Recurrent/Ongoing UTI

[TealTulips]

Near the start of January I started with UTI symptoms (pelvic pain, urge to urinate etc.) Drank loads and took OTC sachets and after 3/4 days it eased but didn't really go away completely.

I phoned the GP and they prescribed 3 days of nitrofurantion. The symptoms got better but again came back a couple of days after stopping the antibiotics.
.
After a bad weekend, I phoned the GP again. Told to drink lots of water and it would get better. It didn't.

Phoned GP again. They wouldn't prescribe antibiotics until they'd sent a sample off.
But test showed no infection so no further treatment (by text).

Phoned GP again as still had bad symptoms.
They sent off another sample on Thursday. They did prescribe 3 days of nitro but I was told not to take it until tests results were back or if I felt a lot worse.
The symptoms were bearable until Sunday but then got quite bad again so I started antibiotics. Finished them yesterday.

Yesterday evening and this morning I felt better physically and mentally than I had since the start of January
This morning GP said second test also negative for infection.

This afternoon symptoms started to come back .
Phoned GP again.

They won't prescribe more antibiotics as there was no infection indicated - but surely if the symptoms get better with antibiotics and worse again when I stop taking them chances are it's an infection?

And they said it can't be a uti as it came back too quickly (30 hours). But 3 days is only a short course of antibiotics so if it hadn't completely gotten rid of the infection it would come back?

This has all been by phone and various GPs.

AIBU or is the GP correct and it must be something else?

I'm not someone who thinks antibiotics cure everything, in fact I'm quite cautious about taking them as they can make me feel ill.
But I really need to get this sorted, not only is it bloody painful but it severely affects my mental health.

Try taking d-mannose. This changed my life after suffering uti's for years, sometimes mine showed as undetected like you, sometimes I ended up in hospital. Taking d-mannose resolved everything. Google it, it's a suger supplement, it can't harm to try and there is a lot of evidence for it now. Despite this some gp's have still not heard of it. I can't recommend it highly enough. I hope you feel better soon! X

Quite often the tests show negative even when there is an infection.

You need more antibiotics.

Get a second opinion.

I had an on-going /recurrent UTI last year and the tests were all negative but my GP prescribed different antibiotics until one finally worked - but it took a 3 week course. Often 3 days is not enough and then.they can become embedded.

D-Mannose didn't work for me but it's definitely worth a try as it seems to work for many people.

@grapefruitish I read about d mannose. Certainly worth a try, especially as, having never had a uti until 3 years ago, I'm having them regularly (menopause ).

The GP mentioned vaginal estrogen - has anyone tried that?

@Wildswim I've already spoken to 3 different GPs in the practice - they've all been unhelpful in different ways.

I have an appointment for tomorrow to prod my pelvis to 'find out what else it could be'.
I think I'm going to have a fight on my hands to get more antibiotics (and if she prods too hard I'll probably wee on her ).

I had similar after a change to my hrt dose because of supply issues-

Adjusting hrt and vaginal oestrogen was life changing.

@thesandwich Yes my problems (UTIs and mental health issues) all started with perimenopause.
HRT is something else my GP is very reluctant to prescribe.

Are there reasons you cannot have hrt? Brilliant advice on the menopause thread- look out for @jinglinghellsbells who gave me brilliant advice.
Also have a look at the NICE guidelines. Good luck