Have had many urinary tract infections in the past- currently on trimethoprim for 9 days (3 day course didn't work). I had pain on passing urine but last week I passed a lot of bright red blood - very frightening - GP said it seemed like something had scraped and maybe caused by stones so pee in a jug and look for them - so far nothing. I have a jabbing pain in right side which has lessened.
Only thing different is my folate was low and GP put me on folic acid supplement (2 months ago) - a nurse told me this can trigger UTIs in some people but I can't understand how that can be right. Currently on 100 thyroxine daily. Have an appointment with urologist next week. Can anyone tell me how painful it is having bladder examined.
Many thanks
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Cassandra
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I had recurrent urine infections for years when on thyroxine. This finally drove me to see Dr Peatfield, who diagnosed that i wasn't converting properly. This has been confirmed years later by a positive D102 test. Since transferring with his guidance to T3 only 6 years ago I have not had a single UTI and my bladder is no longer constantly making me have to think where the next toilet might be. Having a free-flowing and painless pee is one of the world's great pleasures!
So it might be worth taking the test ?GPs won't be able to help with this.
This is a possibility. Folic acid has a tendency to irritate the bladder in certain conditions, for example, if you are over 60, have high blood pressure and/or taking other medications such as Methotrexate. You can switch to L-Methyfolate, a natural form and better absorbed.
Have they checked your B12 levels? There is another possibility that your B12 levels are also low and may need some attention, too.
Taking a single B (in your case folic acid) at a high dose can upset the balance of the remaining B. Adding a good b-complex will help.
The bladder examination is not painful at all but you may experience some discomfort when they extend it by pumping some water in it.
Thank you for your reply - GP said it was biggest load of rubbish and had never ever heard this before. My b12 level was almost at top of the range but like you say maybe a good Bcomplex will help. I used to take a Lamberts Bcomplex as I was advised this one had least additives etc.
I’m really frightened about the bladder examination as I am 67 and vaginal lining is extremely irritated and sore but it’s the only way I’m hopefully going to find a solution. Last year I had an anterior and posterior repair - horrendous infection afterwards needing 3 antibiotics. I’m wondering if maybe infection never cleared fully . Any thoughts most welcome.
Please don't be frightened, Cassandra. As you rightly said, the silver lining is that they'll be able to have a close examination and address any underlying problems to include any inflammation or even an infection. If they've asked that you bring someone with you this may indicate that they'll give you a sedative.
Thank you - Tuesday appointment is only for consultation so I don’t know when procedure will happen. My antibiotic finishes on Monday and I’m thinking if it’s still in my system a urine test is not going to show it. I would like to hear from any ladies who use Vagifem - one doctor at my practice it was safe to use every day for as long as I liked and then another told me 3 months only. I’m hoping there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
My experience with different Urologists is that they are generally not interested in uti problems and ive never been offered a cystoscopy. I've had numerous scans and cts but nothing invasive. I take Trimethoprim as a preventive, been on it for 5 months and haven't had a recurrence of infection.
I've used Vagifem for years, I wouldn't use it everyday and it shouldn't be necessary to use it that often, if you need something in between Replens is good.
I’ve tried replens and other ones from boots but they all irritate me so I’ll have to keep hoping something will sort this for me. I don’t think trimethoprim is working for me as this is day 6 and I’ve only tomorrow’s left to take. Do you know how long antibiotic stays in system after finishing course.
If the antibiotics haven't worked by now then they are the wrong ones, did you have a sensitivity culture done ?
I usually need at least two lots of different antibiotics each time and strangely although Trimethoprim doesn't come up as an antibiotic that works for me, it does, Selexid is another useful one.
There is a medication called Methenamine which both treats and prevents uti's by keeping it sterile, my Urologist has recommended I try it if/when the daily Trimethoprim stops working.
Have you looked on Stressnomore website ? they have quite a few moisturising products, more than Boots stock.
Yes I did try ones from stress no more - last Friday gp said I had to take antibiotics because of peeing clots and pain - they sent that day's sample to hospital for analysis and was told severe kidney infection - wonder how they can tell if it's a bladder or kidney infection. Thank you so much for all your advice
Trimethoprim is a pretty mild antibiotic if you have a kidney infection, I would have thought you needed something more powerful.
With the other products you need one without preservatives as they are irritating, I don't know which you used but Replens tube has preservatives, the pre filled applicators don't.
I hope you get some help from the Urologist, I've actually found the urology specialist nurse more helpful than the consultant. I have multiple kidney stones but only the nurse is interested !
And would it be possible to speak with your doc in advance, tell him/her how apprehensive you are and would he order something? Also, I have severe anxiety and take med. For me the 'anticipation anxiety' leading up to a medical treatment is the worst part- all that time for my brain to work itself up to 'what if's?. And I'm a retired nurse so I know people who don't always know what to expect must feel much more anxious. For this reason, maybe try to reach the doc Monday to possibly get some Rx help to bridge the time between now and your appt. That's what I would do if it were me. Much of my anxiety comes from waiting for the unknown. Often after a procedure I think that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. But it doesn't help the interim beforehand. Just a thought. Good luck. I will say it will probably go much smoother and less painful than you think. But that is really a useless statement re helping your pre-anxiety. Hope this helps. Take care xx irina
Hi researcher. Just sent a reply meant for Cassandra but sent to you by mistake. Sorry-my computer skills are woefully lacking. Will you re-direct it to her? Thank you so much. irina
Thanks you for reply which was kindly forwarded by researcher UK. I'm sure most of us are anxious going for tests etc. Tuesday is only a consultation so I will ask if sedation is available if necessary. After my prolapse operation last year I had very nasty infection (prescribed 3 antibiotics to take together). The smell was the most foul I have ever known. I was not offered a check after antibiotics had finished so I'm wondering if infection was never fully cleared. At my post op check up I asked about this - gynaecologist lady inserted her gloved fingers and said definitely no infection there - how could she possibly have known - I think I was being fobbed off.
The people on these boards have been fantastic and it makes me feel more normal when I realise that other people have gone through the same hell
I'm glad you're getting help from this forum. To me it's like having a big treatment team with all sorts of info, theories, and possible solutions being put forward. Whenever I've been hospitalized I've always tried to be in a teaching hospital because the chance of getting to the bottom of your problem is better as more minds are involved in finding solutions for me than one tired, possibly closed-minded doctor. This approach has a much better chance of arriving at the correct treatment solution. I know some people like smaller, private hospitals where the amenities are better- food, private room, tv's, etc. But if you want upscale living quarters go to a 5 star hotel. If you want to get well go where the most caregivers have access to you and your disease. Not always the case but the odds are better, IMO. Take care.😊 irina
I asked consultant about a possible sedative before the colposcopy but he said a definite no - explained how nervous I am but it fell on deaf ears - antibiotics now to try and clear this vaginal infection and maybe if I’m not so sore it won’t seem as scary but I don’t have a very high pain threshold- as you say the worry beforehand is awful xx
How can he say No? Can you look for another doctor or are you 'too far into the river' to change horses midstream? If so, I understand. From now on I would suggest changing one word when you speak with docs about the way you want to receive healthcare. Don't "ask'. 'state' what you want and tell him to work with you to arrive at a mutually beneficial compromise. I bet if it were his wife/daughter, he would be sure they are as comfortable as possible! He/She works for you. Very hard to stand our ground with some docs I know. But remind yourself you are not a child asking an authoritative adult for permission to avoid pain. The doc's response of "NO" is appalling to me. I hope if you are stuck with him for now the procedure goes more painless and generally better than expected. A word also about your infection. Often infections of any kind take more than one round of treatment to totally clear it up. And vaginal infections have the added problem of a warm, moist environment for germs to hide in. Also, (will try to say this professionally). It may not apply to your situation but is important for us ladies to be aware of and demand our GYN docs not ignore it. Whenever we are treated for ANY vaginal infection (and I am not talking about only STD infections here), if we have a sexual partner they must be treated also. They may have no sx but can also harbor the infection we are being treated for. If both people are not effectively treated then the infection just keeps bouncing back and forth. Years ago GYN docs would often write a prescription for the partner also. Nowadays that may have changed as legal issues enter into prescribing without seeing the patient. But even if the other person involved needs to be seen it is vital in order to completely clear up the infection. Like many things, I guess it is up to us to inform doctors about treatments they should be doing. Hope this information is helpful. If not offered, demand full treatment. Take care. xx irina
PS And if a doc says no infection after a quick physical exam, I would say something like " I'm still having symptoms and I would like a culture to be sure the infection is gone. " My guess would be she probably didn't do one for her convenience- time restraints, whatever.
Thank you so much Irina and all your advice makes so much sense. I don’t understand why at my age I feel intimidated by doctors/consultants. I don’t think I will be able to change this consultant but when my appointment date comes out I will let him know again how nervous I am and as you say tell him rather than just accept what he says. I definitely intend getting rechecked for the vaginal infection after antibiotics have finished next Wednesday. Do you know how many days you have to leave after antibiotics have finished before retesting? If infection is still present do they prescribe a different antibiotic? The one I am on is Metronidazole for 7 days. I am a bit concerned because it’s only a few weeks since I had 10 days of trimethoprim for the kidney infection.
You have no idea how grateful I am to you for your kindness xx
It sounds like you were on the right meds for the right length of time. You probably know that it's important to take all of the meds even if sx are no longer apparent. The time frame to be checked is not so important as sometimes we don't see the doc to be checked for a week after finishing the meds. Often the sx will be better or gone before the med is finished. This is why we continue til all medicine is gone. One important thing is not to be sexually active til the doc says you are infection-free. Otherwise you may be reinfected if your partner has not been treated or inadequately treated. Both of you should first get a clean bill of health. And if it were me I would want proof that the infection is completely cleared up. Have a culture if possible-both of you- especially if one partner never had any sx to begin with. A quick physical exam by a busy doctor is not proof either of you is infection-free. There is another reason to try and get effectively treated the first time around. The meds used for these infections-especially antifungals like Metronidazole (which is actually an antifungal not an antibiotic) can be harsh on our livers so our goal is not to have to repeat a round of them if we can avoid it. (OK I'm done with my Sex 101 lecture.) Often the female is the one with the uncomfortable sx and a male can carry the infection but not feel as bad as we do. Make sure your partner takes any prescribed meds appropriately. usually vaginal infections are treated with antifungals but some need antibiotics. Either way take all the pills. BTW, this is anecdotal on my part but worth sharing I think. Often when we are prescribed antibiotics for any reason, post op infection, whatever, the antibioics can upset the balance of good and bad 'bugs' in our system and we can develop a vaginal infection as a side effect of taking the antibiotics. I had my gallbladder surgeon last year suggest I drink a high quality kefir in between daily doses so I dran goat's milk kefir and had no side effects from 10 days of 3 x a day antibiotics. Yogurt may work but it should a healthy non-sugar choice. I think most commercial yogurt no longer has as many healthful benefits so I avoid it. You just want a probiotic that will help replace the good bacteria in your G. I. tract that have been killed off by the antibiotics. Hope you're not asleep by now!😊 Take care irina
Tried to post earlier but wouldnt work. Thanks for all advice. I am no longer sexually active so hopefully this will clear up - i didnt even realise that this medication was anti fungal and that there is a difference between this and antibiotic. I must have a look for keifer - think i saw it in tesco but dont know what sort of quality it is - unfortunately our little health food shop closed some time ago where you could have bought better quality stuff - have started taking optibacs probiotic for vaginal health so hopefully they will help - you have a wealth of knowledge xx
Just to let you know I had cystoscopy on 15 June - it was carried out by a doctor on behalf of consultant - maybe it’s my pain threshold but I found it very painful - only thing she said was ‘good news’ and I thought she would come and speak to me later but no. I haven’t heard anything back so I’m making an appointment with my gp - cannot understand why my vaginal area seems scalded so there must be something in my urine causing it - urine sample tested day of procedure and nurse said no infection- I don’t know if I’ll ever get to the bottom of this. I have been using the Vagifem for 3 months now and use it 3 times per week but I don’t seem to be improving- using probiotics plus kiefer xx
Hi Cassandra. I'm wondering if you actually had a Urologist treating you or just a GP. They can do a lot but sometimes it is in our best interests to see a specialist who is usually much more aware of what's new and what works best in their specialty. I also have questions about the report of 'no infection'. Did you receive a printed copy of your lab result? You should. How did they arrive at their conclusion? Did they do a C and S (Culture and Sensitivity test ) on your urine? The way to be sure no bad 'bugs' are growing in your urine is to take a sample, culture it, allow it to grow in medium for 48-72 hours that will allow any bacteria to thrive, then test various antibiotics on the cultured bacteria to see which ones may be best at killing the bacteria and prescribe it if necessary. Don't setttle for the culture to be read after 24 hours-not long enough to get a true picture. This may have been done but a nurse (and I am one) telling me there is no infection would not be sufficient for me. I want the print-out, and know what test was performed and I would want to speak with the doctor about the results. While also working on a solution it might be good to lay off the Vagisem in case one of its ingredients might be making things worse or at the least masking symptoms. The probiotic and kefir can be effective against candida but if you have a true infection most likely you will need antibiotics. I don't believe in using them indescriminately but sometimes they are necessary. What you don't want is for an ongoing UTI to eventually involve your kidneys. If it were me I would try to see a Urologist. It concerns me that these symptoms have been lingering with no effective resolution. Urinary tract infections are fairly easily cured when the treatment is the correct one. I hope this resolves soon for you. It has to be an unpleasant experience for you to be tolerating for so long. Take care. irina
Irina thank you for your reply. It was an NHS urologist I was referred to but apparently a doctor does bladder examinations for him - my kidney scan wasn’t done by him either. I sort of regret now not going for the private appointment. The nurse asked for my urine sample that morning and just dipped the tester in and said no infection. I cannot understand why my urine is burning my bum etc - I have cut out acidic foods from my diet, drink plenty of plain water etc with no difference. I have an appointment with my own GP on Friday but I know she will say everything is clear so discussion over - a friend said to me the GP will be classing me as a hypochondriac but to me the issue has not been solved and I don’t bring the subject up with friends now as I know they are fed up listening and unless you have been through it it is difficult to understand. I think my urine ph is around 6 on the tester stick (don’t know if this is of any significance).
Bearing in mind the GP I am seeing on Friday is young and dismissive do you have any advice on what way I can broach things with her.
My sister told me I have never been an assertive person and this is why people dismiss me but as long as someone can get me some relief I don’t care at this stage.
Cassandra, I really feel for you. The first thing I want to say is you must find a way to stand up for the medical care you need. This is VERY hard and I would suggest bringing a trusted family member or friend with you to help prevent being 'doctor bullied'. The second thing is since you are in the UK I know the NHS does things differently than we do in the US. It might be expensive but if you can possibly swing it Please go back to a private Urologist and demand (not ask) HE do the exam, tests, etc- and don't hand it over to a subordinate doctor or a nurse. Next re-read what I wrote about testing urine for infections. A nurse dipping a stick in and saying no infection is appalling to me. Urine must be cultured for the correct length of time to be sure there is or is not bacteria growing. A pH of 6 is about right for urine but are you sure she gave you the right number? Or did the test correctly? or left the dipstick in long enough to get an accurate pH reading? Always ask for written copies of any test.. No wonder you are having burning and uncomfortable symptoms. If you remember from school every fluid (body and others like water) has a pH number that is considered ideal for that particular fluid. A pH of 7 is neutral. Any number below 7 is considered acid. Any number above 7 is considered alkaline. (Blood, for example, should have a pH of 7.4 making it slightly alkaline.) In my opinion a reason your cystoscopy was so uncomfortable may have been because your urine was more acidic than it should have been. Also, when receiving a cystoscopy there is an anesthetic gel
that can be inserted to provide some anesthesia prior to inserting the scope. Insist of this!. For years, many doctors, (Male) have offered this to male patients to lessen pain but tend not to offer it to women. The thinking is because women have a shorter urethra(the opening from outside to your bladder ) is shorter than men's and therefore there is less pain involved . This is B%$^@#$!. You need to get whatever symptoms you still have cleared up. Remember, YOU are 50% of your treatment team. You are the customer (patient) and have the right to demand effective care. My brother used to say "Don't take better care of your car than your body." Must go out for a while but keep me posted. I hope you get the care you need VERY soon. Also if you feel more comfortable PM'ing me , please feel free. Take care. irina
That’s interesting. I have been taking L-methyfolate for the past 6 months and last month developed a uti, the first I have ever had and I am over 60. Mercifully it was not painful, just inconvenient. Perhaps I should stop the L-M. I take T3 only.
Update: Re-reading tis thread and just had a thought. Maybe you are ingesting something that is changing the pH of your urine which can make infections easier to contract.
When my GP dismissed the idea as rubbish I enquired at the chemist and they said exactly what Researcher UK told me - I am 67 and take high blood medication. My daughter googled it for me and sure enough it seems to cause problems for some people. I’m not mentioning it to my GP again as she gets really narky about patients googling their symptoms. How low was your folate.
Blaming symptoms on our age and medications without helping us find an effective solution are, in my opinion, grear dismissive tools sometimes. It may be your blood pressure or your meds but in that case if you haven't been helped to loweryour pressure or given a different med you have not received an effective solution. To me the inference is "Just live with it'" Not an acceptible solution to me.
Hi Cassandra. I sent a reply but accidentally sent it to researcher. Was hoping it would be helpful. Take a look along this thread and hopefully you will find it. Take care. irina
I was treated for UTI's from August last year. I then had antibiotics nearly every month, till january.
However, the discomfort in my pelvic area and very dry vag with itching suggested (to me), a vaginal infection. Yet, no doctor seemed interested in what I thought was happening to my body!
Thus, I suffered the repeat infections until December, when I bought a self test for vag. Indeed, I was suffering a profuse infection of vag..
Still, I could not get the help I needed. Not able to get GP appointment until January, (as it was 22nd December), all appointments gone.
I phoned 111 who advised me to go to walk in centre. I did. Astonishingly, Dr refused to do a vag swab, I suggested he send my self test off to lab. He refused telling me GP has to do swab. Err... I can't get GP app, that's why 111 sent me to you... I was given the exact same antibiotic I had for previous UTI's. I went home, phoned GP surgery told them I needed swab doing, I was given an appointment for Jan 4th.
Well, December 26th, boxing day, I was in bed all day. Staying at my daughters home, I was sorely disappointed to be very unwell, unable to enjoy the festive season with my family. I was shivering, dithering, took my temperature I was suffering hypothermia. I was becoming confused and agitated. However, I absolutely would not let my daughter take me to A/E. (This response entirely due to utter lack of care previously).
Rather, I took pain relief, added layers, slowly, until I was in bed in pj, cardigan, dressing gown, and duvet coat, and gloves! Thank God, my temperature slowly returned to normal by 11pm that night. My daughter had insisted she would call an ambulance if my temperature didn't normal use by midnight. So, I was very thankful my own self care paid off.
Infections are never good. Need treating. Push for answers to your dilemma.
January 4th I got the vag swab, January 5th, GP nurse phoned confirming profuse, nasty, vag infection. I was prescribed the correct antibiotics, at last! I am of the opinion, boxing day, I was in very big danger of getting sepsis.
None of the above intended to frighten you. Rather, to hope you will pursue the medics to find out what your infection is, etc.. my own repeated infections went on for far too long. I was not referred for tests. I should have been.
Once well, I reflected, I realised I was using Replens, I believe that Replens was perhaps the problem, for me. I think I may have had a UTI and the viscosity of Replens provided the right environment for bugs to enter the vag area.
Since I completely stopped using Replens, I have not had another infection. I have remained infection free both vag and UTI. I am using vagifem once weekly, but rely on Sylk if I need moisturizer.
Wishing you the right assessment, and treatment plan, enabling you to feel comfortable.
Thank you so much for this - can you tell me what self test you did and was it from Boots. I can feel the discomfort in my vagina although doctor said I had a kidney infection. I feel “raw” up one side and trimethoprim hasn’t helped this - my GP wouldn’t be too helpful regarding a swab. I’m wondering if at my Tuesday appointment with urologist I could bring up that maybe it’s vaginal infection. These consultants don’t like people telling them their job. I’m scared if it is vaginal it’s going to spread the infection having a bladder examination.
If you have vaginal atrophy then that is how it feels, raw, sore, burning etc, the Vagifem + a moisturiser will solve that and the Vagifem also helps prevent uti's. I personally wouldn't recommend doing a diy swab, it's blinking agony and almost impossible if you are already painful plus it can give a false positive result, mine did !
My daughter had a look in Boots and they suggested Canestest. She explained to pharmacist and she said swab was small and easy to use. She said menopausal women can get a false result but as I am 67 I am long through menopause - do you know why your test gave a false positive result - would you have been menopausal at the time.
If you have atrophy and are painful it's most definitely not easy to use, I know the result was wrong because the GP's nurse did a proper test the following day and it was negative. I'm 63 and about 15 years past meno.
My daughter brought me the Canestest self test and I tried it and according to results vaginal infection. I know you said about false positive result so I have put up another post to see if this has been the same for many others. You are right it is so painful - I'm sure I would need to have this sorted before urologist does the bladder investigation as it is invasive.
Saw urologist Tuesday night - scan and cystoscopy required - he said scan would give an indication if there was anything nasty but cystoscopy required to rule this out - scan possibly next week. I explained about possible vaginal infection but he still wanted to go ahead and do the cystoscopy - I asked if there was vaginal infection would this not be risky? Not according to him. Saw GP yesterday and she took a swab for testing - said I have very inflamed area around top of vagina and has prescribed Vagifem - said under no circumstances would she have cystoscopy done until this has healed and as I am going to Portugal at end of May said to wait until I return in case of infection. My daughter is anxious and wants me to get cystoscopy asap but I know I couldn't suffer it at the minute - getting swab taken had me in tears. Can you give any indication how long it takes Vagifem to make a difference.
Yes that's what he said bladder investigation. Is there anyway I can post that post on women's health without typing it out again - I'm not good with technology
Bladder investigation could just mean scans, I had CT's with contrast and numerous ultrasounds. A friend had a cystoscopy last year and she said it was fine, it must depend on the Urologist as to whether you get one or not, I'm on my third Consultant but it's never been suggested.
I think if you either copy and paste or copy address the heading of your post you might be able to copy it to the other forum
Thank you bantam - I tried to get into women's health to register but it's not letting me as I tried to view one of the posts which was hidden - not even letting me type up a new post
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