18 Oct New Chronic UTI Worksheet
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Chronic UTI Worksheet is a new, easy to use tool developed for people navigating the challenges of chronic UTI. By providing a structured way to document symptoms, track pain and monitor treatment, the worksheet enhances communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Symptoms, signs and information to share with your doctor
Chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, leaving sufferers without proper care for months and often years. The newly developed Chronic UTI Worksheet is a unique tool designed to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers. This worksheet helps people recognise, track and communicate the complex symptoms of chronic UTI, which are frequently missed, overlooked or wrongly attributed.
Understanding chronic UTI: why this worksheet can help
Unlike acute UTIs, chronic infections often evade detection by routine tests—dipsticks and the ‘gold standard’ midstream urine cultures. In chronic cases, bacteria can embed in the bladder wall, making the infection harder to diagnose. This worksheet emphasises that symptoms are crucial in diagnosing chronic UTI.
A patient-centric approach to healthcare
The Chronic UTI Worksheet aims to help patients take an active role in their healthcare by recognising, understanding and methodically tracking their symptoms. Designed for use both at home and in the doctor’s office, the worksheet prompts people to track symptoms such as pain, voiding issues, incontinence, urgency and frequency. A checklist of validated chronic UTI symptoms and signs, along with a section to record UTI history, helps patients document their experiences, offering valuable information for their doctor when routine tests fail to pick up the infection despite experiencing ongoing symptoms.
Worksheet includes a scientifically validated tool designed to recognise chronic UTI symptoms
The Chronic UTI Worksheet includes a scientifically validated tool recognising sets of symptoms found in chronic UTI, developed by the late Professor James Malone-Lee.
The symptom question set has been applied to thousands of chronic UTI patients and is used by specialists to assist in formulating an initial diagnosis, and then at subsequent appointments to monitor treatment. Patients are encouraged to complete this symptom question set prior to or at their first appointment, and during follow-up visits to track their treatment progress.
Click here to download the Chronic UTI Worksheet in PDF
Nada’s experience using the Chronic UTI Worksheet
Nada says the Chronic UTI Worksheet has given her confidence and clarity when speaking to her doctor.
After 10 rounds of antibiotics in just 12 months (following years of acute UTIs), with fluctuating ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ test results and ongoing symptoms of burning and difficulty urinating, Nada felt trapped in a cycle of uncertainty.
UTIs had been an issue for Nada for years. But since her hysterectomy, they were more frequent and relentless. Despite numerous investigations—urinalysis, scans and bloodwork—no clear diagnosis had been given to Nada. It had become obvious that ongoing rounds of short course antibiotics were not fully clearing her symptoms.
With her GP suggesting she could have ‘interstitial cystitis’—a controversial diagnosis given to someone with ongoing bladder symptoms when no other cause can be found—Nada felt the diagnosis did not give her definitive answers and she still wanted to know why she continued to suffer. Her search for answers led her to Chronic UTI Australia where she was introduced to the Chronic UTI Australia Worksheet. After working through the document, Nada now feels more confident in organising her thoughts when preparing for an appointment with her doctor and being able to advocate for better treatment.
With the realisation that she wasn’t alone, and that her symptoms could in fact be suggestive of a chronic infection, which she learned is widely unrecognised in Australia, Nada now feels more confident she will get the correct diagnosis and, most importantly, appropriate treatment.
After developing a much better understanding of chronic UTI and common problems people experience with UTI diagnosis and treatment, she says the worksheet has helped her to tie the information together and apply it to her own situation. “The worksheet has given me confidence and clarity and will make it easier to communicate with my doctor,” she said.
Nada recommends the tool to others struggling with recurrent UTIs, and those suffering with ongoing UTI symptoms and ‘negative’ UTI tests, hoping it will guide them, as it did her, toward getting their life back.
Click here to download the Chronic UTI Worksheet in PDF
Key features of the checklist
- Symptom recognition: The worksheet encourages people to list specific symptoms like pelvic pain, kidney pain, urinary frequency and urgency, all of which may indicate a chronic infection.
- Pain assessment: A pain rating scale helps people convey the severity of their discomfort, which is crucial in conditions where pain can severely impact daily life.
- UTI signs and signals: Recognising important ‘markers’ in standard UTI tests that have been overlooked can be indicative of a chronic UTI and people are prompted to include these in the worksheet.
- UTI history: A section to document historical UTIs.
- Tracking treatment: The worksheet allows people to monitor which treatments alleviate or worsen their symptoms, providing valuable feedback for ongoing care.
- Doctor resources: The final section includes resources and articles that patients can share with their doctors, ensuring that healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date information and research on chronic UTI diagnosis and treatment.
A vital new tool for patients and doctors managing chronic UTI
This first-of-its-kind tool assists people to be proactive in their health journey, ensuring they are heard and understood when facing this often-invisible condition.
Whether used independently or in conjunction with a health professional, the Chronic UTI Worksheet is a positive step forward in diagnosing and managing chronic UTI, paving the way for a more faster and accurate diagnosis, effective treatment and appropriate and respectful patient care. You can download the PDF worksheet, print and complete by hand, or you can type into the text fields, save the PDF and email or print at home.
Click here to download the Chronic UTI Worksheet in PDF
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Disclaimer: Stories or case studies in relation to personal experiences with chronic urinary tract infection, and links to other websites, are included for convenience and information only and do not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Chronic UTI Australia of materials in those stories or on those linked websites, or any associated entity, product or service. We have not screened, nor conducted background checks or other investigations in relation to those third parties or the information they supply for inclusion on this website. You should seek assistance from a health care professional when interpreting the materials available on this website and applying them to your individual circumstances. If you have any concerns about your health, consult your general practitioner. This blog is subject to the Chronic UTI Australia website’s Terms of Use.
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