UTI symptoms, but no UTI???

[Fiere]

Hello all,

I'm a bit confused/worried. I had what I thought was a UTI about 8 weeks ago - urgency & frequency in needing the loo, pain when weeing (although not pain exactly, more of an irritated 'pulling' sensation) and I even wet myself a little one night! - however, my wee is normal - not dark and no blood.

It started to feel a little better, but I had a routine gyn appointment so I mentioned I thought I had a UTI but the dip test came back negative. I went back a couple of weeks later because, while it was better than it was initially, it was still there. She then tested urine cultures, but again all clear. She banged on my kidneys too, and no pain so she doesn't think kidney stones/infection.

I still have the strange 'pulling' sensation when I wee and I do have the odd twinge in my abdomen. It definitely doesn't feel gastro-related.

I'm at a loss! What could it be? Anyone had similar symptoms?

Thanks in advance!

No idea, but you should probably ask for a urology referral.

Did she only test your wee at the surgery or did it get sent to a lab?

First time she just tested it at the surgery, but second time she sent it to a lab

I should mention that she also did routine STI test and that all came back clear.

Op any pelvic pressure pain? Just wondering as I had similar symptoms on the summer.

You need to have your urine tested properly- sent off. Go back and ask. Meanwhile stop drinking caffeine and alcohol and fruit juice- all irritants.

Could be interstitial cystitis.. inflammation of the bladder lining which causes symptoms of UTI without the bacteria. I've had recurrent infections but sometimes the flare ups aren't bacterial so they diagnosed this for me.

A supplement called D Mannose is great 👍 also make sure you drink plenty of water, not all at once but more sips throughout the day

Thanks for the tips pollyperky and purpleviolet - the description of interstitial cystitis online and it sounds bang on!

Yes, kissmelittleass - I do have twinges of pelvic pressure pain with this.

Think I'll get a urologist referral and try to find out what's going on...!

I suffer with kidney problems, 1 doesn't work properly and the other works too much (quickest way to explain it)
I'm under specialists etc for this

Increase your water intake
Drink atleast 2 litres a day
Cut out fizzy drinks, limit caffeine

Main thing is keep your kidneys hydrated

Sometimes when I've not drank enough I get odd aches and pains

Thanks LostMyBaubles - I am terrible at remembering to drink water, I must get better at it!

just to add in....if you are of a certain age it can be oestrogen related....my lovely GP said "it's all crisping up and drying out down there " when I mentioned similar at a recent appointment.

** she really is lovely and has a similar sense of humour so don't take that the wrong way

"crisping up and drying out"

hahaha MsHomeSlice that's hilarious. I'm early 30s so hopefully not crisping up just yet!

Interstitial cystitis is extremely rare. It's what doctors will say you have when you have 'unexplained' (for example no kidney stones, no infection present etc) pain. I'm seeing a top professor of uro gynaecology who explained to me that IC is incredibly rare and misdiagnosed routinely. The doctors at NHS told me I had IC, I was in floods of tears. They gave me tramadol and antidepressants and told me to be on my way. I had Pelvic pain, burning, the works but all my cultures were coming back clear. The professor tested my urine at a specialist lab, came back with two types of bacteria, which had been left for so long that I had severe bladder inflammation and pelvic problems. I am still battling the infection as it's so deeply inbedded. I also tested positive for ureaplasma which can also cause symptoms you have been describing. Please don't take IC as an answer. Please investigate further.

As Emmastone .....lab tests Miss at least 50% of all UTIs ( new research coming out ) the UTI becomes embedded under a bio-film in the bladder wall.

IC is an break term for we haven’t got a clue , but I can as good a guarantee you do still have a UTI , the problem is to short a dose of antibiotics for to short a time , which doesn’t kill the bug correctly and that is what causes resistance and the bacteria learn how to cause trouble and hide away.

However the mindset of the medical profession is almost impossible to understand change there opinion , they stay in there boxes and so attempt to come out of them .

IC is umbrella term for “ we haven’t got a clue “ don’t no how to edit .

What the two previous posters said. I had what what felt like recurrent and increasingly painful UTIs but my urine never tested positive. I saw many doctors who prescribed all sorts, nothing worked. Eventually saw a doctor who prescribed antibiotics and i am finally pain free. I will be forever grateful to my doctor, I am so thankful she took that leap in the dark. I now have prophylactic antibiotics to take after sex and if I feel a UTI coming on, they kill it stone dead

Still get hassle from some GPs who are obsessed with the targets on lowering antibiotics prescriptions. I have spent a lot of time patiently explaining my whole medical history just to get my repeat prescription

Thanks everyone, very good to know. I'll pester my doctor for further tests and antibiotics - luckily (??) I currently live in the US so they love any excuse to run extra tests and get more $$$

Thank you!

Not sure how it works in the states but if your culture grows to 'mixed growth', get them to grow it. Here in the U.K., under the NHS if a culture goes to mixed growth they chuck it and say it was simply contamination. This is not true and could be a major indication of a chronic low level uti hidden in bladder walls. Good luck. X

I do feel for you - have had recurring problems with this too, as someone else mentioned D Mannose is worth a try, the best thing I ever did was cut out all caffeine

Hope you feel better soon

Hi Bolshybookworm

Do you mind if I ask which antibiotics you find effective?

Thank you.

Although my urine culture came back with an infection; it still took almost a week to get the results back, during which time I had been taking a low dose of nitrofurantion 200mg per day. In the mean time I had gone to my docs saying they weren't working, he tested my urine and said the infection has cleared up: 2 days later results came back and I needed 1500mg amoxicillin to get rid of it. You can defo have an infection and it not show up

OP I'm just wondering if it could be BV? I've had similar symptoms, but dip came back clear. Finally worked out it was BV.

Lots of interesting advice here, thanks all! I have only had a couple of bouts of cystitis over the years, so am totally clueless.

VioletCharlotte what's BV?

Perhaps some sort of prolapse that is giving you that pulling feeling?

Hi Fiere, I was prescribed ciprofloxacin and metronidazole (had skin issues too through trying to self treat what I had been told was a dermatology issue ) when first diagnosed, the big guns. Since then, I've used nitrofurantoin or cefalexin prophylactically. I've been on them for years now.

Still have to be careful though- not too much caffeine, I drink plenty of fluids, no trousers (think I permanently weakened the skin with the silly self treating ). Otherwise lead a normal life!