UTI Symptoms not going away & scared

[Honeybeebear]

Hello,

First time posting but long time reader 🙂
I started having UTI symptoms 8 days ago-frequent urination, burning, not a lot of wee coming out and ordered some Nitrofurantion from the Superdrug dr. I have had a few UTIs over the years and have used Macrobid which I think is the same and I always feel a lot better in a couple of days.
first 24 hrs of taking them I felt a lot better, but had a reaction half way through the course (pins and needles in legs/arms, numb feet) and ooo doctor said to stop and prescribed me Fosformycin.
I didn’t feel too bad on Monday, went to work and picked my the prescription, used that evening and apart from urgency to wee I felt okish.
Weds- thrush symptoms, got an oral tablet
Thurs- symptoms starting to return, frequency and a feeling like my bladder is full constantly, burning etc.
Yesterday the ooo gave me 3 days of Trimethoprim although urine test was clear! thrush really bad again so used a pessary last night.
Today- felt a ok this morning for a few hours, But then symptoms of burning and needing to wee (every hour) are still there. I’m scared the antibiotics are not working and every night I seems to go downhill and get worse before eventually sleeping. I don’t know if the drs will give me anymore with the urine test negative.

the last couple of days as well as the full feeling in my bladder, I’ve felt twinges/spasms- not sure if it’s my bladder, cervix, or what but it feels constant, I’m more aware of it when I’m trying to sleep.

I’m scared, exhausted and have gone from feeling normal to feeling so vulnerable.

has anyone else had to use multiple antibiotics for a UTI?

I’m supposed to be going to Spain on our family holiday next weekend but at the moment I just feel like cancelling it or DH and kids to go without me.

@LittleMonks11 I've had a similar opinion too from a GP.
She thinks I did start with a UTI but because my samples show mixed growth now and I've got supra pubic pain it could be something else causing my symptoms.
I saw a different GP weeks ago who said the pain was bladder spasms.
The pain comes and goes but when bad is a burning cramp that lasts for hours.
I also have shown a potential infection on a swab.
Bottom line is I'm confused myself but one thing I know is I want it to end.
Like you I'm still using D-Mannose , I have enough ABs to stock a pharmacy made up of ones I " acquired" from a medical friend and courses I didn't take.
When I saw an OOH nurse at the weekend ( on post to Buerla) she suggested going to a GUM clinic as they will do more through swabs.

@Honeybeebear Hi how are you today ?
Have you got any urinalysis strips to check your own urine ? I got mine from Amazon, I know we've said their not always accurate but if it showed leucocytes you d get an indication ?
If it was me I'd take the Trimethoprim as a 5 day course . Think you said you had 10 ? So 100mg tabs at 1 twice a day for 5 days might put it right.
I wouldn't worry about the resistance yet, that's not a strong AB . If you had Ciprofloxacin I'd be more cautious.
I'm wondering if you just need a different kind of AB to put it away - like Cephalexin? Maybe it's as simple as the Trimethoprim isn't working for you .

@Lliria im feeling ok thanks, better than yesterday, but just feels like something isn’t right. I have ordered the strips from Amazon and they should come today. I think I will test first and see that it says. I’m just so fed up now.

how are you feeling today? Hopefully the new treatment will work and put it all away.

@Honeybeebear my UTI symptoms have calmed but now I'm getting bladder spasms on and off- GP said these are probably due to having the UTI for a long time - great. I suppose at least I can take paracetamol for that. Fed up of taking pills tho. She gave me some medication to take at night for overactive bladder but they don't really work and make me sleepy the next day.
Maybe your symptoms are due to the bladder trying to calm down after being irritated for so long ?

Feel like it’s all in my head.

I have no symptoms except for when I think about it then I have frequent urination. So paranoid and just can’t relax. I don’t know what I can do.

@Tableaufox I know what you mean as I do this sometimes.
Thinking about it may make you go more I suppose, more like an anxiety reaction.
I sometimes think to myself " if it comes back I ll deal with it then but for now I'm sure I don't. " This sort of helps.
You could buy some urinalysis strips from Amazon and test you Urine. I know these aren't always perfect but if you had an infection brewing it could show protein or white blood cells. At least you d be checking - obvs don't do that if it wil cause more worry.
Maybe your bladder is still irritated ? Drink some barley water of camomile tea.

@Tableaufox I know what you mean, I definitely think when I’m distracted I don’t pick up on every small twinge or if I need the loo a few more times than usual.

@Lliria glad that your UTI symptoms are gone, hopefully the bladder spasms will calm soon.
i think you’re right about the bladder trying to calm down. I need to give myself a bit of time and perhaps not expect to feel 100% all of the time.

i did a dip stick test this morning and it was completed clear. I know they aren’t accurate, but I think as I’ve been off antibiotics for over 2 weeks they would show something if I was developing another infection. I feel a lot better this morning, I wonder if something just irritated by already irritated bladder.

i requested some information from my Gp about my medical records and was looking over the two urine test results that came back. Both had red blood- only 10ul, one had 10ul of white blood cells and the other 10-100 and bacteria was ++, no growth, both say normal and this was when I was told, maybe they are normal?
But I would have thought combined with my symptoms getting worse, despite almost being finished my third antibiotic I would have been offered a continuation of the antibiotic at least rather than told it’s IC! If I hadn’t seen the private consultant and got an extension on the trimethoprim I’m sure I would have been back into a full infection and not been able to go on holiday! I need to just put this in the past but I think it’s this feeling of being dismissed that makes me so worried about it coming back all the time.

@Honeybeebear I've looked at all my MSU results on my app whilst this has been going on for me. When I'd been on antibiotics they were clear and the times I'd thought a UTI was brewing and I sent off another sample they showed red blood cells and mixed growth.so obviously something was low lying in-between AB courses, which sort of says to me I needed a continuous course for a few weeks. I think that's what you may think about your situation too.
I think GPs/ nurses expect most people to not return after a course of AB but clearly this doesn't work for everyone .
I have another private Urologist appointment booked on the 12th Sept but my GP has now referred me for an urgent urogynae because I'm now getting quite bad pelvic cramping/burning and because I'm 56 it's a fast track.
So think I might delay the urologist as it could conflict.
All I know is I was fine until I had a UTI in June😏

well, the pain today has ramped up to a whole new level of savagery, and I have had CRPS in the past so I am no stranger to pain but fuck me this is BAD. 9/10 its the pressure feeling that is worst and it feels like someone is twisting a red hot poker in my lower right pelvic area, lower abdo is soo tender to touch too

I have sent my sample off to Focus Labs so just a waiting game now, if this comes back clear I suppose I will just have to accept the IC diagnosis🤐

Oh no poor you. Have you had an ultrasound of your bladder and uterus? Could it be an infected cyst or a twisted tube??

Poor thing. Have you tried hot water bottle on your bladder? I sometimes found directed hot shower onto bladder eased it a bit.

@StanleyGoodspeed sending you a hug. I really feel for you, the pain is so debilitating isn't it.

I've had a phone call from Urology this morning and am going to have a cystoscopy on the 7th September. Really not looking forward to it as my urethra feels quite sore and inflamed at the moment.
I've actually booked myself in at a sex health clinic to have tests done tomorrow afternoon, I just feel like I should rule everything out 🙄

Was just thinking about you. Has the bleeding stopped? Hope all goes well next week.

Thanks everyone, its awful being in so much pain and not being taken seriously.

I have had ultrasound on bladder and all looks ok. I have no uterus, ovaries, tubes or cervix anymore so cannot be those at fault😃

Pengydog good luck with the cystoscopy, just keep an eye out afterwards for fever, I had a cystoscopy and was told all ok but ended up with another fever afterwards needing more antibiotics

@LittleMonks11 yes it did stop after a couple of days thankfully. Just wish this constant pain in my lower bladder would go now.

@StanleyGoodspeed that is a concern of mine that it will aggravate things even more. Hopefully everything goes smoothly 🙏

How is everyone else feeling today?

@LittleMonks11 hi, yes I've tried a warm wheat bag but sometimes it makes it worse. Don't know what's going tbh , just wish it would stop !! I'm taking Amytriptyline now for the chronic pain element ,it sort of helps but makes me feel tired !!
How are you feeling ?

Just wondering if anyone else has (had) this symptom: a feeling of pressure / awareness that the bladder if needing a wee again. Not urgency, not painful, not going to wet myself, but always the dull feeling of needing a wee which is temporarily relieved for minutes after going for a wee.

I have exactly this @Tableaufox

@LaDeeDa123 can I direct message you please?

Of course x

Hi all. My pain kept coming and going - but had back pain and pelvic pain keeping me awake on Monday so took paracetamol and codeine. I think the squidgy bed in this cottage may have been the cause of the back ache though. So it came and went a few more times and I gave now had no pain or niggles since Tuesday afo roughly. I haven't taken the ABs and decided to stop the D Mannose and probiotics. I almost stopped the Vagifem when I sat down to read the possible side effects 😬 but told myself I'd do the 3 months (or whatever they prescribed) and if it's not doing anything I'll stop. So, that's where I am at the moment. No wee problems. I've been having some rose wine and no repercussions (so far!)

Sending positive thoughts to all as ever. X

And I feel like now I've posted that my pain will come back 😵‍💫

I had bladder pressure for ages, really painful at one point but then less painful and more just there. I had relief for about 30 seconds while I washed my hands but felt it back by then time I was drying my hands.

I’ve felt really sore the last few days. I’ve tried Fluconazole and it was better for about 12 hours and now back again. I’m hoping my period will arrive tomorrow and change things.

@Honeybeebear I think this is what I'm suffering with. Mine is like a cramping-burning and feels worse at night. My GP said it sounds like a bladder spasm. I did get meds for it but they don't help. To think all this started with a UTI 😭

@Lliria are your symptoms getting any better?

I’m not really in pain today but just a weird not quite right feeling. I’m getting fed up now and just want to feel normal. Would love to have a glass of wine but I’m too scared it will set things off.