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Suggestions for urethra irritation for 4 months (female)

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joanna46417
joanna46417

Hi, I just found this forum and am hoping for some suggestions on things to try for my irritated urethra for 4 months now.  It suddenly started with frequent urination one day...long story as short as possible....feel like I've had one long UTI that has not gone away and is settled in my urethra. I never had UTI's before and I am 60 yrs old!  Past 4 months, ecoli bacteria was found in cultures a few times- so have had dosages of antibiotics..currently on 15 days of nitorfurantonin (UTI symptoms were urethra burning and frequent urination - no buring during urination and no pain elsewhere, no blood in urine ever). After few days on antibiotics burning goes away, but I have had this constant irritation (no pain) in my urethra and it also gives me the urge to urinate.  It used to be more intense, but last few weeks it has calmed down some, but still bothersome. I have had 2 cystoscopies - bladder normal, just saw irritation/little redness in urethra. It was excrutiating pain when tube was inserted into urethra during both cystoscopies, but I suspect I had a UTI both times (they didn't check my urine - but usually dipstick test in lab is always negative. It's the cultures that come back positive. I've seen 2 urologists and an obgyn.  I was diagnosed with OAB and Vaginal atrophy.  I saw an NP or specializes in Interstitial Cystitis (dreadful debilating disease!) thinking I may have tha, but because I have no urgency with the frequency and no other pain really, she doesn't think I have IC.  Sorry this is so long - just wanted to give the history! My question is...I have tried SO many things for the irritation in my urethra...lidocaine, hydrocortozone cream, mybertiq for frequency (doesn't help because the irritation causes the urge), AZO Go Less, The PH level of my urine is ok. The only relief I get is from a cold pack on my urethra all day and I sleep with one at night.  It's worse when I'm sitting, but still feel it walking around. My NP started me on Aimtriptyline - after 2 weeks slept during the night last night and didn't get up to pee all night! But the irritation is still there.  Maybe I need more time on the Aimtriptyline? I'm also have a test done for ureplasma and myoplasma.  Women on the IC network swear by this test, but it is very specific antibiotics that are needed to treat that infection.  Only certain labs in the U.S. will test for that and you have to send your urine off. 

I would so appreciate any suggestions of things that have take this irritation/urge feeling away.  It is so awful all these months.

Thanks so much!!

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Lynda041564
    Lynda041564 joanna46417

    Posted

    Are you in u.s. ?? 11Months of burning pain, look up pudendal neuralgia. One of big causes is not being able to sit. After 2 urologists, gynecologist, neurosurgeon, urogynecologist,,never uti, but they treat anyhow because that's always their first idea. Finally solved it myself. Searching treatments at present time. Just found 2days ago. Keep research your symptoms or any part where you feel pain, could help. Good luck
    • joanna46417
      joanna46417 Lynda041564

      Posted

      Thanks for replying Linda! I will look that condition up - although I only have burning when I have a positive UTI from culture. I just have continual uretha irritation with frequent urination from the urge to urinate. Ive looked up every possible cause and nothing fits.

      Glad you were able to self diagnose! Good luck with treatment and thanks again smile

      I live in Minnesota smile

  • liz53953
    liz53953 joanna46417

    Posted

    Hi Joanna could be the falling oestrogen levels as they thin the bladder walls. I too get the burn after weeing and if I don't drink loads of water my bladder tells me as its then not great when I go to the loo. I also get a dire feeling in the uretha and bladder and sometimes the uretha is open which means it's irritated. So it's either thrush which causes the same symptoms or honeymoon cystitis . I've recently started taking d mannose and that seems to solve the burning thank god and if you read the info it says it's helped with ic sufferers. I also drink parsley tea from a herbal company as that soothes the bladder along with a tincture as it contains corn silk. The uretha I have to try either a thrush cream to see if that helps or take a one off thrush tablet. It's a bit trial and error but definitely the d manoose has helped the burn. It's a really horrible thing to have I also take nortryptoline for vulvadynia but the tablet does not stop the burning by itself. Hope this helps you.
    • joanna46417
      joanna46417 liz53953

      Posted

      Hi Liz...thanks for your reply and suggestions! I looked up every possible condition I could have and nothing fits. And most require antibiotics and Ive been on 3 regimes of those so figured if I had thrush or cystitis it would have cleared up right? But I will look for a thrush cream. Urethra is just irritated causing me to feel urge to urinate even though bladder is usualky empty..I can get trickle out still. Ive been taking D Mannose 1 or 2 a day. Should I try more maybe? I only have had burning when a UTI...and those seem to come back every few weeks after antibiotic is done. So weird and frustrating! Im also taking aimtriptyline. ..2 probiotics. ..garlic capsules..vitamin D...mybertiq. and Azo Go Less (these last 2 bladder meds dont help). Thanks so much again! Glad your treatment worked and you found your diagnosis!
    • liz53953
      liz53953 joanna46417

      Posted

      Hi Joanna d manoose 2 to 3 every 3 hours during the day and two at night I do three lots of two during the day and two at night . Keep it going for a week then reduce and see he you feel. Thrush can be recurring I get it back quite a lot I like bread and marmite full of yeast. I can't take probiotics at the moment and they stopped the thrush for me . Your burning might not be a uti just oestrogen levels dropping how long have you had it?
    • joanna46417
      joanna46417 liz53953

      Posted

      Thank you again!  I will up my doseage right away today of DMannose. I have been on premarin cream for my vaginal atrophy 3 x week for 3 months.  Does that help oestrogen levels?  I will do some research on that too.  So annoying having this irritation and urge to urinate all the time.  It's mild to moderate, but annoying and always there! Sometimes when I am out walking around it actually goes away for a few minutes here and there. My urine cultures twice showed the Ecoli bacteria - but not alot of it.  Was put on antibiotics both times. This last one my NP put me on just 5 days of the Nitro, but I was still burning so I asked her for a longer doseage, so now I am on 10 more days of it and the burning went away a couple days after I started this 10 days more regime.  Such a puzzle. I am going to research thrush more.  Going to take more Dmannose now! smile  thanks so much again Liz!
    • liz53953
      liz53953 joanna46417

      Posted

      Hi Joanna you are welcome thrush can cause all sorts I researched it . I probably know far too much about it but I prefer to do non medicine if possible I prefer herbal.

      Premarin should help your oestrogen levels that's Hrt cream i recognize the name. I'm fed up with the yo yo of ok for a while then out of the blue you get a problem again . It's either pain soreness problem with the urinary tract feeling tired all the time. Gosh can you remember being normal? I'd love to be normal again this lark is horrible. Sorry that's not very positive and I am normally just get fed up like everyone else. Hope something works for you let me know how you get on.

  • Ellibelis
    Ellibelis joanna46417

    Posted

    Did you ever figure out what was wrong? I’m 27 years old having the same problem and it’s been 4 months .
    • jane23942
      jane23942 Ellibelis

      Posted

      This might seem like a long shot but are you up to date with your cervical smear tests?
  • abby58286
    abby58286 joanna46417

    Posted

    What’s the update on your situation Joanna? I’m having a very similar problem sad
    • Elliejane44
      Elliejane44 abby58286

      Posted

      Hi Abby

      i have the same and tested positive for fungal infection, thrush.

      Had one tablet 4 days ago no relief yet .

      How are you ?

      Ellie 

  • RaRa1948
    RaRa1948 joanna46417

    Posted

    Hi joanna46417....I have had the same symptoms, for 3 mos now. I am 69, and have severe atrophy of the labia. The urethrea pain, continued after 5 different types of antibiotic. Which later I found out were for another type of bacteria...just finished those, and 2 days later, it is back. That constant nagging irritation, burning sensation. Sometimes I just let the shower head, run on that area, with a s warm as I can stand. Brings blood to the area, and gives some relief. Another solution for me , is I use cannibis salve, mixed with comfrey. The cannibis helps with the pain, olive oil, helps with friction when walking, and the comfrey helps with the inflammation. I apply to th painful area at least 4 times a day. Temporary solution, until I see urologist.
  • chris44432
    chris44432 joanna46417

    Posted

    Joanne,

    Hello, my name is Chris. I was looking online and I read your post looking for help. From my experience, I had severe burning on my urethra when I took probiotics. Maybe it might be cleansing toxins that are causing your discomfort. I noticed on one on one of your posts, you're taking two types of probiotics.

    Maybe you stop taking them all together and see if it subsides. If so, start taking them again but, every other day. I hope this helps.

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