Hello, i am a 20 year old female and have suffered with cystitis since i was 16. It was only when i started dating my current partner who i have been with for a year and 5 months, that i noticed my symptoms were more recurrent. I deal with recurrent cystitis on a day to day basis, even when i don't have intercourse. I recently was transferred to my local hospital by my GP as the urine samples came back negative. They done a scan and everything seemed normal with my kidneys and bladder. Went back a couple of weeks later and was told i need to pee at least 3 litres for 3-4 weeks. Even though i don't drink nearly enough i just feel there is a deeper cause. I have had thrush which i was given medication for, not sure if it worked or not but is it possible to get thrush inside of the urethra? because i was only treated for external thrush. I have struggled severely with depression because of this i am also scared it will push my boyfriend away as i rarely go out because of it and he misses out on doing stuff with me as a couple even though we live together it is nice to get out together too. I really hope someone can give me some answers on what i should do as i am really hard on myself about it.
I find if I don't drink at least two litres of water a day my symptoms return. It is a pain to drink so much particularly at work as you have to keep running to the loo but it does help. I understand how you feel as I feel the same way. This is a dreadful condition and has a big impact on your relationship. You need to talk it through with your partner if he loves you he will understand. Antibiotics can cause thrush so maybe this is what is causing your problem with that. There are pessary treatments which treat the inside as well as cream for the outside maybe speak to a Pharamacist and they can tell you which one to buy. I used to use Canestan.
Hello Kerry, thank you for commenting. Do you feel it has stopped you from getting cystitis? I am a 'lazy drinker' as some people put it. Meaning I don't feel the need to drink a lot unless I am really thirsty. You are lucky if I drink 500ml a day, sometimes less. Which i don't think helps. I was on Keratex (I think that is how you spell it) but you are not meant to take a lot of it as it can have side effects later on in life but now I am not on any medication. How do you know if you have thrush inside of the urethra? I'm guessing you get some sort of scope or something?...
Keflex* sorry, lol
I make up a solution of water and Bi carb and it does the trick for me,simple and effective home treatment,,re the urethra ,i have had the same and so i made a warm solution of the above and sit in it,either use a suitable bowl,or put some in your bath water,I have to do this several times until it goes....i think its caused by too much acid in the body,so leave out acidic fruit and drinks...I hope it works for you,its worth a try,if not go back to GP and ask to see a Gynae.......
Never tried using Bi Carbonate of Soda in my bath but I will certainly give that a try! Just trying to come down to a solution to fixing this problem. It is ruining my life 😔
Hi Emma. Drinking plenty of water definitely helps me. I take a large bottle everywhere with me as I have become paranoid about not drinking enough. You should really try to drink more that was one of the first things my Dr asked me as I was very much like you about drinking and would sometimes go all day without a drink. I would speak to your Dr about the thrush as it should be easily diagnosed. I didn't think about the bi carb but will be giving it a try too. I can't even have a bath as this brings the problem on but maybe bi carb will help with that.
Have you got any tips on how to drink more? (Sounds silly I know) I just find it really hard to force myself I know people have spaced out the amount of water they drink but I can only seem to drink 1.5 just now.
Hi Emma. It is difficult to get into but sadly I find it necessary. I have got into the habit of taking a 1.5 litre bottle of water wherever I go. I keep a bottle on my desk at work and even when I go out at weekends I carry water. Have you tried fruit teas? They make a nice change. Orange Barley Water is good too. Try to avoid anything fizzy though. You will get used to it it's just re-educating yourself to do it.
Hello Kerry. Yeah, i wish it was easy, i do try just need to try harder. I have been drinking Macb flavoured water but just noticed earlier they have citric acid in it and i read up that it can make cystitis worse so think i am just going to have to go to plain water. I have never actually tried fruit teas, may give them a try. Going to phone my doctors tomorrow morning and ask to be referred to a Gynaecologist just to get everything checked out so hopefully i get through to them quickly! But the cystitis i have got right now started on thursday and still hasn't passed and it is really painful. I can barely sleep because of it, may need antibiotics.
You really must speak to your doctor. Sounds like you will definitely need antibiotics. Just keep on about being referred that's what I did. Trouble is unless you suffer with this problem you just can't appreciate how badly it affects your life. I worry all the time that it's going to return. I was free of it for 9 weeks this year then didn't drink enough had a couple of glasses of wine and bang it's back.I'm seeing a Urologist tomorrow. Not looking forward to it as I have to have a camera put into my bladder and I'm having a scan probably the same as you had. Chances are they won't find anything. Rubbish day tomorrow new job at 8.30am then Urologist at 4pm!!
See the only ones that have actually worked on me is keflex and i doubt they will give me them again because i have had them prescribed 3 times now i think. I know the feeling. The doctors where i stay think they know what is best for you when it is the exact opposite and when you say you need to go to hospital they say you won't need to just bring in another sample. Must have handed in about 10. I'm guessing since you said you are worried it will return you are just going for a scope to make sure there is nothing else wrong so you have the all clear? That is all i want, is the all clear but the surgeon said he wouldn't recommend me getting the scope because the chances of finding anything is like finding a needle in a hay stack so i am thinking it must be something to do with my urethra. I still think there is thrush inside of my urethra and the doctors aren't seeing this, thus why i want to go to see the gynaecologist. Ahh...Sounds like you have got a lot going on tomorrow! I would hate that. Then again i will probably wake up and feel rubbish again so i am on the same boat, lol
I'm just worried that I will go through the process tomorrow, they will find nothing then it will cause another infection and I'll be back to square one. I'm more worried about the after effects than the actual procedure!! Coming to the conclusion I may have to live with this but it's so depressing. If you feel really bad you should call 111 and get advice you may be able to get an out of hours GP appt.
Yeah that was what i was worried about too if they did decide to give me a scope but if you are still drinking plenty you should be fine I worry about that as well. i never used to have this problem apart from if i stressed or had intercourse but that rarely even happened but with the partner i am with just now i have had them constantly. It is my biggest fear that this might not go away but then if you think about it anything small can be overcome so we just need to try and stay positive! I wish i was doing as good as you are doing with drinking enough water. Might help me but hopefully the gynaecologist can give me some answers! I gave up with them too. They haven't been much help for me tbh
Yes you're right have to be positive and talking like this helps as you realise you aren't alone. Stress does play a big part so we must try to stay calm which is easier said than done. Hope doc will help you
Definitely is easier said than done but surprisingly i haven't been stressing out that much recently. Hope you get on well with the urologist tomorrow and if you have any advice you could give me from your trip that would be great also, lol! and thank you, i hope so too
Thanks I'll definitely let you know what they say.
Hi, l had reoccurring cystitus for ages, sometimes bacteria showed up in samples, often didnt, l also had near persistent thrush, which you can get just about anywhere in the system, and the urethra is affected a lot with i.c, l.d had loads of canestan pessaries, cream, even orally as it can be systemic,, but the cystitus symptoms and thrush reoccurred, worse flare ups due to menustration and intercourse, l got usual advice about drinking lots of water, and admit l wasnt a big water drinker either, but tried, l was also referred to gynacologist, had laprascope, and more, still it went on for years, gps hadnt a clue really. Eventually one gp did refer me to urologist who did xray and scan, didnt show up anything, but finally a scope and biopsy showed up intersticial cystitus, inflammation of the bladder where no bacteria is shown, but bladder wall shows the effects of inflammation, pin point hemmorages, and for women whove been left to it for many years there can be scar tissue where inflammation was, leading to some shrinking of bladder causing increasing frequency and pain, they dont know what causes it being fairly rare condition, many gps were clueless but with scope by urologist its easily diagnosed, symptoms simular to bacterial cystitus, but doesnt improve with anti bs, l cant understand a consultant advicing against a scope, that is wrong, its scopes than bring diagnoses for many conditions which dont show on xrays and scans, only way to diagnose ic, and other conditions l guess. It could be ic for any one with reocurrant cystitus over a long time, also could be other causes, a scope the only way to find out. They do have a few different treatments and meds for i.c, along with advice support, and it helps most a lot, reduced my symptoms by 90 percent, now able to lead a more active lifestyle, better generally. There is more info on intersticial cystitus thread on here, and on c.o.b cystitus and overactive bladder site, worth having a look to see if you relate to it, l wouldnt like either of you or anyone to put up with it for years as many women did in past due to gps not referring them. l guess one of you might find out tomorrow, the scope can leave you with a bit of discomfort in urethra, but no worse than flare up and will settle sooner, with diagnoses and successful treatment. Best wishes to you both.
Hi Lynne this has been really helpful. I've been dreading the cystoscopy but I feel better after reading this. Hopefully I may get some answers later today. I was worried about the after affects of the scope but by from what you say it may not be as bad as I thought . Many thanks for this info.
To be honest I think most of them are jobs worth tbh. Just in it for the money and not interested in helping people or because they see it as a minor thing the person suffering won't get the right attention they need from the GP. I was told that my local hospital wouldn't see because basically as the doctor was basically trying to get at is there is nothing wrong with me but clearly is, lol. I will definitely be phoning up and booking a scope now that you have said that! Do you get put to sleep through getting a scope done? I get para about that, lol. I just hope this gets sorted and fast! I have been in pain since Thursday with this now 😔Can't even sleep because of it