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.

@Lliria glad to hear it’s improving with the antibiotics.

I’m still taking the D mannose- I’m scared to stop just incase it’s making a difference!

I'm in a similar position re travel insurance. My insurer covered me for a planned trip in September because this arose after I took the policy out. But now I am "awaiting diagnosis" so can't book anything else. It may sound shallow and trivial but I've had a shit few years including breast cancer and quite frankly want to travel as much as I can while I can.

My symptoms have pretty much gone away. Saw the gynae /oncologist today because of raised CA125 and my cancer history. This was tested when my "UTI" was negative. He is not at all concerned and was very reassuring. Will re-test in 6 months. Gynae thinks interstitial cystitis which does fit my symptoms.
So I then see the urologist next week. I was hoping since my symptoms have been quiet for 6 weeks he would just discharge me. If he wants to do a cystoscopy that'll be another waiting list.

I’m waiting to be seen in our local minor injuries - the stinging and burning is unbearable so I’ve done a sample and hoping they’ll give me more antibiotics

So sorry @Storynanny1 hope you get on ok.

How are you @Lliria?

I'm doing good. I really think my problems were oestrogen related. I have a follow up GP appointment on Tuesday this week after I restarted the Vagifem. I feel mostly back to normal but don't want to jinx it! So nice to not be popping antibiotics like smarties.

Hope everyone else doing ok as we head into Christmas

X

@LittleMonks11 Hi, glad to hear you ve been ok for a while.
I had been fine for a while then the Cystoscopy I had at the beginning of November caused another UTI - irony. So had to have another antibiotic course a couple of weeks ago. Seeing consultant for follow up on Tuesday. Nothing abnormal was found which is good so I'm hoping for practical advice moving forward. I think I ll always be prone to UTIs but I'm doing everything I can to prevent them !

Very nice nurse practitioner tested my wee and told me what I already knew - traces of blood and high white blood count. He called the on call urologist who prescribed different antibios for ten days.
Whilst the computer was on I could sort of read the letter from the consultant which mentioned one of my large kidney stones has moved near the tube to the bladder. So that’s more fun to look forward to!

Hi - Watching with interest. I've had right side kidney pain, blood and infection for 5 weeks now. Now on 2nd course of AB's and having a CT scan as GP suspects kidney stone.

Can I ask some advice? Just had what felt like a UTI but I'm also waiting for diagnosis as I have endo (which is also 99% likely to be on my bladder)
Finished antibiotics of 7 days and still have pressure like I need the toilet. Dip is clear (done myself) no pain or blood
Would you go back to the GP or see if it improves? It feels better but.. not 100%

@witchypaws Hi, I can sympathise. I would go by how your feeling not by the dipstick test. These are unreliable. Maybe you have some bladder inflammation left. I find drinking Barley water calms my bladder when it feels irritated or pressured. It wouldn't hurt to get some advice , maybe see if you can speak to your practice nurse ? Don't know what your GP practice is like but it's very hard to get any appointment at my GP practice but sometimes I can get a nurse phonecall.

@shggg245 Hi. How awful for you. I had a kidney infection in the summer and the kidney pain was awful. I had a CT scan to check for stones but didn't have any. Think it took 8 weeks for me to feel better. What antibiotics are you on ?

Hi I'm on 2nd 7 day course of cefalexin 500mg. 2nd culture came back with ecoli. Just feel rubbish, sick and in pain. Classic symptoms apparently. Hopefully no stones.

@Lliria thanks. I've been back and they've given me a week of cefalexin

Someone kindly pointed me in the direction of this thread and I just wondered how everyone is getting on ?
I finished 3 days of antibiotics for a UTI a week ago today had a couple of days where seemed ok but now feel like I've got incontinence (really struggled not to wet myself on train to work this morning and had to buy tens pads.)
Had to go to the loo constantly through the day and even when I've just been it feels like someone is kicking my bladder.
I've had dmannose for the last couple of nights and have only been drinking water and lemon barley.
I've had uti's before and symptoms like overactive bladder but nothing like this.

You mentioned you have Vagifem but are nervous about using it but I would crack on. I was the same after almost a year of what appeared to be concurrent UTIs.

Eventually the GP decided she thought it was non bacterial cystitis as I never had a bacteria found on culture.

I now get what I call flare ups when I drink too much fizz (see December festive season) , too much caffeine, too little sleep and too much stress. The Vagifem I started last autumn has really helped though as I was virtually going from one 'UTI' to the other.

I think you must call your GP and ask for a longer course three days of nitro used to dampen the symptoms but they'd be bs k about a week later. I found that amoxicillin for 7 days worked best while I wasn't being treated with vaginal HRT. And for a sample to be sent to lab. And start the Vagifem.

Sorry to welcome you to this thread.

Hope everyone else ok?

PS. I don't take antibiotics anymore.

Thank you for highlighting this thread @LittleMonks11. Lots of useful info here.
I've got some urine strips and showing leucocytes , blood and protein tonight (and I feel worse than I did when originally prescribed the antibiotics.)
Was all clear a week ago so either it's a new infection or the other one didn't go completely.

@dahliaaa hi, sounds like the original UTI hasn't cleared. Don't know why we get given 3 days of ABs , they only start working after 48 hours. Hope you can make contact with your GP practice soon. If the urinalysis strips are showing blood etc then it's a probable infection. Good luck

@LittleMonks11 Hi, this has been a long thread since started by the OP, and it's interesting to see how some are doing. Glad everything settled for you.
I've been ok for a few months now and have been more consistent with my vagifem, probiotics and D-mannose. Whilst I had time over Xmas I watched a few you tube videos about the link between vaginal oestrogen and bladder health. Dr Louise Newson ( UK meno specialist )and Dr Rachel Ruben ( US Urologist) and they both confirm that local oestrogen reduces UTI frequency.
It seems to have worked for you so seems your GP was up to date.
The Urologist I saw last year recommended a small daily dose of Nitrofurantoin if I get another UTI, but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.
Like you if I overindulge with vino or coffee or don't drink enough water , I feel a twinge but thankfully it doesn't progress.
I for one think Vagifem is a game changer x

Thank you @Lliria
GP has prescribed 7 days of 3x500mg a day of amoxicillin. Apparently the culture that was sent off last week came back as positive for proteus (not ecoli) and resistant to the nutri AB - which I guess is why the uti came back so quickly (and worse.)
Really hoping that the 7 day dose works as the symptoms are so debilitating. (Along with the pain and discomfort I don't seem to have much control over my bladder and I've hardly made it to the loo a couple of times. I'm terrified of wetting myself.)

@dahliaaa hi, hope you are starting to feel better on the new ABs.
I had Amoxicillin last summer it does cause gut issues unfortunately but you ll just be pleased if your UTI goes won't you x

@Lliria we definitely seem very similar. It was a young male GP who I'd never seen before who called it for me regards the vaginal oestrogen. I never pushed for cytoscopy because I just wanted to avoid at all costs! Glad you're doing mostly good.

@dahliaaa I was ok with amoxicillin so I guess it just depends on the person. Hope you're doing ok.

Hope everyone else ok.

How are you getting on @Storynanny1 Hope you're ok.

@LittleMonks11 @Lliria thank you for checking how I am doing.
Just coming towards the end of the amoxicillin.
Pain has definitely reduced but still got pressure on bladder so feel need to go a lot.
I'm really hoping that when I finish the amoxicillin it doesn't just come straight back like it did with the nutri.
I've bought some cranberry tablets as apparently they might be more helpful than other self help things to ward off proteus (rather than ecoli.)

@dahliaaa I wouldn't use cranberry tablets for Proteus, unless maybe for prevention.
Proteus likes acid urine to grow in. It's best of you keep the urine neutral / alkaline, to slow down Proteus growth. Cranberry tends to make acidic urine.
You could try Uva Ursi.
Which test showed Proteus, was it an NHS standard culture test?

Also, if there is any chance you could be in perimenopause, you could try vaginal estrogen.
You could also take Probiotics (Otibac Intimate Flora or Nutrizing Womens, and/or Canesflor Vaginal).
The above is because Amoxicillin tends to kill all your friendly vaginal bacteria, which leaves you open to another UTI.

You could try -

Finishing the Amoxicillin (did your culture say that the Proteus was sensitive to it??)
Then starting Uva Ursi for 2 weeks, taken as directed, the tinctures on an empty stomach not too diluted until an hour after.
Start the probiotics and vaginal estrogen also alongside at this time, as directed.
Then after the 2 weeks if not symptom free - starting Hiprex tablets (with L Methionine) for a while, until your symptoms stop.
Do not have sex during this time, and eat plenty of Protein, Vit D, Vit A, and Zinc.