Well ain't I the badass?

[missdiane]

Yesterday the suspected UTI stuff started in again so I messaged my doctor. She had me pop by to pee in a cup. Side note - WHY can't they put like a funnel or something for women? I can't be the only one with piss poor (heh, see what I did there?) aim?

I'm one of those people that can tell when something is off but I also am one of those people that think I'm just going to be treated as a hypochondriac even though I'm usually right. Well, go me, I'm right again. I kind of hoped they'd find a little bacteria to prove a mild UTI or something since I had no clue what the alternative would be.

The words "significant inflammation" were sent back by the doc. Not only is she sending over antibiotics for cystitis but also a UTI analgesic that she warned me will turn my pee bright orange. I messaged back that I should eat some beets and see what kind of fun happens. She thanked me for the laugh since she needed that.

I had her send it to a local pharmacy that I haven't used yet since I'd like to move my regular meds out of RiteAid so I'm not quite sure when they'll be done. I'll have to pester them maybe in half an hour or so.

Guess it wasn't just me thinking I was being dramatic and having old lady bladder. Whoopsie.

Comments

[halfmoon_mollie1]

ooh, significant inflamation...obviously you were quite correct. Always listen to yourself!

[missdiane]

You know how it is when you get older and think that aches and pains are "normal." Whoops. The fact that this time around instead of just being chill, my doc was all OMG YOU NEED MEDS RIGHT NOW was eye opening.

[spiffikins]

WHY can't they put like a funnel or something for women

THEY DO!!!!
A wonderful nurse suggested to me one time when I made a groaning noise and pulled a face as she handed me the cup - the magic incantation is "can I please have a specimen hat?"

And they will give you a plastic doohickey that sits on the toilet seat - you pee into IT and then tip it and it has a little spout and pours easily into the cup.

SO EASY and I have never had anyone even give me a second look when I ask for one - just "oh sure, no problem" and they even often put it into a paper bag for me :D

[missdiane]

WHAAAAT!?! I don't think my doctor's office has those! I was making jokes and there wasn't any indication that there was a solution. Well hmph. If I have to do this again and they don't have those, I'm telling them that they need to get some.

[spiffikins]

SERIOUSLY life changing when it comes to producing a specimen!

And honestly - if my lab stops providing them on request, I will buy a pack of 10 on amazon for $20 and put them in the cabinet :D

[vysila]

Phew to catching that early - and to the doc taking you seriously.

[missdiane]

I just commented this to Spikes on LJ.

I get very nervous on any new meds. They gave me Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) which is making me sleepy and Phenazopyridine which BOY they weren't kidding that it turns your pee kool aid orange. I don't know if I'll continue with the latter since I don't want it masking symptoms of any worse infection.

But um...have you had some blood in your urine after you started the antibiotic? It's not a lot but I'm wondering whether it's clearing things out or whether it's not good. I'm feeling crappier than I did before I started things but at the same time, that could be common?

[vysila]

These are short term medications, correct? A week or two course? I'd take them all and not worry about the whole 'masking other symptoms'. I know I often still feel like crap for several days after starting antibiotics.

[missdiane]

The second one is specifically only prescribed for a couple of days of use due to the fact that it can mask symptoms of infection

[vysila]

Ah, then you should almost be done with it by now! And once that is out of your system then it will no longer be masking any symptoms.

[threecee]

Always good to have new problems checked out before you put them on the list of "just my body being old".

Not that I take my own advice. When I had to go to the hospital for the diverticular bleeding I waited three days because "I don't have a lot of pain so it is probably nothing". Only called the ambulance after I fainted twice. I was still apologizing when I was in the ER and the nurse said, "Yep, checking your EKG and BP every 15 minutes, putting you on oxygen, and having you sign this consent for blood transfusion is what we do with all the malingerers."