Sorry quix post. I misspelled it.
Thanks so much lu and sllowe this was very helpful. I just don't want to deal with uti on top of everything else but, it looks like I have no choice. Thanks for replying to my post it means a lot. I'm going to have to find a way to get these under control...... Sllowe I did read quiz post on bladder very interesting.
Take care, happy holiday
Misty
Misty, I'm not even sure where to begin with this one so I am just going to type and hopefully something in here will make sense. It sounds like you need to move on to a different urologist - if you can find a urogynecologist that would be best - someone who specializes like this can treat all the female problems and that is helpful.
One of my most major MS problems is the bladder - I have been treated by my urogyno for over three years now. I have been to the point where the infection ascended into my kidneys and I had sepsis in the blood and had to be hospitalized. It can be life threatening and is nothing to mess with.
There are some tests that the urologist should do - the most basic of which is an ultrasound of your bladder after you have voided to see if you are retaining urine. Urine that hangs around can quickly become infected, thanks to our body heat and other factors. It is important to empty the bladder completely several times a day.
If the ultrasound shows you are retaining urine you might need to go to intermittent self catherization (ISC). If you can get beyond the "ick" factor it really can be life changing.
The release of urine when you are not ready, whether it is leaking or a complete void, could be caused by a variety of reasons, including a UTI. Frequency is also a symptom of a UTI.
My urogyno and I had hoped that my bladder problem would resolve in a few months once the infection was cleared, but after about 6 months we determined my problems are neurogenic and I will probably always have this problem. Once I knew this problem was here to stay, I then had to find a way to try to control it.
I am on a bladder drug - this is the third or fourth one I have tried - and it seems to help. I also self-catherize 3-4 times a day. Getting my bladder completely empty allows me to go several hours later in the day without needing the restroom. Using ISC before bed lets me sleep around 5-6 hours. Not bad, huh? Before I got on this drug and started ISC I was captive to needing to be close to a restroom or at least knowing where the nearest one was located.
I just picked up another penicillin today for a fresh UTI. Unfortunately with the ISC it is a common problem because it is not a sterile procedure and I am constantly introducing new germs. That is where a prophylactic antibiotic comes in. I just switched to a new one to see if it does a better job of controlling the infection than my current one.
There's nothing wrong with feeling bad about losing it - this is not a normal problem and you should be treated, not just patted on the head.
It may very well be a fact that you will be on an antibiotic the rest of your life, I know I probably will be. But that doesn't stop us from trying other things to control the bladder problems. Your doctor should be able to identify one or two that don't have lots of side effects and causes other complications. I am switching to microbid after I finish this round of Cipro.
I hope something in all this will be of use to you and that you will remember you are not along with these problems. Let me know if you have other questions.
hugs,
Lulu
Hi Heartfelt!
Oh, I'm sorry you are getting no help with this issue! UTIs are dangerous if the combo of meds is not working, and yes, like doc said if it gets into your blood stream, you can get sepsis.
Can you find Doc Quix's write-up on Bladder woes in our HPs? There is some good info in there. I hate to say it, because I'm sure you are sick of going to docs, but sounds like you need a new urologist - one that's willing to help. If you don't find the links, let me know.
You must be so frustrated :( I'm am glad to hear hubby is so understanding and helpful. Dang this doc, -there are meds to try for bladder dysfunction - i.e, spastic bladder, flaccid, and dyssynergic. We have many ladies on the forum who self cath, and I sure hope they see your post. If not, I'll alert them.
Hang in there best you can (((Hugs)))
shell