It burns when I pee

[grahamcrackers]

Hi girls...
I realize I haven't been active at all over here but I'm hoping I can selfishly come back to ask you guys a question. I had the telltale UTI signs: burning sensation, frequent need to pee, abdominal discomfort. We've been having a lot of sex lately since it's FW and I haven't been good about peeing afterward. Went in to the doc and they tested me for a UTI and it came back negative. I'm going to go ahead and work off the assumption that's it's not an STD since I've been with DH for over ten years and have never had this come up (I actually declined the std screening today but I had one last time I was KU and it came back fine). Any ideas what could be causing this? My regular doc is out on medical leave and the person who saw me today was a resident and she didn't have too much additional information for me. Thanks!

[Deleted]

Get a second opinion maybe? I'm no doctor and haven't had that problem before, so I feel like your best option is seeing someone else.

Edited: removed my suspicion

[rablissful]

My urethra gets REALLY REALLY irritated and it burns almost like a UTI when I'm dehydrated. I've had this problem forever (like, since I was going to a pediatrician). I just drink a large glass of cranberry juice and some water and I'm good.

[Deleted]

Mar 26, 2015 18:12:21 GMT -5 rablissful said:

My urethra gets REALLY REALLY irritated and it burns almost like a UTI when I'm dehydrated. I've had this problem forever (like, since I was going to a pediatrician). I just drink a large glass of cranberry juice and some water and I'm good.

I second this. If you don't like cranberry juice you can always get the vitamins and just drink a lot of water.

[mugster]

Talk to your doctor. A bad sample can cause a false negative

[ghostmonkey]

Cranberry coats the bladder and slows the bacteria from reproducing and spreading. It doesn't reduce irritation.

It is also a preventive and does not cure. And it's not vitamins you want from it.



Come on guys.

[blueteamcaboose]

Sounds like a classic UTI, I would get a second opinion/retest to be sure and get on antibiotics before it spreads to your kidneys.
I get them all the time and they are no fun, hopefully you get it figured out and on meds!

[rablissful]

Mar 26, 2015 18:20:02 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Cranberry coats the bladder and slows the bacteria from reproducing and spreading. It doesn't reduce irritation.

It is also a preventive and does not cure. And it's not vitamins you want from it.



Come on guys.

That's what my doctor told me to do (DRINK though, not take the vitamins) and it works for the issues I have with my urinary system. I don't use it to treat UTI's... Because you're right it, it doesn't do anything for them. I suggested what I did since she had a negative uti result.

Edit for clarification.

[TheEleventhHour]

I'd go back to the doctor. Like others said, it could have been a bad sample giving false results. Also, last year I had some burning and irritation and it ended up being bacterial vaginosis. I was surprised because I didn't have any discharge or odor so that might be worth bringing up the possibility of BV to your doctor.

Sorry you're having discomfort! I hope you can find a solution!

[cabgirl]

Drink a lot of water, get some 100% cranberry juice (not the cocktail), pick up a box of Cystex from the pharmacy (it will provide relief from the discomfort but not cure the problem), and get a second opinion from a doctor, or else request that your doctor test again with a fresh urine sample. Sorry you're dealing with this. As a semi-frequent UTI sufferer, I know how much it sucks. Also, I'd recommend no more sex til you get this figured out. Hope you feel better soon.

[grahamcrackers]

Thanks for the info ladies! I was wondering if it was dehydration too. They still are waiting for the culture to come back, but she said that it's very unlikely that it will be positive since the quick test was negative. I just want my regular doc back. ::sigh:: I'm considering going to my PCP instead of the gyno to get rechecked.

[BrewGirl]

I get this sometimes if I am dehydrated or just irritated from sex. Cranberry juice won't cure it if it is a UTI. Only an antibiotic. If your symptoms don't get better over the next day or two, definitely go back to doc. I am prone to getting UTIs and I know how miserable they can be.

[NariaDreaming]

I'm going to say go to another doctor. Honestly, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. You may have just caught it early enough that it's not showing on the rapid test yet.


Is your urine cloudy at all? If so, my vote would be go to a minute clinic and refuse to leave without antibiotics.

[grahamcrackers]

Mar 27, 2015 7:20:04 GMT -5 NariaDreaming said:

I'm going to say go to another doctor. Honestly, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. You may have just caught it early enough that it's not showing on the rapid test yet.


Is your urine cloudy at all? If so, my vote would be go to a minute clinic and refuse to leave without antibiotics.

You know... It has been cloudy I think.

[Deleted]

I'd get a second opinion for sure.

[risscaboobs]

Everyone has already given you great advice, I'm sorry you're experiencing that. I've had a UTI before, and it is one of the worst things ever. I would definitely get a second opinion asap.

[NariaDreaming]

I tend to get them chronically, and I couldn't produce a urine sample at urgent care a few weeks ago when I was there. I told the PA that was working "listen, I know you need to do a urinalysis, but I can't currently pee, here are my symptoms, I had sex 24 hours ago. This office closes in 5 minutes, you want to go home, I want to go home, can we please just make this work".

I walked out with antibotics.

[mrssims8212]

It's not uncommon for something like BV to present this way as well. It can't hurt to get tested for that and for some women that is really the only way it presents itself.

Although it does sound like a classic UTI there are still other possibilities. Wait for the culture to come back and go from there. It is also possible for a culture to come back negative but still have a mild infection that would cause symptoms. Basically, a culture is considered negative if it is under a certain amount of cells present. Therefore, enough bacteria may be present to cause UTI symptoms but not enough to be considered positive by the labs standards...if that makes any sense. If it does come back negative and you're still convinced it's a UTI then just go to a urologist. They have the ability to look at the cells right there under a microscope and get a much better feel for what's going on.

Also ask about intersticial cystitis. It's more common than people think and an improvement in symtoms can sometimes happen just from changing your diet.

I just want to say that I recently went through a very similar thing. All tests negative for UTI and no response to meds. I suffered for over a month and I was so miserable. I even had a ct scan and ultrasound that found nothing. What finally worked for me was taking probiotics, washing with a natural peppermint soap down there, and trying to cut out sugars including natural ones. Also, drink a lot of water but hold it until you really must go. It kind of helps reduce those bladder spasms that make you feel like you have to go even when your bladder isn't as full. Sounds crazy but I guess there is some way your own bacteria get into your urethra and irritate it and doing those things may get rid of it. I don't think any doctor will tell you that though. I just kind of decided to do my own research into a natural approach when all else failed.

Sorry for the book. I'm not trying to give medical advice, just friendly nursing advice. I was just giving you some things to consider and ask your doctor about so that you might be able to get to the root of the problem a bit quicker. Good luck!

[mrssims8212]

Oh, and maybe try pyridium! It's the stuff that turns your pee orange. I didn't see if anyone said that yet but it might help with burning in the meantime.

[samanthasays]

I am sorry you are dealing with this! It is the WORST! I would definitely keep calling the Dr until they find out what it is and help fix it. Re-testing seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Personal story time: I once thought I had a UTI, but it wasn't SUPER painful, just irritating. The test came back negative and my Dr recommended switching to cotton panties and wash them in natural, non scented laundry detergent and use natural lube. That helped a lot, I just have a delicate urethra apparently.

[grahamcrackers]

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. Today the symptoms actually are getting a little better on their own. I didn't make an apointment yet with the PCP because I am with my 4 and 1 year old and it would be a lot of work to bring them with me. I'm going to keep an eye on it for now. Anyone know how long it takes to get the results of the culture back?

[mrssims8212]

I'd say it usually ranges from 24-48 hours.

Edit: Glad you're feeling a little better.

[TheEleventhHour]

grahamcrackers Usually 48 hours to get a culture back!

[heatherj9603]

Have you recently changed anything that might cause irritation? Like changed your laundry detergent, body wash, etc?

Also, since pure cranberry juice can be hard to drink because it's so tart, you can get cranberry pills. Just dehydrated cranberry powder inside a capsule. Drink lots of water, and wash your lady bits daily with warm water and scent/dye free soap.

[ghostmonkey]

Mar 27, 2015 16:49:43 GMT -5 heatherj9603 said:

Have you recently changed anything that might cause irritation? Like changed your laundry detergent, body wash, etc?

Also, since pure cranberry juice can be hard to drink because it's so tart, you can get cranberry pills. Just dehydrated cranberry powder inside a capsule. Drink lots of water, and wash your lady bits daily with warm water and scent/dye free soap.

And pee after sex. Don't force it, but do try. 

One thing that helped as a preventive measure for me was not shaving so short. That hair actually serves a purpose.