UTI tests/cultures negative but symptoms persists? Any ideas?

[oeg]

A week ago I started having this feeling like I had to urinate constantly, often the sensation was like I was actually urinating myself, like dribbling. I find myself feeling like I'm holding it in when in fact I don't have to go. No other uti symptoms really... no fever, no cloudy or bloody urine, no pain.

So I called my PCP who was on vacation last week and this week and had to settle for an urgent care center. I took a diptest, which came back negative but I was given a 7-day dose of bactrim My culture results today also came back negative and I'm 3.5 days into the bactrim cycle and nothing has changed. They said they still had to test for some STDs, but I laughed that off given my history.

So, obviously I have some concerns about what is going on. I can't sit still much of the time because I feel like I'm wetting myself. I'm thinking it might be a prostate issue, maybe? I'm 36 (male obviously) and uti's are rarer in men to begin with.

One thing I keep wondering is if a recent salivary gland infection and a cycle of amoxicillan and a cycle of keflex might have something to do with this? I have a wicked infection and I ended the keflex cycle about 10 days prior to this happening. Just odd that I'm having two significant issues like this back to back.

Any ideas would be helpful.

[oeg]

My urologist said my "prostate was not too bad" after the exam, which I was unsure what that meant. He also did an ultrasound of my bladder and it showed it was empty given I had just provided a sample. He told me to go off the bactrim and start a cycle of Cipro. Didn't say the anything about my recent sample or anything, he was very hasty and I would say rude, which isn't relevant to any diagnosis but rather leaves me with more questions than answers. I am returning Monday for a cystoscopy but he seemed rather unconcerned, stating only that it could be a stricture. He seemed very confused at my explanation of the feeling I was having.

His rather blase attitude was discomforting and the fact that he just offered up Cipro seems to only confirm my belief that once the problem becomes anything that's not typical, they just load you up with more meds and send you on your way, hoping it helps. I haven't started the Cipro, yet because I wanted to see how today goes in terms of how I am feeling but I think I'll start it tonight. Doubt it does anythign.

Frustrating to say the least. Hopefully Monday we'll be able to rule out any symptoms.

[oeg]

Thanks. I have a urology appt today actually. I will give another urine sample, so it seems they may not entirely be sure of my past results. And to be honest, after reading some things online, I'm suspect of the urgent care center's procedures with respect to my sample. They never told me to give a midstream sample, for one. I provided a small immediate sample as suggested and emptied the majority of my bladder in the toilet. My sister-in-law is an RN and also suggested that lab results and protocol sometimes are an issue. For example, that the presence of bateria in a sample can be deemed a negative by one lab and deemed positive by another based on the count.

So I guess I'm hoping the urologist can provide me some better answers and begin a treatment that works.

[Dr J Singh]

Hello,
The urge of frequent urination can be due to diabetes mellitus. Other possibilities are glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis(inflammation of the kidneys),urinary tract infection, hypercalcemia, hypokalemia(low potassium),hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, diuretic drugs and prostatic problems. These drugs are not associated with any increase in frequency or urge of urination.

In my opinion, investigations like kidney functions, blood sugar levels, ultrasound lower abdomen ,intravenous pyelography , pregnancy blood test, thyroid function tests and cystoscopy may be needed to confirm a diagnosis. I sincerely advise you to consult a urologist or nephrologist and get yourself evaluated so that a confirmatory diagnosis can be made. I’ll suggest consulting a urologist for the same and getting the uroflowmetry test done which actually tests the emptying of the urinary bladder.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.