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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for and advice re dd because I’m worried!

31 replies

Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 19:07

Dd had a confirmed UTI - E. coli - nearly two weeks ago for which she had a week’s course of antibiotics.
Once we stopped the antibiotics the symptoms have come back and she is strongly positive for leukocytes (white blood cells) but negative for nitrates. Hence the gp doesn’t care. One gp told me it was a concern and dd would need an ultrasound but the next said they wouldn’t do anything in the absence of bacteria no longer being present.

We are going abroad in a fortnight and as it stands I wouldn’t take dd because she was quite unwell initially and I’m worried she is going to be unwell again as she is complaining that is stinging to wee like she did at the start of it before.

What should I do? Call the gp again tomorrow? A sample they took on Monday was clear but she’d only just finished the antibiotics then.

I dipped a sample at home today and the white blood cells are the strongest possible level (already had the strips because of a pre existing medical condition of my own). They were pretty strong on Wednesday when I spoke to the gp last and the gp just said ‘well you wouldn’t know if you hadn’t checked her urine yourself’. Yes but that’s not really the point is it?!

Sorry - posted for traffic. Hoping someone with experience of this may have advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 19:29

Anyone?

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 21/03/2019 19:34

I cant advise except to say that you are entitled to a second opinion so ask for one. As for the holiday, where are you going and do you already have health insurance? Lots of countries in Europe have better healthcare than the uk and can ve better places to get treatment - as long as you're covered.

JacktomyDaniel · 21/03/2019 19:37

A lot of time ecoli infection doesn’t show on dip except leukocytes. I have a chronic condition and it took them 6 years to acknowledge this. Definitely go back. Push for a sample to be sent to the lab. Also nitrofurantion works better for ecoli than trimethoprim in my experience. Good luck x

JacktomyDaniel · 21/03/2019 19:38

Also ask for a script to take in case you need it on holiday.

Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 19:38

We are covered and only to France - but we are only going for four days so a bit rubbish if half of that is spent unwell. And I’m not sure what the insurance would cover if we went already knowing she had it?

Will call gp again tomorrow. We did three hours in out of hours when she was first ill so would prefer for that not to happen again this weekend and she is reluctant to wee so something is obviously not right.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 19:39

Thanks Jack

Yes it is trimethoprim we have been prescribed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 19:39

The gp brushed me off on Wednesday - she basically said if there no nitrates it’s not a bacterial infection so there’s nothing else they would do.

OP posts:
Redken24 · 21/03/2019 19:40

Nitro definitely works the best. Not sure if different for kids tho if am honest. Ask for a second opinion - first doctor seems a bit blase

Redken24 · 21/03/2019 19:41

Do they not still zend them to the lab for testing?

Mascarponeandwine · 21/03/2019 19:42

You would need to phone the insurance company and declare everything. They check medical records in the event of a claim so you’ve nothing to gain by keeping quiet. Sometimes they don’t cover for unexplained symptoms, so if you go back to the gp and they arrange for tests after the holiday your policy might be invalid. Might have to pay more if there’s an increase in premium so be aware that it might cost more.

Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 19:42

They sent the first one which was positive for E. coli.
The second one was negative completely - we’d just finished the antibiotics.

But now symptoms plus leukocytes are back.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 19:44

Wee smells funny again too.

OP posts:
gingergiraffe · 21/03/2019 19:57

Son’s girlfriend has had a horrendous time since end of October with uti bladder infection. GP gave three days of antibiotics which did nothing. Samples came back as clear. Told it was in her head. Went private and found to have ureaplasma infection. Apparently nhs do not test for this and the way they deal with UTIs has not been updated since the 1950s. Now has 90 days of antibiotics and about half way through. Has lost two stone and is on a special diet to avoid acidic foods. Awful anxiety and has had to give up her job. Very slow progress but hoping when the course ends she will be much improved.

Suggest you look at

https:/www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/20/in-pain-all-the-time-will-there-ever-be-relief-for-women-with-chronic-life-changing-utis

gingergiraffe · 21/03/2019 20:01

Meant to say I hope you get something sorted as from my son’s girlfriend’s experience it will only get worse if not properly treated. Push for your GP to investigate further.

DharmaInitiativeLady · 21/03/2019 20:06

I'm doing a study on this very subject. Not all bacteria convert nitrates into nitrites (positive pink response on dipstick) and some only do so after the urine has been in the bladder for 4 hours.
Test a first morning urine sample tomorrow. It may well show then x

Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 20:09

Poor little sausage.

I said to the second gp that the leukocytes shouldn’t be there and she just said well no but you wouldn’t have known they were there if you hadn’t dipped the wee at home.
No, but dd would still be stinging when she wees wouldn’t she and just because I wouldn’t know doesn’t mean it’s right!

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Yorkshirepudding1987 · 21/03/2019 20:10

I have recurrent UTI's. I also test my own urine with strips. The last one was positive for leukocytes and blood (visible) but no nitrates. My GP still prescribed nitrofurantoin for a week.
As far as I know leukocytes alone can still mean infection, the nitrates only show up when E.Coli is present (I think) but that doesn't mean she hasn't got a different bacteria.
I'd go back to the GP

Yorkshirepudding1987 · 21/03/2019 20:12

Forgot to add, i hope She feels better soon, UTI's honestly ruined my life for a long time before i got them under control and had the confidence to really push my GP to listen to me.

Ledehe · 21/03/2019 20:15

Do you have another GP you can see for a second opinion? Leaving a child in pain is not on

Bluetrews25 · 21/03/2019 20:22

What age is your DD?
Does she know to wipe by reaching around her waist and wipe 'up' so not pulling the E Coli from her gut (back bum) over vagina/bladder outlet area?
A LOT of people wipe 'back bottom' by reaching down under vagina and coming forwards.
Hope she gets sorted.
Make sure you take your EHIC card (used to be E111) to get free treatment (until Brexit, of course...)

Original poster
Hopelesscase28 · 21/03/2019 20:24

She’s 3 - I still help her when she goes to the toilet and she’s not at preschool yet. I’ve been extra careful since the UTI started.

The gp said to wait until next week and ‘see how she was’ but I don’t feel happy to leave her over the weekend and surely the fact it’s got worse since the antibiotics stopped isn’t a good sign?

We are post brexit so definitely need good insurance!

OP posts:
Ihatehashtags · 22/03/2019 08:43

Well I was going to ask if she is sexually active but I now see she is 3 years old. I’d change her nappie or underwear more regularly , wipe front to back. And make sure there is no chance of any abuse. UTIs are often a sign..

geezlouise1 · 22/03/2019 09:00

I would get a second opinion, I would have given you a second course of antibiotics if you had seen me.

geezlouise1 · 22/03/2019 09:00

(I'm a doctor)