To think a UTI is the worst kind of pain EVER?

[Galwayg]

Ive always suffered with bad UTIs, always at really inconvenient times too! I feel that all too familiar nip while going to the loo and just hope it isn’t too late, but 9 times out of 10, it already is 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’ve been so busy running around after our baby today that I haven’t drank any water at all, low and behold, UTI incoming 😩 I don’t even think it’s the physical pain, more just the sheer discomfort that comes with it, you can’t get away from it. I would honestly rather have another c-section and it’s recovery than have another day of uti pain!

My doctor’s surgery is a nightmare to get into/get a hold of so you’ve got little to no chance of getting antibiotics when it starts. The cranberry sachets you make into that drink are almost worse than the UTI itself, actually gives me shivers thinking about them.

I got one so bad on holiday with friends and their husbands once that I just sat pathetically crying in the room for the last two days of the holiday, unable to move more than a few metres from the toilet in case I needed to pee for the 47286th time that hour. Have my friend’s hen weekend from tomorrow and of course, here it comes 🙄 Currently downing one glass of water after another, praying those little bacteria won’t get their claws into my bladder walls (if that’s even what’s happening) 🤣 Just posting for sympathy and shared hatred of UTIs really!

Absolutely agree with this.....wish I'd known about it 30 years ago!

I second D-Mannose tablets. I'm someone who gets regular UTIs and yet I haven't had one since I started taking these tablets. It might be coincidence of course, but a lot of people swear by them.

I was getting a uti twice a month with a weeks worth of antibiotics each time. In 10 years I've literally had no utis from taking 1 after sex. Leaving aside that I was in agony most of the time I've gone from taking 28 antibiotics a month (when treating acute infections) to 4 so surely the risk of resistance is much lower

Nope, gallstones and childbirth make a UTI seem pretty mild imo. Sympathies though - it's still pretty horrible!

I guess I was lucky with UTIs. The worst one I had was in my early 20's, it wasn't that bad so I ignored it and hoped it would go away on its own. It was only when I ended up peeing blood and the pain intensified that I went to A&E and was admitted with a severe kidney infection.

But I'd say the worst pain I've had is migraine pain, closely followed by quinsy. I'd take 12 hours of unmedicated childbirth any day over 5 minutes of a migraine.

Have you ever had gallstones!?

My frequent utis are not bacterial infections - or at least no bacterial infection shows up in the urine, so I have given up on antibiotics. Also have given up on the things that most seem to trigger Utis - sex (very sad) and alcohol (easy to give up). I’ve recently started experimenting with morning sex on the basis that I will be going to the toilet afterwards instead of to sleep. Feels a bit clinical to have to think like this, but keeping the utis at bay is so important - I just can’t cope with them - sleep loss rather than acute pain is the thing for me. I can be awake for 8-10 days in a row - I have a prescription for sleeping tablets but I ration them as I mustn’t become dependent. I am still working - in quite a ‘thinking’ type of job that also involves talking to people who need my advice on the phone and the utis can make my life feel hopeless. Going through a good phase at the moment but when it is bad, I keep a uti diary and it’s scary to see how many days are ruined. When gps were easy to access I used to ask for help via the e-consult system. Now that’s been withdrawn and I no longer do urine samples as it’s too difficult to get advice from a gp where I live.

Figment, there has been research recently which has shown that some UTIs don't show up on standard tests- but they are still bacterial infections. Apparently the tests we use are ones which are quite old, and not always sensitive enough. If you get your symptoms back, I would definitely look into that. ( A family member had symptoms but tests were clear. The GP decided to prescribe as symptoms suggested UTI and had come on suddenly- and the antibiotics cleared everything within a couple of days.)

Frequent sufferer here; it's not nice at all but would take that over a kidney infection (horrific) or proper tonsillitis.

Prophylactic antibiotics are very common for many different people who suffer from frequent infections. My dd had to take one a day when she was young due to frequent UTIs and kidney reflux and I also suffer and have antibiotics in the house to take after sex as that has proven to be one of my triggers.

Not sure if it's the worst pain anyone can ever have, as pain is subjective. But I agree it is awful and please go and get antibiotics ASAP.

I've had a brain haemorrhage and 2 csections one of which I had an infected wound but the worst pain I ever had was when I had an untreated UTI and the bacteria got into my kidneys - pyelonephritis. I was hospitalised for 2 days on IV antibiotics (I had seen the GP who issued antibiotics but the pharmacy didn't have them in stock and said they'd call when they did. This was a Friday. I got the call to pick up my medication whilst in A&E on a drip, the following Monday!).

I went from upright and feeling OK, about to do the school run to minutes later curled in a shaking ball on the bathroom floor, howling in pain. By the time I got to A&E I could barely stand and when I eventually saw the consultant he told me I'd got there just in time.

So please do what you can to get the infection treated, you don't want pyelonephritis (which if isn't caught in time can ultimately result in a kidney transplant!)

Yep my antibiotic packet actually says take one as and when required!

That's why the doc gave them to me, to take after sex if I feel a bit twitchy!

The only UTI I’ve ever had came off the back of quite a traumatic injury to one of my kidneys.
I went from a bit of a sting when I peed to peeing blood and writhing in pain within a few hours. Hideous pain. I’m with you OP

Oh god, yes. I was oddly calm for the first time in months, when the feeling went. I have, however, been left with chronic nerve pain, so there is no relief from the utter relentlessness of it - daily for the past 6 years.

Still, in terms of acute 'I think I could step in front of a train' levels of pain; it's kidney stones every time. Vomiting out of the car door, whilst stopped at lights, on my way to hospital, was not my finest moment. My dad (driving me) was delighted.

I get recurrent UTI and I suspect its a small bit of grit from my kidneys irritating the urethra. I read that lemon juice in water can reduce kidneys stones so I have been trying this.
Might be Psychosomatic BUT this week less tingling.
I'm allergic to Trimethoprim and the last one was awful. Though still not the same a drug free labour.

I agree.
My covid is currently manifesting both UTI pain (negative for an actual UTI, I've checked) and tooth/ear pain.

beyond there Is research from the USA suggesting that increased non-bacterial utis can be another consequence of covid. It really is the gift that keeps on giving.