Hi folks, buckle in because this is a long one but desperately searching for some help.
Oh and before anyone says, I have seen my GP and a urologist but I'll get to that.
So for context I have a uterine prolapse from the birth of my second and final baby but it's well managed and has never caused me these issues before so don't think it's anything to do with that.
I'm 34, not overweight, go to the gym regularly, active and work as a nurse.
Ok now that's out of the way...two weeks ago I was fitted for a larger pessary for exercise as I wasn't sure if my smaller one was quite doing it's job (these things are trial and error if you have prolapse you'll understand) but it seemed ok and I self manage it so only insert for exercise. It was quite snug and took a bit of tugging to remove. On the Monday I trialed running with it is (had been using my old one for this without issue) got halfway through my run and suddenly felt weird, stopped and peed a little which is very,very rare for me. I didn't feel right the rest of the run and took it out immediately when I got back. Things seemed ok the rest of that day. Had relations with my husband that night, again everything was fine but by Tuesday night I had the CONSTANT feeling in my urethra of needing to pee, bloating on my belly, pain in my pelvis etc.
I assume UTI, go to the chemist and get antibiotics for three days, doesn't clear up, call out of hours on Saturday get a different antibiotic for 3 days, doesn't clear up. I've done dip tests and sent urine away and everything has come up negative.
I've sent a second sample away yesterday since I've been off the antibiotics for a few days now so it should be more accurate.
So my first port of call was GYN is inherently difficult to see a gyn consultant and I still haven't seen one despite being referred when my son was born 18 months ago. I've only seen the nurses who fit my pessary but alas I left work and went straight to the department and my nurse was free and did a quick internal exam. She said there's excoriation internally in the place my pessary has been (I've not been able to wear even my small one since because it's sore and uncomfortable) so she gave me creams etc. she said it could be irritating the tissues of the urethra but she can't say for sure of course but either way to avoid my pessary and use the creams till I've healed.
Next step was urology. Luckily I work in theatres with an amazing urologist who added me to his list yesterday after a patient didn't show up (so was a free slot on the day)and did a cystoscopy on me. My bladder has zero irritation and looks completely healthy so he ruled out IC etc and didn't see any signs of infection, usually there's leftover inflammation or active inflammation if UTI is present.
He suggested it could be urethratitis which is inflammation of the urethra itself (which given the pessary placement and tightness would make sense). He's sending me for a kidney ultrasound anyway just to check the upper tract.
I'm stumped.
How can I be feeling this yet have nothing there!?
Potentials in my mind...tight pelvic floor muscles causing overactive bladder triggered by the run/pessary/sex and now it's in hyperdrive.
Urethratitis which I'll need the doc to swab for.
I've ruled out thrush/BV as none of those symptoms and did a BV self test from the chemist which was negative.
I'm sorry that was so long and if you got through it, you're an angel.
Any thoughts?