There's this weird tickling when I pee..

[Taysie]

I'm female, 36, not sexually active for the past several years.  A week ago, the same day I started my period, a very odd thing started happening: at the end of urination, I feel this very intense, strange tickling sort of sensation at or around the urethral opening.  There is typically also a bit of a pulsing spasm in the surrounding tissue.  It doesn't burn.. I should note that I've never had a UTI or a yeast infection, but everybody says burning = UTI, and this doesn't burn.  The same time this started, I experienced a marked increase in frequency of urges to pee.  There wouldn't be much, but I'd feel like I had to go almost constantly for the first day, then just every hour or so the second day, and it tapered off (the frequent urges to pee; the tickle was still present) from there until it finally stopped altogether just yesterday.  No more eye-watering tense tickle at the end of urination, no more urge to go every two hours, just as my period ended.  I had been thinking the two must be related (some new perk of getting older), except suddenly today it happened again: intense tickle/tingle at the end of urination, and most of the day I felt like if I didn't go pee Right Now, I was going to be in trouble.  If I just sit on the toilet a while and let urine drip out as it will, the odd tingly tickle happens every time there's a drip.  It's not painful, but it is rather annoying, and I'd like it to stop.

My friends automatically say UTI, and I should drink cranberry juice and take AZO, but with such a sudden onset, and no changes in my regular routine, I'm doubtful.  I don't make a habit of holding it.. I go when I feel the urge, unless I have to wait ten minutes for a free bathroom stall at work (today being an exception: I knew I didn't really need to pee every 20 minutes, and since I was at work, I tried to limit my bathroom breaks.  I still took six in a nine-hour shift, though).  I drink between 1.5 and 2.5 liters of water a day, plus the odd can of soda, glass of apple juice, or crystal light.  Every now and then a glass of milk.  My urine is typically a pale to medium yellow, doesn't have any odd smell or cloudiness.  I had a 10-day course of 875mg Augmentin a month ago for a serious sinus infection, coupled with a steroid pack and norco for pain.  Beyond all that, I don't know what else might be relevant.

If anybody knows the solution, that would be smashing.

[Seasiren770]

I've had this actually right now.  It started with my period so I wasn't really worried but has kept on afterwards. It got better for a few days and then started again. Then the back pain on either side of my lower back started. And then the fever and chills. I looked up the symptoms of UTI and bladder infection and I had almost all of them. Please be careful. You didn't do Anything wrong diet wise or physically people just get them sometimes. You seem like you think because you healthy and active you can't actually get one but you can. They said sometimes there's no pain or tickling/ tingling sensation. If you start getting flu like symptoms it could be the UTI. They said to be very specific about the symptoms though especially with male doctors. I just wanted to warn you. Be careful ok.

[MargoM_32]

Well I don't know I'm giving that issue right now I never had this till I start drinking cranberry juice maybe i need stop..?

[AnnieBrooke]

if you're having the issue now, you might check out descriptions of infections of the urinary tract (UTIs),  or the bladder or kidney, just to see if any of the descriptions look familiar.

[evewisewoman]

Hi Taysie,

Glad the issue has resolved itself. Eve

[Taysie]

Well, whatever the problem was, it seems to have gone away.  It's been three days now and it hasn't happened again.  I guess I'll keep an eye out in the future, see if maybe it happens again during my next period or anything, but for now it seems to have resolved itself.

As for the aspartame.. I have maybe one glass of crystal light a week, *maybe* two.  Even assuming that's what's in it, I'm doubtful it could cause much of a problem in such low doses. I'm six feet tall and robustly built, things don't affect me much.

But I'll make sure to let y'all know if it happens again.

[evewisewoman]

Hi there,
Have you been to see the doctor over this issue? If you haven't , I think
this is something worth considering. You say you drink crystal light.
Does crystal light have aspartame in it ? Aspartame is not good for you.
It's made some people really sick.  Aspartame has wooden alcohol as
one of its ingredients which is actually a poison. That 's something the
makers of aspartame would rather have the public not know. I found this
out by googling aspartame. Anyway, this sounds like something that
shouldn't be self diagnosed. If in doubt, see your doctor. That's what I do.
Better safe than sorry. Good luck to you. Eve