Cystitis - private urine tests

[TP450]

Hi everyone,

I posted this in the womens health area, but I guess not as many people look there, so trying my luck here.

I have always suffered with cystitis on and off since I was a teenager. Ever since the new year I have been suffering. Loads of samples have been done at my doctors surgery and sent off to the lab and nothing shows. I have done some research and discovered that the NHS urine testing has not changed since the 50s and misses up to 50% of infections, due to them being “low grade”. I know there is an infection present, as when I am given antibiotics, it clears up for a short while. A few days after coming off of them, it back. I am not getting a strong enough course to clear the infection fully.

My question to you ladies is, I have seen that you can send your urine off to private labs at a cost of about £60 to be tested. Has any one got any experience with this? I am happy to pay the £60 for some answers, but dont want to do it if I will get the same answers. If you have had results, can you let me know what lab you used?

I have been referred to urology (again. I had all the tests done about 10 years ago) and have ordered some D Mannose as have heard some really good things about it.

Thanks in advance

TP

Hi TP, have you seen any copies of your lab reports? There are two reports of relevance. The microscopy report determines levels of white & red cells etc, while the culture report will show what level of organism has grown, if any. If there is one dominant organism above a certain growth level, this is reported as significant growth, and is likelier to suggest true infection, as opposed to low level irritation or contamination by mixed growth. However, if no organisms are seen at initial microscopic examination, then a culture may not be done at all. I would ring your GP and ask them to send you copies of all the lab reports that have been returned this far.
What does dipstick usually show when you have symptoms? If it shows both leukocytes and nitrites, then it would suggest there is infection, but culture is usually the determining test.

Ive never seen copies of the results, im always just told they are clear. Its only in the last week i started investigating online and realised anything below a certain level is considered not to be an infection.

Im on different antibiotics which have helped, but not cleared it up completely. Im due to finish them 2mo, and want to ask for another course but not convinced they will let me have any ☹️ Oh well, i can try

Hi Op. Did you go ahead with the private testing? It’s something I’m looking into for similar reasons. Thanks.

I kept getting cystitis symptoms and no infection was found, I had a cystoscopy and the doctor was like I probably won't find anything and it's up to me if I want it...
I had signs of triangonitits from the test ...
That's an inflammation of the bladder and can give me cystitis symptoms