I'm terrified of these urinary issues I'm having - what could this be?!

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For nearly two weeks, I've had weird (what seemed like) UTI symptoms. I've never had a UTI before (early 20s).
This week these symptoms have gotten worse. UTI tests (all 3) have come back clear, 'just a few white blood cells, no infection'.

I feel like I need a wee 24/7. Pain in my abdomen. Pain in my back.
When I do go for a wee, it's usually a weak stream and not a lot.
I keep getting shooting pains in my urethra.
Feeling nauseous.
Feeling like I'm leaking urine when I'm walking.
(No pain when I'm actually weeing).

Getting the doctors to help with the 'all clear' tests is difficult. I've tried painkillers (don't make a difference), cystopurin, a thrush tablet (as advised by pharmacist).

I've got horrendous health anxiety so I've had panic attacks about this and that makes me worried that I could be psychologically making these symptoms worse by fixating on them.

Can anyone help if they have similar experience? I'm spending so much time crying because I just desperately want to feel normal again!

Sounds like you have a UTI. Dip tests are notoriously poor at confirming UTI especially when higher up.

I had this tested over and over and kept coming back clear.
Had sti tests all clear.

Eventually my GP did a random swab for bv and I had it. 5 days of anti biotics and I feel so much better.

I felt like I had internal burn, like constant around my cervix area that felt worse b4 and after I peed

The tests are inaccurate, as others have said.

If you can afford it, try a test from Focus labs.

If you can't afford it, take a really clean catch (wash around your vulva with really hot water and mild soap first), first morning urine. In a very clean container. Leave it in a dark cupboard for at least 24 hours. Insist that your GP surgery send it to the lab for culture (don't tell them you left it out). The tests have a ridiculously high threshold for what they consider the amount of bacteria cells in the urine constitutes a UTI, it's based on a study of pregnant women with kidney infections in the 1950s!!

With respect you're talking bollocks and have no idea what you're talking about. I have IC and it plagued my life until I had my little girls and my hormone mix changed slightly. I had bladder cocktails inserted into my bladder at first weekly, then biweekly, then monthly, until I got to 3 monthly. Don't disregard what you know nothing about. OP - I would insist on a referral to a urologist and ask them for a cystoscopy and bladder distention if you're still having these symptoms.

After 3 negative UTI tests the GP assistant suggested it might be pelvic floor issues so I immediately made an appointment with a pelvic floor physio specialist (who luckily could see me within a week - called in sick for work in the meantime) and she confirmed it with an internal. I was terrified it was prolapse but GP and physio confirmed it was overstressed.

I started pelvic floor relaxation exercises straight away 3x per day and she monitored me once a week for the next 2 months. After a few sessions with her I had problems with my piriformis as well.

I'm not in the UK so could make a physio appointment immediately but don't know if you'd need a referral in the UK.

I had similar symptoms and it was infuriating everything coming back clear. After weeks back and forth, my dr eventually speculated that it could be a part of the bladder that had folded slightly, causing irritation, and that was the last thing they could think it could be.

Then I passed a kidney stone.

I'm not a doctor and really have not had that many utis but as other posters have said, I wonder if you have a kidney stone.

Been in this situation a few times. Previously I’ve waited until the pain is horrific then gone back to the doctor who ended up confirming there was a UTI. It may just not be enough to show up on a test. Push hard with GP about the pain level and see if they’ll give you antibiotics. Keep calling the GP as necessary, don’t be fobbed off. If it’s not a UTI, it’s clearly something that needs treating.

This 100%. I was diagnosed with IC in my teens after years of bladder pain. Turns out I have a deep underlying infection. Push them, the tests are little better than chance.

I've had maybe 40 UTIs and never get pain when I wee
My symptoms start with going more at night then I get a weird feeling like someone is squeezing my sides. Eventually I just constantly need the loo even when I've just been

I had a UTI m, it cleared, the symptoms remained, and eventually it was discovered it was bladder spasms caused by the infection, and I was put on oxybutinin for a few months. Symptoms cleared instantly. Ask the GP.

I've been to the GP this morning. No bloods offered, no scan offered, no antibiotics offered - just said that I feel a bit constipated and gave laxatives?

I would get a second opinion. If you possibly can, I'd try a private GP.

Or go to a pharmacy and get some tablets from there, they won’t test your urine. Just describe the symptoms, don’t mention your GP and they’ll prescribe. Sorry this is happening to you.

I really think GP care for this kind of problem is awful. Little knowledge and a system that’s trying hard to limit the use of antibiotics which are needed for this issue.

@Notamorningkindofperson I can't afford private unfortunately 

@gegs73 I'm just upset at how little I stood up for myself as well. I've had to take time off work last week which I really couldn't afford, I can't afford to this week, I need the problem sorted now I feel like a pain ringing back!

OP I've had similar symptoms the last few days. I can't be arsed with the palaver it tales to get a GPs appt so I just ordered nitrofurantoin from an online pharmacy, it's arrived within 24 hours and cost me 18 quid with delivery. If it doesn't help I'll go to the GP.

Got to be worth a try for you surely?

@Coaltodiamonds yeah, I think I'll suck it up and try them, but I'm just getting thrown off now as the doctors are saying it's 'definitely' not an infection so zero point in antibiotics.

Sounds like your trying really hard. Difficult to stick up for yourself when you’re in pain and want to feel better. I went back 3 times last time had a UTI! My tests came back similar to yours and once I got a 7 day course of nitrofuriton it went.

If you can't afford a private GP, can you go to a walk in centre or similar to see someone else?
And if it's possible, could you take a family member/ friend with you to advocate if necessary?
Some doctors know about these problems with tests in my experience and will prescribe based on symptoms while others just dismiss you. Sadly you do sometimes have to be quite assertive.

OP I don’t understand why you’ve been to the GP when the medication you need is available over the counter from the pharmacy? The three major causes of this sort of pain are UTI, thrush and BV, all of which can be treated with meds purchased from the pharmacy. If those options don’t work then you can talk to the GP.

@Miriad I have the antibiotics from the pharmacist now. I'm just so health anxious, it's throwing me off that all the doctors I'm speaking to are saying don't take them as they'll be no use as there's no infection. The pharmacist was 'really reluctant' to give them to me considering a lab culture has come back showing no infection.

With this sort of pain it’s often a stab in the dark to find the right treatment, because the tests are unreliable.

The antibiotics won’t do you any harm if you don’t have a UTI, at least you’ll rule it out. If you do have a UTI then they’ll fix it.

Personally I tried thrush and BV treatment options first, then took antibiotics as a last resort. I still don’t know which one cured me! It’s up to you what order you want to try them in.

Hi Op,

Have a listen to this podcast, it will explain a lot about the mismanagement of uti currently and why your tests, both dipsticks and those sent away, can be misleading.

If they've only given you 3 days of tablets, you'd be better off with 7.

If you want a more advanced test, try Focus laboratories.

Sorry, forgot to add the link for the podcast:

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/1-tests-misogyny-and-misconceptions/id1733889603?i=1000648438653