Denied UTI treatment before 72 hours despite worsening symptoms

[JustWhatever]

Rang pharmacy for worsening UTI symptoms but denied medication as symptoms have not been 72 hours. Told to take OTC painkillers.

So, I'm supposed to sit here in agony to satisfy their arbitrary criteria and wait for the infection to make its way to my kidneys.

I simply HATE government healthcare and all of the healthcare in the UK.

Lie like everyone else

If symptoms are worsening, contact your GP again.

Yes, this is just a “computer says no” at the pharmacy problem. Call your GP and they will give you something immediately, or ask you to give a dip and then give you something. This is important - the infection needs to be sampled, to make sure everything’s okay and to make sure they give you the right stuff (different types of antibiotics). There are a lot of things that can cause the same symptoms down there, and they need to know if there’s microscopic blood in your urine or not. I think we’re probably very fortunate with where we live, because my GP has always either seen me that day or given me antibiotics that day until they could see me (I have some immuno-suppression).

I buy mine online from boots now to avoid jumping through hoops

I buy it online. And keep it for just this. I always always exaggerate my symptoms when talking to any medical person. Past experience has taught me to do that.

My pharmacist asked if I had continual pain as that was the threshold. Basically telling me what to say to get the medication. She was female so probably knew what it was like!