Please help - UTI advice - I’m desperate

I was thinking this too. Sounds like classic cystitis. OP you can buy powders for this in the chemist. You don’t need a prescription. I’ve suffered long term with UTI’s, so much so that I’m on low dose antibiotics every night. It’s keeps them
at bay.

Oh OP I really sympathise with you, I too have suffered with chronic recurring UTIs and it’s truly awful. I would ask for cephalexin as that’s the only oral antibiotic that would shift it for me except IV antibiotics. Also try the cranberry supplements, a good woman’s probiotic (to avoid any yeast infection from the anti-bs) and really up your fluid intake. Stop drinking any fizzy drink or caffeine and avoid spicy foods. I also find a heating pad or hot water bottles on the lower tummy or between your legs really helps with the aching and urgency. Good luck OP it’s really shit I know

It’s classic cystitis symptoms.

Keep taking the antibiotics @KatiesbigsisterSue

Sounds like you have cystitis.

I had antibiotics for 3 days it wasn’t enough. I think a lot of women need a course for 5 days. Weirdly my husband got a urine infection and he got prescribed antibiotics for 7 days so I don’t know why they routinely prescribe 3 days worth for women.

Not sure on your age but drop in estrogen can wreak literal havoc with your pelvic region, if you'd be up for HRT, or haven't seen a private clinic to get a decent prescription I would do that without delay.

I found nitrofurantoin much more effective! I hope it starts easing off soon!

Another vote for D Mannose! I suffered persistently with UTIs. Visits to the GP and tests..too many to count. Total game changer. I haven’t had another infection since I started taking it a year ago. Hope you feel better soon OP, they used to cause me such misery

Gosh I've been there OP. It's so upsetting. I think the antibiotics may take up to 48 hours to work so you need to give them a chance. If the GP has sent cultures off then they will likely tell him which antibiotics work best. When I was pregnant I had this for 6 months. I was so distressed by it, but the only antibiotics it reacted to were ones I couldn't take when pregnant.

another tip a doctor friend gave me is, sometimes urine pools in small pocket in your bladder, So when weeing just take the time to make sure last drops are squeezed out. For me I just lean back very slightly. And drink plenty!!

I recommend the pure powder but of course tablets should work too. I mix half a teaspoon in a pint of water and down it. Repeat an hour later then as needed

This sounds like me, I have detrusor underactivity which means my bladder doesn't fully empty. And because of this I was getting recurrent infections. I have had episodes of retention, especially with any infection. Needing to push, force a wee, stop/start in flow, long drainage times are all symptoms. Might be work looking at to see if you have symptoms.

Please try D Mannose. I had recurrent agonising UTI and for me it completely cleared it up. I buy the pure powder on amazon but you can get different mixes of it probably in Boots and co. For me it saved my life, I can't believe it's not more widely known.

Sorry to hear, OP.

It's very important that your doctor has sent the sample away as otherwise it's mostly guesswork with the antibiotics. So do follow up with them if you feel you're not improving after a couple of days.

My UTI's have been 'cured' by 7 days of amoxicillin or another time 5 days of cefalexin. This was prescribed after the lab tests were done.

I hope you feel much better soon.

I took d manose 2 tablets every 2 hours last time I had a uti, it really helped with the symptoms. I also think drinking plenty of water helps with symptoms, yes it makes you wee but actual wee comes out which makes going less painful I find

You could have an overactive pelvic floor where the muscles become really tight and it can mimic a UTI. There are physios who specialise in pelvic issues and I think it would be worth seeing one of them to find out if that might be your problem

Take paracetamol for the pain if you haven't already. Drink water, but not to excess, as it will dilute the antibiotics. Buy some probiotics aimed women with a UTI and include fermented foods such as kefir and kimchi. Take D-mannose as a preventative and go back to doctor if symptoms persist as you may need a longer course or different antibiotic.
Hopefully the bacteria hasn't embedded as it can take a long time to resolve.
Consider a prepayment certificate for your prescriptions.

Could you have Thrush? I sometimes get UTI symptoms with thrush and it clears up after fluconazole treatment.
I also had interstitial cystitis in the past and my bladder is ridiculously sensitive to too much caffeine or stress. I also need different antibiotics than the first line options.
In terms of relief today, I find drinking a lot of water (so at least there is something there to pee out and it's dilutes any irritants) plus paracetamol and a warm bath helps. Also try to distract yourself if you can as the stress/ anxiety of it makes it worse.
Huge sympathy from me as cystitis is absolutely horrible.

I’d request cephalexin if not improving. Also you can get thrush from the antibiotics which adds to the discomfort! But if ithe urge to urinate is still so strong you might be resistant to current course/need stronger antibiotic