*What's wrong with me!?* Chronic, constant UTI symptoms

[Tyger]

Please help me in any way you can, I'm at wits end and very distressed. I've tried to condense my story as much as possible...please read it and help!

- Diagnosed with a UTI 2 weeks ago. 5 days on antibiotic Cephalexin (Keflex) and I seemed fine. Symptom relief was very quick, within the first 24 hours.

- 12 days later I was diagnosed with another UTI. Whether or not this one was a relapse of the first one because it had not been completely cured, nobody knows (it was a dipstick diagnosis, they didn't send off a culture test). Culture test was done for this second UTI, bacteria was found to be the most common one - E.coli.

- Prescribed 10-day course of Trimethoprim (E.coli is sensitive to it) to clear it up and 5 days later I have had NO improvement in symptoms. They have concluded that there may be more to it than a UTI and have sent off for a Chlamidia test. Even though I've only had one sexual partner, and we were both virgins beforehand, so this is unlikely.

My symptoms: Only minor pain if any when I'm urinating, clear urine. However I have a irritation/stinging-like sensation in the vaginal area at the site of my urethra that is CONSTANT throughout the day, flaring up especially in the evening. Not any unbearable pain, but enough to be noticeable and very very irritating, giving me the urge to urinate more often generally in an attempt to relieve the irritation.

* No unusual discharge, no odour, no major discomfort during sex (just the urge to pee! and a little tender), no noticeable abdominal pain.

Does anybody know of what else could be causing my discomfort?
Is there a reason why the Trimethoprim might not be working, although E.coli is proven to be sensitive to that antibiotic (and most others)? Can some people just be 'immune' to certain antibiotics?
What is urethral syndrome, and could it be that?
Is it possible to be RE-INFECTED with a completely new UTI only 12 days after finishing the last one, or does this suggest the same one has indeed relapsed?
Lastly - How long does it usually take to feel COMPLETE relief from UTI symptoms when taking antibiotics? (that is to say, when do you generally feel completely 'normal' again. Just incase I've been too impatient...)

PLEASE answer any of these questions that you might know answers to, and comment on my condition! I'm so worried and the doctors as yet have been little help.

Thank you in advance,

Tyger.

[RageOfAngels]

Have they checked for things like interstitial cystitis? That is an inflammation of the whole bladder. Also for an e-coli you may wish to look into D-Mannose, which is not an antibiotic but binds to the bacteria and flushes them out.

[Kimberly315]

I read that some UTI bacteria can actually crawl inside the cells that line your bladder. They will hide there until the antibiotics are gone, then crawl back out and give you another UTI. That could explain why UTIs are so hard to get rid of- I once spent a year treating recurrent infections.

[Tyger]

Could it perhaps just be a slight inflammation of the urethra that is an after-effect of the UTI? Its been hanging around for a while, and usually flares up in the evening.
Has anyone had this before?

And what is interstitial cystitis?
If anyone knows about urethral syndrome I'd like to hear about that too...

I wish I KNEW what it was!!! Please help

Tyger.

[naughteblonde]

Hey there
I had very similar probs as you with the constant UTIs and took cepalexin long term. Many other antibiotics had no effect or I was allergic too. One thing my doc suggested that helped lots was cranberry juice. I drank litres of the stuff and it worked nicely, apparently it interferes with e.coli reproducing. Now after so long I still get the UTI symptoms but there is no bacteria, I have urethritis which is an inflammation of the urethra and cant be treated with antibiotics. Often I get a case of thrush with these symptoms, have you experienced the same?


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