Suspected UTI, can't get a doctors app!

[asblackasyoursoul]

Hi guys, over the past few days I've had the intense urge to pee constantly, and when I go, not much comes out. It's really affecting me, and today it has started to burn when I pee. I called the doctors today and the earliest app I can get is 5th July!! I didn't tell them what was wrong.
That's 3 weeks away, and according to online you need antibiotics for a UTI or you can become very ill.

Is it worth phoning back and asking for a phone appointment? Would the gp be able to prescribe me something, or do they need to do the urine test?
Dreading having to cope with this for almost a month

A gp could leave a prescription for you.

Phone back and explain the problem; at our surgery it is likely that you would be advised to bring up a specimen and depending on that result would be offered advice or possibly a prescription. GP or practice nurse could probably deal with it.

Ok, so I should phone back and ask for the phone appointment? And then I can discuss it with the doctor? This is quite an annoying issue, because it's not an emergency but it's not something that can wait either

Get some cymalon from your chemist - it will relieve the burning. Increase your fluid intake - water, tea, dilute squash but not coffee or fizzy drinks.

If you've had this for days but no temp then you will probably have low level cystitis and you will need antibiotics.

If you can't see your GP then have you got a walk in centre near you?

If not then ask for a phone consult.

You are right to worry about infection - you can experience pyelonephritis if it carries on untreated and it reaches your kidneys.

sounds like cystitus. Often it clears up on its own but the GP surgery can test your urine to determine. You may not need antibiotics (or a GP appointment) .

I'm not sure whether to phone the doctor or not then - the burning is pretty mild and I can deal with it, but it's the constant pressure to pee that is really annoying me!
It has definitely gotten worse since yesterday. I would have gotten the cystitus treatment but it seems that just relieves the burning and not the urge to pee itself

do phone the Dr - I was not dismissing your discomfort - a quick test at the surgery will give you confirmation of what it is.

Your local gum or sex health clinic will probably be able to see you sooner and help you out

Can you go to a walk in clinic? They usually have a waiting time of about an hour, and you should call ahead because someone don't treat UTIs, but they're usually my go to for this

You should ask to speak to the duty doctor who will call you back. They’ll probably ask you to drop in a urine sample and call you back once tested (they’ll probably dipstick it for signs of infection and the send it to the lab to identify if there is infection present) and leave you a prescription to collect if appropriate.

You need treatment as cystitis can get worse quickly (I have it frequently). Phone the gp, tell them your symptoms and they will either do you a prescription over the phone or ask you to drop off a sample and do you one after dipping it.

I am planning on buying the cranberry sachets from Boots tomorrow, see how I go, they are a two day course. If by Thursday it's not getting any better I will phone for a phone consultation and tell them I have tried cystitis treatment, and hopefully from there I can drop off a urine sample etc, thank you guys x

The sachets only make your urine less irritating, they do nothing to combat the actual infection. Seriously, it can get nasty quickly. I’ve gone from mild pain in the morning to passing blood in my urine and agony within a few hours. I’d get the prescription. You could always delay taking the pills if you want to give it a bit longer, but if you’ve got them in you know you can start the course as soon as it gets worse.

Definitely have it tested OP! The pee test is very fast and simple & antibiotics will give you relief

I find that I get run down physically when I have them too so have figured out that I can't just ignore it and hope for the best

I wouldn’t wait until Thursday. Phone back and explain and see if you can have a phone consultation or drop in a urine sample for testing.

If you have an urgent care centre or department at your local hospital go there. That's something they should be able to treat. Some are 24 hours, others are open till the evening. Some are nurse led but that's not a problem for an issue like that. Normally at my local one you're there for an hour maybe an hour and a half tops. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Not sure If this is only in Scotland but you can take a urine sample to the pharmacy and they can give you antibiotics. There's a few conditions to if they can give but worth an ask

Dont you have a minor ailments clinic? I think there is one in practically every chemistor this only a Scottish thing? Instead of clogging up gps, you can visit boots etc. and they can deal with it and give you prescription medication.

I'm in Scotland and I didn't know about being able to take a pee sample to a chemist or that there is a minor ailments clinic in Boots. The only time I have seen a pharmacist in Boots was when I burnt my arm very badly (at the advice of people on here!) but I thought these symptoms were too mild for that?

No walk in centres near me unfortunately, I'm in the Highlands.

Drink loads and loads of water, that always helps me. Also, call the doctors back, say you think you have a UTI and they can sometimes prescribe antibiotics over the phone.

I used the Superdrug online doctor service for exactly this. Cost me £28 to get UTI meds the next day.

Feel better, OP!

You can get antibiotics online to collect from Superdrug within 2hrs if you have had UTIs before and know what it is. It’s more expensive than a regular prescription (about £20 iirc) but has been a lifesaver when I e needed to get antibiotics in my system ASAP and can’t get an appointment/ time off of work.

www.boots.com/prescription-support/minorailments

Ok I've had a look here, it doesn't seem to cover UTI's, so I'm unsure if the pharmacist would be able to do a urine test?

I have never had a UTI before so I'm not sure I should risk purchasing medication that may not help, I just want to say thank you for all your advice though, you guys are fantastic!

Phone and ask for an appointment ASAP and drink plenty of water. I thought mine was cystitis but the need to urinate and the burning and pain got worse and worse then next minute I was bleeding. It cleared up pretty quickly with tabs from the doctor but I needed 2 x courses.