OT: Which doctor should I see?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone!

I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some advice

and you have always been so helpful.  And I don't really have anyone else to

ask.

 

I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks now.  I've

been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three different

antibiotics for it.  Each time I'm on the antibiotics the symptoms disappear

(frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping) but as soon as I finish the

antibiotics the symptoms appear again.  I haven't actually had a culture test

done to confirm UTI which is odd that my doctor hasn't done yet so it may be

something totally other than UTI??!

 

I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I should keep

going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist or a

Gynecologist??  Which doctor do you think I should see for this?  It's got to

end, I'm going crazy and starting to feel down about it.

 

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated!!!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Denise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Denise,

I don’t even go to a doc for UTIs anymore – I take D-Mannose (a sugar

that adheres to UTI bacteria) that is packaged in capsules at health

food stores with cranactin (concentrated cranberry extract that helps UT

health), and echinacea, vitamin C, probiotics, and lots of water. I’ve

had UTI relief in anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 days … and if it doesn’t

go away, then I go in for a urine culture. One time it didn’t go away

and it ended up that the UTI had moved to my kidneys and that’s harder

to solve naturally, so I did the antibiotics then. One problem for you

might be if you’re not taking a probiotic while you take the antibiotic,

as soon as you go off the antibiotic, you have no good bacteria that

make your UT work well (as antibiotics kill everything – the good

bacteria and the bad that they’re intended for).

 

I usually just go to my family doc for the culture, but if you want a

specialist, I’d use a urologist rather than a gynecologist … but anyone

can send in the same test for you.

 

Oh, also you could cut white sugar, white pasta and white bread from

your diet while you’re working on a UTI as they all metabolize as the

sugars that feed UTI bacteria, and you want to starve those bacteria.

And I’ve also heard to cut alcohol during this time, too, but I’m not

sure, since I don’t drink, if you need to eliminate it all together or

just cut back.

 

Good luck!!! There is absolutely nothing more uncomfortable.

Lorraine

 

 

On

Behalf Of Denise Turner

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 11:51 AM

 

OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

 

Hi everyone!

I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some

advice and you have always been so helpful. And I don't really have

anyone else to ask.

 

I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks

now. I've been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three

different antibiotics for it. Each time I'm on the antibiotics the

symptoms disappear (frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping)

but as soon as I finish the antibiotics the symptoms appear again. I

haven't actually had a culture test done to confirm UTI which is odd

that my doctor hasn't done yet so it may be something totally other than

UTI??!

 

I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I

should keep going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist

or a Gynecologist?? Which doctor do you think I should see for this?

It's got to end, I'm going crazy and starting to feel down about it.

 

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Denise

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Denise - I actually had something similar happen to me about 5 years ago.

There was a 3-4 month period in which I seemed to be getting UTI's over and

over, and when they finally tested, there wasn't a UTI at all, which shocked

me because I had had many of them previously (which had always been

confirmed with cultures) and so I was very familiar with the symptoms. They

ended up doing an ultrasound and found some large uterine fibroids that were

pressing on my bladder. I ended up going to an OB/GYN who removed them

laparoscopically, and I've been symptom free ever since.

 

Of course, this certainly may not be what is going on with you, but I

thought I would share my experience. I guess if it were me, I might go back

to my doctor to get it confirmed, and if it's not that, then keep asking

them for more tests to figure out what it could be or ask them for a

referral to a specialist. I would definitely be persistent until I had an

answer and a solution.

 

Good luck! Erikka

 

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 11:50 AM, Denise Turner <deniseamaywrote:

 

>

>

> Hi everyone!

> I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some

> advice and you have always been so helpful. And I don't really have anyone

> else to ask.

>

> I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks now.

> I've been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three different

> antibiotics for it. Each time I'm on the antibiotics the symptoms disappear

> (frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping) but as soon as I finish

> the antibiotics the symptoms appear again. I haven't actually had a culture

> test done to confirm UTI which is odd that my doctor hasn't done yet so it

> may be something totally other than UTI??!

>

> I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I should

> keep going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist or a

> Gynecologist?? Which doctor do you think I should see for this? It's got

> to end, I'm going crazy and starting to feel down about it.

>

> Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

> Denise

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Lorraine!  Normally I would try to fight the UTI on my own but since it

keeps recurring I think either it may be something else wrong or I need help

from someone who really knows about urinary health like a Urologist. 

 

I bought the cranberry pills, vitamin C and probiotics.  I just got really

serious with the probiotics and didn't take it during the first two cycles of

antibiotics but I did take it most days during the third round so maybe you are

right on about me not taking probiotics while on anti.

 

Great tips on cutting out the sugars.  I agree it gets worse with alcohol or

caffeine so am cutting those out too.

 

I think I'll make an appt with a Urologist and hopefully end this suffering!

 

Thank you for your reply!!

Denise

 

 

--- On Tue, 4/13/10, Lorraine <ldemi wrote:

 

Lorraine <ldemi

RE: OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 4:16 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Denise,

 

I don’t even go to a doc for UTIs anymore – I take D-Mannose (a sugar

 

that adheres to UTI bacteria) that is packaged in capsules at health

 

food stores with cranactin (concentrated cranberry extract that helps UT

 

health), and echinacea, vitamin C, probiotics, and lots of water. I’ve

 

had UTI relief in anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 days … and if it doesn’t

 

go away, then I go in for a urine culture. One time it didn’t go away

 

and it ended up that the UTI had moved to my kidneys and that’s harder

 

to solve naturally, so I did the antibiotics then. One problem for you

 

might be if you’re not taking a probiotic while you take the antibiotic,

 

as soon as you go off the antibiotic, you have no good bacteria that

 

make your UT work well (as antibiotics kill everything – the good

 

bacteria and the bad that they’re intended for).

 

 

 

I usually just go to my family doc for the culture, but if you want a

 

specialist, I’d use a urologist rather than a gynecologist … but anyone

 

can send in the same test for you.

 

 

 

Oh, also you could cut white sugar, white pasta and white bread from

 

your diet while you’re working on a UTI as they all metabolize as the

 

sugars that feed UTI bacteria, and you want to starve those bacteria.

 

And I’ve also heard to cut alcohol during this time, too, but I’m not

 

sure, since I don’t drink, if you need to eliminate it all together or

 

just cut back.

 

 

 

Good luck!!! There is absolutely nothing more uncomfortable.

 

Lorraine

 

 

 

 

 

@gro ups.com [@gro ups.com] On

 

Behalf Of Denise Turner

 

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 11:51 AM

 

@gro ups.com

 

OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

 

 

 

 

Hi everyone!

 

I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some

 

advice and you have always been so helpful. And I don't really have

 

anyone else to ask.

 

 

 

I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks

 

now. I've been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three

 

different antibiotics for it. Each time I'm on the antibiotics the

 

symptoms disappear (frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping)

 

but as soon as I finish the antibiotics the symptoms appear again. I

 

haven't actually had a culture test done to confirm UTI which is odd

 

that my doctor hasn't done yet so it may be something totally other than

 

UTI??!

 

 

 

I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I

 

should keep going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist

 

or a Gynecologist? ? Which doctor do you think I should see for this?

 

It's got to end, I'm going crazy and starting to feel down about it.

 

 

 

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated! !! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

Denise

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Denise,

 

I can't understand why your doctor done a culture to confirm a UTI. That is an

absolute must to rule out an infection. You doctor should not give you

antibiotics until they have confirmed a UTI, they can weaken your immune system

and you can build up a resistance to the antibiotic and it will lose its

efficacy. The first thing you should do is have a culture done through your

family doctor. If it comes back negative then you should see a urologist. I

have had UTI problems since I was 5 years old. In the past 10 years I was

taking antibiotics about every 3 months for what I thought was a UTI until my

doctor mentioned to me during a physical that my results were negative most of

the time....I had been taking antibiotics for no reason. I have been now

diagnosed with a condition called Interstitial Cystitis. Its a chronic

condition where you have symptoms of a bladder infection but your cultures are

negative. Please go get a culture done straight

away and if it comes back negative and you are still having pain go and see a

urologist.

 

Hope you are feeling better soon, I feel for you, bladder pain is horrible! If

you have any questions feel free to contact me on or off the list,

 

Mandy

 

 

 

 

________________________________

Denise Turner <deniseamay

 

Tue, April 13, 2010 2:50:39 PM

OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

 

Hi everyone!

I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some advice

and you have always been so helpful. And I don't really have anyone else to

ask.

 

I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks now. I've

been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three different

antibiotics for it. Each time I'm on the antibiotics the symptoms disappear

(frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping) but as soon as I finish the

antibiotics the symptoms appear again. I haven't actually had a culture test

done to confirm UTI which is odd that my doctor hasn't done yet so it may be

something totally other than UTI??!

 

I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I should keep

going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist or a Gynecologist?

? Which doctor do you think I should see for this? It's got to end, I'm going

crazy and starting to feel down about it.

 

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated! !! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Denise

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, Mandy.  I agree with you.  I've had UTI's in the past and

figured this was just another UTI so when they went straight to giving me

antibiotics I didn't really question it.  I didn't know much about needing to

have a culture done but now I understand that they certainly should have done

it.  I have an appt with a Uro tomorrow so hopefully things will get figured

out.  This does suck!  Thanks again for your reply!

 

- Denise

 

PS  I can't believe you took antibiotics every 3 months for no reason!!!  And

that they said most of your cultures came back negative but kept giving them to

you anyways.  GOsh!

 

 

 

--- On Wed, 4/14/10, Mandy Deir <mandydeir wrote:

 

Mandy Deir <mandydeir

Re: OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 10:01 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Denise,

 

 

 

I can't understand why your doctor done a culture to confirm a UTI. That is an

absolute must to rule out an infection. You doctor should not give you

antibiotics until they have confirmed a UTI, they can weaken your immune system

and you can build up a resistance to the antibiotic and it will lose its

efficacy. The first thing you should do is have a culture done through your

family doctor. If it comes back negative then you should see a urologist. I

have had UTI problems since I was 5 years old. In the past 10 years I was

taking antibiotics about every 3 months for what I thought was a UTI until my

doctor mentioned to me during a physical that my results were negative most of

the time....I had been taking antibiotics for no reason. I have been now

diagnosed with a condition called Interstitial Cystitis. Its a chronic

condition where you have symptoms of a bladder infection but your cultures are

negative. Please go get a culture done straight

 

away and if it comes back negative and you are still having pain go and see a

urologist.

 

 

 

Hope you are feeling better soon, I feel for you, bladder pain is horrible! If

you have any questions feel free to contact me on or off the list,

 

 

 

Mandy

 

 

 

____________ _________ _________ __

 

Denise Turner <deniseamay >

 

@gro ups.com

 

Tue, April 13, 2010 2:50:39 PM

 

OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

 

 

Hi everyone!

 

I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some advice

and you have always been so helpful. And I don't really have anyone else to

ask.

 

 

 

I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks now. I've

been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three different

antibiotics for it. Each time I'm on the antibiotics the symptoms disappear

(frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping) but as soon as I finish the

antibiotics the symptoms appear again. I haven't actually had a culture test

done to confirm UTI which is odd that my doctor hasn't done yet so it may be

something totally other than UTI??!

 

 

 

I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I should keep

going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist or a Gynecologist?

? Which doctor do you think I should see for this? It's got to end, I'm going

crazy and starting to feel down about it.

 

 

 

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated! !! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

Denise

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, Mandy!  I agree with all you wrote.

 

I went to see a Urologist today and through a simple test they were able to

determine that my bladder is not emptying completely resulting in my frequent

and urgent urination.  I was prescribed Rapaflo to help relax the bladder

muscle so it can empty completely. 

 

I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this or knows of any natural remedies for

bladder relaxant?  I hate taking prescriptions but will take it if I can't find

a natural solution.  I don't know why I didn't ask the Uro.  Sometimes I get

overwhelmed or intimidated at a doctor's office and forget important

questions. 

 

Thanks again!!

Denise

 

--- On Wed, 4/14/10, Mandy Deir <mandydeir wrote:

 

Mandy Deir <mandydeir

Re: OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 10:01 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Denise,

 

 

 

I can't understand why your doctor done a culture to confirm a UTI. That is an

absolute must to rule out an infection. You doctor should not give you

antibiotics until they have confirmed a UTI, they can weaken your immune system

and you can build up a resistance to the antibiotic and it will lose its

efficacy. The first thing you should do is have a culture done through your

family doctor. If it comes back negative then you should see a urologist. I

have had UTI problems since I was 5 years old. In the past 10 years I was

taking antibiotics about every 3 months for what I thought was a UTI until my

doctor mentioned to me during a physical that my results were negative most of

the time....I had been taking antibiotics for no reason. I have been now

diagnosed with a condition called Interstitial Cystitis. Its a chronic

condition where you have symptoms of a bladder infection but your cultures are

negative. Please go get a culture done straight

 

away and if it comes back negative and you are still having pain go and see a

urologist.

 

 

 

Hope you are feeling better soon, I feel for you, bladder pain is horrible! If

you have any questions feel free to contact me on or off the list,

 

 

 

Mandy

 

 

 

____________ _________ _________ __

 

Denise Turner <deniseamay >

 

@gro ups.com

 

Tue, April 13, 2010 2:50:39 PM

 

OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

 

 

Hi everyone!

 

I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some advice

and you have always been so helpful. And I don't really have anyone else to

ask.

 

 

 

I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks now. I've

been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three different

antibiotics for it. Each time I'm on the antibiotics the symptoms disappear

(frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping) but as soon as I finish the

antibiotics the symptoms appear again. I haven't actually had a culture test

done to confirm UTI which is odd that my doctor hasn't done yet so it may be

something totally other than UTI??!

 

 

 

I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I should keep

going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist or a Gynecologist?

? Which doctor do you think I should see for this? It's got to end, I'm going

crazy and starting to feel down about it.

 

 

 

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated! !! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

Denise

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi-

I have zero experience with any herbs etc. to relax the bladder muscle, but I

just googled it ( think I did 'how to relax bladder muscle'), and there are TONS

of sites that deal with this. Best of luck to you, and hope you find relief

soon!

j.

 

 

 

 

________________________________

Denise Turner <deniseamay

 

Thu, April 15, 2010 11:58:47 AM

Re: OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

 

Thanks so much, Mandy!  I agree with all you wrote.

 

I went to see a Urologist today and through a simple test they were able to

determine that my bladder is not emptying completely resulting in my frequent

and urgent urination.  I was prescribed Rapaflo to help relax the bladder

muscle so it can empty completely. 

 

I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this or knows of any natural remedies for

bladder relaxant?  I hate taking prescriptions but will take it if I can't find

a natural solution.  I don't know why I didn't ask the Uro.  Sometimes I get

overwhelmed or intimidated at a doctor's office and forget important

questions. 

 

Thanks again!!

Denise

 

--- On Wed, 4/14/10, Mandy Deir <mandydeir (AT) (DOT) ca> wrote:

 

Mandy Deir <mandydeir (AT) (DOT) ca>

Re: OT: Which doctor should I see?

@gro ups.com

Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 10:01 AM

 

 

 

Hi Denise,

 

I can't understand why your doctor done a culture to confirm a UTI. That is an

absolute must to rule out an infection. You doctor should not give you

antibiotics until they have confirmed a UTI, they can weaken your immune system

and you can build up a resistance to the antibiotic and it will lose its

efficacy. The first thing you should do is have a culture done through your

family doctor. If it comes back negative then you should see a urologist. I have

had UTI problems since I was 5 years old. In the past 10 years I was taking

antibiotics about every 3 months for what I thought was a UTI until my doctor

mentioned to me during a physical that my results were negative most of the

time....I had been taking antibiotics for no reason. I have been now diagnosed

with a condition called Interstitial Cystitis. Its a chronic condition where you

have symptoms of a bladder infection but your cultures are negative. Please go

get a culture done straight

 

away and if it comes back negative and you are still having pain go and see a

urologist.

 

Hope you are feeling better soon, I feel for you, bladder pain is horrible! If

you have any questions feel free to contact me on or off the list,

 

Mandy

 

____________ _________ _________ __

 

Denise Turner <deniseamay>

 

@gro ups.com

 

Tue, April 13, 2010 2:50:39 PM

 

OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

Hi everyone!

 

I hope you don't mind I send you this off topic message but I need some advice

and you have always been so helpful. And I don't really have anyone else to ask.

 

I've been dealing with what I thought was a UTI for the past 6 weeks now. I've

been seeing my family doctor about it and have been on three different

antibiotics for it. Each time I'm on the antibiotics the symptoms disappear

(frequent urination, urgency or urinate, cramping) but as soon as I finish the

antibiotics the symptoms appear again. I haven't actually had a culture test

done to confirm UTI which is odd that my doctor hasn't done yet so it may be

something totally other than UTI??!

 

I am experiencing the symptoms right now again and am not sure if I should keep

going back to my family doctor or go straight to a Urologist or a Gynecologist?

? Which doctor do you think I should see for this? It's got to end, I'm going

crazy and starting to feel down about it.

 

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated! !! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

Denise

 

 

[Guest guest]

Denise,

 

I'm glad to hear you got a diagnosis for your issue. I don't know anything about

meds or alternate cures for your situation. However, if you forgot to ask

something during a doctor visit, you can always call (or sometimes email) the

office later. Your doctor should be happy to follow-up. Lot's of people think

about additional questions after leaving the office.

 

-Sharon

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Sharon!  Actually I called the nurse today and she told me I'd have to

make an appt with the doctor to ask him the questions I had.  I thought that

was a little strange/rude but maybe they are a busy office and can't handle

dealing with phone calls along with regular visits??

 

I have been doing some research and am feeling better about everything

 

Thanks for everyone's replies.  I appreciate it!

Denise

 

 

 

--- On Fri, 4/16/10, Sharon Strauss <sstrauss wrote:

 

Sharon Strauss <sstrauss

Re: OT: Which doctor should I see?

 

Friday, April 16, 2010, 4:30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denise,

 

 

 

I'm glad to hear you got a diagnosis for your issue. I don't know anything about

meds or alternate cures for your situation. However, if you forgot to ask

something during a doctor visit, you can always call (or sometimes email) the

office later. Your doctor should be happy to follow-up. Lot's of people think

about additional questions after leaving the office.

 

 

 

-Sharon