UTI won't go away

Yes TriciaF I am post-menopausal. I don't seem to have any major 'external' soreness though. I had a look �� and there's a bit of redness and slight burning but the pain is mainly bladder/urethral.

It all started the day after weekend 'frivolities ' (sorry - TMI) and distinctly remember not going to loo straight away. The next day I started with the symptoms.
Grumpy Doc Martin-like GP makes me nervous and don't think I could possibly mention anything vaginal to him. Will see nice (menopausal) lady doctor if I can

All things improved after diagnosis Sillyoldbird

Forgot to mention, have been plagued with hot flushes too since all this started. I thought I had more or less done with them as only the occasional one on waking each morning. But now I get them regularly again. Life's not much fun these days

Sillyold bird - (you're not really silly!) After the menopause many women experience thinning of the skin inside the vagina - you can't see anything. Due to the drop in level of the female hormone, oestrogen.This makes it more sensitive and prone to infection. Especially if you're still having full marital rels.
If your doctor hasn't spotted this you could suggest it to him/her. Or ask for a referral to a female gynaecologist.

ps once the HRT has got your vagina back into shape you can have normal marital rels. again with no worry.

I didn't have any examinations or referrals. The nurse told me to see the GP and tell him what she thought. I did and he said I could try the pessaries for a month to see if there was any improvement. There was a huge improvement so I now have the pessaries on repeat. There are no contra-indications in my medical history. I had a hysterectomy in 1999.

The vaginitis/atrophy thing is certainly something to consider although cant say ive noticed any dryness/itcing/pain prior to this. Had a horrible night - up four times for loo and awake loads due to night sweats. Pain and discomfort slightly better though. Can't make my mind up whether to try to see GP today or wait till Friday (the one I want to see is part-time) to see how things go. If I wait, then at last I've given these ABs a proper chance to work . I think it says 48-72 hours before they start to take effect and not quite there yet.
I feel like a bit of a drama queen to be honest. Sounds like people have had things much worse than me.

My symptoms came and went Sillyoldbird and it looked like the antibiotics had worked only for the problem to reappear very soon after. It's horrid!

Keep us posted.

If your GP surgery or local council run a Well Woman clinic go and see them, this may well be something other than a UTI possibly hormonal. If no Well Woman clinic in your area and Your doctor is a little unapproachable, and no other doctor at surgery, try to see practice nurse, who is probably a trained continence advisor and well versed in all things bladder related. also don't use coloured toilet tissue, there is a small theory that the dyes used in toilet paper manufacturer can irritate, there is some difference of opinion on cranberry juice, but a small glass everyday may well help, it was believed to stop bacteria adhering to the bladder wall, but even if no proof it helps, a lot of woman swear by it. Put nothing in your bath water, and only use a specially designed wash for your intimate areas. If you are sexually active, your partner could be re-infecting you. There are so many aspects that you really need to speak to a professional who specialises in bladder and urethral issues. The average GP only has a limited knowledge about a vast amount of things and cannot always find the root of a problem, they cannot always sort something out. you really need a specialist in this field if this continues. I so hope you are more comfortable now, as these infections and conditions are really uncomfortable. Get better soon .

Thanks HeatherAnne I was thinking there might be some hormonal connection when I started to get flushes again. The lady GP at the surgery is great - really down to earth and easy to talk to and the practice nurse is great too - despite being the grumpy doctor's wife!
Thanks for all the good advice. Still feeling quite uncomfortable but sure others have had much worse to contend with
My worst problem is letting my imagination run away with me and diagnosing myself with all sorts of sinister things. I have to keep well away from Dr Google .

Still having symptoms after 4 weeks and 2 courses of antibiotics. Getting a bit worried now so off to GP again tomorrow. I hate this. Thanks for listening.

Sorry to hear you are still having problems sillyoldbird there is nothing worse than the discomfort you must be feeling, I was advised by another
GNer a couple of years ago that when I go to the loo to gently rock back and forth for a few minutes whilst sitting,this brings any urine retained at the back of the bladder to be dispelled (it sounds daft but it works) this urine can become stagnant and be the cause of recurring infection,I now do this everytime I use the loo and have had no infections for quite some time.

Thanks glammanaa. I am feeling quite uncomfortable, but my symptoms aren't as bad of some I've heard of - no blood, no cloudy wee, not even frequency now - just bladder pain during and after going.

This will sound odd, but it's not the symptoms being bothersome that's the worse problem. I have health anxiety (aka hypochondria) and worry excessively about my health to the extent evey ache and pain means cancer for me. My biggest phobia is things that linger on - like this.

I hate being like this, it gets me down and am very embarrassed by myself . I thought I'd mention this as people might be sick of my rambling on about my bladder (although everyone's been really lovely) and think I'm a bit of a nutter. I suppose I am really.

Sillyoldbird Please don't be embarrassed by this it is very common for ladies of a certain age I have had bladder problems for over 10yrs now it being a problem caused from surgery when I had cancer when I was 40,now I go every 9mths approx for botox of the bladder which strengthens the neck of the bladder so I have had quite a few visits to the urology dept so no embarressment is needed I can assure you.Have you tried Cranberry Tablets from Holland & Barret they have a higher content than just Cranberry Juice some people swear by them others dismiss them but I've always found they help,I would ask your GP to make you an appointment at your Urology clinic for a chat with the Nurse Practioner they are very knowledgeable sometimes more up to date with new ideas and treatments than GPs.

It's not the bladder problem I'm embarrassed about glammanana, it's the hyperchondria/health anxiety. I must have diagnosed myself with at least half dozen cancers in the last12 months. Which must be very annoying for people who actually have suffered cancer - so really sorry if this is insensitive.
Thanks for the advice about cranberry tables. I did try them but read somewhere they can reduce effectiveness of anti-biotics. I'll wait to see what doctor says tomorrow. Thanks again for your advice and concern xx

Sillyoldbird I can really relate to your fears. I've 'had' bladder cancer in the past and insisted the GP fast-track me for a cystoscopy. I was convinced it was the end of the road. Nothing was found - all well, but I continued to suffer from UTIs with monotonous regularity despite all my precautions. UNTIL I started taking d-Mannose that is. And now I'd never be without it. Pricey, but my goodness, what a godsend it is!
I had reached the stage when only one antibiotic worked for me, and I want to save that for emergencies. I always carry some with me, but only once in the last few years have I needed to use it. The mannose works brilliantly, once you've found what dose is best for you, and the only discernible side-effects are smelly wind if you need to take extra when you have acute symptoms!

Sorry if I sound evangelical about this stuff but it's changed my life. Seriously!

Thanks Rowantree. The D mannose thing has been mentioned several times so if this continues I will give I a try. I'm glad you've found a solution - you must be relieved!

I've had a better couple of days with my symptoms, so it does seem to be going VERY slowly. I'm on my 3rd lot of ABs now so surely this must be it? Had urine test again when I saw GP yesterday. No blood traces and inconclusive about infection. I already had a 'standby' course of original AB's in case it came back whilst I was away on holiday so I've taken them to start with. I have another prescription for a different type in case this doesn't work. Apparently it's the type that they use should an Anthrax outbreak occur.. So if they don't work, I don't know what will. I'm beginning to rattle.
Funny thing is, I don't recall having a UTI before this. I think I could understand it better if I was 'prone' to them

I've been having bladder probs since May and going to the loo like every hr with bladder spasms. No infection n hey ,honk it's overactive bladder but I can't help feeling it's more than that It's so uncomfortable.

Just come back from doctor re UTI she has given me antibiotics just enough for two days but she also told me to by some sachets in chemist (you put them in 200mg of water) that they prescribe for cystitis £5.41 for six.

Hi. I've just had an amazing realisation that after many many years of bladder infections, I am allergic to all dairy products. I have moved to oat milk which is really nice and changed recipes to oil rather than butters or creams and I'm doing really well. I do also have a huge problems with penicillin which I was given for chest infections so now don't take any penicillin either. I have only had 1 infection since Nov last year and that was because I took a penicillin which was how I found out I was allergic to them too.
It may be worth trying. X

SevenWells

Hi. I've just had an amazing realisation that after many many years of bladder infections, I am allergic to all dairy products. I have moved to oat milk which is really nice and changed recipes to oil rather than butters or creams and I'm doing really well. I do also have a huge problems with penicillin which I was given for chest infections so now don't take any penicillin either. I have only had 1 infection since Nov last year and that was because I took a penicillin which was how I found out I was allergic to them too.
It may be worth trying. X

This thread is EIGHT years old, SevenWells! Glad you’ve found something g that seems to work for you, but I don’t think cutting out dairy works for everyone.

I went through a phase of suffering and I mean suffering from urine infections. I read an article about a specialist urologist who had studied this problem and recommended that women should take a small dose of nitrofurantoin for several months as other antibiotics, according to him, do not work. He also said that dip stick testing and tests done by hospitals do not usually show an infection. I did try this treatment for a while and it did help. However I have now developed interstitial cystitis and the hospital have recommended a normal dose of antibiotics for three nights then three months of a tiny dose. Will see if this helps as IC is miserable!

kittylester

I thought I had recurrent UTIs but with only small amounts showing on the dip stick. The Practice Nurse, who must have been sick of the sight of me, suggested that it might be vaginitis. The pessaries worked a treat and, so long as I keep using them, I'm fine.

I second that I did have lots of UTIs but then realised a bug was not always the problem . Vagifem saved me .

No one has mentioned this but when you go for a poo be sure to wipe front to back rather than back to front!

I’m another advocate for D-Mannose. It’s been invaluable for me. I take one at the first ‘tingle’ and it seems to nip things in the bud. I also empathise with your health anxiety too - I suffer with this and it can be absolutely debilitating. Just going to see a GP is a huge trauma for me. I think HA is hugely misunderstood by many people. Good luck!