Questions about flare & UTI

[Shelka]

Hi All!

I was hoping you might have some info. regarding UTI's & flares.

I had my first hydro done just over a week ago, and although I didn't see any changes for the better in terms of the "always have to go" feeling, I could actually hold it longer. Well, all that changed yesterday, I started having to go A LOT once again. I thought it could just be PMS (my period is due this weekend, does this cause people to flare?) but I went to my University health clinic just in case and the urine test showed up positive. Boy, was I surprised eek ! (my urine tests are almost ALWAYS negative!)

So, I'm on Cipro now & I'm wondering if this causes IC to get that much worse? Basically, the feeling I have now is NO RELIEF from the sensation of my bladder bursting, even after I've *just gone*..every 10 minutes.. arrgh! cussing

Aside from it getting even worse yesterday b/c of the possible UTI, I've been in this flare for almost a month now, & I've never, in my 6 years of IC, had a flare that was this bad or lasted this long. Do flares typically last this long or could it be the result of the hydro?

Oh, one more question about UTI's: Does anyone know if a culture is necessary to confirm a UTI? All I know is the dr. said that the count was +1 occult blood, and +1 leucocytes (sp!), I don't know if that means anything to anyone...certainly didn't to me! ...

Thanks! Wishing everyone a Happy Thursday!
Shelley
hi

[dyno]

I don't know the specifics about the lab numbers but I do know that it can take awhile after a hydro for the bladder to calm down. I also know that PMS bothers my bladder. The other thing is that with a UTI it takes my bladder a long time to settle down. I mean weeks. So hopefully it is just the combination of everything that has your bladder stirred up and it will settle down soon. grouphug

[tigger_gal]

I have to agree with dyno here, not to mention you just had a hydro and not your period is do with a uti. triple wammy (((HUGS))) I know how you feel I had my hydro on the 4th of Feb and I am just now healing.. I am sure your flare is a result of your hydro..
Flare.. hate to tell you this I have been flaring since Sept.. It's been one disaster after another arond here, stress plays a major role..
when your down and out the simplest things hurt your feelings too..and makes the pain worse. like my home page pictures all turned to red x's gggggrrr I am still up set over that
Get lots of rest and keep us posted on how you are wink
Brat

[dyno]

I wondered about the pictures Cindy, I knew that you said that happened and then a few days later I noticed my avitar had the red x too. I am sorry it happened to you.

Shelly, a culture is not necessary to confirm a UTI, just a urine specimen will do that but the culture identify's what bug it is and then lets your Dr. know what antibiotic to treat it with. I was told after my last UTI to always have mine cultured since I still had symptoms after you would normally be cleared. That is how my IC reacted, that way the Dr. would know he was using the right thing to treat me with.

[vm]

Shelley -

Right before my hydro my doc wanted to do a urine culture to check for cancer cells or something like that - can't remember. Anyway, we found out I had an infection and I hadn't even known.

Took an antibiotic and then had the hydro. After the hydro I got another infection ----- even though I took 3 days worth of an antibiotic AFTER the hydro to try to prevent infection.

My guess is that your bladder is irritated from the hydro itself and then with a UTI on top of that it is just crying out. Given some healing from the infection and then healing from the hydro it will probably feel a whole lot different. Your bladder has been through quite a bit of trauma and it does take some time to heal.

I think the leukocytes are white blood cells. If there is a large number of them it can indicate infection. But I could be wrong. The urinalysis looks for those kinds of things to determine infection and then, like dyno said, a culture narrows down which bacteria it is and then the sensitivity determines which antibiotic would work the best to get things right again.

[Cherise2040]

Cherise 2040 IC Member Aug.2008 Florida

I was reading some your messages about UTIs and IC. Iwas told that having a UTI along with our ICs can definitely be more painful. I know one thing for sure if certainly wears me out and my anxiety and depression to figure out when the pain gets worse(flareup) if its just the IC or both. To ease my nerves I found out that they carry UTI kits at the pharmacies. Since I've been getting quite afew UTIs I'm clearing out a dresser drawer this week for those kits. I take lithium, clonazapam etc. and wonder what they are doing to my bladder etc. I would much rather be pregnant than to go through this nightmare. Is there someone that can help me with a problem that I have with wetness that I get down there. I wastold that the moisture that occurs can become bacteria causing UTI> I live in Florida and its hard to keep dry. I have never seen anyone writing about that. (no not depends lol)Well I've covered about everything except that [I]get upabout l3 times a night to pee only to find to my dismay 1 teaspoon coming out. Bye for nowthis is great being able to talk to all of you. Cherise2040 Love ya

[stormchaser]

Lab Stuff

I know this post was started like 4 years ago, but since I can't sleep I thought I'd reply.

I'm one of those lab people that does those tests (how ironic huh? I regret not doing a complete workup on myself when I had the chance...). A dipstick positive for blood and leukocytes is very indicative of some type of, usually bacterial, infection. Although, just an FYI some sexually transmitted stuff could potentially do that too. You didn't say anything about nitrites... which is another one that will usually, but not always be positive with a bacterial infection, especially from bacteria with a GI origin. A microscopic analysis can be done to look at what's in the urine and you'd be suprised at all of the interesting things you can see in a persons urine from red cells to white blood cells to squirmy bacteria or trichomonas swimming around to little crystals and cells from all parts of the renal system. A culture can be used to detect bacteria, as well as identify bacteria. It's especially useful for determining which antibiotics the bacteria is sensitive to.

So if you're ever taking antibiotics for a UTI and it's not helping, even if you have IC, ask about sensitivity testing. We test lots of antibiotics so there's bound to be one to clear things up.



P.S. note I said I'm a lab rat, not a doc so I legally can't claim to diagnose anything.

[jllsja]

RE: Cipro

Just realized this post was 4 years ago. I erased my reply.