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.

It's good that you spoke to someone else, I hope that the appointment goes well and in a way if it turns out to be a UTI at least you ll know and then you ll get the right treatment hopefully and if it's a stronger course of ABs then you may be able to go on holiday.
Do you feel a bit more relieved that you spoke to someone ?
Which online GP company did you use if you don't mind me asking ?

OP if the initial tests were positive for UTI it's very unlikely to be something else. And actually that's the bad thing, because when it isn't something else the system just abandons you.

Thank you! I will keep updating as I’ve found this thread to be such a great support.

it definitely felt better to speak to someone else, mine was through AIG Smart Health.

I feel better than earlier, but still that bladder full feeling and twitchy all over pelvic area. I can’t work out if it’s better for me to try and move a bit more tomorrow or if resting is best.

i think I’ve had worse nights when I’ve done more during the day.

I didn’t have a test originally, just bought Nitrofurantion 3 day as it’s always worked fine for me before.

Totally agree, I was given no help or advice on how to manage with my symptoms in the short term and the nurse just would not even consider that the dip test could be wrong. just told that the next sage would be urology if things didn’t improve.

The support has been encouraging for me too. It can be a lonely place being ill and feeling vulnerable because no one seems to help. Interesting that the private GP supported the " low lying infection" theory and your practice nurse dismissed it. I think instinctively you know who could be right ! I'd be interested to know how you get on.
Over the last month I've had a bladder scan and a CT - not requested by my GP but another A&E I drove to after the first A&E didn't do my IV ABs.Both scans normal that's why I knew mine was recurring UTI.

Oh and I think you should rest tommoz. Hot water bottle on tummy, painkillers etc x

@Lliria Where do you live? I'm wondering how you got IV antibiotics? I can't even get offered oral antibiotics if the dipstick is negative!

I’ve cancelled everything tomorrow and I’m going to rest. I might try some meditation and breathing exercises. I feel like my pelvic area is being squeezed constantly and won’t relax

During covid times I got pretty much what you're describing.. I went for a scan of my bladder and everything, everything came back normal. I had read about interstitial cystitis and put 2 and 2 together myself, some canderel sweetener I'd been using to bake low calorie cakes! And using in my tea.. stopped eating it and it went away, tried some one morning and it came back! I've been fine ever since, so have a think if you've added something to your diet that could be affecting your pain x

I hadn’t really thought about that. I can’t think of anything that I’ve recently started using or eating. Glad to hear it hasn’t come back

I feel like I’ve turned a bit of a corner today. I had a couple of hours of feeling sore yesterday evening, then it faded and managed to sleep all night for the first time in ages!

I’be felt a lot better today, still tender in tummy/pelvic area and a few pains but I urgency or pressure which was the worst of my symptoms.

only got 1 day left of antibiotics though so a bit nervous about that.

@Honeybeebear I'm so glad you are feeling better. I'm also worried about when course finishes, but it's great to have sleep xx

Hi, I live in Lincolnshire. But I never got them in the end.my GP sent me to our local hospital in Peterborough 3'weeks ago as it had gone to my kidneys.
After waiting 8 hours in A&e ( put in that queue my mistake by the reception as was supposed to be sent to the medics) the A&E doctor said I didn't need them.
My own GP then gave me Augmentin for a week which cleared the Kidneys but a week later lower UTI symptoms came back and that's when she wouldn't give me any more tablets as the dipstick test was clear.even though NICE guidelines say dips give false negatives after antibiotics.
I'm treating myself now with Norfloxacin that I had previously bought from Spain when I lived there.
You can buy this from Canadian pharmacy online. . .
It's similar to our crappy Nitrofurantoin but a new generation AB for UTI that our NHS doesn't use. . .

I will add that Im not encouraging people to self medicate but I decided to take responsibility for this as wasn't getting anywhere. I'm an in the dental profession so do have some understanding of pharmacology.
An OOH s GP told me many people get their own ABs now.

How’s everyone doing?

i don’t feel so good today, didn’t sleep well and everything feels quite sensitive. No pain but just tingly feeling constantly from bladder!

I had my consultant app today and they checked nothing was pressing on my bladder and suggested the lining of the bladder may have broken down from infection meaning it’s more open to low level infections. The next stage will be some tests, which I’m scared about as I hate anything like that.

I have an extension of my antibiotics for 14 days to take 1 per day, 2 if the full on symptoms return.

I think thrush is definitely coming back. I have 1 more Fluconazole tablet to take, but I’m hesitant to take it as I’ve noticed with the other 3 I have had quite bad days following taking it. But need to get rid of it

Still not sure about holiday, I’m going to try and take my mind of it all and see if I can disconnect a bit from the sensation.

Hi,
It's good you got checked out today and that it will be investigated properly.
I think sometimes after a bad infection the bladder nerves are more sensitive and there is a medication for that as well !
Did they give you more Trimethoprim then ? Think that's used as a prophylaxis AB to prevent recurrence.
Are you taking paracetamol to block nerve/ pain signals ? - it might help.
Like me you probably just want your life back.
I'm 3 days into the Norfloxacin and feel things are improving, but daren't be to hopefull. Like you I still have some odd pains.
When were you due to go on holiday ?
It's all very draining isn't it, I'm knackered.
It's got to end at some point

Glad things are improving!

Yes got more Trimethoprim. I tried paracetamol and ibuprofen a few times but it doesn’t seem to make much difference.

supposed to go Monday Morning, I Cole probably mange if it stayed as it is now, but I’m just terrified of things getting worse. Yesterday I felt normal, today symptoms are back.

its so draining isn’t it, I can’t remember what it feels like not to be like this.

I'm taking buscopan for the bladder spasm which is helping a bit.
What area of UK do you live in ? Just wondering.
I'm wondering if you need switching to a different type of antibiotic but then we re at the mercy of prescribers aren't we. If you make it to Spain go to the medico there.

In in the south of England,

I wished I’d asked the consultant if they could prescribe me something else now.

its just so up and down, I think I’m greeting better, then I’m not

I had a very similar experience to this. My doctor's don't do dip tests anymore so I bought some of my own as I wasn't convinced it was an actual infection. I had a constant need to go to the loo but not much would come out and it went on for months. Doctor's just kept giving me antibiotics but they never helped much. The doctor then decided it was bladder pain syndrome which might be your problem.
But it turned out that due to an original urine infection last july my pelvic floor went into spasm. So my bladder would send out signals that it was under threat and my pelvic floor went into protect mode. Am now under a pelvic physio and it has made it so much better.
Might be worth googling pelvic physio on YouTube as there is a brilliant physio on there that can explain it so much better than me.

Hey how are you today ? Just wondering.
I've finished my ABs now so will have to see. It becomes all consuming as thinking about it all the time ! All the ABs have set off my IBS so now I have stomach cramps !
Are you going on holiday ? X

That’s really interesting as I have felt like my pelvic floor is in spasm- like I can’t relax it all of a sudden. I’ll take a look into it

I feel much better than yesterday, a few twinges and sensitive. I did have a day like this on Friday though so I’m just hoping it’s not going to go backwards.

im wondering if thrush is causing my continuing symptoms as I take a Fluconazole and for 24 hrs better, then it returns along with the UTI symptoms. I then take another Fluconazole, and a few hours later it settles down.

I’m scared of cutting the antibiotics down to 1 per day.

If things stay like this then I will definitely be going- I’m being positive and have packed!

How are you feeling today?

Could be the problem then. Just getting it diagnosed was a massive help for me and my symptoms improved from then on. Still under the physio and still get the odd flare up if I'm stressed but it's so much better. Hope it helps you.

Sounds promising for you, fingers crossed. Maybe once your occupied with travelling it will take your mind off it. You could always take two ABs a day .
I'm not too bad thanks, just need to chill I think !
Well have a good holiday !