3Yr UTI persistance

I am suffering from symptoms of the symptoms: pain burning, urgency or little or no urnie passing when i go.. It all started in 2006 when I went to to college,had my first UTI. The symptoms never ever got better,
I have a pain in my urethra, i cant sit too long or wear jeans because it makes the symptoms worse
I am a slave to drinking, because if I dont drink enough fluids, i suffer with a terrible burning and lower tummy pain when I do go.
My urethra feels like it spazzes or twitches painfully on occcasion, usually after I urinate or lay down to go to bed.
My bladder feels funny, like its just floating there, and i always know its there.

I have been diagnosed with uti's and been treated with just about every antibiotic there is ( macrobid, levaquin, cipro, amixicllin and bactrim; which helps but i am allergic to it)  , though I did see a urologist in 2003 and he put me on Macrobid for 2 months straight. It was the best time  life because the symptoms actually stopped for about a month. Symptoms returned in December of 2003. ive had utlra sounds done that were "incomplete" becuase i was unable to fill my blaader for proper images to be taken. I am seeking an second opinion but i would love a point in the riight direction to speed up the process.

I tried antibiotics  is not working and no one knows what this is. It really puts a damper on life, I cant even have sex with my husband because Sex always is painful, and unbearable. I dont do normal activities i feel as if my bladder is always full and it hurts so bad that i cant walk at times. This is crippling my lIfe... I really just want to figure this ot and being proper treatment.

[David A Burks, MD]

Hi,
You have a complicated history.  It sounds like, at least initially, you had actual urinary tract infections.  I assume that urine cultures were positive for bacteria, and you were treated with an appropriate antibiotic and the symptoms resolved.  We often place patients on long term macrodantin for chronic infections, and you had that good month.  Its not clear what happened between 2003 and 2008, but apparently you are having symptoms and antibiotics are not working.  Step 1.  You need a urine culture during symptoms to determine whether this is a bacterial infection of the bladder or not.  If the culture is negative, you could very well have Interstitial Cystitis.  The history of recurrent urinary tract infections, followed by the same symptoms but no infection is classic for Interstitial cystitis.  Frequency urgency and pelvic pain or pressure is classic for the disorder.  Many patients have pain with intercourse.  Step 2 You need to see a Urologist or Urogynecologist who treats IC and get the basic work up.  IC does not respond to antibiotics. Although there is no cure, there are effective treatments to reduce your symptoms.  You may need a look into your bladder to rule out other problems and try to make a positive diagnosis.  Go to the Interstitial Cystitis Association website:  ichelp.org.  It will give you a list of doctors in your area who treat IC.  Good Luck.