I need advice on my recurring UTI'S/ frequent urination and pelvic pain

[caroline76]

have been suffering from UTI's for a few years, and everytime they have gone away with antibiotics and no other problems. A year ago to this month, I had a severe kidney infection, with no complications after a round of antibiotics. Recently though, about 2 months ago I would say, I started having to urinate constantly, with no pain or any other symptoms. Im on birth control, and it was a week before I was supposed to have a period, but I was concerned because I constantly had to go, so I went to an immediate care and the doctor just said it was due to my period I was supposed to have and did not treat me. A week after my period, I had a pelvic exam, and my a urine analysis was done and said I had a bladder infection, but I had no symptoms. My doctor put me on antibiotics, and 2 weeks later, I started to have symptoms. I h ad to go to the imediate care again because I was in pain, and they said I had another bladder infection and that my urine was very dirty. So i took another round of anitibiotics which helped alittle bit but a week later it all came back again, so i had to go again to the immediate care, i know this sounds repetitive but i am getting to the point. Basically the immediate care doctor told me to follow up with my gynocologist again to have an ultrasound. Last week I had a transvaginal ultrasound, and wont know the results until wednesday. The doctor just gave me hydrocodone for pain, which has been the only thing to give me relief. I recieved the results for the ultrasound, and everything was fine. So then I had blood work done and that was fine too. i've been having pain in my back also which has gradually started. Basically my symptoms vary constantly, and one day i will feel fine, and the next day it changes; but ALWAYS at night time i constantly have to urinate and have pressure in my pelvic area. My symptoms are at sometimes i feel pressure and fullness in my pelvic region, the constant urge to urinate, and almost a tingling feeling in my groin area and pelvic area. If anyone could help me and give me advice as to what direction I need to go to that would be great. And also I am on certain medications for depression etc. I'm worried it might have something to do with stress because they cannot diagnose a problem.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the forum!
If you are having recurrent UTI then there are two possibilities. One is that the antibiotic which you are taking is not effective against the micro-organism causing the infection. The other is that you have a stone in the urinary system, which though is asymptomatic is acting as the source of infection.
What you need is a urine culture and sensitivity test done. Next time you have this problem, please go to a laboratory and give your urine  for culture and sensitivity in a sterile bottle. This will tell you what organism is causing the infection and what antibiotic will kill it permanently. Please do not take any antibiotic without this test because if the organism is not sensitive to the antibiotic, it will only sit quietly for some time and then flare up again.
Also get an ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis to rule  out a stone.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[Ceecee302]

hi I have had a UTI for what seems llike a year now.  Everytime they give me antibiotics it clears it.  but within a few week I have another infection.  I went to a urologist and they gave me a pill to take thee times a week but already I have another UTI.  I drink plenty of water and have recently started taking cranberry supplements.  This seems to be helping but I Want to to know what causes this infection all the time or if it could be something else?

Thanks
CC

[caroline76]

Yes I have had  urine cultures which were fine. The urologist also checked my CT scan I had of my kidney from an infection last year and that was fine. I have had problems with the alignment of my spine, and went to a chiropractor and he said my pelvic plate was not in line, and also my hip; but mostly doctors just shrug that off and tell me not to believe that. I saw him about a year ago and I do slightly have oscoliosis.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Medicines which are metabolized and then excreted through urine can cause some burning in urine. However have you had a urine culture and sensitivity done? This needs to be done to know what organism is causing the infection and what antibiotic will kill it. Yes, allergy is possible. Also spinal compression at lumbar region is another possibility.
It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Do consult your psychiatrist, however your symptoms may not be due to the medicines.
Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[caroline76]

I have been having frequent UTI'S the past 3 months, and they have been treated with antibiotics. I have had a transvaginal ultrasound, pelvic exam, blood tests, and a cystoscopy and everything was fine. I am on concerta, lamictal, pristiq, seasonique, and zyrtec d. My urologist suggested that my problems were from taking my medications; the weird thing is I have taken these medications together for a while now. my symptoms that are coming and going are a tingling feeling in my groin area, that will last for days then go away. I kind of feel anxiety and I dunno if it is because I start worrying when I get this feeling, or what it is. I guess I need to speak with my psychiatrist but it would be hard to determine what medication to come off of. I guess i'm wondering if you have ever heard of this before? maybe i could be allergic to something? or could it just be anxiety?

[caroline76]

Thank you very much for responding. Even though as of now i've been feeling better the past week, only with back pains and sometimes the urge to urinate not as bad, do you suggest I see a urologist anyways because I would hate for it to start up again

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Your symptoms could be due to UTI, or urinary tract infection. The infection could be at any level from bladder to ureter to kidney. It could also be due to a stone in the urinary tract. Since you had vaginal sonography I think you cannot rule out stone fully so it would be a better idea to get an abdominal ultrasound or CT scan.  What you also need is a urine culture and sensitivity test done. Next time you have this problem, please go to a laboratory and get your urine tested for infection. You can also give it for culture and sensitivity in a sterile bottle. This will tell you what organism is causing the infection and what antibiotic will kill it permanently. Please do not take any antibiotic without this test because if the organism is not sensitive to the antibiotic, it will only sit quietly for some time and then flare up again.
However increased frequency of urine is also seen in diabetis mellitus and diabetes insipidus. Small for size bladder is another cause and so also neurogenic bladder. Another possibility is a polyp or a growth inside the urethra. At times a hair too grows inwards and keeps tickling the urethra causing a need to urinate.
You must talk to your urologist regarding all these possibilities. You would need some more tests beside urine analysis to reach a confirmed diagnosis.

It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!