Urethra pain

[IvysPoison]

I am feeling utterly miserable and hoping someone can help.

At the start of February I started feeling like I was developing a UTI- constantly needing a wee, sore urethra. I had my urine checked by the nurse and she said there was no evidence of a UTI and booked me in for some swabs to be taken (stds, bv and something else). Anyway, due to various circumstances and my appointment being repeatedly rescheduled, these swabs weren't taken until the end of April. The swabs all came back clear. The nurse then tested my urine again and she said there was a minuscule amount of blood in my urine but not enough to suggest I had a uti but said she would give me antibiotics because I had been suffering for so long. The antibiotics did nothing and my symptoms continued. However, over the course of the following months the symptoms gradually improved (with the odd flare up) and I thought it was getting better on its own. However, it flared up towards the end of my last af and has been unbearable since my af ended four days ago.

The main symptoms seem to be:
A constant burning feeling in my urethra
Constantly needing the toilet
No actual burning when passing urine but it starts again as soon as I've finished on the toilet
A heavy, swollen feeling (on and off) around my vulva all the way to my anus.

I'm feeling so down in the dumps and fed up and just want this horrible feeling to go away. I've got an appt with my gp later this week but just know I'm going to get fobbed off because every time I've ever been to the gp about issues in the vaginal area before I've always been told that "it's just what your body does and it's normal for YOU".

Anyway, has anyone got any ideas what the problem could be, or suffered from anything similar?

pinching pain

Following as I’m having similar symptoms, constant need to go to the toilet and slight nipping feeling in urethra.

@Susieblue18 Can I ask are you a similar age? I’m 47 this year

@Seashellsandsand I’m 53 but still haven’t gone through menopause though starting to get some flushes, periods further apart etc. Not sure if it could be related to age/hormones.

Hope you can get it sorted., at 53 it most prob is hormone related. It’s so uncomfortable.

Hi I'm going through this too! I have a awful bearing down pain in my vagina/urethra and I'm so irritated in my urethra. I also have a dull pain over my public bone. Weirdly after i wee it feels like there a bubble stuck in my urethra, it makes we want to squeeze my legs together. Had swabs done at gp and urine tests. There is microscopic blood in my urine but they say not a infection. I'm at my witts end!!

I was in so much discomfort I honestly though there must be something seriously wrong with me. I'm 5 weeks in to using estradiol pessaries (vagifem) and every single symptom has resolved. As a bonus I can now sleep for several hours in a row which was impossible before due to pain and or the urgency to pee. Bless the (older, female) practice nurse who suggested I try it when I went for an (incredibly painful) routine smear. I hadn't wanted to have the conversation with my young male GP. Typing that last sentence makes me feel like an idiot🙄

@PupInAPram I’m pleased that the pessaries are working for you.
@StressedSandwich Sorry that you’re suffering also.
I have developed further symptoms now which are pain in my sacrum and hips and buttock. My whole pelvis feels stiff.
The burning pain in urethra has been greatly helped by the Ovestin and the Amitryptiline helps masks the pain.
Im exploring that the additional symptoms included might be Hypertonic Pelvic floor Dysfunction.
I have a Urology appointment soon so I'm going to suggest this.

OP did you ever get answers? I’m going through the exact same thing as you and my urology appointment is miles away.

@IvysPoison Hey, hope you're much better! I know this is a super old thread but currently going through exactly the same thing. How are you now - did you find a solution?

@StressedSandwich @PRC How are you both now? I'm suffering with this too and at my wit's end...I'm also only 32 so not sure if it could be hormonal stuff?

@pickledwillies i had all the tests, cystoscopy/ kidney scan/ blood tests for kidney function. Nothing was found and I was discharged! Symptoms persisted and even now if I test my urine it always has microscopic blood in it. But I’ve got to a manageable point with the pain where I’m mostly ok by being super consistent with a high strength cranberry tablet and optibac for women probiotic everyday. I also only drink coffee once or twice a week as that seemed to be a huge trigger for me. I really feel for you, I’m also only 34 so really don’t think that it’s hormonal and did try estrogen cream to no avail.

@PRC Sorry you didn't find a cause, but glad you're a bit better. Did yours all start with a UTI?

@pickledwillies yes it did! Did yours?

Yes! About 2 months ago. The first urogynae I saw did say it could be leftover nerve irritation/inflammation which will resolve in time. But I'm not feeling reassured!

@pickledwillies im wondering if that’s true as mine has gotten better especially over the last 3 months…but in total it’s taken a year so far and I would say I now have a couple of days a month it feels bad rather than everyday.