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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the nurse is wrong and it’s not a normal urine sample?!

86 replies

Gggapp · 11/06/2025 17:46

Nurse did a dipstick into a urine sample while at the GP surgery. She said it showed white blood cells so would be sent off for testing.

She said this is probably normal?! Surely white blood cells equal infection?

OP posts:
MyMindIsSoLoud · 12/06/2025 07:04

Whoahnelly · 11/06/2025 20:29

The presence of nitrites is far more indicative of a UTI than white blood cells

This.
Don’t get antibiotics prescribed ‘just in case’.

babystarsandmoon · 12/06/2025 06:56

OP must have symptoms or they wouldn’t be seeing a nurse.

TheIceBear · 11/06/2025 22:43

Gggapp · 11/06/2025 19:48

@Birdseyetrifle apparently you can get them at a pharmacy anyway so can’t be that big a deal?

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A pharmacy won’t hand out antibiotics to someone with no symptoms. Do you actually have symptoms ? What are you finding so stressful about all of this.

Arumlilly · 11/06/2025 20:47

Gggapp · 11/06/2025 18:36

@FigurativelyDying thanks, won’t that be passed to my GP practice though

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Try the Boots online form. I have a feeling you don't have to give GP details, but can't do that more than once.

Pudmyboy · 11/06/2025 20:43

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 11/06/2025 19:52

You know women don’t urinate through their vagina, right?

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The urethra is just above the vagina entrance and it's very easy for a urine sample to pick up the normal vaginal organisms when a woman pees

Pudmyboy · 11/06/2025 20:40

TheGrimSmile · 11/06/2025 20:27

Because half the time they don't know what they are doing!

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Which half?

Pudmyboy · 11/06/2025 20:40

Just came on to say what @Whoahnelly said!

XiCi · 11/06/2025 20:40

Just crazy to want to take antibiotics 'just in case'. Not only because of antibiotic resistance, which is a huge problem, but also because they wipe out your gut biome which takes about 6 months to recover.

Whoahnelly · 11/06/2025 20:29

The presence of nitrites is far more indicative of a UTI than white blood cells

TheGrimSmile · 11/06/2025 20:27

UpUpUpU · 11/06/2025 17:48

It could also be contamination from vaginal discharge.

What makes you doubt the qualified health professional?

Because half the time they don't know what they are doing!

MissMoneyFairy · 11/06/2025 20:26

Do you have any symptoms, why did you need a urine test done?

Arumlilly · 11/06/2025 20:22

Dipsticks are sometimes wrong. I think the statistic is something like 50% of the time. My memory is that the guidelines were changed due to women being told they didn't have an infection and going untreated, causing ongoing pain and incontinence, when they did. They now should prescribe if someone has symptoms as I understand it, or at least send off a sample to the lab.

Pharmacists can't prescribe if you've had a certain number of infections before. And they only seem to prescribe one AB, Nitrofurantoin, which is no good for people with lung problems (I know because I have them).

If you are in a lot of pain or discomfort or get feverish, you can contact out of hours on 111. They can help you.

Trumptonagain · 11/06/2025 20:17

As said you can go to your local chemist and speak to the pharmacist, they can give a 3 day course of Nitrofurantoin.

If you mention that a sample has been sent off they may not prescribe you the medication.

Depending on what they're testing for will determine how long the sample results take...if it's a straight forward UTI the results shouldn't take long to come back.

olympicsrock · 11/06/2025 19:59

FFS . Antibiotic resistance is a huge global problem . White cells alone doesn’t indicate indicate infection . Most UTIs also have blood protein and nitrites too .
The nurse was right to send off your sample

soupyspoon · 11/06/2025 19:58

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 11/06/2025 19:52

You know women don’t urinate through their vagina, right?

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Why would you say this? You know how fluids work, they are, erm, fluid. They dont stay in one place, they mix together, particularly in your genitalia.

Greybeardy · 11/06/2025 19:56

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 11/06/2025 19:52

You know women don’t urinate through their vagina, right?

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some women do (it's rare, but not unheard of). And vaginal discharge doesn't always stay in the vagina.

soupyspoon · 11/06/2025 19:56

ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 11/06/2025 19:31

I really hope you’re not a prescriber with that level of empathy

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Sometimes people do just need telling though

doglover4ever · 11/06/2025 19:55

A UTI would normally show more than leukocytes in a dipstick. Usually nitrates as well,occasionally blood and protein.
Leucocytes can be present for many other reasons. What are your symptoms?

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 11/06/2025 19:52

Birdseyetrifle · 11/06/2025 19:20

Why was your urine sample dipped?

I would prescribe antibiotics to someone who only had white cells in their urine. It’s normal for a lot of urine samples to have this. You’ve got white blood cells all over your vagina and they get caught as you pass urine and go into the sample.

You sound quite unhinged tbh.
Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them is a really stupid idea!

You know women don’t urinate through their vagina, right?

ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 11/06/2025 19:50

If you don’t have UTI symptoms then you don’t need antibiotics OP. My earlier post assumed you had symptoms

Original poster
Gggapp · 11/06/2025 19:48

Lifelover16 · 11/06/2025 19:42

Your post is contradictory.

You state you WOULD prescribe antibiotics to someone who only had white cells in urine sample.

Then you go on to explain white cells in urine can be normal.

And then accuse the OP of being unhinged.

I hope you are not a healthcare professional your inconsistent advice/or error and lack of empathy is quite shocking.

Edited
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@Birdseyetrifle apparently you can get them at a pharmacy anyway so can’t be that big a deal?

OP posts:
itgetsthehoseagain · 11/06/2025 19:46

Obvs it’s a typo 😐

Lifelover16 · 11/06/2025 19:42

Birdseyetrifle · 11/06/2025 19:20

Why was your urine sample dipped?

I would prescribe antibiotics to someone who only had white cells in their urine. It’s normal for a lot of urine samples to have this. You’ve got white blood cells all over your vagina and they get caught as you pass urine and go into the sample.

You sound quite unhinged tbh.
Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them is a really stupid idea!

Your post is contradictory.

You state you WOULD prescribe antibiotics to someone who only had white cells in urine sample.

Then you go on to explain white cells in urine can be normal.

And then accuse the OP of being unhinged.

I hope you are not a healthcare professional your inconsistent advice/or error and lack of empathy is quite shocking.

verycloakanddaggers · 11/06/2025 19:37

It's not appropriate to have antibiotics 'in case'.

What are your symptoms?

ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 11/06/2025 19:32

OP, the key to this is whether you actually have UTI symptoms