UTI - blood in my urine

I went to the doctor last week for what i thought was a urinary tract infection (low grade fever, lower back pain, diahrea). The doctor took a urine sample, and the initial test at the office showed blood in my urine, so he is sending it to a lab for a culture. He told me he was giving me a few perscriptions...one was a muscle relaxer (which I didn't have filled) and the other was for Meloxicam 25 mg. This is a medication for arthritis.

Can anyone tell me why he would prescribe this instead of an antibiotic? I'm worried about the side effects which include upset stomach and stomach ulcers, and heart attack or stroke. I've had diahrea off and on for the last week and don't want to agrivate it with anything else.

[Arti Sharma, M.D.]

Hello and welcome!
Low grade fever and diarrhea can be a symptom of urinary tract infection. Lower back ache could be due to several causes like spinal arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, kidney stones etc.Your doctor has prescribed you medications for your backache till the test results are awaited. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. You also need an ultrasound of the urinary system and kidneys to rule out any calculus in the urinary tract. Do keep us posted.
Take care and regards!