Bladder woes - urgent referral

[SirSidneyRuffDiamond]

For the past 10 weeks or so I have had UTI symptoms- urgency, frequency and burning in the urethra. I dipped positive for nitrites twice, but no growth in culture. No blood present. 3 lots of antibiotics have not helped at all. I have had an ultrasound on my kidneys, bladder and ovaries - all clear. Now I am getting nauseated, lost my appetite and feel pretty unwell in myself (sometimes shivery, but no high temperature). I am now being referred urgently to a urologist for a cystoscopy and am extremely worried they will find bladder cancer. Has anyone had similar and nothing sinister found? What a time for this to happen. Handhold needed for sure.

BTW I am 52.

My GP prescribed me Vagifem ( a type of HRT) I thought she was mad as I had no menopause symptoms in a particular. Just a bladder that was permanently on fire. To the point I couldn't function.

I thought she was mad but I was desperate and I would have tried anything

Game changer! Apparently there are oestrogen receptors in the bladder!

Happy to talk more if it helps. But have a google!

Hi, I had very similar when I was 24 and suffered for about 18 months. I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, and had my bladder expanded which fixed all my symptoms. There's lots of things that can cause those symptoms, stay away from Google and don't panic. The fact that the scan was clear is very good news.

Could it be menopause? Also, do you do exercise that presses on pelvic floor? Or running. Are you overweight? I had a bladder prolapse and at menopause got urethral symptoms such as 'cigarette burning' sensations at night and uncomfortable pressure as the position of the urethra changed. Exercise made it worse, and I would get a sensation of a drop of urine about to come out. I got the vagifem too and it has settled down.

HI, I have symptoms similar to you. I have pain in my pelvis and feel as if I need to go to the toilet all the time. I'm sore at times especially when sitting. Dr thought it was UTI but that came back negative although some mycroscopic blood in urine. Dr said I have Vaginal Atrophy ( after examination). I am now on Ovestin which has helped but was advised that it can take months.

I am probably in menopause, but had a hysterectomy at 38 (retained my ovaries) so it's difficult to know for sure. I have had minor hot flushes for the past year and the ultrasound couldn't find my ovaries possibly because they shrink in menopause. I don't have any particular vaginal dryness, although one GP mentioned oestrogen cream as a possibility. I was checked for bladder prolapse. I have been advised to take ibuprofen (alongside lansoprazole) to see if that helps with the burning pain in my urethra. The nausea and lack of appetite concern me too, but GP wonders if they are a separate issue as they only arrived a couple of weeks ago.

Well urology clearly don't think it's urgent as the consultant has downgraded it to a routine appointment for which there is a long wait! Not sure whether to go back to the GP or not bother.