Painful Burning Sensation In Urethra - No Uti Or Std - Female
Posted , 141 users are following.
I am a 21 year old female in the UK, and I have been suffering with a painful burning sensation which I believe to be coming from my urethra since September 2014. The pain comes and goes throughout the day, and it will be at its most intense after having urinated, and after sex. At its worst I struggle to walk. The need to urinate has increased but there is no difficulty in going, though I do now most often have two streams when urinating which sometimes will stop and start. On multiple occasions there has also been thick blood in my urine too.
No UTIs have ever shown up on the paper dip test at my local GPs, though I have had UTIs in the past. I have tested negative to all STDs. I have had ultrasound scans which have shown nothing abnormal. I have had numerous internal examinations by doctors and one by a Gynaecologist, all have said everything looks normal and healthy.
My GP has had me try at least 6 different types of antibiotics but none have had any effect on me, except for Cefalexin which I took once a day for 28 days, the pain felt lifted and sex was possible again, but 3-4 days after having finished my course I was back to how I was before them.
I drink plenty of fluids (including cranberry juice) and eat healthy, I don't drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs. All pain killers have very little effect on the pain, only a hot water bottle sat between my thighs brings any relief. Taking cranberry capsules, and/or cystitis relief sachets has had no effect.
I am about ready to give up on my local GP, its doctors and the NHS, no matter how many appointments I make and attend no progress is ever made, no tests are ever taken and my request to be referred to a Urologist has been repeatedly turned down, I am only ever told to drink more water and to try a new antibiotic, which I pay for each time, no one seems willing to search and to find out what is causing the pain. Affording to go private is a problem for me though, and so I just hope there is someone out there who can relate to me and give me guidance/knowledge on what to do.
This pain is now negatively affecting all aspects of my life.
7 likes, 238 replies
mariemyers PetalP
Posted
lynne69494 mariemyers
Posted
Does your doc think its definetly pain in lower back due to urology probs, from examining you, could it be pain from another cause in lower back, muscle, nerve, pain. Have you seen a physio or chiropracter, just in case there,s another cause for lower back pain. although l,d expect er and specialists to know. Just an idea with you mentioning lower back pain, but hope you get help soon.
michelle32158 mariemyers
Posted
My name is Michelle, 53, in menopause and experiencing pain/pressure in my clitoris or urethra area. I take pyridium for pain. I've had a transvaginal ultrasound which I was told it's fine. Can you tell me about the Cystoscope test. Were you awake? Was it painful, I've heard horror stories Where you offered twilight sleep? I see a Urologist this week. Is that the right doctor or should I see a neurologist? In any case I'm terrified and want to find out why I have this? Merry Christmas Michelle
Esotericker michelle32158
Posted
Hello Michelle, and other women who have posted in this thread. I've written in repy to PetalP somewhere else in this thread.
I think my Urethral discomfort is caused by not enough liquid and too much sugar/bread/cake/beer. Plus hormonal changes. I'm 53 and still menstruating! I'm most likely to get an attack just before my period. I try to remember to drink lots of water with lemon juice or bicarb in it in the week before my period, and to cut back on the beer/sugar/bread.
I also take a very low dose of Oxytetracycline – an anitibiotic prescribed for my rosacea (which gets worse before my period). I do wonder whether the oxtetracycline also helps prevent an attack of the Urethral Syndrome.
Aside from water with lemon or bicarb (both make the liquid in your bladder less acidic), I find a bath and a hot water bottle really help.
Good luck to you all. I find it amazing it took me so long to work out what the problem for me was. It may be different for others, but do really think about your diet and if the attacks might be related to hormonal changes.
susan556 michelle32158
Posted
Hi Michelle where do you buy the pyridium from, is it avaialble in the UK, being a sufferer and after two different types of antibitoics which havn't done much to help by the way ill try anything. Im 66 and post meanopausal, well i presume i am?
Sue
evelyn39594 PetalP
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shikha81846 PetalP
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And it should not be there but still as a precaution get checked for urogenital tuberclosis .
Best wishes ... I can understand your pain emotional as well as physical . Just stay strong.
michelle32158 shikha81846
Posted
My name is Michelle, 53, menopause experiencing pain/pressure which feels like it's coming from my urethra/clitoris area. I had a transvaginal ultrasound which came back normal. I see a Urologist this week. Terrified. It's scary when you have pain and you don't no where it's coming from. Have you or someone you no had a Cystoscope test? If yes, was it painful? We're you awake or slightly sedated? Merry Christmas Michelle
kristy08015 shikha81846
Posted
Hi shikha
I've been tested for STD's and STI's- would trichomoniasis be covered in those or would I need to ask specifically for the test?
Best
andrea31551 PetalP
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mary74052 PetalP
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liz73149 PetalP
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michelle32158 liz73149
Posted
Merry Christmas
bosalina PetalP
Posted
I've been researching bladder pain pretty much constantly since it started to try and work out the problem, and found out that bladder pain isn't just caused by an infection, and instead it is inflammation of the bladder and urethral lining. There are lots of reasons for this (eg. if you've had UTIs in the past and it has caused some damage to the lining, or it could be the symptom of something else) and sometimes there is no cause at all. However I'm not an expert at all and something else could be going on, so definitely push for a cystoscopy- change doctors if it helps.
For the pain I find that a tsp of bicarbonate of soda/baking soda dissolved in a glass of water helps, though it tastes disgusting! (Best way to do it is hold your nose while you drink then keep holding it while you drink a glass of normal water afterwards.) I also find avoiding acidic liquids or anything that irritates the lining of the bladder helps a great deal- I actually found drinking cranberry juice (while GREAT for helping clear up UTIs due to bacteria killing properties) was the worst offender (because there is no bacteria to kill- it's inflammation) but I have to avoid orange juice, apple juice, fizzy drinks (lemonade etc) alchol
, tea and coffee and anything with caffeine, tomatoes etc- basically anything that irritates the bladder. When I'm in big pain with it I can only really drink water, and herbal teas like peppermint, camomile (camomile also works topically when applied gently with cloth) and ginger. I also find that ginger capsules can provide some relief due to their anti-inflammatory properties. It's also worth swapping to pH friendly wash for "down there" rather than the shower gels or soaps that you use for the rest of your body, and avoiding too tight or irritating clothing and underwear around the pelvic area. Loose comfortable cotton is your friend! All this can help to manage/avoid irritation and make the pain more manageable.
So if you're in pain with it, definitely push your Drs to find out what is wrong, but hopefully you'll find some of the above tips helpful for dealing with the pain in the meantime and while you're waiting for prescribed treatments to work. There are other home relief tips out there too- I found the IC (Interstitial Cysitis) Forum Network very helpful for picking up tips. As strange as it may sound- listen to your body- everyone reacts differently to different remedies, so gently try some methods of pain relief to see what works for you.
Hope some of that helps! x
PetalP bosalina
Posted
I finally gained my diagnosis a little while ago, and it is indeed Painful Bladder Syndrome that I am living with, so no infections just a delicate bladder linning.
For me too all the foods/drinks you listed bring on/increase pain for me. I just wish I had considered my diet earlier on!
Thank you again, and I wish all the best for you x
bosalina PetalP
Posted
The IC (Interstitial Cystitis) Forum is a great place to share and learn tips, as well as support with others living with the same thing.
Thank you and all the best to you as well
x
patricia6964 PetalP
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michelle32158 bosalina
Posted
I see a Urologist and scared of what he will tell me. Have you or anyone you no had a Cystoscope test? If yes, was it painful? Do you no if you can have twilight sleep sedation?
Merry Christmas