UTI or IC help please.

[eo122]

In October I was diagnosed with a UTI via telephone-meaning no urine culture. It was my first since I was a child. the uti got better for a few days and then worse again, but when I would go to the doctors it would show up as negative for nitrates but positive for white blood cells. I didnt feel back to normal until early january of this year. I have seen many doctors and all had suggested IC but when I got a cystoscopy my urologist said my bladder looked normal. I have been tested for stds, had ultrasounds of ovaries and kidneys.

This past week I had symptoms of a uti again, but did not have time to go to the doctor (stupid me, i know) I used a home uti test and it said I was positive for nitrates and wbc. Took left over macrodantin that I had from my cystoscopy and have found little/no relief. but when i took another home uti test it was negative for nitrates but positive for wbc. I am hesitant to go to the doctor because every dr i go to tells me im fine and tries to send me to another doctor.
could it be a uti or ic or something completley different please help!

[tealeaf]

Hi there, I just happened to read your post after posting my issue (which is very similar).  I have had these ongoing problems for years.

I have actually looked into IC quite a bit too, but after doing some reading it would sound like you would need to also be in a lot of pain if you were having IC.  I felt like everything I read suggested women were having almost like stabbing pains in their bladder.  I could be wrong about this, I am no expert.

Your situation sounds very similar to mine.  I often show positive for WBC but not nitrate.  My friend who is a physician assistant (similar to a NP) believes I have the same issue that she does and that I need a dilation of my urethra.

Are your symptoms mainly retaining urine and not being able to urinate more than a small amount at a time?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hi,
Taking in account the symptoms which you’re having and the tests done, I’ll suggest a full course of antibiotics again, although the nitrate test has come out as negative in the last test. Also please ensure to drink lots of fluids as it plays an equally important role like antibiotics in flushing out the bacteria from the system. Changing the antibiotics is also important as there’s a possibility of the bacteria developing resistance to the antibiotics very soon. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care.