CP and infection?

[JadedSweetheart]

I think I have a UTI and I'm going to call the doctor about it tomorrow.  My question is:  Do you think infection can make our Chronic Pain worse?  When I mentioned to my husband that I think I have a UTI, he said "That explains why you've been feeling so bad, you're always in more pain when you have one."  I do tend to get them a lot.
So I am wondering if anyone else has noticed this connection.  I'd say it raises my pain levels by AT LEAST 3 full points on the pain scale..

[Sarajmt]

I'm so glad you're being treated!  And that you're taking it easy.  Good idea going in early.  I really hope the rest of the pregnancy goes well.  Summer is the worst to be pregnant.  The heat seems twice as bad!!
Sara

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm sorry I just now got to this thread!  Thank you all for your empathy and great advice!  I am not feeling so much like I have a UTI anymore, so that is good.  
I have actually been on a daily regimen of anti-biotics for a short time because of the constant recurrence, but I haven't had one in the past 5 months that I've been pregnant, so that's very good.  I have also been taking it easy and drinking a lot of water the entire pregnancy, so that may be part of it.  I also realized that I had them nearly all the time when I was on methadone for pain.  My husband made a point of asking the doctor if it suppresses the Urinary tract like it does the Respiratory tract.  They just didn't know.

I'm going to call the PM on Monday and see if I can get an earlier appt.  I just need to be able to function these last weeks of summer/start of kids' school.  I'm definetly not pushing myself or anything.  I cleaned the kitchen yesterday and it wore me plum out, so I am going to have to just relax more.  It's difficult because I am in pain whether I am sitting in the recliner or laying down, so I just have to switch up whatever I do all day.

Thanks again for being there for me, everyone!

[Tuckamore]

I don't know if I should congrats on your good news or is this bad news! Let's hope nothing is hiding or taking time to show...it may just be a flare and normal pregnancy.

It's good to know that you have "Beautiful" Urine. It's not everyone that can say that! :)

A UA that is negative is not normally sent out for a culture unless the have very good reasons to beleive it is absolutely necessary. If an infection is not noted in the UA it's rare for the culture to grow anything. It's a costly process and insurance companies frown on it.

I am glad that you will see your OB on Tuesday. He knows you best and should have some answers that you help ease your mind. If anything changes do not hesitate to return to ER.

Peace,
~Tuck

[houseofgirls]

I am glad you and baby are ok!  I know how frustrated you must be not having any real answers.  I guess the best you can do is rest as much as possible over the weekend, then try calling your dr on monday.  Hope you feel better soon!

[troubleinohio]

geez, I hope you dont have an occult UTI. I wish they would have at least given you some amoxicillin or something. I used to get UTI's A LOT for years and sometimes they would sneak up on me...one time I Had no clue I had one..no symptoms until one day I noticed it burned bad when nearing the end of urination...2 hours later I was writhing in pain and urinating PURE BLOOD !!! When I got to the ER, they couldnt believe how bad my infection was!!! So please keep an eye on it and go back to ER again if you have more signs or worsening- I know firsthand how quickly they can get severe!! I was amazed once i started on ABX how quickly the symptoms improved too considering it was so bad. They almost admitted me that night out of fear of it spreading to my kidney's befoer the ABX would kick in, but I was very lucky it didnt.  Take it easy and keep an eye on it closely, as the other ladies have stated UTI's can cause early labor! Rest, drink lots of water/cranberry juice!

[melissaky]

Oh wow Bree .You have been having such a bad time of it sweetie .My heart goes out to you .I am so glad the baby is doing good .I just wish Mama was feeling better .I will keep you and your darling little one in my prayers .I so hope you get to feeling better soon .

Take care honey
Melissa

[JadedSweetheart]

I did tell them that usually these things show up on a culture if they don't show up in the urine, but they didn't seem to be too concerned about it, so we'll see.  I have an appt on Tuesday with the OB.  They always take urine at the appts, so I'll be sure to have them test it.  
It IS raining here now.  So that may be why the pain has increased, maybe a low-pressure system moved in a few days ago.
I tried calling the PMP yesterday and got the voicemail repeatedly.  I am just tired right now so I think I'm going to lay down.  I fell asleep at the hospital while I was waiting for the doctor.  The sound of the baby's heartbeat was very soothing, lol.  I guess the whole soothing heartbeat goes both ways.

[namnam46]

My Dear: I'm so glad that you have "BEAUTIFUL" Urine!!!  :)  I want to be serious for a moment though. I HOPE that they are STILL sending it away for a culture! I've had My Beautiful (in other words Urine that didn't "show" anything) urine have the BEGINNINGS of  UTI show up in a CULTURE before. Did they say ANYTHING about that with you?

Listen, EVERYONE seems to be having Flare-Ups right now so I'm hoping and praying that this weather OR what ever is causing ALL of this pain for us all will CHANGE so we can get OUR lives back.

I'm sending YOU and Your Precious Little One Mega ((((HUGS!!)))).....Mama Sherry

[JadedSweetheart]

House-  I would have gone to my OB, but they are 2 hours away in Orlando which is the nearest high-risk OB available to me.  (Other than one in West Palm that was horrible to me over the phone about my meds and booted me from their practice)
So here's the deal:
Believe it or not, there is no UTI.  They actually said my urine looks "beautiful", which I hear a lot because I drink a lot of water I suppose.  They brought me up to the labor and delivery floor so that they could monitor the baby and the baby is fine.  I was starting to really freak out when they brought me up there because I was worried it was something worse than a UTI, but I guess it was nothing.
They put something like a microphone on my belly to hear evreything in utero and every time the baby kicked it made a racket, so I think the baby caught on and started kicking to hear herself.  It was adorable.
The thing is.. they couldn't tell me why I've been feeling so crappy.  The lady who wheeled me up to L&Dr said she gets UTIs a lot,too, and that sometimes they can't pick up hers until they're awful, either.
So they dicharged me with no real answers and just a "call your doctor".. blah, blah.  I was really in tears worrying that there was something worse going on than a UTI but I guess because they baby is doing so well, they figured they wouldn't bother.

Which makes me wonder why I've been having a flare-up and feeling awful.  Oh well.  I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
Thank you all for your concern and advice.  I appreciate you all~

[namnam46]

My Dear,

As I told you in my PM we are ANXIOUSLY waiting to hear what happens in the ER!!

Sending you EXTRA (((HUGS!!)))..Mama Sherry

[houseofgirls]

I can't believe your ob/gyn would have you go to the ER for something like a UTI!  That stinks!  Most ob's are capable of treating a uti...they just need to prescribe you some antibiotics.  Heck, mine has done that over the phone so I didn't even need to go in.  What a big hassle for a fairly common problem, especially during pregnancy.  Regardless, I hope you get treated quickly and start to feel better soon!

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm going into the ER shortly.  I'm just kinda feeling worn out and the oppressive Florida heat isn't helping.  I figured I'd check in here while my cell phone charges before I head out.  I know if I call the doctor they will tell me to go to the ER, and the last time I was in the office they told me to go to the ER for anything unusual, so with the phone being dead, I'll just go in.  
My husband is definetly wonderful.  Unfortunately lately he's been working 15 hour days and I think that's contributing to the pain, in that I'm having to do more.  Not that he expects me to, I just feel bad doing nothing when he's working so much.  My kids have been amazing and I made a point to tell them so last night.  They are being so helpful and understanding about the increase pain levels I'm experiencing.
I will let you all know how it goes.

[mellie4]

JS, definitely get going on the UTI!!  Not only does infection definitely increase CP, like Karen said, it's dangerous in pregnancy.  I had one when I was pregnant with my third baby.  At the time, I was doing a night shift (in addition to my day job) as a unit secretary at the hospital for benefits.  When someone noticed I was a little off (running into the bathroom all the time,) they asked me and I said I think I have a UTI; I'll go to the Ob-gyn tomorrow.  They IMMEDIATELY sent me down to the ER, where I took a test, got a lecture from the doc there and was sent home until the antibiotics kicked in.

When I was younger, I had chronic UTIs.  I'd get 20 or more in the course of a year.  They put me on preventative medicine but it would always come back.  They finally did a cystoscopy and said that my urethra was narrow and they widened it.  Said it may be something I'd have to have done once in a while.  Well, that was nearly 30 years ago, and I've never had to have it done again and the only time I ever had another UTI was when I was pregnant and in delivery and they catheterized me.

I'm thinking you'll definitely feel better when you get rid of the infection.  And you're lucky with that husband.  It's a good feeling knowing you have someone there taking care of you and looking out for you :)

[JadedSweetheart]

PS.  My husband is such a blessing in being able to keep track of these things and observe and report.  Just having him around me makes me feel like everything will be better.  I am truly blessed to have him and for him to be so observant.  I will make sure to tell him that you complemented his observation skills, Tuck. :)

[JadedSweetheart]

I definetly will.  I took a home UTI test and it was positive for one of the markers, but negative for another, so I figured if I call tomorrow morning they will tell me to go to the ER.  Then when I go to the ER I can say "My doctor told me to" so they won't just think I'm a hypochodriac.  In the past they have been awful to me for going in for things like that.

[Tuckamore]

Absolutely an infection increases my chronic pain. I just finished ATB therapy for a nasty sinusitis. After 72 hours on the ATB not only was my sinusitis symptoms improving so was my chronic pain levels.

Have you ever noticed if you are coming down with a virus that your chronic pain increases, even before you fully realize that you picked up a bug?

Your husband has good observation skills. My husband also noted the same several years ago.

I am hopeful that once your UTI begins to resolve your pain will also decrease. Make that call for a number of very good reasons.

~Tuck

[designgyrl]

Definitely call the doctor, my sister ended up going into premature labor because of an UTI, so listen to Auntie Karen and call, PLEASE!!!