What would YOU do IF...
#202382 - 08/04/05 10:47 AM
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You've been having UTI's on and off since March/April. Two or three of the UTI's have been accompanied by blood on the toilet paper (this one has had blood once on the TP but it seems to be gone at least for now...) You were up till 1am in PAIN and couldn't take a nap yesterday because it hurt too bad to lie down! The pressure is unbearable, nothing fits (and this ain't your IBS honey!), and you can't go to the bathroom enough!
You're supposed to go camping with hubby cause you got hailed on and had a fever last weekend. Which the naturopath says might have been the UTI NOT the lamictal!
You spoke to your naturopath who said "If you can't get in to see a doctor by Friday...I say go to the ER...that is what I would want my wife, sister, daughter to do..." (He's in the community and he is AWESOME!!! So I trust him a LOT!)
I got an appointment for Mon. am. That means we can't go camping OR I change the appointment OR go to the ER.
Hubby seems to want me to go to the ER. I do NOT want to go alone! Plus, my driving is NOT so safe right now. I'm sooo fatigued and i don't feel good/right right now. Something is def. wrong with my bod 
I have an Uncle with bladder cancer. Another died of kidney cancer. This stuff runs in my fam and I NEED to be careful here. I DOUBT it's cancer, G-d forbid! But if it IS the sooner we know the better...
But wht about hubby's camping? he needs it soooo badly right now! I kind f want the 8am appointment...BUT a)that means no camping b)the doc said to go to the ER if I can't be seen by Friday.
So, please PLEASE tell me what YOU would do...
I'm SO exhausted I can hardly think straight...
Thanks for your love/support/advice, Ruch
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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You need to see a Doctor Ruchie. Get this checked out as soon as possible, if you don't trust your driving andhave no one to take you, get an ambulance to take you. You don't have to call 911. You can call a local ambulance company and they can take you. Pleas eget this checked out, not because I think it is cancer, but because your body is telling you it needs help and anti-biotics.
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GO TO THE ER !! Don't fool around with this. It may only get worse. Then again, it may be something simple that can be easily taken care of instead of you suffering all weekend. If your husband wants to go camping that badly, let him sleep in the backyard.
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Carol
nós somos o que nós somos e o descanso é merda
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Hey Ruchie,
Sorry you're feeling so lousy right now If it were me, I'd probably go to the ER or a walk-in clinic if you guys have those where you are. I never wait with potential bladder infections because they just get worse so quickly! Plus, if they spread to the kidneys then you're looking at a longer course of antibiotics/more pain etc.
As for your hubby's camping, I know that you really want to go but I'm sure he'd understand if you weren't up to it. UTIs can be very uncomfortable and there's no point in you going camping if you feel like you can't get off the toilet.
Things that I have found have helped in the past is soaking in a warm bath (sometimes all day!) and taking lots of cranberry juice. Even cranberry pills if you can get them can really help.
I wouldn't worry about it being cancer...I'm pretty sure those cancers usually crop up only when you're much older...and I know I often get blood when I get a UTI
Do you get them a lot? Because if you're getting them a lot you may want to ask your doc about interstitial cystitis...it's a bladder condition that can cause frequent UTIs. Here's a good link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00497
Feel better soon!
Kelly
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I'd go to a Critical Care walk-in office or the ER. You'll feel so much better if this is taken care of. And I can't imagine waiting until Monday!
If you can't find someone in your communtity to drive you, you could always call a cab. (I would think that would be cheaper than an ambulence, unless your insurance covers the ambulence.)
Also, I'm SURE your husband will understand about camping!
I'm so sorry you're feeling bad! UTI's suck!! You have my sympathies!
Feel better soon,
Myra
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IBS-D
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You need to go to the ER today. An untreated UTI can go to your kidneys and kill you. I'm not trying to be overly dramatic here, but they can be fatal. You need to be on strong antibiotics asap. I got a UTI last year, was on antibiotics for 4 days and it only got worse. They changed me to a stronger one (cipro) and I was better that night. If you go to the ER today, and start a stronger antibiotic, you may be well enough to go camping. Please go see a doctor.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Quote:
hings that I have found have helped in the past is soaking in a warm bath (sometimes all day!)
Baths are actually really dangerous for UTIs, whether you have one at the moment or are prone to them and trying to avoid them. My SIL has kidney disease and is very prone to UTIs, and she cannot take baths.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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I agree, go to the ER. If you start RIGHT NOW on anti-biotics, you might even feel well enough to go camping this weekend!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I decided to go the ER but to FIRST call the docs' office to cancel Monday hoping when they saw how urgent my primary care (my naturopath) thought it was, they would get me in sooner. Sure enough, thank G-d! when I told the receptionist that my GP said get seen today or go to the ER, they got me in today at 2:45 thank G-d!!! NO ER, yahooo! I HATE ER's!!! I'm sooooo greatful! I WILL have to pay my therapist $25 I can't afford for missing my session...it was at 2pm...I'll be in the car on the way to the urologist then...but what can ya do?
Thanks soooo much for being here for me! I really can't think straight! I just feel soooooo sick It's good to know I can come here when I'm "out of it" and have loving friends and famliy help me take care of myself  (embarassing that I'm not able to think so clearly..b.t whatever)
My naturopath had me on cipro for 3 days. How long were you on it AP? Did it go away completely?
I guess I feel like the ER is for major emergencies? I did NOT know kidney infections were so serious  
As for hubby...he WILL be upset if we don't go camping. I feel like he lives with so much negative...me being untreated (well, I'm on meds but they aren't helping yet!) and my anxiety, etc. takes a toll on him. He deserves a vaca! AND he is leaving work early to take me to the doc...I feel SO guilty! YES I would do the same for him...but he's NOT me and I know this upsets him. He leaves his office for the Jewish Holidays and they give him words for it! NOT cool! He's there working on Christmas but they still comment...VERY upsetting...so now I"pay" for it with havign him grumpy cause I'm on lamictla and am sick and can't drive....grrr!
Ok, rant over...
Love you all *super hugs* Ruch
I'll keep you all posted.
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Are you at the ER yet? If not...why? Get movin missy!!  You just might feel all peachy keen to go with hubby camping.  Go..go....go...get ..get...get... Let us know when your back home. {{hugs}}
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www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
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Hey Amanda,
Really? I didn't know that. I don't take baths anymore now that I live in an apartment (just doesn't feel like "my" tub) but I used to always take them when I had a UTI. Good to know for the future (and sorry Ruchie for giving you bad info!)
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I'm glad you're going to see the doctor. I was on cipro for a few days, but I can't recall exactly how long. Maybe a week? When I was on the first med it was basically not treating the infection at all. It started with slightly pink urine, and 4 days into it I was only passing blood. I was in excrutiating pain and had to go every 10 minutes! The day I went back to the doc I had to catch a train out to my parents' and then drive 6 hours to my aunt's house for a family party. I had them call the Rx into my mom's pharmacy. I barely lasted through the 1-hr train ride and thought I'd never be able to last the 6-hr drive, but I took the meds as soon as I got off the train, and I felt better about an hour later, no joke. I only needed to stop the car a couple times. Anyway, I hope you feel better. I'm sorry you feel like you are burdening your husband, but I'm sure you'd do at least this much and more for him.
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Do NOT apologize!! No need 
AP, what is it about baths that are bad? I thought I read sitz baths were GREAT for UTI's!
I hope that's what/all it is...I hope my kidneys are in good order! I guess I'll know soon enough
Well, whatever it is...I'll ge through it...cause I have the BEST family in the world!!!
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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I still take baths regularly, as I've only ever had one UTI. But, if they ever become more frequent, I'll probably stop.
You need to do something to make your tub feel like *yours*! Put some candles around, scrub it really well, and tell yourself it's alllll yours, and relax! I think I'll definitely take a bath this weekend!
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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I agree
#202422 - 08/04/05 12:15 PM
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BL
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 3522
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Ruchie,
You have to take care of yourself! Stop worrying about your husband and think about your health. He can go camping some other time (or you may be well enough to go---if you'll go ahead and go to the doctor now.)
You can't let this linger. It could get even worse. Good luck and let us know what the doctor says.
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Oh yes go to the ER. You need antibiotics. I'm not crazy about them but they do have their necessary uses.
Please go to the ER TODAY! You cannot camp if you feel so awful!
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I just checked WebMD and they agree with you that a warm bath can help soothe the symptoms. That goes against everything I've ever heard, but I guess I gotta trust them! Am I crazy -- has anyone else ever heard that baths are bad for UTIs?
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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I feel guilty cause hubby wanted me to see a urologist weeks ago for this. But I was soooo anxious I couldn't eve make the call My anxiety/depression has been so bad lately...even calling the doctor, getting directions, etc. has been too much. I feel the sleightest stronger now, so I made the call. Hubby still doesn't understand what it means for me to be bipolar and deal with all of this stuff. And I do need him to understand...but I feel guilty asking it of him. He seems SO happy when we talk abtou camping...and I want to give him that! I'm TERRIFIED of bees and so when we see one I run and hide in the car...plus it is monsoon season and I'm scared of being hit by lighting (my mom was hit!) and YUCK I hate it! Anxiety is the PITTS!!! But I'm on meds and I'm learning about bipolar and posting and doing all I can...
And of COURSE I would do this for hubby and more. I took meds for him after all and got me to a therapist! I just hope I can make it for camping and NOT be anxious/afraid of everything!!! *hugs*
Yojur words meant a lot to me...that I would do this for him and more--G-d forbid I ever need to! But I love him SOOOO MUCH...
Please pray the Lamictal starts helping soon...or that we find something else that does...
Love you! Ruch
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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*HUGS*
#202432 - 08/04/05 12:32 PM
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melitami
Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 1213
Loc: Ewing, NJ, USA (IBS-D, Vegetarian)
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Good luck at the doc's and let us know how it goes.
I'm sorry hubby's not dealing well with you being sick. It's one of my biggest fears with Mac about my fibro and IBS, I'm sure it's even worse with BP. Maybe have your hubby read these two sites on caring for a family member with BP: web page
web page
Hope the doc is able to help with the UTI at least!
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Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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I just sent hubby an e-mail and a link. It is VERY hard for him. He loves me, no doubt. But on top of the bipolar, anxiety, UTI, fibo, IBS, food intolerances...I can't drive. Hubby can't drive unless I'm in the car. The man has been working overtime so we can go camping. I just feel SO BAD for him! I love him and I want to give him everything! But when I am depressed and sick.....I simply can't. And I'm SO SCARED he will think I don't love him, or I can help it...*crying* I don't want to lose the man of my dreams...
Thank you Melissa, I'm lucky to have yo for a sister *hugs*
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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I also heard that baths were bad for uti's! I've only ever had one uti though when I was much younger so maybe its one of those old wives tale things??
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Ruchie
#202459 - 08/04/05 01:07 PM
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BL
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 3522
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I know you have a very loving, understanding husband. Now stop this talk about him not loving you! You can't go camping if you're sick! He may pout for a little while (if you can't go), but he'll get over it. That doesn't mean he doesn't love you!!! Of course, he loves you.
Wait until he gets home, and have him take you to a walk-up medical clinic. If you get some medicine now, maybe you can still go. If not, stay home in bed, rest up, and have him invite a friend to go with him. You and he can go some other time together. There are plenty of other weekends you can go!
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Re: *HUGS*
#202464 - 08/04/05 01:10 PM
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melitami
Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 1213
Loc: Ewing, NJ, USA (IBS-D, Vegetarian)
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*MORE HUGS* Awww, no crying! Wish I lived closer and could come over and make you feel better!!!! (Though I wouldn't be much help in the driving respect, I don't have a driver's lisense)
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Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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I think it's that having perfumes and soaps (e.g., bubble bath) in the water can cause or worsen a UTI.
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Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
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Seriously, I'd get to an ER or Walk-In Clinic!!! You need some antibiotics and then REST. I'd pick up a HUGE jug of cranberry juice on the way home from the ER/clinic, as well as the prescription and then REST!!! If you're not up to camping, then TOUGH LOVE!!! I like that suggestion that hubby takes one of his buds instead.
Please take care of YOU!!!
Kate.
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I'll be watching to see how you make out at the doctor's office. Hubby may be grumpy but if meds clear this up quick and you get to go camping he will get over it.
I have had many UTI's and my docs advice is to take a hot bath when it's 1 a.m. and I can't stop the pain until I get to her office. But bathing too frequently and definitely don't use any oil/soap products in the water can cause some bladder problems if your prone to these. I believe that's why you don't see many sitz baths in the hospitals anymore. But I do love a tub! My new house only has a shower so it's not an option these days.
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Franny
IBS/D
Celiac
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--------------------
Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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My doctor told me when I had a UTI that I could do the bath in an absolutely clean tub (rinsed well was what she stressed) without any bath oils or soaps since that would further the problem. The warm water would help to ease the pain. there is something about the oils and soap ingredients that seems to cause the UTI to be more inflamed. At least the candles can stay.
-Michelle
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