To ask about urine infections

Also, be mindful of your clothes - when I get a UTI I switch my tights and tight jeans for leggings with a loose waist or lounge pants/PJ bottoms.

Finally, I would take a pregnancy test, just in case your period was implantation bleeding. When I had my first kidney infection I was vomiting a lot, every sip of water triggered it and my GP suspected pregnancy. If that happens to you, a negative pregnancy test will be useful - my treatment was delayed until it was confirmed I wasn't pregnancy.

I have had frequent UTIs since I was a toddler. I have also had two kidney infections.

Familiarise yourself with the symptoms of kidney infections - they can come on very quickly.

Use those UTI relief sachets you can get at the pharmacy - they can help ease the symptoms and make you more comfortable.

Drink loads, I mean loads. When I get a UTI I often drink 2-3 pints of water. Drinking lots helps you flush the infection out.

Be prepared to push for treatment. UTIs are hell and can spread to a kidney infection which can then put you at risk of sepsis. Someone I know lost her SIL to sepsis after a UTI spread to her kidneys. Some GPs are reluctant to prescribe antibiotics.

I had a massive trigger of UTIs after I had Covid, including a kidney infection.

After that I had about 10 UTIs, every time I had sex, before my GP agreed to refer me to urology. I now take hiprex (an anti bacterial) every day to reduce the bacteria in my bladder and d mannose to reduce the risk of any bacteria sticking to my bladder walls. It's working wonders (anyone else with frequent UTIs, I hope this helps).

Have you done a pregnancy test at all (if your period is the only thing making you say you aren’t pregnant)?

I know someone who was sure she wasn’t pregnant, had what she thought was a normal period… now has a gorgeous little girl.

Check that they're growing bacterial samples to ensure whether they're antibiotic resistant. Nitrofurantoin is often used in UTI as well as trimethoprim (DD used to get lots due to kidney reflux)
Good luck

It happened to me when I was using the diaphragm + spermicide for contraception.

Just in case you too are, and should stop.

Op feel for you. They desperate. I got a bad one this week Im on Keflex antibiotic. God the pain of them

I’ve had one too lately, it’s been brutal! I thought it was cystitis at first, so tried those powders. Tried d mannose for the first time, it didn’t do anything noticeable, neither did painkillers. Was drinking six litres of water a day, was barely sleeping, and I was so miserable. Then I had intense kidney pain for two days. The doctors said after a urine sample that if it was an infection, it was on its way out but they’d send it off for a culture? It got better for a few days but then started to come back (At one point I was so bloated and uncomfortable, I couldn’t wear anything with a waistband), doctors then rang and said there was still signs of an infection so gave me a three day course of nitrofuraintoin, but at that point it seemed to be easing again anyway. I’m hoping it stays away, but you have my sympathy!

I think I have one now but it's very mild. I've got antibiotics though because it's been days of having that niggly feeling but it's not shifting even with d mannose.

I had an awful one back in October, was prescribed Trimethoprim but it didn't shift it so ended up on Nitrofurantoin which seems to work for me. This time with it being the weekend I had to go through the boots online and I've been prescribed macrobid.

They really are awful things, I've been there sitting on the toilet downing water and cranberry juice like crazy. Even when you aren't weeing everywhere just feels so uncomfortable. Horrible horrible things.

If it's not clearing up then go to the doctor, I can't remember how many times I went back last year, it was definitely once but I have a feeling it may have been twice after the first consultation. My doctor's got me an appointment with the pharmacist so that could be an option for you if getting into see an actual doctor is as impossible as is it at ours.

Hope you feel better soon, drink plenty and use a hot water bottle to help soothe the discomfort.

I hope it helps you!

I used to get UTI's all the time especially in pregnancy. You should start feeling relief within one/two days otherwise it's a sign you need a different antibiotic. Trimethoprim in general is quite a weak one I think and has never worked for me. Just call them back and say your symptoms have gotten worse, you're in pain, and you need another AB.

And just a note on D mannose - in my experience it's better at prevention than treatment. It's never treated a UTI for me even if I've taken it as soon as I've felt symptoms - but it's worked when I've used it as a preventative.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this information. I never knew this, you are now my most favourite human being. I have some in the house so will take one, perhaps I will get more than two hours sleep without having to dash to the loo!

It’s awful, I was constantly having UTI, fairly common with my disability, my MS nurse suggested me trying D-Mannose supplement. Totally solved my infections. I take one tablet a day, and it keeps it in check. I found trimethoprim effective, but I had to take it for a minimum of 5 days for the infection to fully clear. Unfortunately though, some bugs (if e-coli based infection) stay in the bladder wall and then start to multiply again, the d mannose sticks to the bugs and flushes them out when you wee. It’s just a fruit sugar. Would recommend trying it, you can buy it in health stores or Amazon (cheaper) as tablets or powder that you can add to drinks. Good luck OP, I hope it clears soon for you.

A physio suggested D Mannose to me and I haven't had one since I started using it. I buy it on Amazon and it gets rid of E. coli type infections if that's what you have. I just take one a day ... it's really effective

Just seconding the suggestion to try D-Mannose, both me and my DM suffered with recurrent UTI's and have had brilliant results with it.,The worst I ever get now is just the first signs of one starting, I take one dose and it's gone within a couple of hours, only happens once in a blue moon too.

I have had Trimethoprim for UTIs and it wasn't the best at shifting it. Nitrofuratoin is the one that seems to do it for me. Like someone else has mentioned it can be an age related thing. I had a hysterectomy a few years back and had about 7 in the following year. Since then it's been better but a couple recently. I'm now on Vagifem to support the whole genitourinary area.

Suggest repeat urine test to check for infection. ( Once off antibiotics for a few days)
If no infection, then ask for urology referral to check for interstitial cystitis.

Ask for fluconazole for thrush and a further course of the right antibiotics from a culture.

couldnyou be peri? I was having hideous UTIs and my urologist put me on HRT and the oestrogen made the bladder a bit more elastic and sorted things out.

Just be weary that antibiotics can cause thrush! In fact, every time I have antibiotics I treat for thrush too because I'm extremely prone to it anyway.
I hope you're ok. Anything down there is just awful :(

Op get some buscopan. You can buy in anywhere now even supermarkets and b&m etc. It will say for ibs but I was given it for cystitis, it stops thy urge to pee and helps everything calm down.

I had this and it turned out I was actually pregnant.. might be worth checking?

You definitely need the culture and sensitivity result back to make sure you're on the right antibiotics. In the meantime drink plenty of water, cranberry juice is good also

Try D Mannose!!