UTI Or Not?

Updated on May 29, 2010
C.S. asks from Salisbury, NC
15 answers

I've been having pressure and dull pain in my lower left abdomen/pelvic area. I went to my GYN and did a urine test which showed blood. The Dr. said it sounded like a UTI, but it was odd that I didn't have burning while urinating. He sent the urine for culture and gave me antibiotics and said call back if not better in a few days.

My question is, has anyone ever had a UTI without burning with urination? If it doesn't get better with the antibiotics, what could it be?

*Update* the pain is in the front, however, sometimes it will radiate to the back. My bladder does seem "full" more often, but when I go, not a lot comes out.

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So What Happened?

So I took a round of antibiotics and the pressure/pain is still there. I called my OB and he scheduled an ultrasound for Friday. What else could it be?

More Answers

L.B.

answers from New York on

Yes, you can have a UTI without burning with urination. I have had many UTIs without burning. Also, if you have symptoms of a UTI and your urine comes back normal, the urine culture could be inaccurate. UTI is determined by the total amount of bacteria present in your urine, not the presence of bacteria and if you drank a lot of fluids prior to providing your urine sample it could dilute your urine affecting the test results.

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M.F.

answers from Phoenix on

I've had 2 with no pain or burning whatsoever. Actually didn't know anything was wrong the first time...until I wet my pants at the ATM.

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S.B.

answers from Nashville on

I have reoccuring UTI'S and never have had burning, just pressure when urinating. The urge to urinate more often with little coming out definately shoulds like a UTI. Hope you feel better soon!

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

obviously your doctor has never had a UTI!!!! you dont have to have burning when you urinate.... infact i NEVER have and i get them ALOT so take the macrobid or whatever they gave you and FINISH it and you should be better!

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S.S.

answers from Nashville on

I have, unfortunately, had a LOT of u.t.i.'s in my life. Feeling like you need to urinate, but then not much coming out is a classic sign. Sometimes I have this sensation without burning. Did he give you any meds for pain relief? When will you know the results of the culture?

You should notice a difference within a few doses of the antibiotic if it is a u.t.i..

Hang in there. No fun at all.

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J.S.

answers from New York on

do you have to pee all the time and when you do- it won't come out but a little drops?? that's a def sign of UTI- & the burning when u pee. Is the pain the the back or front?

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like a UTI. You don't have to have burning with it.

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J.C.

answers from Raleigh on

This happened to me once before. I started peeing blood, and it scared me... a lot! There was pain in the front, bladder area seemed full, almost 'crampy'. It wasn't a UTI, but a bladder infection. Still, the antibiotics cleared it up just the same. I hope yours clears up very soon. I haven't had any issues since then, and it was years ago.

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L.Y.

answers from Wausau on

I have not but my 6 year old has twice! She just kept complaining about a tummy ache. I took her in back in April and did a urine test and she had elevated white cells. She was on bactrim for 10 days. She started kinda having the same issue 2 weeks ago so I ended up taking her back in. Tummy aches...felt like throwing up once. White cells in the urine again. We finished amoxil yesterday and i'm taking her back in for another culture just to be sure it's gone. I kept asking her if it hurt to go potty or was hot but she said no. This last time she said she thought she had to go even though she had just urinated.

She had two UTI's when she was 4 and again there was no burning back then. With the first one at 4 she had a ton of pain on a saturday am. I took her temp and it was 100. By the time DH got her to urgent care it was 103 and they weren't releasing her till it came down. Hope the antibiotics clear it up for you.
Good luck.

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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

No, I haven't.

Trust your instincts and be your own best health advocate. If you think there's something else going on, see another doctor.

I had to do this almost 2 years ago when I found a small swollen lymph node on my collarbone after nursing my daughter one night. I looked-up the lymphatic system, found out what kind of lymph nodes they were, called my OB/GYN the next day (I was 7 weeks postpartum). He was "less than excited" about it and wanted me to come back in a week to see if it had changed. The following day, I went to my Family Practitioner because my instincts told me something else was going on. He wasn't alarmed, ordered an ultrasound and bloodwork (both of which were completely normal) and a biopsy that took 3 pathologists to determine what was going on. In my case, it was serious. I'm glad I trusted my instincts and listened to the little voice inside me.

I don't know what it might be in your case - perhaps a kidney infection or kidney stones. But, if your instincts tell you not to wait a week, don't be afraid to call another doctor or to go to the ER, Urgent Care center, etc.

Good luck.

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Not me. Mine always come with the severe pain and blood. Did they do a genral pelvic examd and/or ultrasound to ensure the the blood was coming from your urethra instead of your vagina?

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C.R.

answers from Knoxville on

I have had an UTI's without and with burning. It could also be a kidney infection. God Bless and hope you feel better soon!

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B.M.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I get UTI's all the time (before and now during pregnancy) and I rarely have burning. Maybe I just don't notice it because it's not that bad, but the biggest sympotom for me is having the run to the bathroom for like 3 drops, and way to often! Thats how I notice it. I have a doctors appointment tommarow and I'll have them test me for a UTI because I think I've got one again, but this time I have noticed a little burning, who knows!

Just my 2 cents!
-B.

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J.M.

answers from Charleston on

Interstitial cystitis is a long-term (chronic) inflammation of the bladder wall.

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J.W.

answers from Lexington on

You could have a kidney stone. I would have my doctor check for that also if he says you don't show any signs of a UTI when your test results come back. I went through several rounds of antibiotics and so called UTIs when I got really sick and all my vital signs were diminishing due to a kidney stone blocking my kidney and causing my body to go septic. I almost died from a small kidney stone. ( Only 50% of people live through a septic infection) My pain was low and on my right side and in one spot. I couldn't sleep and get comfortable at night because of the pain. I also had the full bladder feeling with only a small amount of urine. Please have a urologist check you for a stone because believe me you do not want to go septic with one. I had to quit my job after my struggle due to complications with my knees (torn meniscus) due to the infection going all over my body.

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