Any UTI/cystitis sufferers out there? I have symptoms but culture clear and dipstick showing trace protein only.

[mintymellons]

I'm starting to feel as though I could write a book on this subject!

Just wondered what experiences other MNers have with UTIs and UTI symptoms.

In a nutshell, I often get UTI symptoms which will test positive on a dipstick test now and again, but generally show nothing. Ditto for the lab culture. Obv I get ABs if there's a positive test, but otherwise the symptoms tend to go by themselves over a period of a few days or weeks.

My symptoms are nearly always just needing the loo all the time and an uncomfortable feeling in my lower abdomen/urethra area. I keep urinalysis test strips at home now to save going to GP if it's negative.

Anyway, the latest episode started about a week ago with frequent trips to the loo. I tested at home last Thurs and it showed positive for trace protein. This was the case over the weekend too, so I took a urine sample to my GP on Monday morning which they sent off for culture. Got the lab results back today and they are normal. Anyway, the GP agreed to prescribe ABs on the basis of the dipstick showing trace protein and the fact that I have symptoms.

I just find it all so infuriating. GP said the trace protein could be relating to something else going on in my body and isn't forced to tie in with a UTI.

Does anyone else have this trouble?

Have you heard of interstitial cystitis?

Sounds like it may be what you have

Thanks mumofjust1

I have heard about IC and have sometimes wondered if that's what it is. My GP mentioned being referred to a urologist and I think I might go along with that plan.

you might find the IC support group and forums helpful.
www.cobfoundation.org

(I think- might not have the foundation bit but def. COB.

Thank you ameliagrey

I've looked at the COB foundation website before and will def look again.

I used to get cystitis all the time, going back to my 20s, it's so incredibly debilitating, you defiantly need referring to a urologist.

Hope u get the help u need.

Sounds like ic to me

I suffered for 3 years on antibiotics before diagnosis with ic

Go the gp and get a referral to urologist

My urologist is amazing and supportive

This can be alleviated through diet

Cob foundation has been really helpful

Hope you feel better soon

I went through a stage of having multiple UTI's or so it seemed. Now i find they have disappeared on there own and i feel fine now and have done for a while. I now do keep a box of cystitis relief in the medicine cabinet just so that if i do get symptoms i can treat them straight away. Maybe i should carry a sachet with me, but i havent had one for absolutely ages.

I hope it gets better for you soon, i had it on and off for about 5years from about 16/17 years old to about 22. Now i am fine, and fingers crossed i will stay that way.

Trace protein is really low, does it usually correlate with symptoms?
Mine stopped when I got my thyroid treated - turned out it is one of many 'hypothyroid' symptoms, doN't know if any of the other symptoms (tired, cold, anxious, sleepy, brain fog) sound familiar?

Thanks for your replies.

mercibucket I'm pretty sure my thyroid is fine as I had that checked fairly recently. I don't know if trace protein usually correlates with my symptoms because I've only had the dipsticks at home for the pasyt few weks and this is the first time I've had anything show up. Previously I'd always taken urine sample to the gp for dipstick test and often that would show nothing. When it did show positive results, I'm afraid I never thought to ask exactly which ones they were.

Just to check, you do know about the advice to have a wee after sex don't you? Sometimes people say before and after, but I don't think that's realistic! It made a huge difference for me.

Thanks, Nickoka, yes I did know about that. Apparently it's ONLY supposed to be after and not before aswell, but can't remember why!

Ive had similar to this on and off for the last year, agrovated drastically by sex, drs did the test you had and said it wasnt cystitis, had AB's anyway and it wrecked a new realtionship cos I didnt then want to have sex, went to a different dr who gave me an AB to take straight after sex so you dont get the pain, but inbetween times I worked out that if i had oranges/juice or anything vitamin c based (berocca) it made my wee really sting. Some forms of green tea do the same, as does diet coke. Avoiding them mostly stops the problem for me, I take the ABs when i occasionally have sex, still have lost my nerve really. I'm 33 years old and I'm really annoyed about my doctors lack of appreciation that there is a problem, and that if does put me off trying to find myself a bloke when this is a problem that is random and out of my control. my dr offered to refer me for councelling incase it was an "emotional issues" - its a physical issue, not emotional....an emotional issue wouldnt make my wee burn... The op is the nearest post that I have read to my problem, but I hope maybe it helps you even a little.

you’re the first person i’ve come across to also say the same thing about oranges!! i kept a diary of what I had each day when I was at my worst with reoccurring utis and anything citrus became an obvious trigger. Been about 2 years since I cut it out and never had one, had a drink that had orange juice in it yesterday and bam uti has come on :( so so weird!