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General health

Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone?

8 replies

Rowlers · 31/10/2005 18:54

My mother has been suffering for about 10 weeks now.
She is 63, went through menopause at 54 / 55, is generally healthy - i.e. doesn't drink or smoke, eats relatively healthily and exercises.
She has a feeling of needing to wee all the time. She doesn't actually need to wee, just has a discomfort which she finds difficult to describe.
She also has lower back pain which she describes close to aching period pain.
She saw her GP who tested urine. Found blood in her urine. It was tested for infection, none found.
She had another sample tested for cancer cells, none found.
A later sample of urine found no more blood cells.
She has had no blood tests.
The symptoms went away last week for 3 days but they are back again now.
She has an appointment to see a urologist a week tomorrow but has been and still is sick with worry and this is not helping!
I know it's vague, but does anyone have any ideas?
I have searched on the net for her symptoms and found it not much help.
TIA

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CreepyJess · 31/10/2005 18:58

Not all forms of cystitis are caused by bacteria Rowlers.. so it could just be cystitis caused by inflammation. Has she changed to any different wash products lately? (soap/washing powder etc) as these can trigger non-bacterial cystitis. Inflammation can cause bleeding.

CJ x

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Rowlers · 31/10/2005 19:03

Thanks CJ.
Thing is, she does not have the burning sensation usually associated with cystitis.
I'm not sure her symptoms match.
But if that were the case, how does one treat it if not with antibiotics?

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jalopy · 31/10/2005 19:07

Do you think she might have pelvic floor problems? It's not uncommon at this age to develop a vaginal prolapse. This can cause undue pressure on the bladder and can give rise to this sensation. Only a guess though.

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Pumpnik72 · 31/10/2005 19:07

Has her GP done an internal exam? It could be a prolapse or irritation around the urethra (where you pee from) which is pretty common after the menopause. If the urologist doesn't come up with an explanation a gynaecologist might help.

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CreepyJess · 31/10/2005 19:20

I used to suffer from cystitis a lot (possibly in the says when I used to have lot of sex .. not that I suggesting this is the case with you mother.. .. and not that she shouldn't be of course... .. eeek .. where's that spade!).. and it would come in different forms.. sometimes I didn't get the burning.. just the pain. The ache in her back could be associated with her kidneys as bladder infections often go to the kidneys if they are allowed to persist.

Not an expert by any means.. but have suffered 'with me waterworks' a lot over the years on and off.. Hope she is ok. I know it's worrying.. but it could still be an infection that can be treated with antibiotics. Trouble with wee samples is that it depends how dilute they are which is dependant on how much the person has had to drink in the hours before the test.. so sometimes bacteria/blood might show up.. sometimes not.

If its not a bacterial infection it is sometimes just a case of trial and error to see what is triggering it off, re certain food, drink, wash products. Is she doing all the usual like drinking cranberry juice, lemon barley (squash), and loads of water? Has she tried any of those over-the-counter things like Cystopurin? (This treats the non-bacterial version quite effectively).

When I was pg with DD1 I had a water infection at 21 weeks and was peeing obviously bloody wee.. it scared me sensely.. esp. because infection can trigger prem labour.. and after that I just literally flooded my body with SO much water.. I trained myself to drink as much as I could tolerate day and night.. and I have never felt so healthy as I did when I was drinking all that water! It's obviously what our bodies need! (Am I never felt healthy when pg other than that era!)

Hope your mum is better soon

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kid · 31/10/2005 19:24

I've had a bladder infection in the past. I had blood in my urine which tested positive for an infection. I was given a short course of antibiotics which didn't work, so the infection went to my kidneys and I had high temperature plus lower back ache. I didn't have the burning sensation either btw.

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Eeek · 31/10/2005 19:27

I've had cysitis too where I've had lower back pain but no burning. I went to the doctor about the back problem thinking I'd pulled something and came out with antibiotics. Ask her where her back hurts. The sufferer of classic kidney pain will put both hands to their back, one either side above the love-handles. Sorry, can't think of a better way of describing it! As CJ says drink loads of water. The recommendation for a cystitis flare up is 1 pint per hour. Personally that much makes me feel ill but at least you know the ideal. If it turns out to be something else the water won't do any harm. Has she changed bath products lately? A new scented soap or bubble bath are often triggers.

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Rowlers · 31/10/2005 19:29

Thanks everyone.
Got to give DD her milk and put her to bed so will pop back and read these replies properly a bit later.
My mum has convinced herself she has cancer - it's good to see lots of other possible explanations!
Oh god, I can't believe I have to think that my mother might actually still have sex!!!

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