I'm terrified of these urinary issues I'm having - what could this be?!

After you’ve taken antibiotics any further urine tests won’t be reliable. You get what’s called sterile pyuria, which means you have white blood cells in the urine but they can’t find any infection.

White blood cells ARE an indication of infection. The threshold for lab cultures is actually really high so they can say there is “negative” infection result because they haven’t counted enough cells but it doesn’t mean there’s none. I’m sorry op i reckon you’ve just had a mild infection for ages . They tried to tell me a uti was psychosomatic when I was pissing blood.

try d mannose as well as the antibiotics

It does sound like you might have pelvic floor issues. I was also very emotional at the thought I might be suffering prolapse but the physio and gp were able to reassure me this wasn't the case. I hope you can get an appointment to get checked out.

Go see your GP as soon as possible to get this sorted out.

@lockost how are you doing?

I took it recently whilst pregnant - that’s scary!

I had the treatment directly to my bladder following a cystoscopy. Weekly for 8 weeks. That was 7 years ago and I get the odd urine infection however nothing in comparison!

Thanks, I just try to educate other people about it now, there are so many people who have been prescribed it & have ended up permanently disabled, my consultant originally thought I had MS until he saw on my medical records how many times I had been prescribed in a short space of time. I'm surprised they are still able to use it.

That’s awful, I’m so sorry 😞

I'm sure that was the new guidelines
My GP says if you feel like you have a UTI, you have one and I get a min of 5 days of antibiotics

@lockost a 3 day course was ample for me. Although the pharmacist did say if the symptoms persisted to go to my GP and get some more. The only side affect I had with them was a constant dizziness for the first day and a half. I can't remember if I felt dizzy the last time I took them as well

We have a specialist urinary nurse at our doctor's and she was incredible when I saw her. See if yours has one or ask for a referral if not.

Nor me. I have had a kidney infection each time I have been Pregnant and then miscarried shortly afterwards, and a UTI recently and never had a temperature with any of them

I had, a strange feeling in my urethra after urinating. It was hard to describe. It constantly felt like after I'd been I was busting to go again but nothing else would come out and for those first few seconds it was painful. Even if I held it in for a while only a tiny amount would come out. The first day I had blood on wiping. Not loads, In fact I just assumed it was my period starting cos it was light pink. Had some tiny clots when wiping and then the bleeding stopped. However I did find blood in the toilet bowl that night. I also had lower back pain and pains kind of just above my pubic bone, although they weren't constant. I noticed them more if I coughed or bent over. Popped into a chemist on Saturday and told them my symptoms, and got a 3 day course of nitrofurantoin tablets to take twice a day. Finished the course last night and today I have being able to go to the toilet and wee without having to practically grip the seat afterwards and it's been a full flow.

@EmoIsntDead @PatienceOfEngels thank you for your experiences! I've had uti symptoms since 8 weeks pregnant (now 20) and had all the negative cultures, multiple antibiotic courses, std tests, thrush treatment etc and have found the last week that sitting on my birthing ball and stretches like childs pose, cat/cow, butterfly etc have helped me stop feeling out of my mind with pain!

I have a appointment with a pelvic floor physiotherapist tomorrow, and am very hopeful!

Anyway - sorry to hyjack the thread!

An update - I went to the same pharmacy with a second sample - it was also clear so she didn't want to give me ABs. I asked what she thought I should do, given I was feeling worse by the hour with identical symptoms to my last three UTIs. She said "Well I can give you ABs if you want". So she's given me Nitrafurantoin but only a 3-day course. The GP still hasn't got back to me.

Hope you are taking the antibiotics @lockost they should have given them to you as you have the symptoms. My gp prescribes whilst he waits for your urine sample.

I'm not sure why you are anxious about taking the antibiotics though? They will either work if it's a UTI or won't if it's not and then you can explore other possibilities.

And sympathies. UTIs are horrible and painful

Try a different pharmacy. They’re not supposed to be using a dip test to supply antibiotics any more, because they’re so unreliable. They’re just supposed to give you the medication based on symptoms.

Hi @hippospot try and get a 7 day course to see the infection off properly The 3 day dose is BS, too long winded to go into why, but just another way women in healthcare are messed around and can mean the infection doesn’t properly clear. If you can tolerate it, nitrofurantoin is a good choice as its first line treatment of choice for uti.

@Persianpuss Thank you so much.
I'm following your advice. Fingers crossed I can get ABs today.
I realise I had Nitrafurantoin last time and it was effective for me.

In your shoes I would:

1. Call your GP and say you need an urgent appointment for an acute UTI and need antibiotics today.

1. If that doesn't work go to a pharmacy and get antibiotics.

1. If that doesn't work order antibiotics online.

1. In the meantime you can buy Cystitis relief sachets that help the symptoms. Also take high doses of D-mannose if you have them (or buy or order online if you don't). And drink as much water as you can to try to flush it out. Sometimes it helps to wait until your bladder is full and then when you wee it is very forceful and can push the bacteria out of the urethra (told to me by my urologist and it has worked for me). Hot water bottle over the bladder can help with pain and help to you to relax the muscles in that area. Also ibuprofen.

For me, amoxicillin for 7 days works. I also find Cephalexin works. Trimethoprim does nothing for me except make me sick and I'm allergic to nitrofurantoin. But we're all different.