Please help bladder issues

[Mollylolly]

Hi there

I'm hoping for some help and advice .

About 3 weeks ago I had what I think was a bladder infection. It started with bladder pressure and peeing constantly . This went on for about 5 days until I went to docs . I had also dipped my urine in one of the surgeries I work in and all that showed was a trace of blood . Anyway took a sample to docs who dipped it and said nothing showing but sent it to lab to be cultured just incase . He also gave me antibiotics for 3 days . So lab results said no infection but took the antibiotics and after about 5 days it felt better .

Fast forward 2 1/2 weeks later and pressure is back with a vengeance the need to pee is awful no let up at all as soon as I pee the pressure starts immediately. I have dipped my urine and stick showing trace blood again but I honestly think my urine always shows this, symptoms or not no idea why though.

But as my health anxiety is soo bad just now I've managed to convince myself I have some awful disease and you can imagine the ones I mean .

What could this be if dipstick and lab saying no infection I'm also worrying why I have trace blood showing even though I don't know if this is just normal for me.

I've been taking natural remedies d-mannose and uvi ursi and drinking loads of water but nothing is working.

I really don't want to annoy the doctor as they are not letting anyone in the surgeries just now and they are overrun with phone consultation's.

Can anyone relate to these symptoms I'm 43 incase that helps ?

I would appreciate any input.

Thank you x

[Ridingthegravytrain]

Just giving my experience here. I always have blood when I dip. After years of investigation it turns out I have mast cell activation syndrome. And this causes the walls of my bladder to bleed when bladder fills up.
I think interstitial cystitis can cause this too? But you may just have some bladder irritation at the moment and it will settle. Have you been drinking more alcohol or coffee or any other irritants?
I would scale back on the irritating food and like sugar, coffee, booze etc and see if it settles

[Mollylolly]

HI there

Thank you for your reply.

My diet is really good I have followed a no sugar lower carb diet for years so don't think it's this.

My anxiety bad just now so I'm imagining all sorts .

Hopefully you are right and it will settle xx

[Mollylolly]

Today has been a nightmare just needing to pee every second . No burning or stinging. No sign of infection. It's awful . I just want some relief. I might need to resort to another antibiotic but really trying to avoid it in case it's just a flare up of inflammation from the infection a few weeks ago. I'm wonder if anxiety and stress can cause these symptoms . X

[hotstepper4]

I have similar symptoms, I have a mild case of interstitial cystitis which can flare.
I've never found any prescription medicine to help, but I swear by marshmallow root capsules, d-mannose capsules and aloe vera pills. Pretty much live life normally as long as I take my supplements.

[Mollylolly]

Thanks for your reply .

I'm taking d-mannose have been for 2 weeks and it's done nothing. But I will give the other things a try.

I'm losing my mind today with this constant need to pee . I called my Doc and got a call back from the nurse who's says urinalysis is clear so no infection and told me to try a canestan pessary as thrush can cause these symptoms. I have no discharge no itching but do feel a little irratation down there.

So could thrush cause a constant urge to wee I mean constant?

I just find it strange that the antibiotics they gave me 3 weeks ago got rid of this feeling for 2 weeks before it came back and there was nothing found on urinalysis then either.

Another thing is my partner at the exact same time developed a urine infection for the first time in his life and his urine showed bacteria and he got different antibiotics and he has had no symptoms since. Doc said he doesn't think it can be passed on but to me it's far to much of a coincidence.

Any ideas ?

Could thrush cause these symptoms?

And does anyone think urine infections can be passed from partner to partner?

Thanks for your help .

xxxx

[Seaweed42]

Do you exercise or have you taken up a new form of exercise?

[ArriettyJones]

I have twice had UTIs caused by rarer bacteria that didn’t show up on the standard lab culture (they look for the most common bacteria, not every type possible). Thankfully the GP then asked for more extensive testing when my symptoms continued and blood continued to show up in my samples.

So that’s one possibility. You could ask the GP about more extensive lab testing.

[Petiolaris]

Tests can be wrong. I had a bladder infection, tests were positive, I took antibiotics and it went away. A couple of weeks later the symptoms returned, I was tested again but was negative. The GP said it’s common sense - I had the same symptoms so it’s the same infection, the test was obviously a false negative. So I had a longer course of the same antibiotics and it went away again. Obviously it wasn’t fully gone the first time.

Ask yourself what’s more likely - that you didn’t fully get rid of the first infection and the test is just wrong? Or that you have an entirely different disease which just so happens to have the same symptoms as the infection you had recently and which has conveniently turned up at exactly the same time?

Blood in urine is common with a nasty infection. I’m prone to bladder infections and it’s not something I’d worry about. You just need a longer course of the same antibiotics because the first one obviously didn’t cure it.

[CoffeeandPainting]

Iv had this pressure.
Peeing. Then not finishing, standing up, needing to pee again and only a little dribble comes out. .then leave the bathroom, but still feel like i need a wee with very strong pressure to pee.....


No diagnosis....

[Ridingthegravytrain]

Nothing used to grow on my cultures either. But trimethoprim always got rid of my symptoms.
Ask for a repeat prescription if the tabs helped before.

[Mollylolly]

Thanks ladies for all your replies.

Yes I exercise yoga and walking most days.

So I tried the pessary this last night as suggested by the nurse to see if it was thrush and tbh I think it feels worse I now have low down cramping .

I think like you say it's probably best to try the antibiotic again as I can't take much more of this .

My anxiety so bad just now too as my mind works overtime.

Thank you all for your help

Xxxx

[CanadaPolice]

I had exactly the same. It was perimenopause/vaginal atrophy.
Vagifem pessaries sorted it out very quickly.
Once you start though you have to continue for ever.

[CanadaPolice]

According to the doctor I saw, oestrogen is really important for your urethra, bladder and surrounding tissue, not just vagina.
I had early menopause at 45 and awful bladder problems before, so it is worth considering.

[Mollylolly]

Hi there

Thanks for the reply .

I will speak to my doctor and see if he thinks this maybe what's wrong .

I do think though my partner having a urine infection at the exact same time is too much of a coincidence. He has never had one in his life and all of a sudden we both get one his showed up bacteria when mine didn't and he got a 7 day anti b course where I got 3 and his never returned.

Who knows if it can be passed on but to me it makes sense .

I think I will try antibiotic again and see if this gets rid of it then I know for sure it's bacteria. If not then I think it may be a slight prolapse.

Thanks again
Xxxx

[P1nchpain]

Before you start going down the idea of it being a prolapse, could it not be an sti? .
Has your GP suggested its a good idea to be referred to ultrasound for kidney scan?
Or maybe a referral out to urology?
Another thought is that it could be that your muscles are too tight down there... If your pelvic and scrum muscles are out, there's some research suggesting that these muscles might be out of alignment.

[BeKind88]

Hello! I have the EXACT same symptoms as you!!
Constant bladder pressure but no burning or anything - have had it for about 9 weeks now. Been to the doctors twice for examination and had all the tests that they can do at the surgery - everything clear (no UTI or thrush or anything showing up).
Been given 3 types of antibiotics at the start as thought it was a UTI. My doctor has given me pessaries for thrush but has also given me pills for an overactive bladder to try.
Thrush can give the same symptoms as UTI as I’ve had that happen before!

How are you doing now ?

[BeKind88]

@Mollylolly
Are you still having the same symptoms?

[Vinosaurus]

I've had this since November! Started one night when I started needing to have a wee constantly. Assumed it was a UTI and went to the GP who put me on antibiotics but lab results came back negative. Symptoms continued and turned in to lower (like really low - just above pubis) abdominal pain/pressure/inflamed feeling with occasional sharp pains. It usually feels better in the morning before I go to the loo and as soon as I've had a wee the feeling returns. I've had periods of time (weeks every now and again) when it disappears but it always comes back.

I've just been back to the docs for the 3rd time and finally seen a GP who is taking me seriously (usual GP now on maternity leave - back on Thursday for some more tests and blood/urine rest results.

Funnily enough I had an incredibly similar thing for a good few months about 9 years ago, had a plethora of checks done then, including STI tests, which all came back negative. They never did get to the bottom of it.

[BeKind88]

This sounds exactly like me! Pressure and often feels better in the morning but as soon as I wee it’s awful again!
I have had UTI tablets, thrush tablets and now overactive bladder tablets and it’s still as bad as ever!
My doctor has now put in an urgent referral to urology for me. So just waiting on that coming through.

Has your doctor mentioned what they think it is with you? My doctor doesn’t seem to have a clue!

[BeKind88]

@Vinosaurus feel so bad for you though - that’s a long time to be feeling that way - even if it is coming and going a bit

[leckford]

I had similar few years ago and managed to see a specialist. I think you should try to get an appointment, although it is difficult currently.

[Vinosaurus]

@BeKind88 - GP just said it could be many things, but didn't really specify what, although she did mention ovarian cancer which has put the fear of god in me, so she's checking CA125 levels (although I had elevated CA125 levels when I had something similar before 9 years ago and was given the all clear).

[gypsywater]

@vinosaurus
"It usually feels better in the morning before I go to the loo and as soon as I've had a wee the feeling returns" OMG SAME. When I get this problem (a few times a year at least), more if I drink any wine (I literally cannot drink it now), it's always much better first thing, like my bladder has had a good rest? First wee of the day is fine and then it starts up again soon after, the urgency, then every wee through the day is painful right at the very end - feels like cramp in the urethra? Like its squeezing /pushing something out but there isnt anything there?

[gypsywater]

I've had every test under the sun btw! I'm convinced it is Interstitial Cystitis or else a very irritable and sensitized bladder that is actually cramping up!

[BeKind88]

@Vinosaurus

Oh gosh! No wonder!! I’m starting to worry about things like that too! As no medication has shifted this yet!
Let us know how you get on with your results on Thursday!
I’m starting to wonder if it’s anything to do with my kidneys or kidney stones but not sure