full feeling. Maybe try the IC diet while you wait for a referral - google it but low acid, not spicy etc.

[Habibihk8718]

Hi I’ve just come across this post, did you get to the bottom of it? I have the exact same issue, literally to a t!!