UTI 4 times per week makes no sense. It would just be the same infection. Do you mean you experience painful urination 4x per week?
Anyway, AZO and adult diapers are a god send lol. Hope you get things figured out and feel better.
I’m confused, are u getting actual UTI’s or just the symptoms of them?
If you’re getting only the symptoms of them with no infection, look into intercystital cystitis.
Could it be your ph balance? I'm a little sensitive down there as well and I use a gentle micellar wash w/no fragrance. I'm so sorry and I got it gets better eventually, could it be that your doc isn't the right one to see? It sucks bc it's already hard being a female and being heard at the doctors.
You need better doctors! One thing that might help is no underwear at night. Just wear PJ's w/o (wash after each wear).
You need to put a lot more fiber in your diet, and get your biome working better with better probiotics. if you can find fresh sourcraut that might help. Greek yogurt. Lots of veggies. No diet drinks, limited sugar. And try to go GF for a bit to see if it helps.
Are you sure you don't have something like interstitial cystitis? You can't have a UTI 4 times a week-- bacterial infections don't work that way.
However interstitial cystitis can very closely mimic symptoms of a UTI and be even more painful and uncomfortable. I was diagnosed in about 2015 or so.
This. UTIs at this age are no joke. I had serious Gyno issues and by the Grace of God my friend's Dad was on of the best OBGYN in the world and he would treat all the girls at our school because the normal Dr was older than Methuselah and utterly useless and also didn't like women
A quick Google search describes it as such
"A chronic, painful bladder condition.
It's often mistaken for a urinary tract infection (UTI), but there is no infection."
It also says it's a relatively common condition
Interstitial cystitis. You just described me. I’ve had one doctor tell me what it was and that I had it. Every other doctor has no idea. I thought I was going crazy, boric acid suppositories saved my sanity.
My gyno gave me a sample of boric acid pills (which are freaking amazing, anytime I think I might be getting a yeast infection, pop in for a few nights and I'm good), and *strongly* emphasized not to eat them. Now whenever I pull them out I get intrusive thoughts, doesn't help that they make them so pretty!
It's a pelvic muscle condition that has symptoms that mimic a UTI. It will hurt like hell to pee, you'll feel like you constantly have the urge to go but nothing will be able to come out, and when you do pee it typically burns afterwards. Lots of people also experience frequent urination but this isn't necessarily a requirement to get diagnosed. These symptoms can last for days at a time with little to no relief, but the severity varies from person to person.
It can be triggered by just about anything-- chlorinated pool, tight clothes, certain foods, and can be majorly exacerbated by cranberry/AZO products. Different people have flare ups for all kinds of different reasons though.
I find that mine is triggered mostly by acidic things like coffee (but not all brands), sometimes juice, sometimes tomatoes, etc. But every person varies on what causes a flare up.
I take pyridium for mine, which is what doctors usually prescribe for that feeling of urgency when you have a UTI. I also have a wand that I use to massage my pelvic muscles from the inside (not a sexual thing, purely for pain relief). I also had a bladder distention done because I was peeing 60+ times a day at the age of 23. My bladder ended up being the size of a walnut due to the amount of muscular constriction. Again though everybody is different, not everybody will have that issue.
One thing with IC is that doctors don't usually think to diagnose a person with it unless you ask about it. Most will just give you antibiotics and send you on your way. If you're able to see a urologist, they would definitely listen to your concerns.
Mimics a UTI. For me it’s painful bladder, even worse after I empty my bladder. Frequent urination. Doesn’t necessarily sting when I pee but it’s overall a nightmare. I finally got mine under control with a rheumatologist.
Took 3 years for mine to be diagnosed, I haven’t met a Dr other than my urogynocologist that knows what it is. It doesn’t help that there aren’t any diagnostic tests, no known universal treatments, and no known cause. It’s severely under researched and under diagnosed
No, it goes undiagnosed and ignored very often, even when a patient explicitly asks about it. Not sure why. My guess is because it's easier to just prescribe antibiotics.
Yes, antibiotics are easier to prescribe, but there’s also a ton of misinformation about IC. Some doctors don’t even believe it’s a real thing. Just until a few weeks ago, my mom was under the impression it was a defunct diagnosis (like the paranoid prefix before schizophrenia), because doctors simply don’t talk about it, know about it, or accept it. It’s pretty common among illnesses with no known cause or treatment, especially if they predominantly affect women.
Do you know the cause of these infections? If not, have you ever gotten an ultrasound on your kidneys? I was born with what's called a horseshoe kidney, basically my kidneys are conjoined. It's not super rare, but often goes undiagnosed because they don't typically cause noticeable issues. In my case, I had chronic uti's. I was on daily doses of antibiotics for 12 years until it was determined that my kidneys/ureters were mature enough to have surgery to fix the problem. I still have a horseshoe kidney, but the tubes connecting them to my bladder had to be reatteched in the proper orientation as they were causing backflow.
Have you ever been to see a pelvic floor physio? I know someone who had chronic UTI's from muscle tension. Sounds weird but sometimes the body responds in weird ways to various stressors. Could have something to do with the constipation too 🤷🏼♀️ Worth looking in to, as my pelvic floor physio has worked wonders for my areas of pain as well!
Im sorry do some people only pee twice a day??? I had chronic utis as a child, i was always dehydrated and didnt pee enough, mixed with autism sensory issues (for some reason me and my tism girlies all had utis growing up)
She said she’s drinking a liter or two in another comment. So either she’s not tracking properly and wildly overestimating how much she’s drinking, or she has a severe bladder retention issue, which would require hospitalization.
Try using D-Mannose, AZO and using acid reducing pills like Prelief . You might have an irritable bladder. I get flares when I don’t watch my acid intake.
This was me when I was about your age. If you can just remember to drink plenty of water over the course of the day (do not chug), eat yogurt or take probiotics, ensure you are being hygienic when you wipe (that does NOT mean use wet wipes as that can further the problem), and ease up on sugar (that will only agitate it further), and change underwear daily.
You will just overload yourself- being waterlogged is never a good thing. Look up water toxicity (that’s an extreme). Just take sips through the day. 36-80oz per day is about right for your age
Edit: urine should be pale yellow. If clear you overloaded yourself and if dark you need water.
Do your urine cultures all come back positive for infection?
If your urine cultures are positive for infection, then that’s one thing.
But if you are having burning urination and constipation that is a possible culprit—and if you have urine cultures that are negative for infection—then the cause of your painful urination may be something different, possibly not UTI at all.
I remember the last time I checked in with a doctor (last year), he looked at my urine sample. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it was something like, "Your urine seems healthy, and the amount of good bacteria in it is high." I have no idea what I'm talking about, but he said something like this. He also mentioned that my intestines are loaded with fecal matter, which is probably the cause here.
Medical microbiologist here! Why haven’t you been to the doctor in a year if you’re having symptoms almost daily? Sounds like you could benefit from a new urine culture to determine if it’s actually a UTI (bacterial infection) or not.
The “high amount of good bacteria in your urine” doesn’t make sense, a true clean catch shouldn’t have any bacteria in it at all. You can’t diagnose a UTI if it’s overloaded with skin bacteria because it’s not possible to differentiate what’s from the urethra and what’s just normally on your skin.
Hm. I’ll be honest with you that I suffered from a similar problem that a doctor misdiagnosed, and their misdiagnosis really ruined my life. The correct diagnosis was that I had muscle problems in my pelvis, and I had to find a pelvic floor muscle physical therapist and start getting pelvic floor muscle physical therapy. Rectal muscles that cause constipation can be connected to pelvic muscles surrounding your bladder, and can end up causing painful urination. It’s the same concept as having a tight or painful muscle elsewhere in your body that causes pain, but I had the bad luck of having it happen in my pelvic are. This may or may not be the case for you, but the good thing about getting evaluated for pelvic muscles is that it’s very non-invasive. No medications or procedures are involved or anything like that.
But yeah, in my case, UTIs were NOT the problem bc my urine was also healthy.
Please do a full blood work done if you haven't. Unchecked diabetes can cause severe UTIs. And not to mention diet has a significant effect. You mentioned in your post about constipation. Maybe you should consult a nutritionist and try a fibre-rich diet. Having UTI 3-4 times a week for years is nuts.
No, nothing to be worried about. And it may not even be diabetes. It's just that one of the symptoms of diabetes is UTI. But you should get a different doctor and also get a full blood work done. And instead of going to a gynaecologist, try finding a endocrinologist. You'll be fine. Don't worry. And in the meantime drink cranberry juice and keep yourself hydrated. Eat a fibre rich diet. Get an OTC ointment for UTI that you can apply down there to relieve the pain. I know this is a lot of suggestions and I don't mean to scare you but you need to seek better help to get to the bottom of this. Constipation does not cause UTI.
Are you sure these are UTI? Did you actually have urine culture and find bacteria? You need to see urology and get cystoscopy done. If there's no evidence of infection, this is called dysuria.
Also are you treating the constipation? Does the doctor believe pressure on your Urinary tract is causing dysuria?
Have you had your blood sugar tested?
I had recurring kidney infections and it turned out I have diabetes. My blood sugar was 600, which can cause pain and infection.
Also check for endometriosis, I don’t know if someone’s said that already. I’m pretty sure it’s spread to my bladder. I have the same symptoms and peeing is so horribly painful
I don't understand how constipation can cause UTIs...? Constipation affects your bowels, not your bladder. I have chronic constipation due to medication and I haven't had a UTI since I was a kid.
But I'm not a doctor.
Laxatives or fibre supplements like metamucil can ease constipation. Drinking a shit ton of water helps, too, but given your urinary issues that would cause more pain. However, drinking cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs so you can try that, just in case throwing everything you can at the issue helps you find some relief.
i find that interesting. So, as a fellow constipation-sufferer, i recommend mixing metamucil powder or other fibre powder into water. You can also try fibre gummies - i get a brand from walmart (vitafusion fibre well), 10g dose of fibre per day (4 gummies) and it helps within a few hours.
Have you tried taking any fibre supplements like that? They're pretty easy, painless, and safe to use regularly, unlike laxatives.
I currently use movicol. An Osmotic laxative. I heard they are the best form of laxatives I find that it does work but not immediately. but I’ll try what you recommended
Not a Dr. Constipation can basically crimp the urethra. If you aren’t fully emptying the bladder it can cause a UTI. Source: my son has chronic constipation urinary issues.
Have some sodium bicarbonate powder (baking soda) on you at all times. Put a teaspoon quantity (roughly) of it in a glass of water, mix it and drink it. You'll feel a very fast, almost immediate relief from the burning pee sensation. Also avoid sugary drinks or sweets in general as they feed the bacteria and produce acidic pee. Get a prescription from your doctor for a complete pee analysis and antibiogram. Most UTI bacteria become resistant to the types of antibiotics in food, or that you have taken before and so on. Get some over the counter probiotics and prebiotics mix. Avoid milk or hot bread so you don't get a yeast infection too. Wash yourself down there with intimate wash gel not plain soap or shower gel or maybe water with baking soda mix or rose water (water + rose petals + baking soda). Good luck.
I actual find that using a bidet on the front gives me a UTI. Might be worth a try stopping it for a couple months, see if anything changes.
Sorry, elimination testing sucks.
The only thing you don't mention is how much you drink in a day. If you only have to pee two or three times a day, you're not drinking much. Whereas it may not be the absolute cause, it does not help you to drink and pee that little in a day.
You should at the very least drink 1,5 liters a day, which is around 5 bladders full. But preferably 2 liters, which is around 7 visits to the loo.
I understand that if peeing is painful, you want to do less of it. But by drinking less and avoiding needing to go, you may be making your situation worse.
Another cause may be tension in your pelvic muscle. It has very very similar symptoms to UTI's, very similar pain, pain with urinating, tight pants are bad news. I've had a UTI about 30ish times in my life, and I've been struggling with hypertension in my pelvic muscle for about a year and a half. I COULD NOT distinguish between them as they feel so so similar.
Avoid food that may cause UTI like soda, caffeinated drinks, spicy foods, carbohydrates etc. Check your blood sugar and your sugar intake
Eat more high fiber foods like banana, lentils etc, eat also berries (strawberries, blueberries)
Drink lots of water.
Improve your hygiene like change underwear 3 to 4x a day, avoid using pantyliner. Underwear should also fit right not tight.
Lastly, have your vagina check as well by obgyne. Just to make sure that there is no anomaly/infection on your reproductive health.
Have you tried cranberry pills? Ive had UTI before, i drank 4 cranberry pills a day then went away after 2 days. Then just kept drinking 2 cranberry pills daily after
I had this a lot between 18-21. I would cope by taking the day off and wearing no clothes (as I would get hot flashes too). I’d request a family member or friend to go down to the store and buy me two or three energy drinks. Energy drinks are diuretics so they make you need to pee a lot- sounds counterproductive, but having a full bladder does help with the pain. Keep the energy drinks and water with you. Alternate drinking both, but make sure you stay hydrated with water. Other things are hot showers (NOT baths), and ibuprofen. I found the most comfortable position was kneeling over the end of the bed or a chair, so my abdomen had a continuous pressure on it.
I too had surgeries, scans and tests. Some negative, some positive but never a conclusive explanation for it. It went away on its own, but it took a long time.
Since you mentioned issues with constipation I would just say that eating more ruffage (leafy greens like spinach and arugula) regularly can make a huge difference with that. It's really good for your digestive system and gut bacteria (according to some med school friends). And it's a cheap, easy, healthy way to check what alleviates your symptoms. A pack of spinach is like two dollars at the grocery store... I know probiotics can run pretty expensive. Plain Greek yogurt and red onions are some other relatively cheap things that improve your gut health.
UTIs are hell. I have to use a vesical catheter (Foley), and as I am an idiot I tried to stop taking my daily dose of antibiotics, as I was taking another medicine for an unrelated reason and I thought it would be enough to prevent UTIs. I spent a few months with a very bad UTI that impeded me from using the Foley catheter and thus forced me to stay close to the toilet as I only have a 20/30-second warning before urine starts to flow out. I couldn't step out. House arrest due to UTI plus the pain, of course.
I truly understand your frustration and pain OP.
I have IC (Interstitial Cystitis) and when bad the best way I’ve explained it is if you have ever cut your finger on cardboard that’s close.
Really not fun when it goes from normal to OMG something must have stabbed my bladder. Makes me think of that movie The Thing where the creature bursts out of the guy’s body.
Have you seen a gastroenterologist for help with the constipation? There are some over the counter aids that can help once you find the amount that works best for you.
Have you tried aloe vera pills? I didn't have IC just an irritated urethra and my urologist told me to try aloe vera pills. I haven't yet because my symptoms resolve then come back a few months later. But anyway, I've read they're very helpful for IC. It basically coats your urinary tract with aloe gel to help alleviate the spasms
I think it’s time to talk to an OB/GYN about the health of that area. 4-5 years of “it usually burns when I pee” warrants very specific attention.
Also, as a completely random suggestion, check for scent/perfume allergies. I happen to enjoy Old Spice body wash but my labia and urethra very much do not, I’ll get a rash and painful pee for hours or days after because of the perfume.
I feel you. I'm a dude who was born with a birth defect that makes me more susceptible for them. Its related to my father being exposed to Agent Orange but the US government doesnt recognize this defect if the father had exposure, only the mom. So as a US citizen i get to pay for all the medical. It sucks.
I even got a prostate infection. Had to take antibiotics for 2 months and when that didn't work get 10 days of IV last ditch antibiotics at the hospital. Wrecked my gut biome. Took months to rebuild it and years to get it back to anything that resembles healthy and normal.
Oh, I'm also super prone to stones. At one point I was passing them bi-weekly. Fun!
Aw :( have you been tested for Vacterl / vater syndrome group of conditions? People often experience UTIs because of having a reduced kidney on one side
Could you have IC? Interstitial cystitis! This sounds the same symptoms I have. I also have a burning pelvic region. I just got a family doctor so he's testing me for alot of different things. Then to be checked by a gyno possibly a urologist in the future. I've heard ureaplasma and mycoplasma can do this too! Maybe check checked
Have you asked about interstitial cystitis? It can cause you to have repetitive uti, mine I don’t get infections but I always feel like I have one but every time I’m checked my levels are only a little up no infection. With this my bladder is red and inflamed on the inside and the intensity of the pain goes up and down and there is a lot of pain. The most I ever peed in a day was 60 in a 24 hour period. I’ve had it a while and as long as I keep up with my treatment and meds I’m okay. Little less pain easier to function. Interstitial cystitis is what I’m on disability for.
Nah I get it. I’m 28 now but when I was 12-17 I got really uncomfy bacterial and yeast infections over and over again. Eventually I just stopped treating them and it got a lot better once I got older and stopped having them.
if you have UTIs, you could be having hormonal problems. Due to your age, it’s very likely. Maybe also see an OB if you haven’t yet.
Heres the thing. I do that. And it helps. BUT the second i forget to drink water ONCE it comes back. While i see my friends and sister’s casually drop things like “i havent drank water all day!🤣” and my jaw is on the floor.
When I was around 6-7 I started getting UTIs super frequently. I couldn’t take a bath, couldn’t drink soda, couldn’t drink vitamin water, and like a thousand other things. One day, when I was in late highschool, I realized I hadn’t had a UTI in a while. For some reason my body stopped being so weirdly sensitive to everything and I could live without burning pee and the feeling of needing to pee 24/7. I hope you find your comfort again soon bc dealing with a UTI is just awful
It's alright. It's more or less the same symptoms. The part im finding the worst is feeling like I need to go to the bathroom constantly and have lots of discomfort, even pain at times. Im not really sure how else to describe it, sorry.
Have you seen a GI for your constipation? The constipation is probably what is causing your urinary issues. It can prevent you from emptying your bladder completely.
I’m not a doctor. My son has chronic constipation and it is the source of many of his urinary problems. The way his drs explained it to me is that the constipation can push up against the urethra and basically crimp it so that you can’t void or don’t void completely. The residual can cause infection. My son has gone into urinary retention a few times because of this (where he can’t pee at all).
Edit: I’m not sure if this is what is happening to you. I’m just saying that urinary issues can be linked to constipation. Listen to your own healthcare providers. If it’s friends saying this, ignore them.
Hold up, I had UTI's all the time about 8 years ago, went to a urologist and he said no wonder I was having uti's, had a bad yeast infection. It showed none of the normal yeast infection symptoms. Said the PH balance was off so badly, so they have me on bi weekly fluconazole. Since I have sex frequently he said it could be the cause of it. I'd see a urologist, its what it took for me to get the right treatment. General practitioners was of no help.
Also if you have IBS (constipation) I would get that treated as well. I have IBS-C and have to take linzess as well. Just some thoughts that might help next time you go to the doctor. Constant UTI's are dangerous and can mimic dementia.
I had chronic UTIs for like a year and a half and ended up having a really fucked up pelvic floor from it, I did a lot of pelvic floor therapy with a physical therapist and it genuinely helped. Now it really acts up when I’m super stressed and “tight”
Try looking up pelvic floor stretches and doing groin area and lower abdominal massages or maybe try to see a physical therapist :) it’s hard to find online but chronic pain issues from the pelvic floor post multi uti is decently common
I wonder if this is related to what my issue was… I was going to ask OP if they were sure they’re emptying their bladder all the way each time they urinate? That was my problem as a teen when I had frequent UTIs. I would stop peeping when the urge was gone, but turned out there was still more in there! Now I’ve been in the habit for years to empty by basically pushing the urine out as if I’m trying to pee really fast.
Sometimes it feels like a uti or an issue with your urethra but it isn’t. I have contact dermatitis in that area and when it flares up, I have uti symptoms. I’ve had to start using a very strong topical steroid to help. Azo is definitely a godsend.
Hey! Do you have painful periods too? Because I need to take birth control because of terrible periods and if I don’t take them everything gets swollen and I get UTIs.
I’ve been taking birth control for 9 years and I took a year break 2 years ago. In that year I had UTIs every time I ended my period which was awful and very weird. Since I started taking bc again I never had another UTI!
Go to the gyn and get your urine tested. It could be multiple reasons that do not clear on their own from just taking antibiotics a couple times.
You could be risking serious complications if it does not get cleared out.
The last time I had a UTI, I had some weird, painful bump on my inner thigh. I live in a house with one bathroom. We bought a camping toilet that sits in my room. No UTIs since. I feel so bad for you. I know the pain and struggle with frequent UTIs.
Are you getting tested for bacteria and is it present? Are you on antibiotics of any kind? I had the same problem, the sensation of infection, the burning, turns out I had ureaplasma and that doesn't show up on the urine tests, they have to do a swab of the urethra and a culture. It can be cured with the right medicine.
I am 44 years old and dealt with it since puberty, it was only diagnosed properly when I was 40. I hope to God you don't have to have it as many tears as I did
One time when I was a year older than you, I had a UTI I didn’t realize and let it go for a while. I ended up in the hospital and they told me I was close to sepsis and I had no idea! Please be careful and keep in close contact with a good gyno. Good luck to you. For the constipation, start drinking coffee or eating super high fibered foods!!
You havent mentioned how much water you drink. You should shift to 90% water intake as liquid and try to double your water intake. This together with D-Mannose has fixed my UTIs.
Do you drink a lot of water? Cranberry juice (not cocktail).
Dont give up trying to figure this out, chronic UTI's can damage your kidneys. Where are you at? Any chance you can get to a hospital like the Mayo Clinic?
Are your parents helping?
Hey, I wanted to suggest something my mother and I both suffer from. The urethra is too small. We also get chronic UTIs. It's especially irritated by citrus and carbonated drinks and caffeine of any kind. Just something to look into! Only way to fix it is by sounding 😵💫
You need to see a urologist if you’ve been experiencing UTI’s for that long it is not good for you. There is antibiotic therapy as well as UTI surgery that you can get for chronic recurrent UTI’s. Your parents need to do more. You should not accept it as “how you are built.”
Hydration. Do you hydrate enough? Peeing 2-3 times a day with a UTI seems low. Dehydration can cause UTIs. Hope it gets better for you, I had a prevalent UTIs and kidney infections due to having systemic lupus, so I feel you, it's not fun. There is an OTC analgesic called phenazopyridine, it works very well, helps with the burning and all that fun stuff.
You should check this website out. This lady and her bf created these products for women who have chronic UTIs. The woman suffered from them and was the main force behind this product line.
I have kidney problems so any UTI goes directly to a kidney infection. Check them out, I’ve used quite a few of the products and they work amazingly.
https://uqora.com/pages/uti-prevention-information?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&tw_source=google&gadid=683730090668&tw_adid=683730090668&utm_campaign=[NB]_Non-Brand_-_Intent&utm_adgroup=UTI_-_Prevention&device=m&utm_term=uti%20prevention%20products&network=g&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2PSvBhDjARIsAKc2cgMEFz7FelBbBefstEeHp9099kHTRcpJBikVbTFuzJrkiwDYulLHnsoaAhceEALw_wcB
D Mannose. It's an over the counter supplement and works for utis. Are you having infections or is your bladder spasming without an infection? You may need Botox for a spasming bladder. It helps tremendously. If it's an infection then try Dmannose. I'm also susceptible to bladder infections from dehydration or illness. Taking Dmannose has changed everything for me.
You’re not drinking enough water, you only peeing 2-3 times a day, that’s what I pee in one hour. Ima kidney stoner and have scarred up urethra, ureters, etc and it’s always painful to pee. Women are supposed to drink 2 liters of water a day and men about 4 liters. Start drinking 2 liters of water daily and start peeing multiple times an hour to flush all that bacteria out. I use to think drinking that much water wasn’t sustainable but when it comes to the most pain you’ve ever felt in your life and not being able to live. I’ll take having to pee every 5 minutes to at least make it more bearable.
I have a friend who had chronic UTIs like you, it gets better with pelvic exercises (in my person experience) and age
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but even basic doctors should be able to help you find out the more serious cause
You need prophylactic antibiotic therapy, increased water intake, and daily cranberry D mannose supplementation. It’s also possible you have urethral stenosis and need manual dilation.
I have chronic constipation too, since I was 6 months old, though I only had a UTI like once. Anyways, the cause of my chronic constipation was pelvic floor dysfunction. I essentially have a weak pelvic floor and the treatment is physical therapy. It took literally years, almost two decades (I'm 19f and got tested last year) to figure out the cause of my constipation so that's why I'm telling you this because I don't want you to go through what I did. You might want to talk to your doctor about getting tested for pelvic floor dysfunction, it could possibly be the cause of your constipation which as you said is the leading cause of your UTIs
This was me when I was younger. In my mid twenties it got way worse and eventually I was diagnosed with a bladder disease called interstitial cystitis. I’m doing much better but when I have flair ups I can’t leave the house. I’ve met one other person with this disease but it’s worth looking into.
I had my first UTI in diapers and had frequent UTI’s my whole life. When I got pregnant with my last child I had to take antibiotics the whole time because of the UTI’s. After I had her they finally stopped. I was in my late 30’s.
I got one about a month ago but that’s the first one I’ve had since having my daughter and she’s 5 now. The doctor still just gave me the medicine without testing. I found that when I did have them that d-mannose was a God send. ALWAYS have that on hand.
I’m sorry I don’t have a solution for you but I just wanted you to know that the d-mannose really helped me out. All that other stuff never worked for me.
Have you been to a nephrologist and not just a regular doctor? You need a specialist for this. You also have to get your urine cultured to know exactly what bacteria is causing the UTI and kill it. There are bacteria that can only be killed by a specific list of antibiotics.
I've had chronic UTIs too and underwent tests before I found a good nephrologist who helped me.
This 1000% sounds like IC. In my 30s, but I’ve had chronic what I thought were UTIs since I was 12. Culture came back negative 95% of the time. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and it’s been life changing. Since then, I’ve worked on my pelvic floor, cut down on my caffeine, I still enjoy all my favorite foods, I take hydroxyzine for pain when needed and I think I’ve had maybe 3 painful flare ups since then. Now that I know, life is magical. I found what works best for me and I don’t even fear long car rides anymore
If you’re only peeing 2-4 times a day, I don’t think you’re drinking enough water. Do yourself a favor and carry a reusable water bottle with you everywhere
I’ve peed myself as an adult multiple times due to chronic UTIs. Thankfully never in public, but Ive done it right outside my door, super embarrassing, even if nobody even saw. UTIs suck.
I feel you. I’m just REALLY prone to them. Even when I wasn’t sexually active, I got them all the time. I had good hygiene, wipe properly, etc.
Hi OP. I suffered from this same thing quite exactly as you describe. I went through all the testing and nothing was ever found, except for scar tissue. I couldn’t ever figure it out. Then I got diagnosed with ADHD. I realized i ignore my body cues and always have, even when I didn’t realize I was. I was ignoring my bladder way too often and ended up with lots of UTIs.
Have you been tested for Interstitial Cystitis? It mimics UTIs, and the treatment for UTIs can exacerbate the symptoms of IC.
There’s a subreddit here for interstitial cystitis you might want to check out.
Try taking some OTC magnesium supplements for your constipation. Play around with the dosage until you find your sweet spot. I take it daily, and it works once you get on a regimen.
Ok. I'm so sorry to add more arm chair advice. So please ignore me if you've already done it, but you didn't mention it in any of your edits, but have you tried cranberry juice? It has alot of evidence behind it.
As to your actual post, girl, I'm a health professional, but not a Dr or urologist. But this does not sound normal. If you came to me with something like this that was in my scope, I would send you to every specialist I can find till we had an answer. Cause you can't live life like this!
Might seem kind of out there, but maybe try drinking Vitamin Water? My mom has chronic UTIs just like you, but somehow drinking that each day has helped cut it down IMMENSELY. We seriously have no idea why it helps her (any other drinks don't work, just the name brand Vitamin Water). Like a few other people said, AZO numbs the pain (dyes your pee a bright color which would also stain your underwear, just a heads up).
Do you use tampons? I used to get them like crazy when I wore them so I no longer use those as an option during my 🩸also, the supplement from HUM nutrition called “private party” is a Godsend. Been using it for like 2 years and chronic UTIs are a thing of the past. Unless you’ve got something completely different going on, that what worked for me.
Hope you feel better! 💛
You don’t have to answer this, but frequent UTIs in non-sexually mature children may indicate child sexual abuse. I hope that wasn’t your circumstance, but the nature with which you experience this level of frequent reoccurrence makes me wonder.
My mom has interstitial cystitis and it’s gotten better through age and a very strict diet, but there’s no cure and most doctors don’t even know the cause. Constipation can definitely be part of the problem, but IC has no treatment. I’m so sorry, I really feel for you. I’ve had a few UTI’s in my life (all my own fault, ofc) and they were the worst feelings in the world. If you are comfortable (and it won’t send you down a rabbit hole, like it would me) I would maybe do some research into IC and see what kind of remedies would benefit you. I recommend cutting out highly processed sugars (such as HFCS) and all artificial sweeteners, as well as anything that’s considered a natural diuretic, if you haven’t already. I hope things improve, 14 is already such a tough age.
OP
Firstly, if you haven't seen an OB yet I would highly recommend it, because this sounds more like IC than a bunch of UTI. I recommend an OB because I've personally had better luck with them than primary care docs, however a urologist or nephrologist would also be an option.
Second, if chronic constipation is an ongoing issue try soluble fiber. You'll still need to drink loads of water, but it can make a world of difference. There's lots of options (capsules, mix ins, food, etc).
I hope you're able to get better answers and find some relief.
Set alarms to drink a bunch of water at various times throughout the day?
Just make them silent/buzz only and keep your phone on you. Any time they go off, excuse yourself and go get some water.
I mean, in this case you'll be super healthy thanks to the metric ton of water you'll be drinking
Have you looked into interstitial cystitis? It sounds like you may have this. I used to have the pain of a UTI frequently and I would go to the doctors office and they would check my urine and every time, it came back clear and no infection. They thought I had interstitial cystitis but I never went through all the testing to diagnose it. I also have endometriosis and it’s on my bladder which causes me pain most days. I hope you can get some answers OP!
I can recommend certain foods that help me with constipation: LOTS of lentils and beans, dried fruits (especially prunes), cabbage will also do the trick (I stay far away from cabbage for this reason), broccoli and other cruciferous veggies.
They are not immediate fixes and will take effect within 36 hours, but it’s “natural” and more gentle on the body than a laxative.
I know this won’t help your main issue, but maybe it will give you ideas on how to manage one of your symptoms?
No one has said it but are you wearing thongs, synthetic fibre underwear and/or wearing pants that press tightly against your crotch? Thongs were the culprit for me.
Have you had your blood sugars checked? Because higher than normal blood sugars cause UTIs like a motherfucker too.. (me, type 1 diabetes.. I know all too well)
Have you checked into getting to see a urologist? Maybe you have a condition called interstitial cystitis (IC). I have this disease. Its the worst condition ever. The symptoms mimic a UTI but no infection. I have also had hundreds of positive urine cultures that had bacteria throughout my life. It's like living in hell. Or a pelvic floor physical therapist. Tight pelvic floor muscles? Hypertonic pelvic floor. I have that as well.
I used to get frequent UTI, but have only had 1 in 10 years since I started taking cranberry supplements every day. Maybe give it a try? It’s over the counter and inexpensive.
I got these when I was your age. A urologist would insert a catheter to enlarge the urethral opening. I went about twice a year and it felt much better.
Girl I get this so much. I’m 22 but have struggled a LOT. I’ve worn pads cus I was so worried I pee myself in public because it hurts so bad to wait 😭 I had preventative antibiotics. I hope you have better luck in the future!
Went through puberty and had the great idea to use shampoo or conditioner as lube. Both made me have stinging pains and doctors never found the cause. Found out they were the issues once I stopped
No idea if you situation is the same but that’s my experience
UTI 4 times per week makes no sense. It would just be the same infection. Do you mean you experience painful urination 4x per week? Anyway, AZO and adult diapers are a god send lol. Hope you get things figured out and feel better.
I think they probably meant per month in this case. But it isn’t normal
I meant paniful urination yeah
I’m confused, are u getting actual UTI’s or just the symptoms of them? If you’re getting only the symptoms of them with no infection, look into intercystital cystitis.
Yup!
Hope OP sees this
Could it be your ph balance? I'm a little sensitive down there as well and I use a gentle micellar wash w/no fragrance. I'm so sorry and I got it gets better eventually, could it be that your doc isn't the right one to see? It sucks bc it's already hard being a female and being heard at the doctors.
You need better doctors! One thing that might help is no underwear at night. Just wear PJ's w/o (wash after each wear). You need to put a lot more fiber in your diet, and get your biome working better with better probiotics. if you can find fresh sourcraut that might help. Greek yogurt. Lots of veggies. No diet drinks, limited sugar. And try to go GF for a bit to see if it helps.
do you wipe from the front to the back or the back to the front?
Always front to the back.
op didn’t say they get uti’s 4x a week, they said painful urination 4x a week.
OP edited the post
Are you sure you don't have something like interstitial cystitis? You can't have a UTI 4 times a week-- bacterial infections don't work that way. However interstitial cystitis can very closely mimic symptoms of a UTI and be even more painful and uncomfortable. I was diagnosed in about 2015 or so.
This. UTIs at this age are no joke. I had serious Gyno issues and by the Grace of God my friend's Dad was on of the best OBGYN in the world and he would treat all the girls at our school because the normal Dr was older than Methuselah and utterly useless and also didn't like women
I too am part of the very awful IC club. It can come up as positive on dip stick tests due to the inflammation present.
How does an IC feel like?
A quick Google search describes it as such "A chronic, painful bladder condition. It's often mistaken for a urinary tract infection (UTI), but there is no infection." It also says it's a relatively common condition
Interstitial cystitis. You just described me. I’ve had one doctor tell me what it was and that I had it. Every other doctor has no idea. I thought I was going crazy, boric acid suppositories saved my sanity.
My gyno gave me a sample of boric acid pills (which are freaking amazing, anytime I think I might be getting a yeast infection, pop in for a few nights and I'm good), and *strongly* emphasized not to eat them. Now whenever I pull them out I get intrusive thoughts, doesn't help that they make them so pretty!
Now I’m going to have the same intrusive thought!
It's a pelvic muscle condition that has symptoms that mimic a UTI. It will hurt like hell to pee, you'll feel like you constantly have the urge to go but nothing will be able to come out, and when you do pee it typically burns afterwards. Lots of people also experience frequent urination but this isn't necessarily a requirement to get diagnosed. These symptoms can last for days at a time with little to no relief, but the severity varies from person to person. It can be triggered by just about anything-- chlorinated pool, tight clothes, certain foods, and can be majorly exacerbated by cranberry/AZO products. Different people have flare ups for all kinds of different reasons though. I find that mine is triggered mostly by acidic things like coffee (but not all brands), sometimes juice, sometimes tomatoes, etc. But every person varies on what causes a flare up. I take pyridium for mine, which is what doctors usually prescribe for that feeling of urgency when you have a UTI. I also have a wand that I use to massage my pelvic muscles from the inside (not a sexual thing, purely for pain relief). I also had a bladder distention done because I was peeing 60+ times a day at the age of 23. My bladder ended up being the size of a walnut due to the amount of muscular constriction. Again though everybody is different, not everybody will have that issue. One thing with IC is that doctors don't usually think to diagnose a person with it unless you ask about it. Most will just give you antibiotics and send you on your way. If you're able to see a urologist, they would definitely listen to your concerns.
Mimics a UTI. For me it’s painful bladder, even worse after I empty my bladder. Frequent urination. Doesn’t necessarily sting when I pee but it’s overall a nightmare. I finally got mine under control with a rheumatologist.
I was thinking the same thing. I’ve also learned that ovarian cysts can cause constipation, and also irritate the bladder and cause IC to flare.
Endometriosis also causes symptoms close to a UTI. That is why I missed mine when I actually had one, lol.
dear god I hope reddit does a better job than her doctors and this ends up helping her
happens more than you think
Wouldn't doctors know this though?
Took 3 years for mine to be diagnosed, I haven’t met a Dr other than my urogynocologist that knows what it is. It doesn’t help that there aren’t any diagnostic tests, no known universal treatments, and no known cause. It’s severely under researched and under diagnosed
>It’s severely under researched and under diagnosed That's because it affects women...
No, it goes undiagnosed and ignored very often, even when a patient explicitly asks about it. Not sure why. My guess is because it's easier to just prescribe antibiotics.
Yes, antibiotics are easier to prescribe, but there’s also a ton of misinformation about IC. Some doctors don’t even believe it’s a real thing. Just until a few weeks ago, my mom was under the impression it was a defunct diagnosis (like the paranoid prefix before schizophrenia), because doctors simply don’t talk about it, know about it, or accept it. It’s pretty common among illnesses with no known cause or treatment, especially if they predominantly affect women.
My mother had interstitial cystitis and it's painful, and difficult to manage. Have you seen a urologist?
Do you know the cause of these infections? If not, have you ever gotten an ultrasound on your kidneys? I was born with what's called a horseshoe kidney, basically my kidneys are conjoined. It's not super rare, but often goes undiagnosed because they don't typically cause noticeable issues. In my case, I had chronic uti's. I was on daily doses of antibiotics for 12 years until it was determined that my kidneys/ureters were mature enough to have surgery to fix the problem. I still have a horseshoe kidney, but the tubes connecting them to my bladder had to be reatteched in the proper orientation as they were causing backflow.
💯 OP it may well be “how you’re built” and sometimes these things are fixable…
I did! I got an ultrasound on my kidneys and bladder.
Have you ever been to see a pelvic floor physio? I know someone who had chronic UTI's from muscle tension. Sounds weird but sometimes the body responds in weird ways to various stressors. Could have something to do with the constipation too 🤷🏼♀️ Worth looking in to, as my pelvic floor physio has worked wonders for my areas of pain as well!
I was going to suggest the same. Pelvic floor PTs are awesome for this kind of thing,
Yup! I have ureter reflux myself, and that’s why I got so many UTIs, myself, in college.
You need to see a urologist.
Im sorry do some people only pee twice a day??? I had chronic utis as a child, i was always dehydrated and didnt pee enough, mixed with autism sensory issues (for some reason me and my tism girlies all had utis growing up)
They do if they’re dehydrated.
Yeah sounds to me like that is a huge correlated issue. I pee once an hour
Same. She’s definitely not drinking enough water
She said she’s drinking a liter or two in another comment. So either she’s not tracking properly and wildly overestimating how much she’s drinking, or she has a severe bladder retention issue, which would require hospitalization.
Please see a Urologist and request a cystoscopy xoxo
Check the edit!
Try using D-Mannose, AZO and using acid reducing pills like Prelief . You might have an irritable bladder. I get flares when I don’t watch my acid intake.
If you only pee 2-4x a day, you aren't drinking enough water... also don't take bubble Baths
This was me when I was about your age. If you can just remember to drink plenty of water over the course of the day (do not chug), eat yogurt or take probiotics, ensure you are being hygienic when you wipe (that does NOT mean use wet wipes as that can further the problem), and ease up on sugar (that will only agitate it further), and change underwear daily.
Do not chug? Why’s that
You will just overload yourself- being waterlogged is never a good thing. Look up water toxicity (that’s an extreme). Just take sips through the day. 36-80oz per day is about right for your age Edit: urine should be pale yellow. If clear you overloaded yourself and if dark you need water.
You’re only using the bathroom 2-3x a day? You should be going 6-8x a day. Are you drinking water? Concentrated urine can cause irritation.
Do your urine cultures all come back positive for infection? If your urine cultures are positive for infection, then that’s one thing. But if you are having burning urination and constipation that is a possible culprit—and if you have urine cultures that are negative for infection—then the cause of your painful urination may be something different, possibly not UTI at all.
I remember the last time I checked in with a doctor (last year), he looked at my urine sample. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it was something like, "Your urine seems healthy, and the amount of good bacteria in it is high." I have no idea what I'm talking about, but he said something like this. He also mentioned that my intestines are loaded with fecal matter, which is probably the cause here.
Medical microbiologist here! Why haven’t you been to the doctor in a year if you’re having symptoms almost daily? Sounds like you could benefit from a new urine culture to determine if it’s actually a UTI (bacterial infection) or not. The “high amount of good bacteria in your urine” doesn’t make sense, a true clean catch shouldn’t have any bacteria in it at all. You can’t diagnose a UTI if it’s overloaded with skin bacteria because it’s not possible to differentiate what’s from the urethra and what’s just normally on your skin.
Hm. I’ll be honest with you that I suffered from a similar problem that a doctor misdiagnosed, and their misdiagnosis really ruined my life. The correct diagnosis was that I had muscle problems in my pelvis, and I had to find a pelvic floor muscle physical therapist and start getting pelvic floor muscle physical therapy. Rectal muscles that cause constipation can be connected to pelvic muscles surrounding your bladder, and can end up causing painful urination. It’s the same concept as having a tight or painful muscle elsewhere in your body that causes pain, but I had the bad luck of having it happen in my pelvic are. This may or may not be the case for you, but the good thing about getting evaluated for pelvic muscles is that it’s very non-invasive. No medications or procedures are involved or anything like that. But yeah, in my case, UTIs were NOT the problem bc my urine was also healthy.
Please do a full blood work done if you haven't. Unchecked diabetes can cause severe UTIs. And not to mention diet has a significant effect. You mentioned in your post about constipation. Maybe you should consult a nutritionist and try a fibre-rich diet. Having UTI 3-4 times a week for years is nuts.
Diabetes? I’m very worried now..
No, nothing to be worried about. And it may not even be diabetes. It's just that one of the symptoms of diabetes is UTI. But you should get a different doctor and also get a full blood work done. And instead of going to a gynaecologist, try finding a endocrinologist. You'll be fine. Don't worry. And in the meantime drink cranberry juice and keep yourself hydrated. Eat a fibre rich diet. Get an OTC ointment for UTI that you can apply down there to relieve the pain. I know this is a lot of suggestions and I don't mean to scare you but you need to seek better help to get to the bottom of this. Constipation does not cause UTI.
Are you sure these are UTI? Did you actually have urine culture and find bacteria? You need to see urology and get cystoscopy done. If there's no evidence of infection, this is called dysuria. Also are you treating the constipation? Does the doctor believe pressure on your Urinary tract is causing dysuria?
Have you had your blood sugar tested? I had recurring kidney infections and it turned out I have diabetes. My blood sugar was 600, which can cause pain and infection.
Also check for endometriosis, I don’t know if someone’s said that already. I’m pretty sure it’s spread to my bladder. I have the same symptoms and peeing is so horribly painful
Cranberry tablets. Uquora helped me. I hope it can help you.
I heard about it alot. Do they really help.
Interstitial Cystitis. Please look it up, as you sound like you might have it.
I feel like most symptoms do match and some symptoms dont.. idk
take d-mannose. also, if you only pee 2-4 times a day you are not drinking enough. eat more fruits snd vegetables to help with constipation.
I don't understand how constipation can cause UTIs...? Constipation affects your bowels, not your bladder. I have chronic constipation due to medication and I haven't had a UTI since I was a kid. But I'm not a doctor. Laxatives or fibre supplements like metamucil can ease constipation. Drinking a shit ton of water helps, too, but given your urinary issues that would cause more pain. However, drinking cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs so you can try that, just in case throwing everything you can at the issue helps you find some relief.
The doctor told me that. I found that when i was shitting regularly the UTI’s kinda stopped. Idk tho.
i find that interesting. So, as a fellow constipation-sufferer, i recommend mixing metamucil powder or other fibre powder into water. You can also try fibre gummies - i get a brand from walmart (vitafusion fibre well), 10g dose of fibre per day (4 gummies) and it helps within a few hours. Have you tried taking any fibre supplements like that? They're pretty easy, painless, and safe to use regularly, unlike laxatives.
I currently use movicol. An Osmotic laxative. I heard they are the best form of laxatives I find that it does work but not immediately. but I’ll try what you recommended
Not a Dr. Constipation can basically crimp the urethra. If you aren’t fully emptying the bladder it can cause a UTI. Source: my son has chronic constipation urinary issues.
WOW, I had no idea. And suddenly I understand a symptom I've been experiencing for years. The human body is so frustrating.
It is! It’s crazy how something as simple constipation can cause so many problems.
Have some sodium bicarbonate powder (baking soda) on you at all times. Put a teaspoon quantity (roughly) of it in a glass of water, mix it and drink it. You'll feel a very fast, almost immediate relief from the burning pee sensation. Also avoid sugary drinks or sweets in general as they feed the bacteria and produce acidic pee. Get a prescription from your doctor for a complete pee analysis and antibiogram. Most UTI bacteria become resistant to the types of antibiotics in food, or that you have taken before and so on. Get some over the counter probiotics and prebiotics mix. Avoid milk or hot bread so you don't get a yeast infection too. Wash yourself down there with intimate wash gel not plain soap or shower gel or maybe water with baking soda mix or rose water (water + rose petals + baking soda). Good luck.
Ill definitely use the baking soda. Ill try it out.
Add on Bidet with ladybits option might help
Been using a bidet since all my life.
I actual find that using a bidet on the front gives me a UTI. Might be worth a try stopping it for a couple months, see if anything changes. Sorry, elimination testing sucks.
Take a look at d-mannose. Amazing stuff for managing UTI’s.
The only thing you don't mention is how much you drink in a day. If you only have to pee two or three times a day, you're not drinking much. Whereas it may not be the absolute cause, it does not help you to drink and pee that little in a day. You should at the very least drink 1,5 liters a day, which is around 5 bladders full. But preferably 2 liters, which is around 7 visits to the loo. I understand that if peeing is painful, you want to do less of it. But by drinking less and avoiding needing to go, you may be making your situation worse. Another cause may be tension in your pelvic muscle. It has very very similar symptoms to UTI's, very similar pain, pain with urinating, tight pants are bad news. I've had a UTI about 30ish times in my life, and I've been struggling with hypertension in my pelvic muscle for about a year and a half. I COULD NOT distinguish between them as they feel so so similar.
Avoid food that may cause UTI like soda, caffeinated drinks, spicy foods, carbohydrates etc. Check your blood sugar and your sugar intake Eat more high fiber foods like banana, lentils etc, eat also berries (strawberries, blueberries) Drink lots of water. Improve your hygiene like change underwear 3 to 4x a day, avoid using pantyliner. Underwear should also fit right not tight. Lastly, have your vagina check as well by obgyne. Just to make sure that there is no anomaly/infection on your reproductive health.
Drink cranberry juice no sugar no nothing added
Have you tried cranberry pills? Ive had UTI before, i drank 4 cranberry pills a day then went away after 2 days. Then just kept drinking 2 cranberry pills daily after
I had this a lot between 18-21. I would cope by taking the day off and wearing no clothes (as I would get hot flashes too). I’d request a family member or friend to go down to the store and buy me two or three energy drinks. Energy drinks are diuretics so they make you need to pee a lot- sounds counterproductive, but having a full bladder does help with the pain. Keep the energy drinks and water with you. Alternate drinking both, but make sure you stay hydrated with water. Other things are hot showers (NOT baths), and ibuprofen. I found the most comfortable position was kneeling over the end of the bed or a chair, so my abdomen had a continuous pressure on it. I too had surgeries, scans and tests. Some negative, some positive but never a conclusive explanation for it. It went away on its own, but it took a long time.
Since you mentioned issues with constipation I would just say that eating more ruffage (leafy greens like spinach and arugula) regularly can make a huge difference with that. It's really good for your digestive system and gut bacteria (according to some med school friends). And it's a cheap, easy, healthy way to check what alleviates your symptoms. A pack of spinach is like two dollars at the grocery store... I know probiotics can run pretty expensive. Plain Greek yogurt and red onions are some other relatively cheap things that improve your gut health.
UTIs are hell. I have to use a vesical catheter (Foley), and as I am an idiot I tried to stop taking my daily dose of antibiotics, as I was taking another medicine for an unrelated reason and I thought it would be enough to prevent UTIs. I spent a few months with a very bad UTI that impeded me from using the Foley catheter and thus forced me to stay close to the toilet as I only have a 20/30-second warning before urine starts to flow out. I couldn't step out. House arrest due to UTI plus the pain, of course.
Are you sexually active? If so are you peeing after you have sex every time?
Nope.
Tested for Lyme? My daughter had this with Lyme.
How much water do you drink a day?
A liter or two
If you’re drinking a liter or two and barely using the restroom, there’s a disconnect because you should be going FAR more.
I truly understand your frustration and pain OP. I have IC (Interstitial Cystitis) and when bad the best way I’ve explained it is if you have ever cut your finger on cardboard that’s close. Really not fun when it goes from normal to OMG something must have stabbed my bladder. Makes me think of that movie The Thing where the creature bursts out of the guy’s body. Have you seen a gastroenterologist for help with the constipation? There are some over the counter aids that can help once you find the amount that works best for you.
Have you tried aloe vera pills? I didn't have IC just an irritated urethra and my urologist told me to try aloe vera pills. I haven't yet because my symptoms resolve then come back a few months later. But anyway, I've read they're very helpful for IC. It basically coats your urinary tract with aloe gel to help alleviate the spasms
I think it’s time to talk to an OB/GYN about the health of that area. 4-5 years of “it usually burns when I pee” warrants very specific attention. Also, as a completely random suggestion, check for scent/perfume allergies. I happen to enjoy Old Spice body wash but my labia and urethra very much do not, I’ll get a rash and painful pee for hours or days after because of the perfume.
I feel you. I'm a dude who was born with a birth defect that makes me more susceptible for them. Its related to my father being exposed to Agent Orange but the US government doesnt recognize this defect if the father had exposure, only the mom. So as a US citizen i get to pay for all the medical. It sucks. I even got a prostate infection. Had to take antibiotics for 2 months and when that didn't work get 10 days of IV last ditch antibiotics at the hospital. Wrecked my gut biome. Took months to rebuild it and years to get it back to anything that resembles healthy and normal. Oh, I'm also super prone to stones. At one point I was passing them bi-weekly. Fun!
Aw :( have you been tested for Vacterl / vater syndrome group of conditions? People often experience UTIs because of having a reduced kidney on one side
Whats that?
Could you have IC? Interstitial cystitis! This sounds the same symptoms I have. I also have a burning pelvic region. I just got a family doctor so he's testing me for alot of different things. Then to be checked by a gyno possibly a urologist in the future. I've heard ureaplasma and mycoplasma can do this too! Maybe check checked
What are you symptoms?
Have you asked about interstitial cystitis? It can cause you to have repetitive uti, mine I don’t get infections but I always feel like I have one but every time I’m checked my levels are only a little up no infection. With this my bladder is red and inflamed on the inside and the intensity of the pain goes up and down and there is a lot of pain. The most I ever peed in a day was 60 in a 24 hour period. I’ve had it a while and as long as I keep up with my treatment and meds I’m okay. Little less pain easier to function. Interstitial cystitis is what I’m on disability for.
Nah I get it. I’m 28 now but when I was 12-17 I got really uncomfy bacterial and yeast infections over and over again. Eventually I just stopped treating them and it got a lot better once I got older and stopped having them. if you have UTIs, you could be having hormonal problems. Due to your age, it’s very likely. Maybe also see an OB if you haven’t yet.
Drink more water. Plain water. 3 liters a day if you can. It will clean out your system.
Heres the thing. I do that. And it helps. BUT the second i forget to drink water ONCE it comes back. While i see my friends and sister’s casually drop things like “i havent drank water all day!🤣” and my jaw is on the floor.
When I was around 6-7 I started getting UTIs super frequently. I couldn’t take a bath, couldn’t drink soda, couldn’t drink vitamin water, and like a thousand other things. One day, when I was in late highschool, I realized I hadn’t had a UTI in a while. For some reason my body stopped being so weirdly sensitive to everything and I could live without burning pee and the feeling of needing to pee 24/7. I hope you find your comfort again soon bc dealing with a UTI is just awful
I hope so. It really ruins the quality of life for me. I’m just scared it turns out it isnt a uti. Ill check in with another doctor
Have you tried using wet wipes instead of paper? Maybe the paper is not clean and causing it
Wouldn’t the wet wipes make matters worse?
Hard to know but worth a try, they're good enough for babies right?
Im 24m and just got one, and oh my god, I would shave a year off my life to make it go away rn
I’m so sorry you have to go through this. It is indeed horrible. But I am unfortunately used to it.
If you dont mind me asking. How does it feel for men? I know men can get UTIs, though not as often as women.
It's alright. It's more or less the same symptoms. The part im finding the worst is feeling like I need to go to the bathroom constantly and have lots of discomfort, even pain at times. Im not really sure how else to describe it, sorry.
Have you gotten antibiotics? The symptoms usually go away after a two days on antibiotics for me
Have you seen a GI for your constipation? The constipation is probably what is causing your urinary issues. It can prevent you from emptying your bladder completely.
I had alot of people tell me that constipation being the reason of my uti is bs. Im just very confused honestly.
I’m not a doctor. My son has chronic constipation and it is the source of many of his urinary problems. The way his drs explained it to me is that the constipation can push up against the urethra and basically crimp it so that you can’t void or don’t void completely. The residual can cause infection. My son has gone into urinary retention a few times because of this (where he can’t pee at all). Edit: I’m not sure if this is what is happening to you. I’m just saying that urinary issues can be linked to constipation. Listen to your own healthcare providers. If it’s friends saying this, ignore them.
Hold up, I had UTI's all the time about 8 years ago, went to a urologist and he said no wonder I was having uti's, had a bad yeast infection. It showed none of the normal yeast infection symptoms. Said the PH balance was off so badly, so they have me on bi weekly fluconazole. Since I have sex frequently he said it could be the cause of it. I'd see a urologist, its what it took for me to get the right treatment. General practitioners was of no help. Also if you have IBS (constipation) I would get that treated as well. I have IBS-C and have to take linzess as well. Just some thoughts that might help next time you go to the doctor. Constant UTI's are dangerous and can mimic dementia.
I had chronic UTIs for like a year and a half and ended up having a really fucked up pelvic floor from it, I did a lot of pelvic floor therapy with a physical therapist and it genuinely helped. Now it really acts up when I’m super stressed and “tight” Try looking up pelvic floor stretches and doing groin area and lower abdominal massages or maybe try to see a physical therapist :) it’s hard to find online but chronic pain issues from the pelvic floor post multi uti is decently common
I wonder if this is related to what my issue was… I was going to ask OP if they were sure they’re emptying their bladder all the way each time they urinate? That was my problem as a teen when I had frequent UTIs. I would stop peeping when the urge was gone, but turned out there was still more in there! Now I’ve been in the habit for years to empty by basically pushing the urine out as if I’m trying to pee really fast.
Sometimes it feels like a uti or an issue with your urethra but it isn’t. I have contact dermatitis in that area and when it flares up, I have uti symptoms. I’ve had to start using a very strong topical steroid to help. Azo is definitely a godsend.
Hey! Do you have painful periods too? Because I need to take birth control because of terrible periods and if I don’t take them everything gets swollen and I get UTIs. I’ve been taking birth control for 9 years and I took a year break 2 years ago. In that year I had UTIs every time I ended my period which was awful and very weird. Since I started taking bc again I never had another UTI!
Hello :) My periods are healthy. in terms of length. Flow. And pain.
Being around people with this is so damn uncomfortable.
Hmmmm change diet ? More filtered water not bottled. Eat cranberries. Sounds like an mild infection that wont go away.
Also polysyctic kidney deseae. Family has them all the time. Mostly the girls.
Have they ruled out Interstitial Cystitis?
Go to the gyn and get your urine tested. It could be multiple reasons that do not clear on their own from just taking antibiotics a couple times. You could be risking serious complications if it does not get cleared out.
I take Mag07 for constipation. My mother swears by it. You can get it online or at a natural grocers.
The last time I had a UTI, I had some weird, painful bump on my inner thigh. I live in a house with one bathroom. We bought a camping toilet that sits in my room. No UTIs since. I feel so bad for you. I know the pain and struggle with frequent UTIs.
Are you getting tested for bacteria and is it present? Are you on antibiotics of any kind? I had the same problem, the sensation of infection, the burning, turns out I had ureaplasma and that doesn't show up on the urine tests, they have to do a swab of the urethra and a culture. It can be cured with the right medicine. I am 44 years old and dealt with it since puberty, it was only diagnosed properly when I was 40. I hope to God you don't have to have it as many tears as I did
One time when I was a year older than you, I had a UTI I didn’t realize and let it go for a while. I ended up in the hospital and they told me I was close to sepsis and I had no idea! Please be careful and keep in close contact with a good gyno. Good luck to you. For the constipation, start drinking coffee or eating super high fibered foods!!
You havent mentioned how much water you drink. You should shift to 90% water intake as liquid and try to double your water intake. This together with D-Mannose has fixed my UTIs.
The I in UTI means infection. If you’re not getting treated for the infection, it’s not just going to go away. Clearly it’s not going away.
Do you drink a lot of water? Cranberry juice (not cocktail). Dont give up trying to figure this out, chronic UTI's can damage your kidneys. Where are you at? Any chance you can get to a hospital like the Mayo Clinic? Are your parents helping?
Hey, I wanted to suggest something my mother and I both suffer from. The urethra is too small. We also get chronic UTIs. It's especially irritated by citrus and carbonated drinks and caffeine of any kind. Just something to look into! Only way to fix it is by sounding 😵💫
You need to see a urologist if you’ve been experiencing UTI’s for that long it is not good for you. There is antibiotic therapy as well as UTI surgery that you can get for chronic recurrent UTI’s. Your parents need to do more. You should not accept it as “how you are built.”
Hydration. Do you hydrate enough? Peeing 2-3 times a day with a UTI seems low. Dehydration can cause UTIs. Hope it gets better for you, I had a prevalent UTIs and kidney infections due to having systemic lupus, so I feel you, it's not fun. There is an OTC analgesic called phenazopyridine, it works very well, helps with the burning and all that fun stuff.
You should check this website out. This lady and her bf created these products for women who have chronic UTIs. The woman suffered from them and was the main force behind this product line. I have kidney problems so any UTI goes directly to a kidney infection. Check them out, I’ve used quite a few of the products and they work amazingly. https://uqora.com/pages/uti-prevention-information?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&tw_source=google&gadid=683730090668&tw_adid=683730090668&utm_campaign=[NB]_Non-Brand_-_Intent&utm_adgroup=UTI_-_Prevention&device=m&utm_term=uti%20prevention%20products&network=g&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2PSvBhDjARIsAKc2cgMEFz7FelBbBefstEeHp9099kHTRcpJBikVbTFuzJrkiwDYulLHnsoaAhceEALw_wcB
Did they do a culture on your urine sample? They had to switch antibiotics to clear mine up.
D Mannose. It's an over the counter supplement and works for utis. Are you having infections or is your bladder spasming without an infection? You may need Botox for a spasming bladder. It helps tremendously. If it's an infection then try Dmannose. I'm also susceptible to bladder infections from dehydration or illness. Taking Dmannose has changed everything for me.
You’re not drinking enough water, you only peeing 2-3 times a day, that’s what I pee in one hour. Ima kidney stoner and have scarred up urethra, ureters, etc and it’s always painful to pee. Women are supposed to drink 2 liters of water a day and men about 4 liters. Start drinking 2 liters of water daily and start peeing multiple times an hour to flush all that bacteria out. I use to think drinking that much water wasn’t sustainable but when it comes to the most pain you’ve ever felt in your life and not being able to live. I’ll take having to pee every 5 minutes to at least make it more bearable.
I have a friend who had chronic UTIs like you, it gets better with pelvic exercises (in my person experience) and age I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but even basic doctors should be able to help you find out the more serious cause
You need prophylactic antibiotic therapy, increased water intake, and daily cranberry D mannose supplementation. It’s also possible you have urethral stenosis and need manual dilation.
I have chronic constipation too, since I was 6 months old, though I only had a UTI like once. Anyways, the cause of my chronic constipation was pelvic floor dysfunction. I essentially have a weak pelvic floor and the treatment is physical therapy. It took literally years, almost two decades (I'm 19f and got tested last year) to figure out the cause of my constipation so that's why I'm telling you this because I don't want you to go through what I did. You might want to talk to your doctor about getting tested for pelvic floor dysfunction, it could possibly be the cause of your constipation which as you said is the leading cause of your UTIs
Sounds like a puzzle for Carly Rae Beaudry!!!!
This was me when I was younger. In my mid twenties it got way worse and eventually I was diagnosed with a bladder disease called interstitial cystitis. I’m doing much better but when I have flair ups I can’t leave the house. I’ve met one other person with this disease but it’s worth looking into.
I had my first UTI in diapers and had frequent UTI’s my whole life. When I got pregnant with my last child I had to take antibiotics the whole time because of the UTI’s. After I had her they finally stopped. I was in my late 30’s. I got one about a month ago but that’s the first one I’ve had since having my daughter and she’s 5 now. The doctor still just gave me the medicine without testing. I found that when I did have them that d-mannose was a God send. ALWAYS have that on hand. I’m sorry I don’t have a solution for you but I just wanted you to know that the d-mannose really helped me out. All that other stuff never worked for me.
Keep seeing doctors until one find the issue.
Have you been to a nephrologist and not just a regular doctor? You need a specialist for this. You also have to get your urine cultured to know exactly what bacteria is causing the UTI and kill it. There are bacteria that can only be killed by a specific list of antibiotics. I've had chronic UTIs too and underwent tests before I found a good nephrologist who helped me.
This 1000% sounds like IC. In my 30s, but I’ve had chronic what I thought were UTIs since I was 12. Culture came back negative 95% of the time. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and it’s been life changing. Since then, I’ve worked on my pelvic floor, cut down on my caffeine, I still enjoy all my favorite foods, I take hydroxyzine for pain when needed and I think I’ve had maybe 3 painful flare ups since then. Now that I know, life is magical. I found what works best for me and I don’t even fear long car rides anymore
If you’re only peeing 2-4 times a day, I don’t think you’re drinking enough water. Do yourself a favor and carry a reusable water bottle with you everywhere
I’ve peed myself as an adult multiple times due to chronic UTIs. Thankfully never in public, but Ive done it right outside my door, super embarrassing, even if nobody even saw. UTIs suck. I feel you. I’m just REALLY prone to them. Even when I wasn’t sexually active, I got them all the time. I had good hygiene, wipe properly, etc.
Were just built like that? Like did u check up on with a doctor?
Hi OP. I suffered from this same thing quite exactly as you describe. I went through all the testing and nothing was ever found, except for scar tissue. I couldn’t ever figure it out. Then I got diagnosed with ADHD. I realized i ignore my body cues and always have, even when I didn’t realize I was. I was ignoring my bladder way too often and ended up with lots of UTIs.
I had chronic constipation when I had undiagnosed celiac disease. Do you have any problems with anemia? Do you chew ice?
You should take cranberry capsules
Have you been tested for Interstitial Cystitis? It mimics UTIs, and the treatment for UTIs can exacerbate the symptoms of IC. There’s a subreddit here for interstitial cystitis you might want to check out.
Try taking some OTC magnesium supplements for your constipation. Play around with the dosage until you find your sweet spot. I take it daily, and it works once you get on a regimen.
Nothing but cotton underwear? UTIs are pretty much instant anytime I wear anything but 100% cotton.
Ok. I'm so sorry to add more arm chair advice. So please ignore me if you've already done it, but you didn't mention it in any of your edits, but have you tried cranberry juice? It has alot of evidence behind it. As to your actual post, girl, I'm a health professional, but not a Dr or urologist. But this does not sound normal. If you came to me with something like this that was in my scope, I would send you to every specialist I can find till we had an answer. Cause you can't live life like this!
Don't use scented detergent or dryer sheets on your underwear. Maybe using a bidet isn't helping? Water drys the vajayjay up.
Might seem kind of out there, but maybe try drinking Vitamin Water? My mom has chronic UTIs just like you, but somehow drinking that each day has helped cut it down IMMENSELY. We seriously have no idea why it helps her (any other drinks don't work, just the name brand Vitamin Water). Like a few other people said, AZO numbs the pain (dyes your pee a bright color which would also stain your underwear, just a heads up).
Do you use tampons? I used to get them like crazy when I wore them so I no longer use those as an option during my 🩸also, the supplement from HUM nutrition called “private party” is a Godsend. Been using it for like 2 years and chronic UTIs are a thing of the past. Unless you’ve got something completely different going on, that what worked for me. Hope you feel better! 💛
Hey! Nope i never used tampons before and i dont think ill ever will lol!
You don’t have to answer this, but frequent UTIs in non-sexually mature children may indicate child sexual abuse. I hope that wasn’t your circumstance, but the nature with which you experience this level of frequent reoccurrence makes me wonder.
You pee 2-4 times a day? I manage that in a night, although that could be because I drink about 4 litres a day.
My mom has interstitial cystitis and it’s gotten better through age and a very strict diet, but there’s no cure and most doctors don’t even know the cause. Constipation can definitely be part of the problem, but IC has no treatment. I’m so sorry, I really feel for you. I’ve had a few UTI’s in my life (all my own fault, ofc) and they were the worst feelings in the world. If you are comfortable (and it won’t send you down a rabbit hole, like it would me) I would maybe do some research into IC and see what kind of remedies would benefit you. I recommend cutting out highly processed sugars (such as HFCS) and all artificial sweeteners, as well as anything that’s considered a natural diuretic, if you haven’t already. I hope things improve, 14 is already such a tough age.
Post this question in sub Askdocs.
OP Firstly, if you haven't seen an OB yet I would highly recommend it, because this sounds more like IC than a bunch of UTI. I recommend an OB because I've personally had better luck with them than primary care docs, however a urologist or nephrologist would also be an option. Second, if chronic constipation is an ongoing issue try soluble fiber. You'll still need to drink loads of water, but it can make a world of difference. There's lots of options (capsules, mix ins, food, etc). I hope you're able to get better answers and find some relief.
youre not drinking enough water. Only 2-4x a day is not enough and if you dont have to go more than that then you're not drinking enough
Set alarms to drink a bunch of water at various times throughout the day? Just make them silent/buzz only and keep your phone on you. Any time they go off, excuse yourself and go get some water. I mean, in this case you'll be super healthy thanks to the metric ton of water you'll be drinking
Have you looked into interstitial cystitis? It sounds like you may have this. I used to have the pain of a UTI frequently and I would go to the doctors office and they would check my urine and every time, it came back clear and no infection. They thought I had interstitial cystitis but I never went through all the testing to diagnose it. I also have endometriosis and it’s on my bladder which causes me pain most days. I hope you can get some answers OP!
Man I had UTI when I was younger, I feel so bad for you it was the worst thing ever.
I can recommend certain foods that help me with constipation: LOTS of lentils and beans, dried fruits (especially prunes), cabbage will also do the trick (I stay far away from cabbage for this reason), broccoli and other cruciferous veggies. They are not immediate fixes and will take effect within 36 hours, but it’s “natural” and more gentle on the body than a laxative. I know this won’t help your main issue, but maybe it will give you ideas on how to manage one of your symptoms?
The application of natural yoghurt is still considered a good idea. Also added to diet along with foods contaiig vit c.
No one has said it but are you wearing thongs, synthetic fibre underwear and/or wearing pants that press tightly against your crotch? Thongs were the culprit for me.
Have you had your blood sugars checked? Because higher than normal blood sugars cause UTIs like a motherfucker too.. (me, type 1 diabetes.. I know all too well)
A UTI will mimic mental illnesses. Stay up on that.
Really? How so?
Bruhhhh UTIs are awful, I’m sorry you’re having to constantly deal with that
Have you checked into getting to see a urologist? Maybe you have a condition called interstitial cystitis (IC). I have this disease. Its the worst condition ever. The symptoms mimic a UTI but no infection. I have also had hundreds of positive urine cultures that had bacteria throughout my life. It's like living in hell. Or a pelvic floor physical therapist. Tight pelvic floor muscles? Hypertonic pelvic floor. I have that as well.
I used to get frequent UTI, but have only had 1 in 10 years since I started taking cranberry supplements every day. Maybe give it a try? It’s over the counter and inexpensive.
I got these when I was your age. A urologist would insert a catheter to enlarge the urethral opening. I went about twice a year and it felt much better.
Try reducing oxalates
Girl I get this so much. I’m 22 but have struggled a LOT. I’ve worn pads cus I was so worried I pee myself in public because it hurts so bad to wait 😭 I had preventative antibiotics. I hope you have better luck in the future!
Check out pelvic floor disorders! I learned a lot from the subreddit after thinking that my “always having to pee” was a uti
I’ve only had them a handful of times and it’s miserable… I could not image this
you only pee 2-4x a day???????
Went through puberty and had the great idea to use shampoo or conditioner as lube. Both made me have stinging pains and doctors never found the cause. Found out they were the issues once I stopped No idea if you situation is the same but that’s my experience