Treating a UTI

[Calinda]

I just did the home test kit that I bought from the ICN shop. It shows that I have Leukicytes. I don't like to take drugs much. What is the least strong drug a person can take? I was on Macrobid and Cipro last year--and I sure hate having to take those, unless I have to.

[ICNDonna]

If you do have an infection, most doctors will prescribe a wide spectrum antibiotic while the culture is processing. Macrobid and Cipro both fall in that category. In my opinion, it's better to take the med than to try to fight off an infection without them.

Donna

[kadi]

If the home test kit shows leukocytes & no nitrites, it may or may not be an infection. If I'm having a bad flare, my bladder will release white blood cells into the urine to reduce inflammation. But, this has happened to me a bunch of times & I've gone to the urologist to find no infection, so I have a history of that result. If I repeat the test & there's nothing there, then I figure I'm ok. If I repeat the test & it comes out the same, I head to the lab for a test.

BUT, you really need to go get checked by your urologist so they can determine if there is an infection or not. Especially since you've not had this happen before. And be sure to have them do a culture & sensitivity test to make sure you're on the right antibiotic. That will take about 3 days for the lab to determine, but will save you time if you do have an infection. You can start the antibiotic & will probably be fine, but if you get a weird bacteria that doesn't respond, the culture will tell your doctor what to do next.

I hope you feel better soon,

[Calinda]

The dr. put me on Macrobid. I was in so much pain, but I hope next time I'll get it taken care of sooner and hopefully have them do the culture. I barely got in and actually didn't even see the doctor. I've been in the most pain I've ever been in. UGH I appreciate your comments. I think I'm still learning my symptoms and how things affect me. hee hee hee we all have to have patience. :)

[traceann]

I am at the point now where I don't even have to go in to see the doc, lol. I can call them and ask them if I can leave a sample at the lab department (either at the local hospital or the doctors office/clinic's lab), so they'll usually fax an order over for me and they go from there. Usually give me an anti if the initial dip shows an infection while waiting then proceed accordingly after the culture (most times for me the initial antibiotic does the work)! :)

[Calinda]

I hadn't had a UTI in years and years--then last year I had my first one in ages. That was when I ended up having IC. Then this year I have another UTI. Will I be getting more UTI's now that I have IC?

[traceann]

It's really hard to say - I guess it depends on your body, lol. I used to have them a lot a very long time ago - way before I was diagnosed with IC, and it seems that a UTI kicked my bladder pain into gear back around the time I was diagnosed.

But, after that I bet I have had 2-3 since then, that was 6 years ago, lol. And those came in succession too over a period of a couple months - I'd just had my baby and it seems that I got one, then another and then one more. I think it had a lot to do with the "trauma" of that whole area thanks to delivery, poor potty practices on my part as in not going when I needed to since I was too busy taking care of my little guy and wearing Poise pads 24/7, lol. I knew it was from something I was either doing or not doing, lol.

So, I guess my point there's really no way to tell, to be able to say, "yep for sure you're going to get more UTI's", I think some do and some don't, lol.

Hope this helps a little bit!

Hugs,
Tracey :)