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Painful Burning Sensation In Urethra - No Uti Or Std - Female

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PetalP
PetalP

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

238 Replies

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  • piper09297
    piper09297 PetalP

    Posted

    I have had the same thing, for YEARS! i was ready to sit in a snowbank and felt if i did, it would sound like steam coming from my intimate area, because that is how badly it burns. I went for two bladder exams, and they found nothing...neither did my gyn nor gp! nothing on petri dishes, either! But yesterday, I ran out of my usual brand of toilet paper, and had to use a different roll from a neighbor! (yes, embarrasing to ask for) well, as soon as i did, i thought nothing of it, but the burning sensation stoppped. Did you get that?! The burning stopped! For days! Then I did a bit of googling, and found MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO THEIR TOILET PAPER! There are so many bleaches, chemicals and formeldahyde in most, that you cant believe! There are literally thousands of people out there with OUR symptoms! Frankly, I have been buying the same brand Toilet paper for about as long as I have had symptoms...I never put 2+2 together until i had to borrow a different brand of paper...!  Google it! And, God bless you....I know what you are going through...dont give up...just change toilet papers to one without chemicals; All paper products (including FEMININE PRODUCTS) have chemicals in them! This needs to be shouted from the rooftops! There are products out there that are chemical free... We buy unbleached coffee/tea filters, yet we treat our bottoms with a menagerie of chemicals?!  We should boycott the product makers! 
    • hayley00758
      hayley00758 piper09297

      Posted

      Hi your advice really rings a bell with me. I Got here because ive just used the toilet at work and ice got slight burning pain. And I remembered the sensation from when I was younger. I'd say 10-12 years old this cold burning feeling would keep happening. It made me feel so ill school would send me home. My mum just used to say it was probably my body changing.

      But now I come to think of it. Tory paper. The cheap scratchy kind they use at schools and at work. Probably it's all the chemicals. The sensation isn't ever as bad now as it was then but it just feels a little familiar. I haven't had it for years though.

    • carolyn42252
      carolyn42252 piper09297

      Posted

      Piper - I'm 76 and this terrible burning started a couple of months ago - and very foul odor..  Went to GP - told to get otc med for yeast infection.  Wrong, no itch, but burn especially at night.  Then to gynecology- all clear.  Seeing urologist for CT of bladder t omorrow.  His eyes opened wide when I mentioned that I had small bubbles in my urine.  So now we are looking for a bladder fistula (opening) connected to the bowel, or someplace else. Do you have anything new to report?  This is my first time on this site.

       

  • piper09297
    piper09297 PetalP

    Posted

    taken from a website:  Vulvovaginitis occurs at least once in half of all woman older than 24 years of age; it can result from bacterial, viral, or yeast infections, contact irritation, and allergy. Symptoms can include vaginal discomfort, itching, vaginal discharge, dyspareunia, or dysuria; the vulva is often swollen and erythematous.

    Most women with symptoms of vulvovagintis self-medicate with over-the-counter antifungal medications; however, 50% of women who use these medications do not have yeast infections. As a result of this self-diagnosis and self-treatment, the prevalence and incidence of vulvovaginitis might be grossly underestimated.

    Patients who present with symptoms of chronic vulvovagintis should be clinically assessed for the presence of infection; if laboratory results are negative, physicians should advise patients to use unbleached or minimally processed toilet paper to see if symptoms abate, and to check the chemical content of personal hygiene or household products for possible allergens or contact irritants.

    Personally, try making your own toilet paper...I was so desperate I started making little fabric squares of material and throwing away after use until I can come up with something different. I had been using Scott's toilet paper for many years until i ran out and had to borrow a roll from my neighbor. The pain was gone for 3-4 days! I attribute that to the T.P. !  I have not bought Scott's since, and have googled 'allergic to toilet paper symptoms'...you wouldnt believe what is in t.p! Cancer causing chemicals and Formeldyhyde! Stuff we dont want in our food/plastic containers, yet we're wiping our most intimate areas with this?!  Try cleansing yourself with distilled water and gently wiping with baby washcloths that you can either throw out or seal in a container with tea tree oil/water until you can throw them in the wash....just STOP USING TOILET PAPER, and see if it helps! Mine cleared up overnite... however, the blood issue has really got me worried...if you keep bleeding, you should see a specialist...God Bless you.

    • uk2016
      uk2016 piper09297

      Posted

      Personal Hygiene is very important to what my wife has gone through without it has very strong urine odour too. Had lots of Cranberries, Antibiotics, Gynae., etc. nothing helped. But i strongly believe as you have mentioned one of the example as Toilet paper. Other is washing before taking shower, sex and after shower too. Sitting on Bathtub or Stool which needs to be cleaned. Changing to clean panties after coming from work or be changed in 8 hours. Again, no matter what you take or do personal hygiene including toilet paper plays a role.  Good bacteria is killed by overdoing too. Also detox can help to some extent. These are just my beliefs. Using Cranberries in long run can cause acidity and using antibiotics and cronic UTI can lead to Kidney infection if Hygiene is not taken into consideration to eliminate the possibilty. 
  • Lynda041564
    Lynda041564 PetalP

    Posted

    Please try a urogynocologist, they specialize only with females. I am experiencing your symptoms. There is a lining in the urethra that might be causing your symptoms. I'm still at the beginning stages myself, Mine started in April 2015, and after five doctors and ct scan, mri, nuclear retal scan, cystoscopy and distension of urethra ,,urogynocologist could see with just an internal my lining slipping, started using permarin cream, pea size amount to the end of the urethra, on day two, might take a week to show improvements, but it's the first time someone has they see something looks different. So hard to all normal results when you still hurt. Good luck
    • michelle32158
      michelle32158 Lynda041564

      Posted

      My name is Michelle 53, menopause experiencing pain/pressure which feels like it's coming from my clitoris. My transvaginal ultrasound was fine. I see a Urogynecologist and terrified what he will tell me. I no they like to push the Cystoscope test and I've heard horror stories. Have you had one? If yes, was it painful? Can you have twilight sleep sedation? Merry Christmas. Michelle

  • piper09297
    piper09297 PetalP

    Posted

    oh my goodness.... I have been to 3 Gyn's, 2 Urologists, had an MRI, etc...$$ wasted, as none of the 'Professionals' could find the problem...PetalP, I hope there is a urogynocologist in my area...I am starting to 'flare up' again, and I thought it was the TP, but here I am again at square one. I start a new job Monday, and I hate to be in pain again!!!!  The burning has flared up (although I did use diff TP, at a restaurant)....I am going to look for a urogynocologist right now! Thank you for your tip!  God Bless you, girl!
    • PetalP
      PetalP piper09297

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply. I have since been diagnosed as having Painful Bladder Syndrome, also known as Interstitial Cystitis.

      I’m finding a change in my diet (tomatoes/tomato based foods trigger an excruciating pain for me, likewise with alcohol and cheese) to be the greatest relief. I still experience random “flares”, but I can now go days without any pain if I watch my diet.

      My advice:

      - Keep a food/drink diary, you may be able to pin point if certain foods/drinks are playing a part.

      - See an Urologist, only they have the ability to make a Cystoscopy happen, and only a Cystoscopy can determine if you have Painful Bladder Syndrome. 

      Good luck, and I wish you all the best! 

    • michelle32158
      michelle32158 PetalP

      Posted

      My name is Michelle 53, menopause experiencing pain/pressure in my clitoris area. Transvaginal ultrasound was fine. I see a Urogynecologist. I have a feeling they want a Cystoscope test. Have you had one? Was it painful? Is there an option to have twilight sleep sedation?

      Terrified. Merry Christmas

  • piper09297
    piper09297 PetalP

    Posted

    wholly cow! I hope others read this...This may be my problem...i took this from Web md.:  http://www.webmd.com/women/tc/vaginal-fistula-topic-overview ;

    It certainly sounds like what i have...as my discharge is very foul, and sometimes  i have the odor of sewage...i hate to be so blunt, but if it can help someone else, so be it.  PetalP, I wish I could hug you...Why wouldnt my Gyn or Urologist tell me this other profession exists?!  *Crying. 

    • Lynda041564
      Lynda041564 piper09297

      Posted

      Try a heating pad between your legs. Let me be clear, I personally have no odor, only burning sensation.
  • torri_83305
    torri_83305 PetalP

    Posted

    Hey I'm having the same exact symptoms as you! None of the doctors are helping me , their saying everything looks healthy but it's not if I'm burning sad did you ever find out ? And I'm only 18
    • piper09297
      piper09297 torri_83305

      Posted

      Hi Torri....I have had the same burning thing going on for 20 years...No Dr or Gyn could figure it out...I wanted to put icepacks on myself down there, and begged for a topical cream to numb me ... my Gyn reluctantly gave it to me; HOWEVER....i  FOUND THE CAUSE! I am allergic to Scotts toilet paper!! I have been using that same toilet paper about the time my burning started...it took 20 years (sad, horrible time) to find this out. I had run out of t.p. and borrowed a roll from my neighbor..i know, too much info, right?! ha..  Well, i noticed the burning subsided for the entire week! I thought, 'the only thing different i have done was the different t.p."  so then i googled "Allergies to Toilet Paper" and wham! Thousands, if not Millions of people are allergic to T.P.! The materials/chemicals that is used in T.P. are even so far as poisonous to consume, yet we're wiping our bottoms with it?! Try switching toilet paper...I found some generic t.p. at Walgreen's called ' big roll ' that is safe for the sewage system, and appears to not irritate me at all....so far, its been a glorious month now that i havent burned! God bless you, hon....  go buy some different toilet paper, the less chemicals added to it the better...heck, even look at the health food store, if you live close to one, for their t.p. and other chemical-less feminine paper products. I am sure tampons and pads are filled with these same bad chemicals too.
    • shawna18874
      shawna18874 torri_83305

      Posted

      Hi all I have the same thing and had a Cystoscopy done the doc says I have Urethral diverticulitis and is prescribed me numbing cream which I cannot wait to get and try. Please update anything that gives you relief! I use Hyphen doc prescription helps a lot! And I take cystex when I have pain it molds the pain. I was told that pain down there also cause pelvic distinctions making you tense up and cause more uncomfortable feeling. 
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