Has anyone sent urine specimen to United Medical Labs?

[partners]

I am new to using forums and this is my first posting. I have had IC for 15 years and have undergone most tx. I read about urine broth cultures for finding bacteria in IC sufferers bladders, and was interested to note that this method does find organisms that conventional microbiology tests for urine do not. There is one place in the U.S. doing these tests and you must ship your urine overnight after a pretty rigorous clean catch collect etc. The lab is called United Medical Lab and my question to other IC'ers is this - Have you ever sent your urine to this lab to be tested AND, if you did and there were organisms identified and the proper antibiotics administered did you find relief? I am not interested in starting a debate about what the cause of IC is; I am only interested in hearing about those IC patients who sent in their urine samples and either had bacteria, or didn't and how the resulting treatment affected them. I would greatly appreciate any information pertaining to my above question as I am considering sending in my urine and it is very expensive to ship and run the test, never mind the cost of meds both financially as well as the emotional and physical fall out that occurs if they make the condition worse ( a very real risk ). Again, please no debate about the cause of IC.

IC, PTSD,
TX that havent worked. Elmiron, Amitriptyline, Atarax, Doxycycline (short term), DMSO instillations, Heparin instillations, Hyaluronic Acid, instillations, Morphine, Dilaudid, Oxycodone, Nortriptyline, Ditropan (can't remember name), self cath with Sodium Bicarb and xylocaine, Interstim device .......list goes on..........and I'm still going strong.

[suzannes]

I did send a broth cult in to the lab. It came back with normal skin bacteria not enteroccocus. I did take whatever antibiotic they recommended for a while with no improvement. I also did call Ruth( I forget her last name) in Virginia to get an opinion , she is a nurse practitioner . She'll talk to you for free for 10 minutes. She wanted to get some very expensive labs that can only be done at one lab which made me suspicious. I am a nurse practitioner and some of the things she said didn't sit right with me. Also, I joined her yahoo group and I noticed that no one seemed to get better. She just kept ordering more labs and meds.

So that is my experience. You can try it, it won't hurt probably, but it can get pricey and my insurance wouldn't cover the tests.

[partners]

Please feel free to respond to question

I had asked any IC'ers if they had ever sent a urine sample to United Medical Labs for a urine broth culture, and if they had what had been found, if anything, and if the resulting long term antibiotic therapy worked or didn't work. I see that one of the responses seemed to have elicited a hand slap for advertising, or perhaps I am reading it wrong. I am aware of the NP that does telephone call work and I am also in the medical field and am informed enough to make my own decisions about what is right or wrong for me in my quest for answers to this riddle we call IC. If someone has had an experience with this NP and wants to tell me about it, good or bad, please do so that I can learn from your experience and possibly either avoid a mistake or find a solution. I do not see this as advertising, but as information sharing so we can work in a partnership towards a solution. Please let's not argue about the cause of IC, it detracts from my initial question.

Peace and kind regards
IC, PTSD
Tx that didn't work. Elmiron, Pre-lief, Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Ditropan (unsure of name) hydrodistension, Hyaluronic acid instillations, Heparin instillations, DMSO instillations, Sodium bicarb and xylocaine instillations, Morphine, Dilaudid, Oxycodine, Xanax, Diazepam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, ( All the Pams !!! ), Interstim device and so many herbal remedies I cannot even remember them all......still going strong.

[Briza]

Partners
Welcome to the board
This is a topic that has been posted about extensively over the years.

Here's a sample:
http://www.ic-network.com/forum/show...highlight=ruth

You can do your own search of this board using keyterms such as United Medical, broth culture, and even "Ruth" and will easily find lots of old posts about this topic.

Good luck.

[Mothergoose]

I do know some one who followed this path, had the extra tests paid a lot of money, did quite a few phone consults and was no better off and had no new info to add to her condition afterwards, she felt.

I doubt she will post about it it left a bad taste in her mouth.

When she was in the process of doing this all which took quite a while I was thinking of doing it too, but afterwards she felt it was not worth her time or money, so I did not do it.

You can search posts about this in old posts, you should find more info there.

I am not saying don't do it as you said you can make up your own mind, but you wanted responses good or bad.

MG

[ICNDonna]

I suggest you read the information at http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50378

Donna

[partners]

Not promoting any particular health provider

Thanks for directing me to this thread, although it was this thread that caused me to write my previous post. Obviously I've touched on some sore spot, and although I haven't asked for anybody to promote any particular health provider, and to just tell me there story about urine cultures and long term antibiotic use, it seems that people have gotten their panties into a twist. I have had this ?disease for 15 years and am pretty experienced with quacks who will take your money and run, or hurt you with their poorly executed good intentions, so I do understand the reluctance to promote ANYBODY who claims they can cure you with expensive tests having never done a full exam, or even being a trained urologist. Please keep in mind I am not interested in promoting anybody and that I used the labs name only because it is the only lab doing this testing that I am aware of. I have read some of the older posts and was curious if anybody had anything new to add, or a more recent experience.

I have been in remission before, Trazadone and Lyrica did the trick for about 2 years, but the biggy was yogic breathing with seemed to relax the pelvic sling. Biofeedback was also helpful.

Oddly, sometimes I think this disease is a gift because I always know when I'm stressed and take steps to alleviate it. As a Cardiology Technologist I am well aware of the long term effects of stress and I'm sure if I had not developed this disease I would have pushed myself relentlessly my whole life, and caused myself to burn out young.

Kind regards

[sailawaygrl]

It seems that there is no one on the boards at this time to answer your question. I am sure if someone has had personal experience with this they would have shared their experiences with you. You said you wanted to learn from someone else's experience and try and not make a mistake. Just my honest opinion here but it does seem that you have had responses from some that are trying to let you know what many people have experienced, although not first hand. I am sorry that you have had IC for so long, you will find on the board that there are quite a few people that have had IC for as long and some longer than yourself. They, as well as many other's do have some good suggestions and personal experiences they can share with you. It seems that you have come looking for a particular answer that we unfortunately don't seem to be able to give you. I encourage you to look around some more and see if there might be some knowledge you can use from the forum.
As far are personal experiences with a particular treatment. You might want to ask for references or some form of research that might back up what this treatment is that you are considering from the provider of the service.
I really don't know of anything else to recommend to you. I, like the other members that have posted am only trying to offer you some support. No panties in a twist here. I hope you are able to find some help and return to your remission. I know all of us are looking for the path to remission as well.

Wishing you pain free days,
Sandra

[ICNDonna]

Sandra is right. My only reason for sharing the link was to give you some insight, not because I had any remote idea you were promoting this. Sorry if you didn't understand my intent.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[partners]

This thread has been helpful

This thread was helpful and I did learn some things that might save me money and time. The thread where people seemed upset was the one Donna directed me to and I should have referred to that directly. My mistake, first time forum user.

I can't really complain about my IC sx right now, but thanks for wishing me well. Even when I came out of remission I could control the frequency quite well with 25mg Lyrica, 4 mg Remeron and lots and lots of relaxation techniques. I have been very fortunate and I am grateful. I just wanted to know if anyone had luck with my first question because I would kick myself if there was a solution I had not looked into.

Kind regards and thanks for the support.

[bob04951]

Hope you always research things before you jump in. This lab has many negative reviews. Google it. We too looked at them, but nixxed the idea. There is a site where they investigate fraudulent (not saying they are) places, the name of the site escapes me, but you will find it. If anyone has had success with them and found something that their local labs missed, would love to hear about it. Don't throw your money away because you are desperate, patience is the key.

[partners]

Asked my internal medicine specialist to review it

Hi all, I've asked my internal medicine specialist to review the lab, the idea, and then tell me what he would do. He's a bit of a brain, used to work for you guys at NASA as an aerospace engineer and then came to us and became a Dr. I trust his opinion and feel he will nix the idea because of lack of documentation and peer review.

I need to find out about IC'ers and Prometrium. I will look for that area of the forum now.

Thanks for the help and kind regards.

[Mothergoose]

I was not tring to be neg or have my panties in a twist, I just relayed my friends expirence as I know she would not do this.

I also did say I do not have first hand expirence, as I decided not to try it after my friend and looking into it.

If you decide to give it a try, don't let this post scare you off of telling us what your out comes are.

thanks MG

[partners]

Newbie mistake

My panties in a twist comment was directed an another thread entirely so I am sorry for those people who think it was directed at them. I am new to using forums and am making some communication errors. Good news is that I am quick to learn from them.

Thanks for all the great responses and take care.