Embarrassing UTI question!
February 8, 2022 9:06 AM Subscribe
UTI: finished antibiotics, still hurts to pee
I am a woman who has somehow avoided UTIs most of my adult life and ended up with one this week.
Here's the timeline:
1) Last Tuesday started feeling unusual. Symptoms were mostly a sort of tender feeling externally.
2) Wednesday, it definitely hurt to pee and I made a doctor's appointment. I peed in a cup that day, and lab results came back that afternoon positive for a UTI.
3) I picked up a five day course of antibiotics Thursday and took the first that morning.
4) Finished the five day course Monday night.
5) Symptoms peaked that Thursday night--painful when I peed, general tenderness externally--and started to slowly get better although intermittently. Saturday night I was like, yay, it's over, and then Sunday starting feeling tender again. Then yesterday--yay, feeling better! But then this morning wasn't great
6) It's Tuesday morning--I have finished my antibiotics. It still hurts when I pee. Not as badly as it did before, but definitely does. External symptoms are complely gone. I also felt well enough last night that I had PIV sex for the first time in a week, and I'm wondering if that was a bad idea?
Is this more or less normal recovery as the antibiotics do their work, or should I contact my doctor again? I am of course drinking lots of water.
I am a woman who has somehow avoided UTIs most of my adult life and ended up with one this week.
Here's the timeline:
1) Last Tuesday started feeling unusual. Symptoms were mostly a sort of tender feeling externally.
2) Wednesday, it definitely hurt to pee and I made a doctor's appointment. I peed in a cup that day, and lab results came back that afternoon positive for a UTI.
3) I picked up a five day course of antibiotics Thursday and took the first that morning.
4) Finished the five day course Monday night.
5) Symptoms peaked that Thursday night--painful when I peed, general tenderness externally--and started to slowly get better although intermittently. Saturday night I was like, yay, it's over, and then Sunday starting feeling tender again. Then yesterday--yay, feeling better! But then this morning wasn't great
6) It's Tuesday morning--I have finished my antibiotics. It still hurts when I pee. Not as badly as it did before, but definitely does. External symptoms are complely gone. I also felt well enough last night that I had PIV sex for the first time in a week, and I'm wondering if that was a bad idea?
Is this more or less normal recovery as the antibiotics do their work, or should I contact my doctor again? I am of course drinking lots of water.
I'm guessing the sex last night irritated things again even if the abx did their job in clearing the bacterial infection. I'd reach out to your doctor again since it sounds like the pain while peeing has persisted throughout, and that would concern me.
I've had a handful of UTIs over the years and have noticed that they take longer to clear as I get older, like what would have resolved in a couple days in my twenties now takes a week or more to feel fully recovered at age 40 (same with yeast infections). Hope you feel better soon!
posted by anderjen at 9:41 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've had a handful of UTIs over the years and have noticed that they take longer to clear as I get older, like what would have resolved in a couple days in my twenties now takes a week or more to feel fully recovered at age 40 (same with yeast infections). Hope you feel better soon!
posted by anderjen at 9:41 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Did they do a culture, or just a dipstick test for blood and stuff? It's possible that the anibiotic you had, even if it's broad-spectrum, wasn't the ideal one for the particular cause of your infection. Whatever the reason, the best course of action is call the doctor ASAP.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:44 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:44 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
You need another round of antibiotics, preferably a DIFFERENT type of antibiotics. Call your dr back. Also are you taking pyridium for symptom relief? I would abstain from PiV sex for 3 days after finishing the next round of antibiotics and also add a cranberry supplement to your daily routine. And obviously always pee after sex, then drink a full glass of water. The trick is to pee frequently enough that there’s no time for bacteria to grow.
posted by you'rerightyou'rerightiknowyou'reright at 10:09 AM on February 8, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by you'rerightyou'rerightiknowyou'reright at 10:09 AM on February 8, 2022 [5 favorites]
Just in case you don't know -- nobody told me about this stuff, I found it in a store by chance -- you can use this OTC drug or a store brand equivalent for temporary relief while you wait to be seen. It does create a bright color which can stain, but it is worth it in my experience.
posted by Countess Elena at 10:53 AM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 10:53 AM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
Did they do a culture, or just a dipstick test for blood and stuff? It's possible that the anibiotic you had, even if it's broad-spectrum, wasn't the ideal one for the particular cause of your infection. Whatever the reason, the best course of action is call the doctor ASAP.
posted by The Underpants Monster
OMFG, I'm dying
posted by kate4914 at 11:03 AM on February 8, 2022 [12 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster
OMFG, I'm dying
posted by kate4914 at 11:03 AM on February 8, 2022 [12 favorites]
Yeah, call and get a different antibiotic. There is one that they commonly prescribe for this and it doesn't work for me so they have to prescribe a different one.
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:04 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:04 AM on February 8, 2022
On top of the good advice everyone has given above (not normal, see doctor for more treatment), here are a couple other tips I've picked up that may help -
* D-mannose (preferably in powder form) can really help keep UTIs at bay. The sugars bind to the bacteria in the bladder and make it easier to flush it out. Take a spoonful with a small amount of water. Then about 30min later, drink a bunch of water to pee it all out.
* Avoid heavily sugared foods. ESPECIALLY BEER. Alcohol really fucks my UTIs up, something about the sugars in beer really allow those UTI bacteria to absolutely thrive.
* You are staying very, very hydrated. Great!
* Taking a pain reliever does really help with discomfort. Basically, your bladder is inflamed from the infection, and as my friend likes to describe the sensation of a UTI, "you are aware that your bladder exists". Whenever I feel even a whiff of a UTI coming on, I immediately take D-mannose and ibuprofen, and pound water.
posted by blueberrypuffin at 11:24 AM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
* D-mannose (preferably in powder form) can really help keep UTIs at bay. The sugars bind to the bacteria in the bladder and make it easier to flush it out. Take a spoonful with a small amount of water. Then about 30min later, drink a bunch of water to pee it all out.
* Avoid heavily sugared foods. ESPECIALLY BEER. Alcohol really fucks my UTIs up, something about the sugars in beer really allow those UTI bacteria to absolutely thrive.
* You are staying very, very hydrated. Great!
* Taking a pain reliever does really help with discomfort. Basically, your bladder is inflamed from the infection, and as my friend likes to describe the sensation of a UTI, "you are aware that your bladder exists". Whenever I feel even a whiff of a UTI coming on, I immediately take D-mannose and ibuprofen, and pound water.
posted by blueberrypuffin at 11:24 AM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
Seconding Countess Elena’s recommendation of those OTC painkillers, with the caveat that if you’re like me, you really have to take them with food. With food, they’re fine, without food I get an incredible headache and nausea — sort of a peak hangover sensation. But the relief is worth it, they’re fine if take on a full stomach.
posted by LizardBreath at 11:50 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by LizardBreath at 11:50 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Call the doctor and if you need to provide another urine sample, ask them to culture it. I became resistant to commonly used UTI antibiotics and would have UTIs not resolve when I took those.
I also swear by D-Mannose supplements and shovel them down with lots of water when I have any kind of UTI twinge. For the pain, take the Azo pain reliever, but do not take it without treating the underlying infection.
posted by quince at 12:20 PM on February 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
I also swear by D-Mannose supplements and shovel them down with lots of water when I have any kind of UTI twinge. For the pain, take the Azo pain reliever, but do not take it without treating the underlying infection.
posted by quince at 12:20 PM on February 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
D-mannose (preferably in powder form) can really help keep UTIs at bay.
I (and some other friends) have used this to even cure an infection. Doctors won't recommend this because it's not FDA approved, but I was once getting UTIs so frequently and I didn't want to keep using antibiotics so I gave this a try, and it worked like a charm. I drank a table spoon of the stuff in a little bit of water every 2-3 hrs, waited 30min (to allow for the D-mannose to be concentrated/not water-down when it hits your system) and then chugged water like a nut for 2hrs, waited 30min, took another table spoon, and repeat the cycle. Which is to say, it does take more effort than just popping antibiotics. But it works.
posted by coffeecat at 12:39 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
I (and some other friends) have used this to even cure an infection. Doctors won't recommend this because it's not FDA approved, but I was once getting UTIs so frequently and I didn't want to keep using antibiotics so I gave this a try, and it worked like a charm. I drank a table spoon of the stuff in a little bit of water every 2-3 hrs, waited 30min (to allow for the D-mannose to be concentrated/not water-down when it hits your system) and then chugged water like a nut for 2hrs, waited 30min, took another table spoon, and repeat the cycle. Which is to say, it does take more effort than just popping antibiotics. But it works.
posted by coffeecat at 12:39 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
Yes, in the long term D-Mannose is great. I used to get several infections a year, and if I didn't get treatment RIGHT AWAY they would quickly spread to the kidneys. Since I started D-Mannose a few years ago, I've only had one.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:13 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:13 PM on February 8, 2022
If you hand wash you might have a different kind of infection that doesnt clear up with Clindimycin. Or you've been in yoga pants and done your workouts. Or it's the second saturday past a full moon and your not standing with your back to the west...so many unbelievably unknown reasons women have changes in climate. Try not to shave, shower only, dont wear powder or perfume and try a panty liner. And clean your vibes. If it's not sexually transmitted then you can only wait it out. (Too many antibiotics can also cause ph imbalance)
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 4:48 AM on February 9, 2022
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 4:48 AM on February 9, 2022
I'm jumping in to 2nd d-mannose. It makes a difference in recovery times.
I will also note that there have been a few times when I was absolutely 5000 percent sure I had a bladder infection but supposedly the pee test was negative. One of those times I had to resort to a telehealth visit with an online service to get more anitbiotics to knock it out, because they'll do it without a test, but only if you lie to them and tell them it's a new one (I wouldn't recommend that unless you've been through this enough times to be absolutely sure and you're not getting brushed off elsewhere).
And yeah, they should culture it.
I haven't had luck with uva ursi, or cranberry pills as a preventative, but some people swear by them. D-mannose however, absolutely helps me, as do obscene amounts of water. I think a teaspoon of xylitol a day helps, but I can't be 100% sure.
(One of the reasons I get the brush-off sometimes when I have an actual infection is I have a long history of interstitial cystitis, but what I can't seem to make doctors understand is that when I know I have an active infection, I KNOW--the difference is between embers and a roaring forest fire, and antibiotics work. Additionally my pee will be cloudy {regardless of color} and smell "off"). Fwiw, I developed IC 20+ years ago after a round of sex-related UTIs in a row that I suspect were never properly knocked out in the first place, and my beleaguered immune system just went a little batshit.
And as someone noted above, if I'm on the cusp of one, beer will absolutely make it active/irrecoverable without meds.
Drink water like the next oasis is uncertain, and pee a lot. I'm sure you're already doing that, but it's worth underlining.
posted by liminal_shadows at 6:35 AM on February 12, 2022
I will also note that there have been a few times when I was absolutely 5000 percent sure I had a bladder infection but supposedly the pee test was negative. One of those times I had to resort to a telehealth visit with an online service to get more anitbiotics to knock it out, because they'll do it without a test, but only if you lie to them and tell them it's a new one (I wouldn't recommend that unless you've been through this enough times to be absolutely sure and you're not getting brushed off elsewhere).
And yeah, they should culture it.
I haven't had luck with uva ursi, or cranberry pills as a preventative, but some people swear by them. D-mannose however, absolutely helps me, as do obscene amounts of water. I think a teaspoon of xylitol a day helps, but I can't be 100% sure.
(One of the reasons I get the brush-off sometimes when I have an actual infection is I have a long history of interstitial cystitis, but what I can't seem to make doctors understand is that when I know I have an active infection, I KNOW--the difference is between embers and a roaring forest fire, and antibiotics work. Additionally my pee will be cloudy {regardless of color} and smell "off"). Fwiw, I developed IC 20+ years ago after a round of sex-related UTIs in a row that I suspect were never properly knocked out in the first place, and my beleaguered immune system just went a little batshit.
And as someone noted above, if I'm on the cusp of one, beer will absolutely make it active/irrecoverable without meds.
Drink water like the next oasis is uncertain, and pee a lot. I'm sure you're already doing that, but it's worth underlining.
posted by liminal_shadows at 6:35 AM on February 12, 2022
Also, I'm hoping that the fact that so many of us here deal with UTIs makes you feel less embarrassed.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:11 PM on February 12, 2022
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:11 PM on February 12, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said you should probably not have PIV sex for a little while until you're 100% better and definitely remember to pee straight away after any sexual contact (hopefully you're doing this anyway!).
posted by fight or flight at 9:08 AM on February 8, 2022 [12 favorites]