UTI symptoms

[Mintybiscuit]

Hi

I am currently NED after finishing chemo in September (stage 3 ovarian cancer). Before diagnosis I was constantly complaining of UTI symptoms (needing to pee a lot and pain when peeing) which always came back negative. I now know this was cancer related but it was always dismissed as a symptom of menopause. I thought that after surgery and treatment these symptoms would stop but they have persisted. My oncologist and GP don’t seem to be worried about it but it gets me down. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[Lyndy]

I had horrible uti symptoms for most of my last chemo. Some of it driven by thrush I think. GP tested for bacteria, nothing doing. But it went when I took antibiotics for something else.

It does get you down, I find I get agitated as soon as that little niggle starts.

Your bladder can become over sensitive so don’t assume it’s suspicious if all your other metrics are ok.

Perhaps go back to the GP and say what you have said here ‘it’s really getting you down’ they need to find out what is causing it and fix it for you. So I would suggest you get a bit pushy. Best of luck xx

[Mintybiscuit in reply to Lyndy]

Have just contacted my GP x

[Moonbeams33 in reply to Mintybiscuit]

I had my first bout with a UTI in Feb 2022 that was eventually diagnosed as Strep B and treated with a penicillin type antibiotic and it finally cleared up. April 2023 I was diagnosed in ER with Ovarian cancer after having abdominal issues and then did a CT scan. They called me back and said I had a Strep B UTI and needed antibiotics. Regular testing misses it. The most common medicine for other UTI’s doesn’t work. I had never had a UTI in my life and am 65 yo.

[Doggies221]

hi there, it is true that peeing frequently or the urge to pee frequently is a symptom of menopause. HRT helps or at a minimum, a vaginal estrogen cream. I think most likely this is hormone related. A woman w no ovaries has 0 -3 estrogen whereas a normal menopausal woman w ovaries has 31 of estrogen circulating in her body. Normal menopausal women have urinary urgency, imagine the severity of the ones w no ovaries. It’s not even close but docs prefer to ignore this reality.

[Mintybiscuit]

Thanks, that’s very interesting. I’m getting terrible hot flushes at the moment so it could all be menopausal.

[Beaver54]

hi Mintybuscuit. Yes that was exactly my experience. Following diagnosis and on commencing treatment, I still had urinary problems, especially urge incontinence . I was prescribed solifenacin succinate which has helped enormously with my bladder issues.

Hope you can get it sorted and congratulations on achieving NED. I never did.

Bev

[Frenchhouse3]

Hi there,

I, too had this problem after my operation and chemo.

I was on HRT for many years and even when I came off it around 5 years prior to cancer, I was fine.

However, once the treatment had finished, I was constantly in pain around going for a wee (plus urgency )and had very itchy, burning skin.

My Dr. recommended an oestrogen pessary which ( after checking with the Oncologist) has alleviated the problem.

It is an extremely low dose compared to the usual form of HRT and now that I’m better, I just use a pessary as and when I feel discomfort again, which is not as often.

Honestly, the discomfort almost drove me insane before I had the pessaries.

Hope you get sorted soon

Denise xxx

[Mintybiscuit in reply to Frenchhouse3]

Thanks for the info x

[Frenchhouse3 in reply to Mintybiscuit]

Hope it helps xxxxx

[Lizzieanne]

Yes my bladder was damaged thru a transobturator tape being fitted incorrectly. This was 15 years ago so suffer from UTIs and the dip.tests do not always show up infection. I eventually saw a urologist who put me on naturoforantin one tablet a night for about six months and it helped enormously. I do still get my fair share of infections but get given antibiotics straightaway. Ask if you can go on this regime. I was told your bladder is rough like your tongue and infections can sneekily hidden and resurface. Also make sure you get seven days of meds not three like a nurze gave me and I knew it hadnt worked and made me unwell for ages and drs wouldnt give me anymore. Saw my oncologist as thought it was symptoms of my OC but she said no infection and wrote to my dr. Its horrible and spoils yr quality of life. Do hope you move forward with this.

[Joanne59]

I had similar problems before and after cancer. While trawling the internet I found a forum and people on there advised a 50billion probiotic to kill the bad bacteria in the bladder. I bought some (health shop) and have been a lot better for 2 years now, maybe give it a go x

[Mintybiscuit]

will do

[SopSinger]

Definitely speak to your GP again and ask for another urine test (assuming they've already done a dip test in the surgery). I had a UTI after my hysterectomy, which is very common, maybe 25% of women get one, but in my case it was a relatively rare bacteria (Citrobacter freundii) which needed a specific antibiotic.

[Mintybiscuit]

My GP did a dip test which was negative. It’s been sent to the hospital for further tests. Hopefully that should pick up even relatively rare infections? …

[Leniko]

cranberry pills can help balance the uric acid. you may need antibiotics