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UTI Symptoms but Not a UTI, Not a STD, then what is it?
Hello, I'm a healthy 22 year old female with no history of STI/STDs. Twice recently, however, after intercourse I obtained what I thought to be a UTI. Bladder/lower abdominal discomfort, frequent urges to urinate (but often unable to actually to do so, or very little would come out), burning at the opening of the urethra when peeing, etc. I have had UTIs before, so I figured this was what it was, and went to my doctor for antibiotics. However, I was told that there was no sign of any bacteria in my urine sample, even after culturing it (along with no STDs, no pregnancy, and all those other commonly assumed causes when a 22 year old sexually active female is involved in just about anything in the medical community). They gave me antibiotics anyway, since i was in extreme discomfort, along with some pill resembling AZO (over the counter bladder numb-er). I took the full course, but the discomfort did not go away for another week or so. When I tried to have sex again, nearly a month later, this happened all over again. I've never experienced anything like this before, and I'm really at quite a loss. It's upsetting and certainly disrupts and affects my quality of life. What could this possibly be?
So.... I want to offer a possible diagnosis for someone you. I used to get these symptoms a LOT when I first met my husband and my sex life increased. Years after going to the doctor month after month I watched Grey's Anatomy and they mentioned Honeymoon cystitis. It dawned on me that this could be the answer. I never received confirmation because it was years later when I ran across the name but maybe it'll help someone here.
Hello I had a similar problem to yours. I'm 21 and I constantly feel llike I have all the UTI symptoms and feel discomfort when I have to pee , or have a burning sensation and I notice that when I eat really unhealthy it becomes more common. I hate going to the Doctors constantly to get antibiotics because the more you use them the less effective they are and also I've read and heard that taking antibiotics constantly can cause liver problems. I started doing some research and looking for alternatives to antibiotics and one the kept coming up was "D-mannose", so basically what is is is a type of sugar pill that helps get rid of infection, I've been taking it for 2 months and I haven't had any UTI symptoms. So what D-mannose is, is a sugar pill or powder(they sell both forms) that doesn't break down in your stomach so all it makes you do is pee out the sugar but the bacteria that stay in you walls and cause the infection really like sugar (that's why eating bad makes the UTI worse) so the bacteria with detach from the walls and go "chase" the sugar you're peeing out. So it's organic and always effective and relatively cheap the bottles range from 15$ for 60 pills. They usually sell them online ones cvs or vitiman shops
To offer a bit of hope to those of you suffering right now: Genitourinary symptoms (burning during/after urination of urethra and/or vagina, bladder fullness, frequency, urgency etc) can be caused by several things that are not UTI. Please don't panic if your results for UTI are negative. You will not have to suffer like this forever!
1. Go back to your doctor. Ask for a new urine culture to be done (this will be in a lab) and ask them to check for ureaplasma (a rarer cause for UTI which does not always get tested for in the initial lab). Also ask your doctor to take a swab to test for STDs (improbable, but possible) and especially for Bacterial Vaginosis. BV can have the EXACT same symptoms as UTI, but with a very different cause and treatment. Do not let them tell you offhand that it's not BV if you don't have discharge. BV does not always present with discharge.
2. In the meantime, you can try some home remedies that will soothe delicate tissue: hot bath with baking soda, cold compresses, salt water bath, honey or yogurt as a topical. (Do a search for vaginal itching and burning, but avoid certain things that are very acidic, because though they will help if it is BV, they will hurt if it is bladder inflammation).
3. Immediately start on a good probiotic. This will help your body heal from the antibiotics, which eliminate both good and bad bacteria. If you can tolerate the taste, one tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar in a small glass of water will help to alkalize your body (acidity will make urine burn more).
4. If the answer comes back as ureaplasma: Doctor will prescribe another antibiotic (like Doxycycline). Continue the probiotic (SO important!)! Consider adding some supplements to soothe and help your bladder heal itself (search this out, but some are marshmallow root, milk thistle, corn silk tea, quercitin, etc)
5. If the answer comes back BV: Doctor will prescribe either an antibiotic (Like Metronidazole/Flagyl or Clindamycin - NOTE: Flagyl is VERY strong and not well tolerated by some, look it up!), or a topical gel or ovule (suppository). Note that these may or may not completely clear your infection. Don't panic if it doesn't! Search instead for natural cures which most sufferers have found to be exceptionally superior than antibiotics (some include Vitamin C (most popular) peroxide treatments (2nd) and others of varying efficacy but worth a try).
6. If it comes back as neither of the above: don't panic! Stress makes your bladder clench, worsening the symptoms. Ask to be referred to a urologist. Do not accept no for an answer. Find a doctor who will listen to your history and refer you. The urologist will do a cystoscopy , which sounds WAY worse than it is. They will check for "signs" of IC, but also for related causes, and there are several, most of which are not "incurable".
7. While waiting for the urologist, think about making some changes that will help relieve stress on your bladder and help it heal. To do this, you need to alkalize your system (avoid caffeine, drink alkalized water, avoid citrus fruit and beverages and processed meats, search out IC Diet), investigate things like TENS, meditation, acupuncture and other non-traditional therapies which will all be beneficial until you find your diagnosis.
Above all, keep in mind that there is new research being done in this area all. the. time. There is tons of information on the web for each of the above, and what works for some won't work for others. Keep being your own advocate and stay positive. You won't suffer with this forever! :)
1. Go back to your doctor. Ask for a new urine culture to be done (this will be in a lab) and ask them to check for ureaplasma (a rarer cause for UTI which does not always get tested for in the initial lab). Also ask your doctor to take a swab to test for STDs (improbable, but possible) and especially for Bacterial Vaginosis. BV can have the EXACT same symptoms as UTI, but with a very different cause and treatment. Do not let them tell you offhand that it's not BV if you don't have discharge. BV does not always present with discharge.
2. In the meantime, you can try some home remedies that will soothe delicate tissue: hot bath with baking soda, cold compresses, salt water bath, honey or yogurt as a topical. (Do a search for vaginal itching and burning, but avoid certain things that are very acidic, because though they will help if it is BV, they will hurt if it is bladder inflammation).
3. Immediately start on a good probiotic. This will help your body heal from the antibiotics, which eliminate both good and bad bacteria. If you can tolerate the taste, one tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar in a small glass of water will help to alkalize your body (acidity will make urine burn more).
4. If the answer comes back as ureaplasma: Doctor will prescribe another antibiotic (like Doxycycline). Continue the probiotic (SO important!)! Consider adding some supplements to soothe and help your bladder heal itself (search this out, but some are marshmallow root, milk thistle, corn silk tea, quercitin, etc)
5. If the answer comes back BV: Doctor will prescribe either an antibiotic (Like Metronidazole/Flagyl or Clindamycin - NOTE: Flagyl is VERY strong and not well tolerated by some, look it up!), or a topical gel or ovule (suppository). Note that these may or may not completely clear your infection. Don't panic if it doesn't! Search instead for natural cures which most sufferers have found to be exceptionally superior than antibiotics (some include Vitamin C (most popular) peroxide treatments (2nd) and others of varying efficacy but worth a try).
6. If it comes back as neither of the above: don't panic! Stress makes your bladder clench, worsening the symptoms. Ask to be referred to a urologist. Do not accept no for an answer. Find a doctor who will listen to your history and refer you. The urologist will do a cystoscopy , which sounds WAY worse than it is. They will check for "signs" of IC, but also for related causes, and there are several, most of which are not "incurable".
7. While waiting for the urologist, think about making some changes that will help relieve stress on your bladder and help it heal. To do this, you need to alkalize your system (avoid caffeine, drink alkalized water, avoid citrus fruit and beverages and processed meats, search out IC Diet), investigate things like TENS, meditation, acupuncture and other non-traditional therapies which will all be beneficial until you find your diagnosis.
Above all, keep in mind that there is new research being done in this area all. the. time. There is tons of information on the web for each of the above, and what works for some won't work for others. Keep being your own advocate and stay positive. You won't suffer with this forever! :)
Hi, So I'm going to just say, my symptoms and then explain what I found.. after hours of researching. I feel like I am getting a UTI everyday. Night time is the worst. I take cranberry tablets, and drink tons or water. But, I constantly feel like I have to pee, and when I do its not much at all. It affects my marriage, and my work.. and is extremely frustrating. Google interstitial cystitis. This is exactly what I have. There is no cure..and all you can do is manage your symptoms. Start taking claritin to relieve the urgency feeling and most importantly keep taking cranberry tabletz, i recommend the AZO tablets and drink plenty of water. People who have this.. when they do get a UTI it is much worse than when a normal person experiences it. I hope this helps. Good luck everyone.
I've had the same thing chronic uti's I've had them since I was real little I've been to urologist after urologist also a neurologist ,a uti specialist, and also infectious disease doctors , no one can figure out why I keep getting them I hate going to the hospital but I get them so bad I have fever,chills,nausea,diareah, back,side, and bladder pain, body aches and migraines from not being able to eat or drink in a week I'm just miserable. Most times when I get them they go into my kidneys and cause the kidney and yeast infections too, I get them cleared up and about a week or 2 later it's back again I am beyond frustrated and hate feeling this way. I'm in the hospital now again I have to get Iv antibiotics, pain medicine, nausea medicine, and I'm dehydrated and anemic too. I wonder if I could have I.C too. This is keeping me from holding down jobs, going places etc... They send me home on medicines but I finish them and it's back again I will be 39 next month and I feel like I am 70. I have another urologist appointment when I feel better to do a cytoscope in the bladder and go from there. I also have complications from a surgery I have gastroparesis, and IBS and fibromyalgia, ..my body hates me. I will update everyone after my appointments good luck ....if you need someone who going thru same thing to talk to I'm here. Good luck everyone
4 Comments
My 13 year old daughter is experiencing some of these same issues. I just read about BPS aka bladder pain syndrom. My daughter is an EDS patient. The nephrologist mentioned that EDS patients tend to have bladder issues. Of the antibiotic doesn't seem to help we're off to a Urologist for a scope.
Hi. I'm 15 and I'm kinda experiencing the same thing. This started after loosing my virginity. I don't want to talk to anyone about it and it's not so bad but starting to get worse. I just wanna know what is so I can do some more research??
one early morning I woke up with terrible pain in my left lower back (around my kidney). this pain was like pain I've never had before. I'm 14 years old, not sexually active and I've been through MANY painful experiences, period cycles & procedures etc. this pain was SO bad I was crawling on my knees to get ahold of Advil and clenching onto things while making my way to my parents room and explain to them what was happening. they took me to the ER but by the time I got there the Advil had already kicked in. the doctor explained to me it was just my Colen or something inside cramping up... obviously that wasn't the case. I had the pain the next morning, again it woke me up. this time Advil didn't touch the pain what so ever. I was on the ground crying for HOURS before it went away. it later came back that night and the following morning. I went to my normal doctor and she referred me to the hospital to get an abdominal ultrasound. seconds after getting up from the table where they did this, I started to get this spasm inside of the left side of my stomach. it felt like something inside was being squeezed together and then went back to normal. it did this a few times and each squeeze lasted a few seconds and then it wouldn't come back for a few hours. I got the ultrasound results back and they found nothing. NOTHING. now, (5 days later) I haven't had any of that same pain happen again- BUT now have new pain. in a different location. this time it hurts to pee in my lower stomach and outside. it feels exactly like a UTI/ bladder infection which I have had before. sometimes I can barely go but it hurts so bad and stings tons. I don't know if this is related or not to what I had going on about a week ago. I went to my doctor SURE that this was a bladder infection but they found nothing. no trace of a UTI. I'm in so much pain and the discomfort of not knowing what is happening to me at such a young age is almost as worrisome. I'm beyond frustrated that I have no diagnosis and do not know what to do.
I have the same thing going on with me, any news on your diagnosis? Hope you are well.
Hello, I am 17 and also have this issue. It doesn't just happen for me after sex but i do think that it triggers it. I have a lot of other health complications and one of my doctors said that the "uti feeling" can be associated with various auto immune disorders. I've given up antibiotics and other treatments because none of them work well or efficiently. I'm in school and work full time, I don't have time to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes for 5 minutes screaming in pain. Just want some answers and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one experiencing this
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