Help - UTI not responding to antibiotics

[Rightyouarelove]

Just writing for advice and a hand hold please. I’m late 30s, active mum of two who works full time. No major health issues.

About 3 weeks ago I started with classic UTI symptoms (I had more sex over Christmas so I guessed an unfortunate transfer of e-Coli). Went to docs and had 3 days of Nitrofurantoin followed by 5 days of Trimethoprim. I’m drinking loads, using cystitis sachets, D-Mannose and absolutely nothing is touch it. My symptoms are constant aching in my bladder, awareness / hotness in my urethra - going to bed at night it feels like I constantly need the loo (my bladder feels heavy). It’s unbearable (and I’m fairly tolerant of discomfort). I feel I have gone from healthy and having a life and future, to severely debilitated and depressed. To the extent that I don’t think I can live like this. I’m trying not to be dramatic but it is truly awful.

Can anyone offer the following;

• Specialists in UTI ideally who are in the north of England (Prof Marlone-Lee has sadly been diagnosed with cancer and I don’t think is practicing and Mr Ased Ali isn’t practicing privately anymore) - is there any one else as well respected (happy to pay to see someone privately)?

• A positive outcome from something like this. I’ve had UTIs before but not recurrently and they usually respond to antibiotics. Why is this one not responding.

I feel genuinely desperate. Thanks for your support.

Sorry, realised that I’ve name changed since this post but it is me!

Have you considered Trich??? Can be confused with utis
www.nhs.uk/conditions/trichomoniasis/

I have this, just posted and I suspect it’s atrophy. If I put lidocaine on it (vagisil) it goes away after a few hours. Mine is def sex related

@Fire19 @kermitswig How are you both now? Currently having this issue - 4 lots of antibiotics haven't cleared and now GP won't prescribe anymore. No idea what to do.

@buzzheath I got another persistent uti in Mid 2022. All tests were coming back negative but I had exactly the same symptoms I had had previously. I went to the Harley Street clinic. Had 9 months of antibiotics and 12 months of hiprex. Touch wood have not had any uti issues for over a year.

@Fire19 Ah ok so you haven't had symptoms since you stopped the 9-month antibiotics and hiprex? How long after you started them did your symptoms start to fade?

6 months I started feeling better and that concided with better results with the urine test done at Harley Street.

@Fire19 Ahh ok, so you still had symptoms within the 6 months you were taking them? I'm really nervous about long-term AB use, particularly as they can cause issues with nerves etc

I was nervous too, and really annoyed I had to take this route as if I had just been prescribed a decent course in the first place I won't have needed to take them for so long. I was on nitro with no nerve side effects. I did start on cephalexine to start with that did cause a horrible vaginal infection by killing off all my good flora. I would do the same again in the same position. I believe Dr Raj from the Harley Street clinic has also started up her own private practice in the Portland so that is also another option. Although it is disgusting that these private clinics in London are the few places you can get treated. Unless you can be referrer to Luts but the have a long waiting list.

Have you tried d-mannose? I use that for recurrent UTI's and it does seem to keep them at bay.