UTI won’t go away can’t get help

[whyyyyyisitmonddayy]

Got my coil early 2023. Between 2024-6 I’ve had 4+ utis. I’m losing my mind. GP won’t help and won’t prescribe more than 3 day course which is proven in studies not to be enough. Theres no way it’s caused by STIs either. I’m definitely clean and so is my partner (I get tested automatic whenever I go in about my coil - which is frequent because it’s been a nightmare but I can’t take other BC).

Gp told me they wouldn’t help as “it’s now an emergency” 111 told me they couldn’t do anything, neither can a&e, only my gp can help as I’ve had 3 in the last 6 months

my car is broken down too. So I can’t even get to my gp anyway. Or a & e. I work night and my parents work regular hours so they can’t take me when I’m off work and when they can I’m working. I ended up lying to a pharmacist (told her it’s my 2nd in 6 months. I know it’s awful. But was in so much pain and feverish and I just needed help). My mum was able to collect it for me. She gave me 3 day antibiotics which haven’t worked. At all.

im terrified im about to develop pelvic inflammatory disease. Or that my uti is actually chronic and I’m going to lose my ability to have children. No one can help me apparently. I’m so lost.

You need to get it tested properly. If you can afford it, send a sample off to either Focus Medical Laboratory or Digital Microbiology. The latter is slightly more accurate as it looks at the dna of the bacteria. But Focus are a bit cheaper. The bog standard dip stick tests are not fit for purpose. Look at Dr Catriona Anderson on YouTube and Women's Hour. She's an expert in UTIs. There are other treatment options available but many will involve paying privately unfortunately. There are also Facebook groups you can join eg CUTIC - chronic uti. It's a huge problem for many women. But I would suggest the first thing is to try to identify the right bacteria so yiu can get the right antibiotics if yours aren't working.

Also, if you are peri or menopausal there is evidence that an estrogen topical cream can be a game- changer for many women. It might be worth asking GP for this of you are getting recurrent UTIs.

Unfortunately I can’t afford to go private. I’m working alongside a ft degree to afford food etc so there isn’t much left over. I’ll try to save up all the same, might take a bit. Any idea how much it runs?

I can’t believe how awful the NHS is now. They honestly do not care about us. “It’s a free service be grateful!” But we pay for it out of our taxes and it’s insufficient. I shouldn’t have to beg for help like this.

I think the pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics otc. I’m not sure but there was a recent change in what they could prescribe without a doctor

£114 for Focus and £250 for Digital Microbiology

I don’t know the answer because you have gone everywhere I would recommend but I can I just post to say this is fucking ridiculous!

They can but I’ve now passed the amount of times for a uti before I can only be seen by gp

That's not right though the GP should send off a sample so you can get the right antibiotics...if your GP is refusing can you ask to see a different one at your surgery? Put in a complaint if they're not playing ball...I'd look at changing surgeries if it's an ongoing issue.

I get chronic UTIs too and I always insist now on a stronger antibiotic, a longer course and testing to get the right one just incase the first one doesn't work.

However if still no luck with GP you can do this........

If you take out life insurance policy with LV (mine is about £14 per month) you'll get a free remote GP service and they'll prescribe longer courses of antibiotics and you just pay the cost of the medicine. My most recent one I paid £20 for the first attempt (boots), which I reacted to so had to switch, and then £13 for the second (local pharmacy), which worked. You can get an appointment within a few hours of going on their app. I used the service last time as I was feeling too unwell to sleep and so found it impossible to wake up at 8am and get in the GP queue. Plus it saved me having to go to the GP surgery when so unwell.

It's absolutely disgraceful

I don't want to scare you

Please ask your GP if they are prepared to be sued if you get sepsis. I really hope that gets you proper investigation.

Ask them on the phone and put it in writing

I actually had this whole discussion with my mum because we know someone who had this.

it's possible they'll just tell you to go to A&E (which is where our contact ended up)

In which case, tell your local MP about it as well.

Some of them seem to have completely let go of their responsibilities.

you might need a different type of antibiotic. My mum was tested and she doesn't respond to the one that's normally given out now. There's literally something in her blood that makes her non-responsive to the type that I think is given now anyway. (We only found this out because she had respite care in a private care home and they persuaded the GP to do some specific blood tests).

Everything should not be such a battle, it's horrendous. I really feel for you.

3 days of antibiotics is never enough to clear a uti for me, you need gp to culture urine and hopefully give you a longer dose. In the mean time take D mannose (highest dose) daily and that should help.

OP though I really think you should take the day off work sick and let your parents drive you somewhere like a walk in centre. They have GPs there and you need to be really clear that the antibiotics haven't worked and you need something stronger.

Then you can make a GP appointment and push for a sample to be sent off just in case.

Quoting this in case you didn't see it. I was getting constant UTIs and I started lying online to get my hands on more antibiotics as I was desperate. It was only when I spoke to a nurse that she suggested that I might not have a UTI at all. She put me on oestrogen tablets, inserted twice a week .... and I haven't had one for over 1.5yrs.

Edited to say, it turns out it wasn't a UTI which is why the antibiotics weren't clearing it, because there was nothing to clear (although initially there was)

That recurrent infection needs proper labs. You could have an STI If sexually active, go along to a sexual health clinic.

I second using D-Mannose - it honestly changed my life. You can get it on Amazon with next day delivery. Hope you feel better soon!

Really feel for you op. I suffered for years, they’re awful. I had to go privately to see a urologist and they put me on antibiotics for 6 months. One tablet of nitrofuratoin everyday. It cleared an infection that I must have had for a very long time. Since then I’ve had 2 episodes of cystitis (within 7 years) and I take D Mannose straight away. This always helps.

There's some good advice here OP. I would suggest that in the not too distant future you change your GP. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I agree you should be using D-Mannose, oestrogen cream, and contacting your local NHS GUM clinic asap.

Feel for you OP. I'm in a similar position but with thrush. Just cannot seem to get rid of the bloody thing. Pessaries, cream... nothing is working. I am back at the doctors tomorrow for swab results (which have confirmed it is thrush again) but god knows what the solution is going to be this time.

Your GP is talking out of their arse, frankly.

A 3 day course of antibiotics doesn’t work for a lot of women, me included. When I get a UTI i always remind them I need 7 days and they prescribe it, no problem. I’m waiting for an urology appointment, atm, was referred in August, because I’ve had so many UTIs and one took almost a months worth of antibiotics to clear up.

I use D-Mannose, daily, oestrogen pessaries, and this moisturiser which really helps. I drink a lot of water, no caffeine and no fizzy drinks ether which I find makes a huge difference too.

I’ve already said in my OG post that I certainly don’t have an STI! I’m clean - I’ve been routinely tested regularly due to my IUD causing me trouble. Ive only ever had one partner (and I’ve been tested since having UTIs, and being with him)

Thank you.

I’ve tried drinking lots of water etc. I’m also very fussy about personal hygiene too, and I’ve done everything my gp tells me I should.

I can’t give up caffeine unfortunately as I’m asthmatic and suffer from migraines. Caffeine helps relieve my asthmatic symptoms and migraines in a pinch.

I’m actually going to be switching to another gp soon, but I’m waiting to get proper meds before switching as it could take weeks 😦

Brilliant. I’ll try it, thanks!

I’m 21 so I really hope I’m not lol I should have mentioned that!

I rang my gp crying (bit pathetic) and the receptionist took pity this time and put me through. I have an appointment at 3