Update from GP re blood in urine

[gillsky8]

Phone call first thing from Surgery.

Please could you drop in a fresh urine sample.

OK yes no problem, take it to GP surgery and nurse says, "will test now"

Hm yes still very small traces of blood and also small evidence of Leuokocytes, could be due to UTI.

Just check with GP, she says,

GP now prescribed 100mg. nitrofurantoin twice daily for next 3 days, with likely follow up of 50mg ongoing.

So my question is then "why wasn't it prescribed first time around from previous blood tests."

Clearly the sample needed closer analysis for the UTI.

YES I definitely have symptoms of cystitis and YES that can be caused from use of prednisone.

AND so can even a mild UTI cause traces of blood in urine, it would appear so ??

I still think it rests the case with regard to how much GP's really know or seem to know about the use of steroids and side effects.

This to name but one of very many, as we long term users will all know.

[powerwalk]

UTI's really are the constant horror of my life!! I hope it settles for you.

[Hidden]

I dont understand how your GP can diagnose a urine infection on Dipstick test which is not accurate to be certain an infection is present. It is just a chemical screening test for white and red blood cells. It should have been sent off to the lab for culture and sensitivity to see if there were any bugs in it and to which antibiotic it was sensitive if a persistent infection not responding to the antibiotic prescibed was found, especially since you have had so many problems. In any event some residual cells might remain after an infection had cleared up. Do you know which bug was present in previous lab tests?

Persistent cystitis type symptoms need careful and methodical assessment , because there are a number of causes some simple some serious. The cause of cystitis type symptoms may not necessarily be in the urinary system , ovarian for example , which is why its important to be certain that an infection , with a recognised urine bug and lots of white cells/ red cells etc has definitely been identified before treatment is started and the test repeated if symptoms persistent after treatment. Your steroids dont irritate the bladder, but they do reduce your immunity and , if your blood sugar is also up, can increase the tendency to urine infections already present in post menopausal women; hence suggestion that oestrogen replacement cream might help from other forum members. I'm not surprised you feel you are going round in circles; perhaps different GP opinion might put things on a more logical footing.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Couldn't agree more!

[gillsky8 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you also as I understand it is better to take the dose of antibiotics for 5-7 days rather than just 3 ?

[Hidden]

For first treatment there is a variation in opinion. Some reckon older women do better with a longer course. But you have been put on a preventive course, although it is unclear from what you have said in this,and previous posts, on what basis this was started, ie how many proven infections you have had and over what period of time. It would not be usual to start a preventive course after only one or two infections. By proven infections I mean bugs identified not cells . Just noted that yr GP has made a temporary increase in the Nitro in the middle of the preventive course on the basis of a stick test, sorry but this is bonkers! Makes no sense at all.

[gillsky8 in reply to Hidden]

Quite !!!

[Hidden]

I probably should have said 'ill advised' 🤭. Given your OH has his own urinary problems xhich must be concerning you etc, do see someone else if you can . They could look through your lab results, enquire about your symptoms and hopefully make a more effective plan.