Recurrent Cystitis following infection and Thrush

[Every23]

Had a UTI and given antibiotics for 7 days. By day 5, cystitis returned. Finished course and continued to have cystitis. Couldn’t sleep. Put on two more courses of antibiotics even though no infection showing but chronic discomfort and frequent need to go continued. Have seen specialist for bladder stretch and cystoscopy and apparently bladder healthy! Couldn’t sleep. Could it be nerve pain? Put on Amitriptyline but
takes time to work. Currently taking 10mg. Not feeling great as upsetting my diverticulitis as well. Trying to strike a balance is so
difficult. Have got very low with this and wondered if anyone else has been through similar?

Hi. What age are you?

Hi, I am 58.

look up chronic uti, there is a wonderful support group for it on facebook. When the uti gets embedded and chronic, it hardly ever shows up on a dip test or culture

also a pelvic floor physio therapist - mine became hypertonic alongside the chronic uti.

I have had cystocopy and cystodistension and bladder shows no sign of infection apparently. I have been told it is healthy which is good but also frustrating when symptoms are ongoing. I will look on fb at that group though thank you. Currently on amitriptyline low dose at 10mg but having some difficult days still.

Look up GSM/vaginal atrophy. I had the same symptoms as you. All sorted with estriol HRT cream x

I use Vagirux pessaries - do you think the cream is more helpful and how often do you use it? Thank you.

At the start I used it for 14 days. Now I use it every two days. It’s been like a miracle

When I get a UTI these days it can be difficult to know if the antibiotics have worked as my symptoms can last for weeks and in one case months. I drink a lot of cranberry, cut out everything acidic and citric. No fizzy drinks, no caffeine, no alcohol until things settle down.

Oh my goodness. I no longer feel on my own with this and thank everyone who has commented. I have some things to explore. I don’t think I have ever had anything like this go on for so long - 2 months now! It has made me terribly low and tearful. With Christmas in a few days as well, it has not been an easy time. Thank goodness my
close family have been there for me.

@Every23 I suffered for about 4 years. GP didn’t have a clue. Sent me to a gynaecologist. He didn’t have a clue (yep). Estriol cream sorted it. It’s lack of hormones in that area because of menopause. It’s so easily treated. Don’t suffer for as long as I did x

I had this, UTI symptoms including bleeding but no UTI. I found it was correlated with IBD episodes. The consultant told me that he has seen other people with this (obviously everything else has to be discounted). He thinks it is to do with too much inflammation and dehydration. Probiotics and hydration sachets really helped me.

Also maybe look up interstitial cystitis. Mine is triggered by coffee (even decaf), fresh orange/grapefruit juice and ginger cordial/ale. Seemed to come on after a bout of bacterial cystitis and never went away.... Still miss coffee.... but feeling like you've had a horse kick your bladder for a fortnight after one take away coffee is enough to keep me off it.

That’s interesting. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis disease 9 years ago and did wonder if this was not helping symptoms. Thank you.

Was also going to recommend you looking up interstitial cystitis. I had these exact symptoms and that’s what they thought it was (turned out to be something else). But yes, it’s basically symptoms of a UTI without the infection, so there is inflammation, which may or may not be visible on a cystoscopy. Try avoiding any spicy foods, caffeine, nightshades, or carbonated drinks for a week and if that makes a huge difference to your symptoms, then I would treat it as interstitial cystitis. This is a lovely, helpful site for IC with a food list: https://www.ichelp.org/least-and-most-bothersome-foods/
You’re not alone!

Thanks to everyone who has posted on here today. Best wishes to you all x

Let us know how you’re getting on xx

I had this - I had about 6 courses of antibiotics, nothing ever grew in my samples. Also had cystoscopy and hysteroscopy. Went to a HRT doctor privately and learnt it was down to my hormones. Moved from Vagirux to Intrarosa and it has been a game changer! I had vaginal atrophy and dryness. I also used Replens at first which also helped (you can get this from Amazon). I still take Hiprex nightly. I use Replens whenever I feel itchy - the itch wasn’t thrush although it feels very similar. Do ask about Intrarosa. Such a simple medication to use and the relief from the pain was amazing - took about 2-3 weeks.

Sounds like it could be chronic embedded uti. As mentioned before it wont show up on tests. I had to have a long term dose of antibiotics and hiprex to clear mine. But most GP's and gynaes are not up to date on this condition.

You could have bacterial vaginosis. I had this without the fishy discharge, just a constant pain while passing urine.

I am still investigating comments made previously, thank you. Does anyone use an oestrogen cream for external use alongside Vagirux or similar?

Has anyone tried antihistamines for IC?