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[Talli]

Hi,
First time posting
I’ve had UTI symptoms (bladder pressure and frequency and urgency) on and off for 7 years now.
Recently I had my urine dipped at the surgery following a flare where I had chills and generally felt unwell.
The surgeries result came back negative for RBCs WBSs nitrites etc but when I dipped my own urine at home after coming home from the surgery my tests showed non hemolysised (not spelled that right lol) blood a extremely high PH level and traces of WBCs.
I’m panicking now thinking the DRs have missed something.
The tests were only about 5 minutes apart so my urine at home wouldn’t have had time to concentrate that much.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Ps the surgery won’t send off urine to the lab unless their dip test shows something so no point asking them to send to the lab.
They did give me 3 days of Nitrofurantoin after I phoned them and told them and I’ve just finished the course. I think I’m feeling a bit better but still getting symptoms. In fact the symptoms flared on day 2 of taking the Nitro.
Also I’m on 10mg of Vagifem for vaginal atrophy due to perimenopause. I think that’s all ha ha.

[Flossieteacake]

Hello and welcome to the forum. What a shame your practice does not send samples to the lab.

How long have you been using vagifem and how often do you take it? I have found it more helpful to use it daily. Often vaginal atrophy can make us feel we have a UTI. I would ask for Ovestin too as you can apply it to the outer area which helps to give you more relief.

[Talli]

Hi and thank you so much for your reply.
Yeah they won’t send anything unless they’ve picked up a UTI -.-

I’ve been on Vagifem for about 6 months now. It was initially amazing at helping the bladder pressure and urgency etc but then I had this massive flare with the RBC’s etc and it’s freaked me out.
GP won’t give me any other HRT as they’re convinced I’m too young (I’m 39, 40 in 7 months) despite the atrophy being diagnosed by hospital gynae when I had a vulval biopsy. I’ve had LS and my labia is fused plus I have vulvodynia.
Just wish the two urine tests hadn’t been different cause it’s worrying me now :/

[Talli]

Hello and welcome to the forum. What a shame your practice does not send samples to the lab.

How long have you been using vagifem and how often do you take it? I have found it more helpful to use it daily. Often vaginal atrophy can make us feel we have a UTI. I would ask for Ovestin too as you can apply it to the outer area which helps to give you more relief.

Oh I take it twice a week.

[Flossieteacake]

I am sorry your GP is so uneducated in HRT and VA. Is there another GP at the practice or even a nurse you could see who may be more helpful? You are not too young for HRT. I started HRT at 38 and I too had to fight for it. You can use the vaigfem daily as that will help with the VA.

I can understand your concerns. You have been through a lot. I would have thought they would listen to the gynae as they were the one who diagnosed you.

[CLKD]

Your GP is remiss.  ALL urine samples must be sent to a Lab. for testing as a dip stick shows very little. 

Keep up with the vagifem nightly, occasionally you may require an extra load mid-afternoon.  Some find that using a mositorisor or 'ovestin' on the outer labia really helps.

No lady is 'too young' to be peri-menopause.  Many GPs remain uneducated  .

When I get the need2P I take 2 nurofen capsules 3 times a day to ease that nip as the urine flow stops. What does your Consultant suggest regarding a fused labia, is surgery an option at this time? 

[Talli]

Thank you so much for telling me that you were on it at 38!
Honestly I feel like a fraud whenever I go to Dr’s!
I had to fight for the Vagifem and it was super helpful…until it wasn’t if that makes any sense?
GP only let me order it once every three months so I can’t use any more than the two a week unfortunately and I can’t buy any HRT cause I’m under 40! It’s absolutely maddening!
Do you think the Dr’s test was right then and it’s the VA flaring?
Why would my urine have such a high PH and the non hemolysised blood though?

Sorry for all the questions I just feel at my wits end with it all.
I don’t sleep, have massive brain fog and my anxiety has spiked during the last year or so. I feel like I’m going mad if I’m honest and the GP won’t do anything except prescribe mirzatepine which I don’t want to take.
I’ve literally seen everyone in the practice!
The surgery is rated ‘needing improvement’ by the QCC so that tell you something 
I do use YES vaginal moisturiser and that helps a bit but the itch is back. I’ve ordered some thrush treatment but I don’t think it is thrush, it feels like the VA

[CLKD]

Don't use the thrush treatment.  Ring your GP Practice Manager and explain that VA treatment can be required every night, despite what the leaflet in the box suggests.  Dr Louise Newsom is trying to get these leaflets updated.  Ask the PM for advice about seeing another GP and point her to this Forum.  If you meet with resistance at Practice Manager level then report to the British Menopause Society.

There is an option to contact Dr Currie by 3-mail with a query - I would be telling her about your GP's refusal to prescribe etc. : there is a Fee: Dr Currie began this Forum ;-).  let us know how you get on.

[CLKD]

And the answer is: probably not a UTI nor thrush!

[Talli]

Your GP is remiss.  ALL urine samples must be sent to a Lab. for testing as a dip stick shows very little. 

Keep up with the vagifem nightly, occasionally you may require an extra load mid-afternoon.  Some find that using a mositorisor or 'ovestin' on the outer labia really helps.

No lady is 'too young' to be peri-menopause.  Many GPs remain uneducated  .

When I get the need2P I take 2 nurofen capsules 3 times a day to ease that nip as the urine flow stops. What does your Consultant suggest regarding a fused labia, is surgery an option at this time?

Hi and thank you for your reply.
Honestly my surgery is useless. They won’t DO anything. No lab tests (and I’ve asked for them before and they’ve said they will but they just end up dipping it and thats it, it’s happened so many times I’m exhausted from dealing with them)

Re the fused labia, it’s just sort of covered my pee hole a bit and my clitoris is buried under the fused skin haha TMI!
But there’s nothing just very small ones at either side of vaginal opening.
It’s from LS that they, yet again, didn’t pick up on. The LS is gone but the damage remains 
 They said there’s nothing they can do as it might cause more problems if they operated to separate it. I can still pee and have sex etc.


I just feel so tired of it all.
Tired of fighting them and tired of feeling rough. I just wish my own urine tests had come back the same as theirs did. I don’t understand why mine was and is showing blood but theirs didn’t 

[Talli]

And the answer is: probably not a UTI nor thrush!

You reckon it’s the stupid VA? 

[Talli]

Don't use the thrush treatment.  Ring your GP Practice Manager and explain that VA treatment can be required every night, despite what the leaflet in the box suggests.  Dr Louise Newsom is trying to get these leaflets updated.  Ask the PM for advice about seeing another GP and point her to this Forum.  If you meet with resistance at Practice Manager level then report to the British Menopause Society.

There is an option to contact Dr Currie by 3-mail with a query - I would be telling her about your GP's refusal to prescribe etc. : there is a Fee: Dr Currie began this Forum ;-).  let us know how you get on.

Wow! Thank you so much for your help!

I’m a bit frightened of the doctors now cause they’re often quite rude to me and I’m not a very bolshy person 
I end up crying on the phone to them and that gets me no where 🫣

Maybe I’ll ring them and ask if I can have another box of Vagifem to use more frequently.

Can I get in touch with the British Menopause Society?
Everywhere I go seems to say that 39 is too young for peri despite the fact that I have VA.  I’m just sooooo confused about it all!

Also, why the high PH and undesolved blood cells if no infection?

I take DMannose nightly, should I stop taking that before a lab test if they ever actually do give me one?
Sorry for all the questions you’re just all so clued up and I’m really useless 

[Flossieteacake]

Talli, I really feel for you. Is it possible to switch to another practice? They really sound hopeless and it is so outdated not to send urine samples to a lab.

It sounds to me like you could really benefit from HRT from the symptoms you have such as brain fog. It is so unfair you are made to feel a fraud and fobbed off with mirtazapine.

It is frustrating to be told you are too young to be in peri. I remember when I was 38 and I first told a GP I think I am in peri. He burst out laughing and said I have another 13 years to go. I believed him until doing my own research and then asked to speak to another GP and just said I want to try HRT and luckily I was given it.

You can ask to be referred to an NHS menopause clinic but it will mean a long wait as it usually takes about a year to get an appointment.

VA is just so awful and it is not fair you are not given enough vagifem to use daily. Unfortunately the silly and outdated leaflet it comes with says to use it twice a week after the loading dose.

When you say everywhere you go says you are too young, this means they are uneducated. You know your body and you know what is going on.

If you find Dmannose helpful then I do not see any harm in continuing to use it. I have seen it mentioned on the forum before and some members find it really helpful.

I suspect the vaigfem was helpful at first but then stopped because using it twice a week was not enough for you. I am not sure about the urine sample results as I do not understand anything like that but hopefully somebody who does will reply soon.

Please ask as many questions as you wish. It is horrid to feel lost and alone and you will find the support you need on here.

[CLKD]

Google the British Menopause Society for their contact methods.  Also: look at the pink banner above and click on 'menopause' to see what info is available. 

Does the DMannose help?  GPs can be bolshie and lack communication skills.  Which doesn't help as each visit/phone call costs the NHS - instead of actually listening to patients!

No lady is too young to be in peri-menopause.  Some girls never menstruate, some have a few periods then nowt.  Some ladies go into peri 'young' i.e. B4 the GP expects them to have reached the average age of 51. 

Is there an e-mail facility ...... ?

[Talli]

Talli, I really feel for you. Is it possible to switch to another practice? They really sound hopeless and it is so outdated not to send urine samples to a lab.

It sounds to me like you could really benefit from HRT from the symptoms you have such as brain fog. It is so unfair you are made to feel a fraud and fobbed off with mirtazapine.

It is frustrating to be told you are too young to be in peri. I remember when I was 38 and I first told a GP I think I am in peri. He burst out laughing and said I have another 13 years to go. I believed him until doing my own research and then asked to speak to another GP and just said I want to try HRT and luckily I was given it.

You can ask to be referred to an NHS menopause clinic but it will mean a long wait as it usually takes about a year to get an appointment.

VA is just so awful and it is not fair you are not given enough vagifem to use daily. Unfortunately the silly and outdated leaflet it comes with says to use it twice a week after the loading dose.

When you say everywhere you go says you are too young, this means they are uneducated. You know your body and you know what is going on.

If you find Dmannose helpful then I do not see any harm in continuing to use it. I have seen it mentioned on the forum before and some members find it really helpful.

I suspect the vaigfem was helpful at first but then stopped because using it twice a week was not enough for you. I am not sure about the urine sample results as I do not understand anything like that but hopefully somebody who does will reply soon.

Please ask as many questions as you wish. It is horrid to feel lost and alone and you will find the support you need on here.

Thank you so so much for your replies! They’ve made me feel like I’m not imagining all this!
Which I know im not but the Drs seem to think otherwise.

Maybe I should phone them and ask for a sample to be sent off??
Should it be at a specific time of day and should I wait a week because yesterday was my last AB.

Yeah it was really helping but then it seems to have started feeling bad again.
They used to send samples to the lab but they never came back with anything but then saying that my own tests never showed anything either it’s just that this time mine did which is what’s freaked me out.

I’ll look up the British menopause society!
And click on the top banner!
Unfortunately I don’t have the money to go private or pay for any consultations and a surgery change is out of the questions. You’ve got to live in their catchment area and they’re stuffed full of patients anyway here. It’s a seaside town with a LOT of people using the Dr’s and not enough drs here.
It’s a nightmare. Everything is done by text or e consult and they close the e consults at 6:30am  so you’ve got to get up super early to be able to get in for just a text app.
The receptionists just don’t give you an appointment if they don’t seem it necessary which is a pain.