To ask about urine infections

[whoamitodisabrie]

I have never suffered from UTIs until now.

I had one a couple of weeks ago and was prescribed a week long course of co-amoxiclav. I felt like it shifted and then suddenly came back and I’m take a 3 day course of trimeprothim. Tomorrow is the last day. I thought it was shifting it and now the pain in my stomach is back and I’m peeing every 5 min.

has anyone had this before and what was the outcome? They’ve sent my urine sample off and I’ll hopefully hear back on Monday but the nurse said to me that when she checked the sample there was only traces of blood and protein and if there was an infection it was very mild.

im anxious by my very nature and this is making it worse.

Has anyone had this?

Do you use a vaginal ring? Mum used one for menopause symptoms, turned out it was causing her UTIs for over a year. It thins the skin/membranes or something along those lines.
She stopped using it, and touch wood, hasn't had any since.

Me again.

i have had my nitrofurantoin prescription extended to a week but it’s 1.42 in the morning and I’m up because I feel dreadful. the prescription is due to finish on Sunday and I am as weak as water and feel like I’m not worth a button. I am terrified about sepsis because I lost a family member to it a couple of years ago.

what am i going to do? I feel like going to a&e to try to get admitted for stronger antibiotics

I think I would at this stage OP, you can't keep going like this. Do you have anyone who could take you?

My DH is fast asleep. I just feel so exhausted with this and so upset about it all.

You poor thing. Do you have a fever?

You've had a UTI for about four weeks now?!

If I were you I think I'd just go to a and e

@mackthepony

thats the thing I don’t have a fever, my blood pressure is perfect, my oxygen is fine and I’ve no pain in my kidneys. I’m just tired and have a sore stomach right down in my pubic region.

the nurse told me today that I just need it learn that sometimes I’ll take unwell. I am rarely unwell so I do know what she means (before anyone jumps on her for being a horror) and she did say it nicely. She wants me to finish the course of antibiotics and come back if I’m still not right.

i do have a tendency to catastrophise and worry about the slightest little thing so I’m aware that this could be keeping me up as well and making me feel 10x worse

I would finish the course of nitro, there is still time for it to work. If symptoms persist you need another course. As you have had the infection for a while it will likely take longer to get on top of it. You could join the Facebook group embedded/chronic uti support group. There is a wealth of information on there.

@Grosscostsagreed i think that’s good advice.

i am seeing the doctor tomorrow who, when I spoke to her today, was keen to have a check. I think she was concerned about sepsis but thankfully I don’t think that’s the case.

hopefully it starts to clear up soon.

im really grateful to you ladies (and perhaps some men) for sharing your hints and tips.

Sometimes thrush feels like a UTI, the antibiotics may have caused thrush, take some canesten to be on the safe side and to rule it out.

I’m having specialist care from the bowel and bladder team at the hospital. They refer to hiprex as ‘bleach for the bladder’. Been an absolute game changer for me.

I hope you feel better OP. UTIs are ghastly.

Ah another update

I saw the doctor today. She was lovely. Gave me a good examination and even double checked that I hadn’t left a tampon in etc. she also wanted to check I wasn’t showing signs of sepsis.

she’s asked me to stop nitrofurantoin as she would have expected a much better result after 4 full days and take a sachet of fosfomycin. She said if that doesn’t work then it’ll be IV antibiotics in hospital.

im totally wiped out from it

I meant to add. I have the strangest sensation that the urine is sitting right at the opening of my urethra rather than all in my bladder. Really weird feeling and adding to my discomfort

🤞 OP

Believe it or not drinking decaf things and cranberry juice helps.

You feel like the urine is sat there because your urethra is inflamed with the infection. At this stage you just need to keep going with the antibiotics- other treatments- mannose, cranberry juice, drinking a ton can help- but it’s not going to shift an infection this established. The antibiotics are probably making you feel rubbish too. Get some probiotics to help your gut settle down and watch out for thrush.

@Zippy1510 that actually makes sense. It’s the most unusual feeling and I hate it!

The doctor was really lovely and said if this doesn’t work then it’ll be a couple of days in hospital on antibiotics. She doesn’t seem to think it’s anything more serious than a really stubborn UTI because the culture came back as positive from the lab. Tbh a couple of days in hospital to clear this and have a break from the kids (who are on school holidays here) might be what I need 😂

Also, can I ask you lovely people another question (as if I haven’t asked enough 😬)

if I did need IV antibiotics, how long do you reckon I’d be in the hospital?

@whoamitodisabrie could be anything from a few hours to three days depends on the antibiotic and the infection.

That’s good to know. I took the fosfomycin last night and I’ve slept a lot today along with drinking about 1 litres of water an hour and I think it might be lifting. I feel a bit stronger today and that sensation of urine sitting on the edge of my lady bits isn’t there. Hoping the nitro and then the fosfomycin has cleared it.

thanks again to you all for being so kind when I’ve felt so dire. I think I have a tendency to feel like I’m the only person to ever feel so bad 😂

Im back….again!!

so I was referred to the hospital today because I’m still in pain. They took bloods and urine which they dipped and was completely clear although it’s being sent off for culture. The bloods were completely clear as well.

had a bladder scan and that was fine.

why am I in so much pain right down on my pubic bone????? It’s like a spasm and it’s bloody painful!

Unfortunately a negative urine test does not mean no uti. If you have symptoms you likely have a uti. The NHS guidelines for uti's are not fit for purpose dont let them fob you off. Loads of people suffer chronic utis as they rely on tests that even the NHS admit produce false negatives. cutic.co.uk/what-is-chronic-uti/a-chronic-uti-explained/ this link provides more information but you need to be pro active and assertive to access treatment. I second a previous poster to try and get seen at Harley Street or get a urologist to refer you to LUTS. Good luck.

@Grosscostsagreed if the urine is cultured in a lab and no bacteria found then does that mean no UTI?

My urine test was clear but when it was sent off, it did show signs of infection.

No it doesn't even the NHS website states that tests may not pick up a infectio, but good luck getting health care professionals to believe you. My cultures and dipsticks came back negative, but I knew from symptoms I had a uti. I broke down and I had arguments with GP's but I couldn't get treatment.

Went to Harley Street they do a different kind of urine test where they look at fresh urine samples under the microscope.....lo and behold they found I had a urine infection. Such a relief having been gaslit by GP and urology. I got treatment a finally symptoms are starting to improve. The longer it takes to get treatment the longer it takes to clear the infection.

My experience was so traumatic but I thanks God that other women who were suffering shared their experiences and urged me to go to Harley Street.