IC and UTI'S

[blondlox]

I have been newly diagnosed with IC. My question is: how will I know in the future if I have a UTI? I know that the sypmtoms are very similar for both, but is there a way to distinguish between the two? Please help:)

[ICLori]

The only way I've ever been able to distinguish between the two is to have a urine culture done (sometimes a dip test will give a false negative, while the culture will show an infection.)

I have never heard of any IC'er being able to tell without a test - they feel so much the same, the flares and UTI's, that I just don't see how it would be possible to tell.

And it's tempting, when you've been through so many flares and UTI's both, to just say, it must be a flare, I don't want to go back to the doctor, I'm tired of going to the doctor - but the couple of times I've done that, it turned out I had a raging infection that I left untreated for weeks and I was just lucky that it didn't go up into my kidneys and cause bad damage.

So when you have increased symptoms - you MUST get tested. Some IC'ers buy test kits for use at home to save on doctor's visits.

Blessings, Lori

[traceann]

Hello and :welcome: to the gang! This place is wonderful for asking questions, information and support! The people are just wonderful! :angel:

It is hard for us to tell the difference. I too always call the doc when the symptoms increase. And I keep the test strips around. I found some at Rite Aid that test for the nitrites (?) and white blood cells. Since it's about a 30-40 minute drive to my doc's office -- one way, it's easier that way and I don't end up going in for false alarms. Plus the last time I had one, the results of my test strip was good enough for them and they just called me in an anti.

Sometimes however I have had a few things that seem to be only around when I have a UTI: Cloudy urine every time I pee and for days (every now and then I have cloudy urine, but when it's days like that, it's a tip off), severe lower back pain (also have with flares sometimes, but lately only when I have UTI), my nighttime frequency shoots up, sometimes to every hour, then the pain finally comes along, and most times it's different from my flare-type bladder pain,it will, for me shoot horizontally across my bladder. But that's just me.

I still call the doc and tell them not sure if I have one or not, tell them my test strip results and go from there. It sure can be tough. I have stumped more than one nurse, by saying when she's asked me if I have "painful urination", "well, yeah, have that alot", or in the beginning when I was first Dx'd "yep all the time every day" LOL. Then I tell them I am an IC patient if they aren't familiar with me. :biglaugh:

Hugs! :)

[ICNDonna]

Sometimes I can tell by the appearance of my urine. And sometimes I can tell by the way it feels. I also keep home test kits so I can test for infection. If the test says there's infection present, I call my uro. If it says not, I wait a day or two unless it gets worse, but still call my doctor --- if it's an IC flare, I usually will feel better by then.

Donna

[blondlox]

Thanks for all of the helpful info!
Where can I buy the home tests at and what are they called?

[sami4]

I keep Bayer test strips at home, it costs 75.00 for a years supply, but worth the peace of mind. This tests for a number of things, blood, white cells, keytones, bilirubin. Its the same test strips the Doc uses.
Sammie

[traceann]

Hi! I know you can get test strips here at the ICN shop, but I bought mine at Rite Aid in the femine needs section. It was like 10 bucks for 3 strips (if I can remember correctly) but it tested for both nitrites (?) and white blood cells. There are others that just test for the nitrites. The one I bought is by AZO Standard. I can't remember the names of the others though! ;)

[traceann]

Sammie, where do you get your strips at?? That would be handy to have years supply!

[kayrol]

I just tested myself yesterday and I had a UTI! In fact, I just posted a new thread on whether anyone had a UTI after getting a cystoscopy. I had the cysto on Monday and by Thursday night I couldn't sleep because of the frequency and pain AND I had blood when I wiped AND the pee was cloudy AND I use AZZO Test Strips from the drugstore (CVS), and it tested positive for nitrides (sp).

I could definately feel the difference this time. My (IC) pain can be shooting up into my bladder (after sex) or pain across my pelvic area as if I had ovaries (I had a hysterectomy) or similar to a UTI burning pain and constant discomfort especially at nite.

The AZZO strips are somewhere between $7-10 for 3. I also would like to know how to get the Bayer ones. I imagine on the internet. It seems like a better buy.

Kayrol

[emilyrose197377]

I can tell from a uti and ic. I have a uti and kidney infection I could tell the difference it is a different kind of pain for me more painful.

[stacey79]

I also keep some test strips around that I bought at CVS. I bought some at Walgreen's once, too. I tend to have cloudy urine when it is a UTI. I also notice that I'm extra tired and a lot of times I run a low-grade fever with an infection. I get extra weepy over silly stuff like the grocery store being out of my favorite cereal or something. The other indication for me is taking Pyridium. If it helps my symptoms then I know it's a UTI because it doesn't help me when I'm just flaring. HOwever, it does help some people in a flare.

[sami4]

You get the Bayer strips by special order at Walgreens or at a medical supply store. They cost about 75.00 for a big bottle of strips. These are not OTC strips but the type used in the Docs office that tests over eight different factors in the urine.
Sammie

[vm]

Be aware that the home test strips can miss infections. I only used them twice and both times it missed my UTIs. So, if it is positive it must be a UTI, but if it's negative and you still feel really bad - call your doctor. It still might be a UTI.

[stacey79]

Good point, Kim. A lot of times the test strips are inconclusive for me, but when I have a culture I do have an infection. Once we have even a slight bit of bacteria, then it hurts us - much sooner than it would someone without IC.

The other thing I thought of is that on mine is says urine must be in the bladder overnight or for four hours for the test to be most accurate. I know that's very difficult or impossible when you aren't feeling well. I tend to go once an hour when I'm in a flare or UTI, so I try to hold it for two. I don't push it too long and make myself miserable, though!

[emilyrose197377]

good point kim the test strips that my dr. missed my uti and kidney infection big time. I ended up getting worse and had to go to the hostipal and the dxed with uti and kidney infection by sending my urine to the lab.From now on I am getting my urine tested by a lab when in doubt.

[traceann]

Oh yes, I agree. I use mine as a "measuring stick", if it's questionable, I call and make an "appt" for a lab test. It's just a helpful indicator sometimes of when to call and when not too. If I don't feel better and strip still says negative, off to the doc's I go! ;)