Dreadful UTI - what to do (probably TMI)

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Start by saying I've tried phoning my GP - spent 25 minutes in the queue and by the time I got through no appointments left and try again tomorrow

I've got some kind of nasty UTI. Exhausted and if anything slightly disorientated. Slight fever. Lower back pains. Nausea. Usually nasty symptoms of rushing to loo every 5 minutes almost constant discomfort / sort of fizzy feeling especially when weeing . Urine is colour of red wine so clearly full of blood and lots of blood when I wipe and also dribbling blood beween my endless toilet visits - definitely not period

I'm drinking loads of water, having horrible cranberry juice, pain killers, DP got some cystitis stuff from chemist but in pain and sick of rushing to toilet. Nothing helping.

Phoned 111 and told them all this and was told me to see my GP tomorrow - they said I can't go to walk in without appointment but wouldn't book me one (sure it used to be possible to do that???) Can hardly got to A&E its only a urine infection but my god I feel miserable.

Anything else I can do to help.. please. I feel sh*t.

You can go to A&E or urgent care. Visible blood in the urine is an emergency. That amount would suggest something in your urinary tract is continually bleeding. Also, untreated UTI can lead swiftly to kidney infection and that's definitely an emergency.

Please go this afternoon

If my urine was bright red and I felt in pain, disorientated and feverish, I would be heading to A&E with no qualms. This could be bladder or kidney infection, not just a UTI. Sepsis is also something to keep in mind. Not worth the risk, go see a doctor one way or another.

Surely the whole point of a walk in is exactly that - you just walk in.

Urine infections can get really nasty very quickly. You sound really quite poorly and are entitled to help today.

Does your surgery use the Livi app? It's a way to get an online GP appointment.

I'd first try Livi (if available) so you don't have to go anywhere.

If that isn't successful I'd go to a walk in centre and then A&E.

I hope you feel better soon.

I agree with A&E visit, pronto. Kidney infections can turn properly nasty and on a pretty quick turnaround too. If you have that amount of blood an you have the fever and nausea I would say this is something not to mess about with, especially with the risk of sepsis as per a PP.

Try and get a sample of urine. Who ever you see is very likely to need one to test.

Probably not much help now since you need antibiotics but I'm taking marshmallow root and slippery elm supplements and aloe Vera and my bladder feels much better.
Id call my GP again and tell them you need antibiotics urgently.

Posted too soon. Was telling you about the supplements so you can maybe head off future infections

Urinating blood is an a&e trip, highly unlikely it's a simple UTI if there is that much blood in your urine.

Good grief, A&E! You need antibiotics immediately. If the infection reaches your kidneys or your bloodstream this can be a serious medical emergency.

You need antibiotics asap (however be aware that they may then result in thrush - I used to have this quite often in my 20s). I didn't know that my constant backache was my kidneys until I ended up in A&E.
Take care,

walk in centre if you have one. A&E if not. This infection could be into your kidneys and that isn’t pleasant.

Please go to A&E, I've been due to an orange wee so much less blood and needed two lots of IV antibiotics plus was given a box of tablets to take home. Hope you feel better soon.

Ask the surgery if you can pass in a urine sample. A simple dip stick test would show presence of infection.

I've been seen in A&E with the same and they didn't make me feelI was wasting their time at all (plus thoroughly checked new for kidney infection).

One flash of your urine sample would shut up anyone who might try and suggest otherwise.

For future try d-mannose at the first tingle, obviously you're way beyond that now.

Now, get thee seen

NHS website says
"Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
You think you, your child or someone you care for may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) and:

a very high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
a very low temperature below 36C
are confused, drowsy or have difficulty speaking
have not been for a pee all day
have pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs
can see blood in their pee
These symptoms could mean you have a kidney infection, which can be serious if it's not treated as it could cause sepsis.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online." Ha!

Can you get a sample bottle from the GP/a chemist and drop a sample in at your GP? I would expect that should provoke some action.

If your gp surgery won't do anything and nothing improves then I'd walk to the walk-in with my sample, and I'd also complain to the surgery (and to the local Healthwatch and to your commissioners). GPs not fulfilling their contract is not good enough.

A and E

That's what it's there for!

A and E!!! Pee the colour of red wine?You poor thing.Push to be seen. Wish you all th3 best

You need to be seen, pronto.

Have you contacted a pharmacist? I've had them prescribe antibiotics for a UTI before.

Also does your surgery need to see you for a UTI? Can they not accept and test a urine sample without seeing you? Again, my surgery does this and a nurse just texts you whether they need to see you or if they've sent a prescription to the pharmacy for you.

Be warned OP, you might be fobbed off. I went into A&E with blood in my urine, the colour of a blood sample rather than urine, and I was repeatedly asked 'am I on my period?' Nobody did any basic obs.

I had sepsis, caused by cystitis that reached my kidneys. I was in the waiting area of A&E when I passed out. My blood pressure was sky high. I was shivering cold. I was in intensive care for 2 weeks.

Please push OP

111 said different - but perhaps they were fobbing me off, I don't know. I'm going to go with the wisdom of mumsnet because I feel crap.

I've phoned school they can keep DS until 6 when DP can pick him up - thank goodness for accommodating head teacher.

I've called a taxi, downloaded an extra kindle book, packed my bag with food and water and off to A&E for a long wait. Have stuffed my knickers full of sanitary pads because not sure I can wait that long for a wee - luckily they're all tiny bloody wees

Good luck OP 🤞🏻Let us know how you go.

I had this a few years ago and it was a kidney infection, it’s very serious! I was kept in and given IV antibiotics!! Please go to A&E immediately

Oh op. I hope you're okay. Here, you just drop a sample to the surgery with a form detailing symptoms and they dip them at lunch and text you if you need a prescription. No need to see anybody. One to follow up with the surgery once you're well again maybe?