burning at end of stream

[mela414]

I've been having burning at the end of my stream. It also hurts a little but nothing like a full fledged infection. My last instillation was monday but I noticed that it started after my instillation on saturday. I don't have frequency but I'm feeling tender and a little swollen. could it be from the catheter? I'm also feeling slight pressure but only as the day goes on and my bladder fills. I haven't had an infection in a long time so I'm not thinking that it is. Also, the pain from an infection is so much worse! What can I do to get this to subside. OH.........I've also started on some low dose supplements but didn't notice them bothering me after I took them. hhhhhhhhm. the only other thing I am on is oral Nystatin but I had the pain on Monday before I even started both the meds or supplements yesterday.
This is crazy........

[green_the_fish]

I've had symptoms like that on and off since I first got IC. I kinda thought that they were a result of some kind of spasm, either urethral or related to the levator ani (pelvic floor) muscle.
I never figured it out, though. If I ever do, I'll let you know! Sorry I couldn't be more useful.

[mela414]

OK...the pain and pressure is feeling worse now...so I quickly did a urine test with those dip sticks I got at the ICN shop. One tests for nitrates and the other checks the ph. Well both were absolutely perfect! My urine was actually very pale and for the first time the ph was really close to 7.
So, I think something may have irritated my bladder and caused it to react. I may have to stop the supplements for a day or so and see what happens.
This is crazy.............I'm trying so hard to build up my immune system to get well......and keep hitting road blocks. ughhhhhhhhhh.
I hate to think that this is "as good as it gets :("

[ICNDonna]

It does sound like it could be an infection. The dip sticks aren't 100% --- it could be well worth it to have a culture done. If you're taking a lot of supplements, I think it's wise to stop all of them, then begin taking them one at a time to help identify the problem one/s.

Donna

[mela414]

I just had another thought!...........I gave myself a shot of B-12 tonight. The pain started about an hour and a half afterwards and has been getting progressively worse.
What was I thinking? I stopped taking b vitamins orally because they irritated and I seem to remember pain after my last b-12 shot too when I had my last cold 7 months ago. I have to start writing things down.......I'm forgetting too much lately.....but i think I might have even thought to myself not to take these injections again. It's too coincidental........
Thanks donna......I will see if it feels a little better tomorrow after drinking lots of water and trying to lfush it out.........if not..........then I guess I will have to get a culture.
OK..gotta rest now........it hurts :(

[poetgirl]

Hopefully you don't have an infection, but it's always a good idea to rule one out. That said, I sometimes get that burning you describe and it can happen if my urethra gets irritated somehow -- the instill might have had something to do with that in your case. I think you're also right that B-12 may have also irritated your bladder/urethra. I used to take a B-complex vitamin but noticed that it tended to cause more urgency/frequency.

Definitely drink enough water to help flush any irritants out of your system and for short-term relief, you may want to take AZO, Pyridium or Urised to calm down the irritation. Somehow my urethra got very irritated two days ago (OMG, the burning was horrible!!) and I ended up having to take Urised for a day or so until the inflammation/irritation settled down again.

Hope you feel better soon! :grouphug:

[Jessi3377]

I have burning at the end of my stream all the time. Almost every time that I urinate it burns at the end and I never have an infection. Also, pain and discomfort after urination. I'm not sure what helps but if you find out please let me know. hope you feel better soon!

[Cricketmk3]

I am suffering from burning at the end right now. I haven't felt that in a long time. I also felt it when I first started having symptoms of IC a few years ago. I was so disappointed that it returned after being symptom-free for so long. I had already made an appointment with my uro for a DMSO treatment this morning but last night, I found a bottle of Septra in my cabinet and decided to take it. I had no burning at all this morning and I'm going to cancel my appointment. I remember back when I first started having symptoms of IC a few years ago...I did the same thing and took a prescription of Septra that I had in the cabinet and was pain-free during the time that I took it. Has anyone else had an experience like this? (It wasn't a UTI because I had been tested for that many times at the beginning.)

[mela414]

Isn't Septra an antibiotic? So...do you think you had a low grade infection?
I woke this morning with less swelling but my pelvic area was still in pain. My urine stream seemed a little better though..I'm not sure yet as I was half asleep when I went and I feel worse form this damn virus today. It is now getting my entire body and I feel like a Mack truck ran me over.
I was considering calling the uro to have a script of antibiotics on hand (although I hate to take them and haven't in the longest time) and also to see if he could fax me a script for a urine culture. I can always have it done at a local lab as his office is a ittle bit of a ride and I'm not up to it. I can always have hubby drop it off.
I'll wait and see how the day goes on......but I think you are right about the b-12 injection. It seemd to get worse after it. I am laying off the other supplements today and see how it goes...........
I'll have to play it by ear.
I'm glad the septra gave you some relief. Are you going to do the entire course?

[mela414]

OK here's another thought I have. I stopped all supplements this morning to give myself a break and then add them in one at a time and in tiny doses. The only thing I did not stop was the probiotiocs (which seems to work fine) and the Nystatin which my dr just put me on this past monday. Whe I went to read the directions I realized that I had been taking a quarter of a teaspsoon when it actually said one eigth! So this morning I took the eigth of a tespoon and sure enough the burning started about an hour and half later.....same scenario as yesterday! it's burning all the way to my urethra! My bladder is tender too.
I guess I will lay off the other 2 doses today and then try with half of an eigth of a teaspoon tomorrow. The dr said that i could adjust the doses if they bother me but I know that I need to take something in addition to the probiotics right now because we are trying to address the Candida.
Oh boy...........this is hard work!
anyone else react to oral nsytatin?

[mela414]

I just got a call from the nurse practitioner. she prescribed Bactrim for me. she said that even if the dip test I did at home was neg for nitrites I could still have an infection. There are other things that pick up an infection that that particular strip does not test for.....like white cells.
So, in light of the holiday coming up and the syptoms of low pressure, burning and pain it could be the beginning of an infection that we would be better off treating now.
I guess I didn't want to take antibiotics but..........what can you do. I haven't taken antibiotics in well over a year....I'll make sure I keep up the probitiocs. This is not getting better on it's own. I probably got the infection from the catheter! damn!!!!
i'll keep you posted later.....

[poetgirl]

Too bad that it looks like you have another UTI -- hopefully the Bactrim will kick in soon and you'll be feeling better in no time so you can enjoy the holidays.

As someone who has had more UTIs than I care to remember, I know how frustrating it is to get them. I see you also have had urethral stenosis and a urethrotomy -- like me (which explains the recurrent UTIs...)

[Jessi3377]

I have been to my regular family doctor twice in the last couple of months. I was hurting pretty bad and wanted to know if I had an infection and just wanted some antibiotics for it. The first visit I had a bad infection and Septra is the only thing that works on my infections so, it cleared me up. The second visit the doctor said I might have a low grade infection but didn't think it was an infection. I was again perscribed septra and the pain went away while I was on it. The doctor gave me some extra pills so when I hurt I take them and I'm pain free but as soon as I stop taking them my pain comes back.

[Cricketmk3]

Jessica, That sounds exactly like my experience. I did not have UTIs (I have not had a UTI in years) but Septra helped my pain on two occasions. Don't know why.

[mela414]

The Bactrim did nothing for my infection. The pain became increasingly worse and I didnt' know what to do...especially since it was the holiday weekend and no one was around. I remember the nurse said if the pain gets worse to go to the ER.
anyway, I rumaged through some really old urine culture results and all showed positive for e. coli. They aslo showed that e coli was resistant to BActrim and about a dozen other antibiotics! It showed that it was susceptible to Nitrofurantoin but I didn't have any. Luckily my cousin had about 3-4 days worth of them in her medicine cabinet so I quickly ran over there to get them. I started to get relief by the second dose and am doing better each day with it. It finally didn't hurt to pee last night!
I just left a message at the drs office that I need a script for it so that I can continue the course. The reason why the nurse would not give it to me initially is because I had written in my medical history that I reacted to Macrobid with a rash once. hhhmmmmm..Maybe it was something in the Brand that I reacted to because I am doing fine with the generic.
I think that there must be some sort of low grade infection going on with me.....and it gets out of control every so often. Years ago, I remember being on Bactrim prophlyactically (every night). Maybe that's why I am resistant to it now. I am considerig trying D-Mannose which is supposed to help in keeping the e.coli form sticking to the bladder wall.

[ICNDonna]

I have read that antibiotics can have anti-inflammatory properties. That sounds reasonable since one of the purposes of taking them is to help feel better. When I have an infection, I have a culture done so I can be certain I am on the most effective antibiotic for thje specific "bug" --- I don't like to take them without a confirmed infection.

I'm glad you're feeling better, but I would never encourage anyone to take someone else's prescription medications. I have some medication allergies and that doubles the risk.

Donna

[mela414]

Donna,
do you think that it is possible to have a low grade infection that does not show up on the culture? When I looked back through some of the tests I found that alot were negative for growth but............I had been helped by antibiotics . In light of pain , red cells and clinicial observations the dr would put me on an antibiotic and in two days I would get relief but...again soem of the cultures showed no growth and some showed bacteria. I've been having problems with bacterial infections my entire life and I am wondering if sometimes they slip under the radar. I was also thinking that the presence of bacteria even in the smallest amounts are contributing to the inflamation in my bladder lining and therefore pain. I remember my dr telling me that antibiotics have an anti inflammatory effect to them but could it be that there is less inflammation simply because they are getting rid of the bacteria causing it.hhhhhhhhmmmm
somethng to think about.
another thought I had ........If bacteria mutate, change their morphology to avoid being destroyed by antibiotics then maybe they are not recognized upon observation of a technician intrepreting the culture.........myabe these nasty little cultures are there more ofthen than not...........hhhhhhhhhhmmmmm especially in people like me that have immune systems that are not up to par.

[emilyrose197377]

I always have burning . It might be an infection or it could be normal with Ic.