Flare or UTI?

[BittersweetRain]

Ok, I've been doing real well on the 25 mils of hydroxyzine, but yesterday and today I've started to have burning and urgency. My question is, when this happens, do you call your uro for a urinalysis or do you wait it out to see if it is just a flare? I am on my period so that may be causing it. I just don't know what I should do, wait and see if it gets better or call my uro tomorrow. Thanks for any input and advise.

[ICNDonna]

A sudden worsening of symptoms can mean an infection --- it's a good idea to have it checked. It might be hormonal, but I think it's a good idea to know for sure.

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[shell]

We're all different, but burning and increased frequency usually mean a UTI for me, especially the burning. It took awhile, but I eventually learned to tell the difference in my symptoms when a UTI settled in - at least most of the time. I always figure it's better to have the doctor's office check for an infection when in doubt. If it is an infection, the earlier I start antibiotics, the better.

[dyno]

I would also suggest getting it checked out. I have had one UTI that I am aware of and I could really tell an increase in pain, burning, urgency and frequency.

[traceann]

Now that I "seem" (I use the term loosely, lol) to have things at night calmed down, frequency-wise, I kind of use that as a bit of an indicator. The last two times I had a UTI, my nighttime freq went waaaaaaay up, like I was getting up every hour on the hour to pee. And that in combo with cloudy urine was what the final straw was to call the doc, plus the advice of the boards! LOL But now, I keep an eye out for those two things (last itme I also had an increase in pain, but that was last to show up) as a possible indicator of an actual infection.

Hugs,
Tracey :)

[SharonA]

When I have a UTI, I have burning when my urine stream begins and then when it ends. With a flare, urinating usually relieves the burning and there is usually no pain at the beginning or ending. With both, I have frequency and urgency.

I do agree that you should get it checked out, just in case. :)

[BittersweetRain]

Thank you all for your replies. Things seem to have calmed down. I think I was having more burning because I wasn't taking as much prelief, plus I was eating some things that were irritating - like shrimp with cocktail sauce!!! I'm just kind of nervous because I have had chronic uti's. It's so hard to tell when it's a flare or an infection. Wish there was a reliable home test.

[VickiB]

I can never tell the difference between a flare and a UTI! I used to think a slight fever meant infection, but my last two flares I had a fever with both, so there goes that theory out the window!

I made shrimp last night. It was awful watching my hubby dip his shrimp into the cocktail sauce, and knowing I didn't dare touch it! IC isn't fair!

Anyway, glad to hear you're feeling a little better!

Vicki

[BittersweetRain]

No kidding, Vicki. The whole point of shrimp is the cocktail sauce. It's depressing to think of all that we can't eat.

[traceann]

That's funny, my mom keeps bugging me to cook the shrimp I have in the freezer, but I don't want to cause I can't eat it the way I want!! It's just something to dip in the cocktail sauce!! LMAO!!

Tracey :)