Re: UTI

Jasmine19 · ‎07-16-2012

I had a kidney stone a few years ago that presented like a bladder infection. The stone was lodged at the junction of the ureter (tube from the kidney) and bladder, so no back or flank pain. My symptoms were urgency and frequency of urination and pelvic pain. I was on two antibiotics before the stone was diagnosed by CT. A stone like mine will usually show red and white blood cells in the urine but no bacteria.

sweetee2 · ‎06-21-2015

A few months ago I had a UTI after over 25 years. I just went over to Instanta care. They only gave me 5 pills. I asked why only 5, they said that if they didn't work I needed to come back and get a different script . I told them that there's no way that 5 pills is going to take care of this. They gave me 7. Luckily it worked. I could if sworn that they used to give you 14 pills.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

You just reminded me of Jimmy Carter. He was hospitalized with a UTI earler this month. Hopefully he received better care and is on the mend.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

@kismet

I feel sure the antibiotic was only given based on findings in the initial urinalysis. Since your daughter returned to the clinic so soon with little improvement, her urine specimen was sent out for culture. If that grows bacteria, her antibiotic will be changed accordingly.

Based on the fact your daughter hasn’t seen or felt much of an improvement after 3 full days, the next step is the CT scan with dye, to see if she has a kidney stone. If a kidney stone is the root of the problems, taking an antibiotic is not necessary. Referral to a urologist will happen if your daughter has a stone.

Antibiotic usage is being cut drastically due to the acceleration of super bugs and antibiotic resistance. Test results must prove bacteria is present before my doctor, or my husbands VA provider will prescribe an antibiotic. Based on the drug prescribed, it could be for 5, 7, or 10 days. It has been many years since I took an antibiotic for 14 days.

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

Changing the antibiotic still happens in many physician’s offices today. Sending your daughter out for other testing was the thinking of the one physician she saw. Doctors don’t agree on everything. The quick test in the office just checked for the possibility of infection but the test did not check for the organism your daughter might be infected with. This lab work should be done. Your daughter can ask to have this done and she can see a different person in the office if she wants to.

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

Ask for a culture and sensitivity. It's cheap.

Throwing antibiotics at it without knowing what you're hitting is today's dr.

I had a recurrent UTI that needed 3 different medications and weeks to cure. Today's superbugs are no joke.

knittykitty · ‎03-10-2010

it only takes a few days for a urine culture. my doctor holds off on an antibiotic until the culture comes in so she knows which specific antibiotic is best. if I am super uncomfortable in the interim, she prescribes a few days of a broad spectrum antibiotic.

urostat is now available without prescription, so I use that until the antibiotic kicks in to reduce discomfort.

studies discount cranberry juice or pills re any efficacy.

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

Just talked to my daughter. She had to drive my grandson to school today so while she was in the area she went in for the CT. Said she wasn't feeling any better today and just wanted to find out what's going on. The clinic called and told her the scan would be covered so she went in. I hope this gives her some answers. Years ago they did give pills for 7 to 10 days for infections. I've been given a pill for three days in the past but it never did take care of the infection. So will see what's going on.

fortune · ‎03-14-2010

@kismet wrote:
I'm going to throw this out and see if this is the way things are done today. My daughter went to the walk in clinic, this is part of our doctor's office, and was tested for a UTI. The lab in the clinic checked it and there were 3 or 4 of the markers for an infection. She was given an antibiotic. That was on Friday. Today she was back in cause while she felt a little better said she doesn't feel much better so they did another test in the office and said they will send it out. Said she should go and get a CT to check for kidney stones. I've had more than my share of UTI's and I told her I would of asked to have the antibiotic changed. So they set her up for a scan on Friday. I wondered why she wasn't sent to a urologist first. They said a CT with the dye. She didn't see our regular doctor today the walk in sent her over to the NP where the regular clinic doctors are. She did ask if her antibiotic should be changed and the NP said she didn't want to change it. We both go to the same GP at the clinic but she couldn't get in to see him. Wondering if scans are done now instead of trying a different antibioitic. I had a bad one probably 4 or 5 years ago with blood. My doctor gave me an antiobiotic and I did the full treatment but at the end I felt like it wasn't gone. I was checked, it wasn't and was given a different antiobitic for 10 days and that took care of it. She asked me and I really have no answers because maybe things are different now. Is this the norm today. Expensive testing. She does have very good medical insurance.

@kismet

Before getting a Rx for a UTI, the urine sample needs to be cultured. This takes several days. It is up to the doctor to give an appropriate antibiotic at first, with the option of changing the antibiotic if the culture comes back requiring a more appropriate antibiotic. That is why I always go to a urologist for UTI matters.

kitty60 · ‎03-13-2010

Only a few weeks ago I was at urgent care for the same issue. The test showed an infection and she prescribed the common antibiotic, but also, sent the specimen out for a culture to see if it needed to be treated with a different antibiotic.