Constant urgency to urinate

2 years ago after frequent trips to and from a Urologist who had very little empathy towards my situation, I was diagnosed with Chronic Cystitis. It was concluded my bladder was working fine and after a Cystoscopy, I was told my Urethra was very narrow and that during this procedure, they had dilated it. I had no initial decrease in symptoms and after a few months with no relief I paid to have a consultation with another private Urologist who said, through years of UTI's and taking antibiotics without diagnosis of the specific bacteria, I'd essentially ruined any good bacteria I had and that my symptoms were unexplainable and something I would have to live with and perhaps they would get better. It was not what I'd hoped to hear but made it easier to get on with life and normalise my symptoms. I often have flare ups but have been able to manage my symptoms by taking Amitriptyline at night time which gets me through the night (most of the time) without frequent trips to the bathroom. And I think I have simply got used to the feeling rather than it getting any better.

However, the last two months have been extremely difficult. My symptoms have been constant most days.

I don't experience a lot of pain other than slight stinging-like sensation comes after I have urinated, if having a bad flare up. And can feel when a flare-up is coming as I get a strong sensation in my Urethra.

I constantly have the urgency to urinate- usually every 1-2 hours but when having flare up, it's constant urgency, immediately after I've urinated, there is no relief. On a bad day/flare-up, I can manage 30/40 mins before having to go again. I've been led to believe this has nothing to do with my bladder but I do get a slight pressure-like feeling in my lower abdomen but the main feeling is actually in my Urethra. My period, certain sex positions and Cervical smears etc seem to aggravate it. I had to go and have a swab of my Cervix yesterday and the clamps used have caused an extreme amount of discomfort today. I fear this will now have 'damaged' or knocked my Urethra somehow and it will take even longer to ease. It also makes me confident that this isn't all in my head as I feel a physical difference and huge worsening of symptons immediately after the swab yesterday and a lot worse today.

I follow a plant based diet, drink little to no alcohol, do not smoke and am drink plenty of water daily. I do have one shot of coffee a day but have it milky with oat milk. I have been drinking celery juice on an empty stomach every morning the last month as I heard this helped. I'm desperate to not have to live like this. I'm female and in the UK. Any help or advice would be so appreciated.

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