Urine test results help - infection ?

[dahliaaa]

I haven't been able to get a GP appointment this week (surgery used to be brilliant but so difficult to get an appointment now.)
Anyway - ordered some urine strips to see if show up infection which was a stupid idea because now I don't actually know what the results mean
Leukocytes - 'large 500' (the furthest away from normal)
Billrubin - 17

Everything else looks normal. I've got some of the symptoms of UTI (urgency / discomfort / some burning / cloudy urine)

Drinking lots of water. Plus had the 'cystitis relief' powder for the last two days.

After months of constant utis, and antibiotics, I started vagifem and they cleared up.
I had to used it for 7 days and then once a week.
I haven't had a twinge in 18 months.
Start the vagifem.

It's strange isn't it that there is so much positive experience of vagifem etc and yet when I asked for it the GP didn't seem overly keen. There wasn't any problem getting a prescription but they weren't forthcoming with any 'I think it's really worth you giving it a try.' It was more of a 'are you sure you want it.'
Anyway got the prescription so that's the important thing.

Lots of GPs are not very clued up about atrophy in the menopause. Mine was dismissed for years. We have to do our own research and ask for what we want x

Day 3 out of 7 of the amoxicillin.
Still very uncomfortable and constantly feel that I need the loo. Work and commute difficult.
I think I'm a bit paranoid now either it won't clear ... or that it will for a few days and then come back.
🤞 that the vagifem will help.
I still haven't been able to find any info re self help and proteus (rather than ecoli) because things like DMannose don't work.
I did put up another post to ask if anyone else had proteus - doesn't have any replies at the moment but that's probably because not very common.

I would be worried about getting an embedded infection this is how I got mine. Short courses of antibiotics that improved symptoms but they came back once the course was finished. I would try and get you GP to prescribe hiprex and a longer course of antibiotics but you may have a fight on yours hands to be taken seriously. It is know that urine lipsticks and cultures are not accurate yet GP's are still diagnosing based on these. The most recent NHS guidelines state they should be looking at symptoms. I ended up having to see Prof malone-lees team in Harley Street to get treatment and after a long course of antibiotics and hiprex I have been free of all symptoms for a year. I first heard about this team on mumsnet and am so grateful someone reached out with this advice as after 6 months of utis symptoms and brush offs from the NHS I was in a dark place.

Thank you @Tommcollins I really appreciate the information. I'm glad you got the right treatment in the end.

Honestly @dahliaaa I believed I had an embedded infection or interstitial cystitis. I was looking at all sorts of cures including Harley Street. It was vaginal atrophy. So easily sorted with the HRT creams and pessaries x

Fingers crossed @HoldMeCloserTonyDancer
(I've somehow only managed to realise now that your name doesn't say 'Tiny' !)

Ha ha ha no, it’s Tony. Let me know how you’re getting on. X

I've got one full day of antibiotics left now.
The pain has definitely really improved but I've still got that 'pressure on bladder' feeling.
Really hoping that it doesn't all come back again like it take 10 days ago when I finished the first lot of antibiotics.
I've bought some cranberry tablets to start taking as soon as I finish the antibiotics and I've got the vagifem to start too. (D-Mannose apparently does nothing for proteus bacteria but cranberry may be more helpful.)

I've had months of issues with an ongoing uti.
Consultant urologist finally told me to take 2g 3x daily REGARDLESS of the bacteria species along with the litres of water daily to push the D mannose through. More specifically she told me to drink the water in the form of a many herbal tea at warm not hot temp as possible. Importantly the infection has cleared after 11 weeks. Check the lab are testing latest urine samples for specificity of antibiotic sensitivity. That's normal in the lab report. It's really important otherwise no matter what antibiotic you have doctors are treating blindly without correct medication.
Also keep up the vagifem.

Thank you @CupOfCoffeeandaPineappleChunk - I'm really glad things are better for you. V interesting to hear what your consultant said about the D-Mannose and any bacteria.
My sample was sent off to lab and it came back as proteus and resistant to nitro which was the first AB I was given, but sensitive to amoxicillin which I'm on now.
(Interestingly that sample was apparently negative on the dip desk at gp surgery.)
Ive got tests at home and they are still showing as some leucocytes in sample - but I'm not sure that actually means a great deal.

You will still have remaining you after an infection has gone as the body will still have remaining "infecting fighting cells" in it for a while afterwards. The important thing is they gradually decrease in number. If the increase it means treatment hasn't succeeded.

After 3 days in antibiotics you should start to feel a difference but the real test isn't what a test says is a) whether you are symptomatic and b) conclusive Proof would be a clear lab sample but this isn't necessary to repeat just for the sake of it.
Whilst useful, dip tests aren't completely reliable. The don't pick up if the urine is too dilute, they are prone to contamination they are non specific so if limited help.

Is really important if you aren't already doing so when giving a msu sample that you firstly clean the urethral opening and ensure the labia are held entirely clear of urine. This reduces the possibility of a skin dwelling bacteria crossing into the urine and being detected falsely as the "infection cause". Urologists take urine samples with a catheter to send off to avoid this and get accurate results.

The main thing is how are you feeling and are you drinking loads?

I really appreciate all the info @CupOfCoffeeandaPineappleChunk
That makes sense re the leucocytes still being there at this stage (yes they are lighter colour on the strip than they were.)

Sorry pressed send too quickly and won't let me edit on app.
Pain is definitely reduced and urine looks clearer but still got the sense of 'pressure' on bladder (although guessing that could last for a while if everything has been irritated (?)
To be honest I wouldn't even think about it if I hadn't got ill again (and worse) two days after finishing the last AB.

Have posted on the longer general uti thread but just thought would update here.
Have taken last of the 2nd course of antibiotics.
This one was indicated by the culture but definitely doesn't feel fully cleared. Pain has gone but still feel uncomfortable and very 'aware' of bladder.
I did put on the other thread that the culture showed
>10^8cfu/l proteus species which I think is more than 100 million. I don't know if that's a lot for a uti but wondered if maybe it could take longer to clear.
Will see how things go over next couple of days.

Don’t forget to start the Vagifem. If no change after 14 days or it causes discomfort ask to be prescribed Ovestin cream x

For me, All bladder symptoms pressure etc disappeared on ovestin.
You have nothing to lose by trialling

Going to start the vagifem tomorrow. Fingers crossed

Yep. And me x

Pharmacy said ovestin prescriptions can come under the hrt prepay system too

Yes when I picked up the vagifem I wasn't sure if it would be covered by the pre pay certificate but it is

Sorry just realised that you meant the specific HRT pre pay - I meant the general one

Just adding this here too as well as the general UTI thread as everyone been so helpful.

Culture from last week (after I had finished 7 days of amoxicillin) has come back and still showing 10^8 of proteus bacteria - so no improvement even though amoxicillin was shown as sensitive to it on the lab report.

Have now got trimethoprim which is also showing as sensitive to the bacteria but I'm getting really nervous now that the antibiotics aren't going to treat the infection (this is third lot.)

Has anyone been in the same position (I started the vagifem a few days ago - still in loading stage. All seems fine.)

I added this to the uti thread too. Would really welcome any advice / thoughts. I'm 7 weeks into uti now.:

Just had latest culture results. (Sample was from 3 days after stopping latest antibiotic which was 7 days of amoxicillin. 4 courses of antibiotics in total.)
Pus cells - 11
Epithelial cells -46 (in previous tests this was only 0 or 1)
Bacteria - Mixed Growth 10 to power 7 and 10 to power 8 orgs/L

So it looks like Proteus possibly no longer showing as dominant bacteria (?) but I’m not sure I’m any further forward.
I’ve still got significant pressure in pubic area / bladder. And it’s very uncomfortable sitting down.
Been taking the vagifem for coming up to 4 weeks now.
(The results have only just shown up on the nhs app today so no advice from the dr.)