Update... UTI symptoms but now no growth in urine culture.

[Misg]

At this point I am quite confused and worried about what is going on I have posted on here before about this as I was really unsure of what was happening to me.

It started with pain in my right abdomen spread to my back. Went to A&E three times in three days to which they tested my urine each time and saw no signs of UTI. Through all of this I was quite constipated and was having pain in my right colon they proded my appendix there was no pain there just pain that had spread to the back in my right pelvic area.

The next day after I started having frequency to the toilet. Went to A&E as the pain was still there but in my right pelvic area. They tested my urine and saw I had white blood cells. The next day after did some other test to cancel out appendicitis gave me trimethoprim for three days.

I went back a week later for more trimtheoprim as the white particles were still there. I took it once a day and then 4 days later increased it to 2 a day as I was still having frequency.

Now all this week and last week I have had frequency seen some white blood cells in my urine but no horrible smell, no burning, no urgency. I have pain in my abdomen on and off. They thought it was a kidney infection and gave me cipro. Inbetween this I had pelvic pain and noticed every time I had pelvic pain I had vaginal bleeding once when I urinated and the other time with a bowel movement. Is this a normal symptoma of a UTI?

I went to my GP the next day to see if i should take the cipro as the trimethoprim was really not working at all. He told me not to and to send off a urine culture.

Two days later I rang to hear the results and there was no growth of bacteria my urine was normal.

Today I went to the toilet and still murky urine but constipation and pain on right side has come back.

I am just asking anyone here if you have had a similar experience with UTI. I was taking trimethoprim for 4 days including on the day before I did my urine test but it wasn't working. Yesterday I finished taking it. Would that have effected the urine test? Should the culture been left for three days?

Is this normal? Could it be a problem with my bowels. Could it be interstitial cystitis? I am really confused at this moment. If anyone could give advice I would be so happy!

[Hidden]

Cloudy urine & frequency certainly sounds like a UTI. E-coli is most common infection with UTI, and this should make urine stink, so perhaps something else? Bladder infections typically cause pain right above the pubic bone (low abdomen in front) and kidney infections normally cause pain in the lower back to the side of the spine.

Urine cultures are probably going to come back clean on trimethoprim, even if you've got a resistant infection. The only way you're going to get an accurate culture is once you're off it for a week or so. A lot of bugs are resistant to trimethoprim, so your failure to resolve this certainly is a possibility.

Fluoroquinolone Anti-B's like Cipro may be indicated when initial treatments fail, but I wouldn't want to start on this without a positive culture and sensitivity from urine. Cipro has some nasty side effects associated with it and has several "black-box" warnings for substantial & persistent side effects. Many bugs are also now resistant to Cipro, so it would be a shame to take the risk without first determining for sure this was going to work.

This said, you don't want a simple UTI progressing to a kidney infection, so I'd keep pestering those doc's.

You might ask about fosfomycin (aka Monurol). Fosfomycin is a liver friendly / benign anti-B and works well against resistant organisms. Azithromycin or doxycycline may be other alternatives. Do your homework before you start on Cipro without any positive culture.

Millions take Cipro every year without trouble, but there are serious side effects for some. Cipro is a medication of last resort.

[Misg in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for all this information. I was quite unsure about the cipro. I am going to see a doctor later today to discuss this but I am so worried I am just counting down the hours.

Today I have urinated four times since which I think is quite normal however still have right back pain, and my last trip to the loo in which I had urgency had only a small amount of urine still with white particles. Definitely an infection I am guessing but now think it may be in my kidneys. Or maybe my kidneys are inflammed.

Thank you for your advice.