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

I am planning on going to see the pharmacist in Boots tomorrow, explaining I think I have a UTI and can't get a docs appointment. They can give out antibiotics so I assume they can do a urine test.
Unfortunately I live in a rural area where the doctors is very stretched to its limits, hence the next app being 5th July

Does anyone know if the pharmacist can definitely do a urine test? According to the website they can deal with pretty much anything a GP can

OP, gp surgeries are stretched everywhere. However, you asked for a routine appointment. If you don’t tell them over the phone that it’s urgent, an appointment three weeks from now is pretty standard anywhere. However, you probably do not need to be seen. You can get a prescription over the phone from your gp. I’m not sure why you haven’t phoned them to ask this?! You seem to be assuming it’s not possible just because they’ve given you an appointment for 5th July - which they would do if you didn’t tell them it was urgent.

You have to tell them What's wrong if you want an urgent appointment how do they know you need antibiotics if you don't tell them what's wrong try drinking lots of cranberry juice in meantime

Because an emergency appointment is a same day appointment, and my case is not an emergency. I don't want to take away that appointment for those who genuinely need to be seen today. I'm quite happy to wait and see the pharmacist tomorrow, failing that I'll make a phone appointment with the GP.

Once you actually have the infection drinking cranberry juice can make it worse. It’s too acidic. Just drink plain water. Cranberry juice is a preventative measure.
You do need to call the surgery back and ask for their advice. I left cystitis untreated and ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics for five days. It can develop quickly and be nasty.

Having a UTI and not being able to pass urine is a massive emergency and can become very serious very quickly

Definitely ring them and explain the problem over the phone. At my old GP the receptionists filled out a proforma and the Drs did an antibiotic prescription for a simple UTI by lunchtime to collect without an appointment. Don't be embarrassed to explain, it's really common and sounds like you need antibiotics.

Emergency gp appointments are not for life or death situations- that’s what A&E is for. They are for problems requiring urgent treatment which will worsen if left and can’t wait. Cystitis fits that category. But as has been repeatedly explained, you probably don’t need an appointment! You just need to ask for a prescription and see what they say!

Um it is an emergency. If there is an infection then you need antibiotics. I had a UTI that I did not get antibiotics for and it spread to my kidneys and I had to be hospitalised. It was awful, you get a fever and feel sh*t. Please go to the gp or walk in centre and see if they think you need antibiotics.

Yy to emergency appointment with the gp. This is exactly what they are for.

Most pharmacies in Scotland can now prescribe anti biotics for simple uti.
Go in and ask to speak tp pharmacist. If they deem it "complicated" phone GP adviae reception you attended pharmacy and require to be seen on the day.
Good luck x

Yes its exactly what emergency appointments are for - its not a routine one - you need antibiotics

If you explain the receptionist should ask for a sample and prescribe antibiotics from there it can be fitted in around other appointments

This is exactly what same day appointments are for.

Your practice may say to pop in, pee in a pot, have the nurse test it for you, or have a phone triage with the nurse and have a prescription handed over in 10 mins without any appointment at all - that's how mine works in Cornwall!

What toomuchhappyland said.

A suspected UTI is exactly the kind of thing an emergency GP appointment is for. Acute stuff which is causing significant problems and needs to be treated before it gets worse.

Anything more urgent than that and they'd be in A&E, not the GP's surgery.

Routine appointments are more for the "I think I've got a verruca" or "my knees have been bothering me for a while" kind of problems.

How about PushDoctor or one of the other doctor apps around. You download the app. You have to pay, but you can FaceTime a GP. They can then write prescription (again have to pay). They may say you need to do a urine test/urgent appointment or may be prepared on symptoms to prescribe some.

No, you do need a same day appointment. If it was a worse emergency or more urgent than that then you would need to go to A&E.

Perhaps they are poorly named if people think that they need to be dying before they can get one!

My local pharmacy (Scotland) will give trimethoprim antibiotics for 'uncomplicated urinary tract infections' to adult females to save GP appointment time. Not sure whether a sample is needed or not.

I'm in Scotland and all over the doctors surgery it says you can go to a pharmacy with suspected UTI and they can prescribe things to help like antibiotics.

Also your appointment requirements sound like emergency/urgent tbh so phone GP tomorrow morning and explain. Even an appointment with a nurse can sort it, our nurse practitioner sorts things like that at my surgery

Thanks everyone, I will update tomorrow

If it gets bad tonight contact out of hours hospital Dr. Honestly I was so ill I had fever, the pain was excruciating all the time and when I wee’d it felt like I was in labour. I also had stomach pains for about a week after th first course of antibiotics. I basically hobbled into our of hours hospital doctor. Mine got that bad in just under a couple of hours and I was told I was close to being hospitalised. Don’t put off something like this op.

You're definitely an emergency appointment Op.