Itching Down Below (title edited by MNHQ at request of the OP)

[Attendreetesperer]

In my vaginal area - I’ve just been for a wee and I could have cried. I have been struggling now for months, I treated it once for thrush but have just since hoped symptoms would go away. But I had a bath and used a tampon whilst in. Normally only use pads. The burning as I got out was really really bad. Then stinging burning as I wee. Odd sporadic itch near my bum since this started. Maybe once a day.

I don’t know whether I have bad thrush. Cystitis or threadworms. I don’t have children and obsessionally wash my hands, but there’s something going on!! My vaginal area itches alllllllllllll the time without burning. What’s going on?

Drink a pint of cranberry juice asap! Then get yourself booked for a GP appointment. If this has been going on for months, it most likely needs medical attention. The cranberry juice might help a little though - the first sign of a uti and I drink a pint and I’m better 30 mins later.

UTI’s can be serious if untreated, as can any untreated infection, as it can become septic. Please see a doctor asap.

To be honest I feel really unwell I’m walking like a cowboy. I’ve been single quite a while so no sex. Never had a uti! Could it be thrush or threadworms??

My dog is in for his teeth out at the vets first thing so it will be a struggle to get on the phone line to the gp’s in the queue. I haven’t tried it yet and didn’t want to but you have 45 minutes every morning to get through and fill in a form to see if you are worth seeing. Sounds hell. Can pharmacists prescribe antibiotics?

You need to see the doc if it's been going on for months op, don't end up with sepsis or guess, sounds rough.

Would it be classed as an emergency appointment or routine? I don’t know if I can wait three weeks? I wish the pharmacist could deal

Pharmacist, then. They sell cystitis treatment over the counter and can prescribe some antibiotics.
https://wycliffesurgery.co.uk/over-the-counter-medications/

Oooo I’m reading online that pharmacists can now give out antibiotics for uti’s. Would be so much easier than fighting for your life to get an appointment. It’s made me think, only ten year ago or less I could easily get an appointment or one very soon. How times have drastically changed that now you only go when absolutely desperate. I used to be probably a time waster. Now it’s dire straits

Definitely an emergency appointment - they absolutely shouldn’t leave you 3 weeks! Phone 111 tonight if it’s so bad you can’t sleep (assuming you are in the uk) as it could be a sign of it progressing. You don’t have to have had sex to get a uti (last time I got one I hadn’t had sex in 8 years!). The early symptoms I recognise are the burning when peeing, feeling the need to go to the loo every 5 minutes, getting to the end of the pee but having the pain feeling that you need to go again but can’t. Sometimes stomach cramping.

Please take this seriously. You say 45 mins on the phone sounds like hell - I promise you lying in icu with sepsis will feel worse. I lost my cousin and my uncle to sepsis. My cousin was only early 40’s. Any untreated infection can be deadly.

I believe the pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics for women with UTI’s - I don’t know if they can for a first ever one in case it’s something else, and they definitely can’t if they consider it complicated. It’s worth trying them though, as they might refer you to 111 who would get you an appointment somewhere.

if you can’t sleep due to the pain though, i definitely urge you to call them now - if nothing else they might be able to give you some advice.

Feel getter soon!

I would try to get GP appointment. We have to call first thing. Appointments go very fast but if you insist it's urgent (and I think your discomfort counts) then they will arrange for Dr to call you (quite loose timings). Dr then decides from phone call if they need to see you (same day) or issue a prescription.

Don't go to a pharmacist.

You'll need to provide a pee sample to determine if you have a utility. They may need to swab you to see what else it might be.

Go to the doctor.

FFS, why can't people put an appropriate title on threads about their genitals?

Sorry 😬 was a loved show of mind in the 90’s growing up and I’m new here. Didn’t want to put my vagina is on fire and when i wee. What do I do

Thanks for that

Thank you. That about sepsis has given my the push to not leave it. I am the type to struggle along until I collapse. I’ll not do that.

If your symptoms are on the outside that doesn’t sound like a UTI. It sounds like a vaginal infection. It could be thrush or a bacterial infection. They are treated differently so you do need to have it looked at to know what you need.

I’d be ordering UTI test strips, vaginal ph wash, d-mannose off Amazon asap!!

I often don’t articulate myself well

My vagina inside is sore and slightly burny
All of the time that area is itchy
But I had a bath this evening and since getting out I’m hunched over in pain and when I pass urine, it is extremely!!!! Burning and stinging.

My GP surgery (UK) allows patients to drop off a sample at reception (as long as it is in a medical urine sample pot and a form is completed), and the GP then calls you if it is positive for a UTI. It may be worth seeing if your surgery allows this too.

Last time I went was last summer and an elderly gentleman came in and tried to do that but they said he HAD to have an appointment. He wasn’t happy and without knowing anything about uti’s. If it was something re occurring you can see why

It is is a urinary tract infection, D-mannose and lots of water help. It is the sugar in cranberry juice that works by making the bladder slippery so the bacteria can't stick. I had a chronic UTI for 7 years and was finally told to take it by my new urologist. It finally got rid of it after at least 30 rounds of different antibiotics. You can buy it online or some health food stores. Also, if you are prone to a UTI after sex you can take a few capsules before or after to prevent it. It is a lifesaver and gave me my life back. Works for cat UTI infections too. You can try it until you can get seen.

Or go to a sexual health clinic - the name is a bit misleading as they help with all things to do with health down there. Might be easier to get an appt

I’m no doctor but I would be worried about TSS. Get yourself up to the hospital and get checked out ASAP.

TSS? Surely I can’t go the hospital because of a bit of stomach pain and burning

Agree to see GP first, but often I've found the round of antibiotics they give (three days worth?) Isn't effective first round.

Not sure if it's an age thing but my UTI experiences have really gone bad over last few years (some from intimacy, some without).

I think there's that clinic which suggests a lot of women have permanent antibiotic resistant infections now.

I've ordered a supply of Hiprex and Azo and am cutting out caffeine.

You can get online UTI antibiotics from Superdrug for about £20-25.

Ahh just googled - toxic shock. It is really weird how this came on after wearing a tampon for an hour.

The itchy vaginal area is longstanding.

But the burning, pain and feeling unwell is new

Definitely see a GP. Cystitis is horrendous, but doesn't usually affect the vagina. Are you having a period? I couldn't quite work out why you put a tampon in to have a bath if not.

Bathing isn't actually good for vaginal health, thrush etc. The hot water and any product will irritate you. Do you have a shower? Try to pee in a warm shower if you can.

Some antibiotics can exacerbate thrush too so make sure you get the right one.

You definitely need GP as UTI can become a kidney infection.

Delay vet. GP first.