Recurrent UTI? Had 10 days of antibiotics and it seems to be back!

[buzzheath]

Please help, I feel very hopeless right now!

I developed a stinging in my urethra about 10 days ago. I sas prescribed nitrofurantain for 3 days - it worked ok, but as soon as I stopped taking it, the symptoms came back. The doctor then prescribed me 10 days of co-amoxiclav. Again, it worked well. But I've now been off it for 2 days and I can already feel a stinging again! Feeling very miserable. This hasn't happened to me before.

Obviously plan to call the GP first thing in the morning, but does anyone have any experience with this? What will they do, just prescribe me more antibiotics, that will work but with my symptoms returning upon stopping it?

Sympathies it’s so uncomfortable. If it’s coming back after antibiotics then they probably need to send a sample to the lab to find out what infection it is and prescribe the best antibiotics for it. Did they dip a sample at the gp?
If you are menopausal then it might not be an infection at all and could be a sign of atrophy. Hope you can speak to a dr tomorrow though - it really is very miserable!

How old are you OP?It was my very first symptom of perimenopause. I ,too, thought it was UTI. Three courses of Antibiotics made no difference. Vaginal oestrogen sorted it out.

I'm 32, so I hope not menopause!

Op I've had issue like this before. Once I've had one UTI I then become very sensitive to it reoccurring very quickly. Yes it worth going back to the GP but you will probably be given more antibiotics.

There are some self help things that do help, firstly what are you drinking? I find that water is the only thing that won't irritate things, no caffine or suggery drinks I'm afraid. I do find taking cranberry tablets really helpful and they can stop UTI's from reoccurring. But what you drink is probably more important as sugar and caffine can really irritate your bladder once it becomes sensitive.

I hope you feel better soon as they are truly miserable.

I had this once. Was prescribed a different antibiotic which worked and symptoms didn't return.

Firstly order some Azo urinary tract relief tablets from amazon and start taking them.
Insist the gp send a sample for microbiology to determine the exact antibiotic required to tract your specific infection and don't start taking antibiotics until they find out which ones you need, take the Azo symptom relief, D Manose 2mg 4 times daily and 3 litres of water daily minimum. Herbal teas are also good ( unless test results take more than a couple of days OR you have a fever in which case start a broad spectrum antibiotic- your doctor may ptescribe a seven day course of nitrofurantoin or trimethroprim potentially).it is essential microbiology confirms you have the right antibiotic for the bug you are carrying.
If you are any where near perimenopause/ menopause age ask for local oestrogen pessaries (vagifem or gina) and stay using these too. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause, a condition where women of peri and menopause age start suffering increasing uti issues is now widely recognised and current NICE guidelines recommend local oestrogen be made available to all women in this age group.
How you are better soon.

Yep, I second this. But I'd do the sample before you take the Azo. Not sure if it has any other effect on the urine but the colour is something to behold!

@buzzheath did they send the urine off for culture? This allows them to find the exact bug, and therefore the correct antibiotics. If they didn't do this, I'd hand in another sample, and ask for it to be sent off to the lab to be cultured.

D-Mannose is a good preventative non-prescription med. And fosfomycin trometamol (Monuril/Monurol) is an effective one-dose antibiotic.

I second d-mannose. Suggested to me by a urologist who said 60% of his patients get complete relief from this and never come back again.

I've also ended up with chronic nerve pain from UTIs so it could be something like that.

I think first step is take a sample to GP so they can test for antibiotic sensitivity/resistance. Once you've done the sample take d-mannose regularly and drinks lots of water, use water wipes after a bowel movement, avoid baths, don't use soap on the genital area (either just water or Dermol 500).

If this doesn't help you can ask for a referral to a urologist. But I have no idea what NHS waiting times are like at the moment.