Question: 5 days ago I noticed that when I would urinate my bladder would feel full again about 5 minutes later. I would try to urinate again and only a small amount came out. A day or two later it went away, but I was getting a strange pressure feeling in my abdomen. Then the feeling to urinate frequently returned yesterday. I went to the doctor yesterday. She put me on Apo-Sulfatrim DS 800/160mg for 3 days. As of this evening I was through half of the medicine with no change in symptoms. I felt exhausted all day today as well which was a new symptom. I went back to the doctor 4 hours ago. I was put on Macrobid 100mg for 7 days. I took my first dose tonight. About an hour ago I noticed that I am running a slight fever (about 99F). I am concerned and not sure if I should go to the emergency room as I am frightened it is spreading to my kidneys. I am not sure how long I have had this infection now (at least 5 days) and so far treatment has not worked. I am a 40 year old, healthy female. Please advise on whether I should go to the emergency room this evening. Thank you.

Thank you very much for your answer. I find it difficult to know whether I need to see a doctor or not. I feel very stressed about a uti spreading to my kidney as I don't know how long that would normally happen, etc. I am used to my temperature normally being around 97F and could tell it is elevated. Is it common to have a low fever with uti? Also, how long can I expect it to take for my symptoms to go away while on treatment? I have been asked to stop using the Apo-sulfatrim and I have taken one dose of the macrobid. I appreciate all of your help. Thank you.

Thank you again for your help. I really appreciate it. I have a lot of anxiety around my health. I noticed on your profile that you have a lot of experience in women's health. I was just wondering if you could answer a question for me. I have had 2 healthy pregnancies. Two years after my second baby was born, I was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia. The surgeon told me it was not in need of repair. I was wondering if it is safe to have another pregnancy with the hernia? Thank you again.

Thank you so much for all of your help and advice. I would like to ask about my uti again. Today I still felt like my temperature is elevated, but my temperature has not gone past 99.1F. I have actually felt worse though today. I still felt exhausted like yesterday, but today I had nausea on and off and had no appetite. I have not eaten anything today except drank water. Even though my fever is still below 100F, I went to the doctor to say I felt worse. The results of my urine sample are not back from the lab yet. He took another sample and said it showed infection still there. I only had the 3 Apo-sulfatrims and 2 macrobid pills at that point so he said that either the medication has not fully started to work or it's not working at all. He said for me to just keep taking the macrobid and only go to e.r. if my fever goes 100F or more, get pain, sick stomach, etc. I am just very worried because I feel like I have the flu - elevated temp, body aches, nausea and no appetite. I am still very worried about the bacteria spreading to my kidney. I would like to know if you agree with my doctor's advice and wait until my results come in before I go back or should I be going to the e.r.? Can uti cause these flu like symptoms or is it sign of kidney infection? How long can I expect it to take to start to feel better if I am on the right medication? Thanks again for all of your help!

Hello, thank you so much again for all of your help. I was able to put my mind at ease while I have waited for my test results due to your kind words.

My urine test results came in today and I was quite surprised to find out that it said there was no significant growth of bacteria so the doctor said it must not be a UTI. I am so confused. I am still experiencing fatigue (since Friday), elevated temperature (since Friday night) and upset stomach/no appetite (since Saturday). Actually I had felt a little better Sunday and Monday and now today I felt awful again. Here are my questions:

The doctor told me to stop taking the macrobid. Do you agree? How long will it take to leave my system?

When I originally gave them my urine sample and they dipped the stick in it, the doctor said "you definitely have an infection", but when they sent it to the lab, nothing grew. Why would the doctor think I had an infection? I did have my period which may have tainted the sample.

The doctor is sending me for an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound to make sure everything is fine. She said that maybe my symptoms are related to my bowels and that maybe I have just had the flu. Could my urine sample have showed white blood cells if I am fighting a flu?

I am just concerned that if I have a UTI and it was not found through my sample, I could end up with kidney infection. Do I just continue to monitor my symptoms and seek help if I worsen? The doctor told me they will not do anything if I worsen since no bacteria was found and they will need to see ultrasound results. This makes me nervous.

Also, I have been having some burning the last 3 days in the part of the body where urine comes out (I forget the name of it!) and/or the vaginal area - it is hard to tell where it is coming from. Could that be a possible yeast infection due to antibiotic or UTI related? No pain/burning when I urinate, just when sitting and sometimes standing.

Thank you SO much again for all of your help. I suffer from anxiety especially around my health and I am so grateful to have my questions answered. Doctor's office visits tend to be short and I don't always think of all of my questions until I get home!

Thank you again for your help.
I 2 had cysts on my ovaries last year while I was taking Micronor which disappeared after a menstrual cycle. I do recall the doctor saying it felt like a lemon was on my ovary, but I guess it shrunk after my cycle. I was asymptomatic with them though.
I recently switched from using Micronor to Marvelon and had just finished my first pack of pills. The day my period started (this past Thursday) is when all of these symptoms started so I am not sure if that has anything to do with it.
Actually today I have been feeling a pressure in my abdomen and feel like it's hard to take in a deep breath. I felt like that last week when I went to the doctor and said it feels like a balloon blowing up in my abdomen.
Thank you so much for listening to me (I know I am very long winded!) Is it possible for a mass to cause nausea, etc with no pain? I am hoping that nothing serious is presenting itself. I am a mom of two kids and get very scared when I hear the word "mass!"
Is there anything I can do to deal with my symptoms in the meantime while I wait for results?
I will definitely share my results with you. Thank you SO much again.