how do you tell a flare from an uti

[emilyrose197377]

How do you tell an flare from an uti. The kind of pain I am experience is double the pain I feel when I am in a flare. And my flare is pretty bad. I am having severe pelvic pain really bad burning pain in my bladder and urethra. And when I cath myself it hurts bad even with the lidocaine creme my uro prescribed me . And not that much urine comes out and it feels like my urethra is swollen . I am concerned that the cathing gave me an uti. My uro wasn't in his office and he is not going to be back in till monday . The nurse just gave me a script for more caths but that is it. I see my fp on Friday afternoon I will ask him for a urine test . To see if I have an uti.I have been living on vicodin and ultram and pyruiduim and lidocaine creme .

[Babs RN]

I usually get a fever with a UTI, because lately I have been having infections that head straight for my kidneys. A bad flare usually won't go away as quickly as UTI symptoms. I just came off a 10 day course of Levaquin again. I have an appt with my FP on Friday, and I am going to a new uro on the 13th of September at UCLA. I hope you feel better soon.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[vm]

I always knew when it was a UTI b/c I had such burning when I peed. Can your family doctor call in a urinalysis for you to a lab so you could get it done sooner than Friday????

[redmowii]

You could always call the uro on call. There should be a doctor on call at all times. Call the normal doctors office number and ask for who is on call. They may also have a doctor on call that you could see on working days, just try to call as soon as they are open. I work in a doctors office. They may just have you do a urine analysis. From what I understand, you can get UTI's from cathing. It is more possible to get them if the caths are left in for long periods of time (days), but it could happen if the procedure isen't sterile enough. I hope you get feeling better extreamly soon

[VickiB]

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad!

I can never tell the difference between a flare and UTI, outside of that a flare usually eases within a day or two and the UTI goes on stronger. I used to be able to tell because I'd run a fever with the infection, but for the past year I've begun to have fever with flares as well, so that no longer works. Now if my symptoms continue more than two days I go in and get tested. If my GP isn't available I go to the walk in clinic. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to leave an infection untreated until Friday?

Another possibility is one of those OTC UTI test kits. I've never tried them, but it might help you decide whether you're dealing with a flare or not.

Hope you feel better soon!

Vicki

[emilyrose197377]

I am still in alot of pain . My stomach ulcer is still giving me alot of trouble with trouble swallowing and naseua and vomiting . My gi started a new med yesterday with my others . Hopefully it helps but ever since I took it I have been having diarhea. I am hoping I can wait until friday afternoon with this pain and uti I have is most likely haven't been taking pyruiduim so he can test my urine and it would be clear.

[ICNDonna]

I can't always tell. It's best to be checked.

Donna