HikingFan
08-28-2003, 12:13 AM
Hi Women on the board!
This might sound sorta odd, so thanks in advance for reading this.
Since these problems with my back/shoulders/neck started, I have had some strage cocurrent issues with bladder problems. Mainly, I have had 3 infections which I haven't discovered were urinary tract infections until they had reached the point of spreading past the urinary tract and to the kidneys. For those of you who do not know a lot about the urinary tract and kidneys, any urinary tract infection (UTI) left untreated will spread to the kidneys.
I know that the pain medications probably mask the pain, which makes sense that I don't notice the pain until it is very advnaced and has already spread to the kidneys. But here is the kicker....
Usually blood in the urine tells the doc that you have kidney stones. But each time this happens with me, they do a CT scan and don't find stones. Then they seem awful baffled, but the infection clears up, I feel much better, so we all go about our merry way. The blood eventually stops showing up in the urine test, and they stop seeming worried, but have no explanations.
I am worried about what the blood is all about. I have asked if it could be anything related to the pain medications, since I have been taking a lot of acetiminophin and opiates, but apparently, since this is all processed through the liver and not kidneys, my doc tells me that these have nothing to do with eachtother (and they do test my liver enzymes to ensure everything is okay there.)
I know urinary rentention is a problem with opiate therapy, but does anyone have any insight or experience with this stuff?
I am in Charleston, SC for business, and this just happened again. I spent the day in Urgent Care, and have to get a CT Scan tomorrow since I will be here for another week and they won't wait until I get back to San Diego. I'm so frustrated!!
Thanks for any advice or insight you could provide.
:)
Sara
[This message has been edited by HikingFan (edited 08-28-2003).]
This might sound sorta odd, so thanks in advance for reading this.
Since these problems with my back/shoulders/neck started, I have had some strage cocurrent issues with bladder problems. Mainly, I have had 3 infections which I haven't discovered were urinary tract infections until they had reached the point of spreading past the urinary tract and to the kidneys. For those of you who do not know a lot about the urinary tract and kidneys, any urinary tract infection (UTI) left untreated will spread to the kidneys.
I know that the pain medications probably mask the pain, which makes sense that I don't notice the pain until it is very advnaced and has already spread to the kidneys. But here is the kicker....
Usually blood in the urine tells the doc that you have kidney stones. But each time this happens with me, they do a CT scan and don't find stones. Then they seem awful baffled, but the infection clears up, I feel much better, so we all go about our merry way. The blood eventually stops showing up in the urine test, and they stop seeming worried, but have no explanations.
I am worried about what the blood is all about. I have asked if it could be anything related to the pain medications, since I have been taking a lot of acetiminophin and opiates, but apparently, since this is all processed through the liver and not kidneys, my doc tells me that these have nothing to do with eachtother (and they do test my liver enzymes to ensure everything is okay there.)
I know urinary rentention is a problem with opiate therapy, but does anyone have any insight or experience with this stuff?
I am in Charleston, SC for business, and this just happened again. I spent the day in Urgent Care, and have to get a CT Scan tomorrow since I will be here for another week and they won't wait until I get back to San Diego. I'm so frustrated!!
Thanks for any advice or insight you could provide.
:)
Sara
[This message has been edited by HikingFan (edited 08-28-2003).]
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Autumn Angel
08-28-2003, 01:04 AM
Sara...we seem to have the same things going on here. I have the urine retention as well I can drink all day and if I dont just GO when I think I should be like after 5 coffee's I wouldnt feel a thing till I burst I think.
And when I do get to the toilet it like I can read a novel before I will actually start going and read another before I am done.
I have blood in my urine too it was discovered at a routine physical for the jaw surgery I was going to have before my PM doc said NOT to have it done. It wasnt visable to the eye but it showed up on those strip tests. I saw a urologist and had a cystoscopy done and there was nothing wrong...No cysts, no tumors, no infection. My Urologist said it was something that was hereditary and not to be surprised if my girls might have it.
Is yours visable? do you get alot of UTI's? I had a few but only after my hysterectomy last May. Do you have the IBS problem too? Alot of CP patients have it as well. Just wanted you to know your not alone with your probs.
Your friend
Autumn.
And when I do get to the toilet it like I can read a novel before I will actually start going and read another before I am done.
I have blood in my urine too it was discovered at a routine physical for the jaw surgery I was going to have before my PM doc said NOT to have it done. It wasnt visable to the eye but it showed up on those strip tests. I saw a urologist and had a cystoscopy done and there was nothing wrong...No cysts, no tumors, no infection. My Urologist said it was something that was hereditary and not to be surprised if my girls might have it.
Is yours visable? do you get alot of UTI's? I had a few but only after my hysterectomy last May. Do you have the IBS problem too? Alot of CP patients have it as well. Just wanted you to know your not alone with your probs.
Your friend
Autumn.
avogadro
08-28-2003, 01:58 AM
OMG!!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE all the things I am learning from this site! The last year, I have had 3 urinary tract infections. Then, I had one that turned into a VERY serious kidney infection. They thought they were going to have to put me in the hospital but 21 days of Cipro (a horrible, strong antibitoic with BAD side effects) took care of the infection. I have been taking "cranberry tablets" twice a day to help. I have not had one since so I hope they are working!
Between that and the IBS and the CP, I thought I was just a 31 year old that was falling apart! It never occurred to me that these things were related....
Between that and the IBS and the CP, I thought I was just a 31 year old that was falling apart! It never occurred to me that these things were related....
HikingFan
08-28-2003, 10:31 AM
Thankfully I do not have the IBS, but it seems extremely prevalent here on the board from what I read with peeoples symptoms.
Thanks guys for giving me some insight to your experiences...at least I am not alone here.
Autumn, I haven't had any OB/GYN issues/surgeries. Do they tell you this could be a reason for your problems?
I haven't had a pap done in 2 years, so I think I am going to go in for a regular exam just in case. I hate those things! (what woman doesn't??) :)
Avogadro...do the cranberry pills help at all? I heard they inhibit the bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls, but I've always been skeptical.
Have a good day you guys!
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
Sara
Thanks guys for giving me some insight to your experiences...at least I am not alone here.
Autumn, I haven't had any OB/GYN issues/surgeries. Do they tell you this could be a reason for your problems?
I haven't had a pap done in 2 years, so I think I am going to go in for a regular exam just in case. I hate those things! (what woman doesn't??) :)
Avogadro...do the cranberry pills help at all? I heard they inhibit the bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls, but I've always been skeptical.
Have a good day you guys!
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
Sara
Mo7609
08-28-2003, 10:35 AM
Sara,
I have had many UTIs in the past and have had blood in my urine but have never had to have a ct scan for it. They always gave me meds and off I was. Same thing with my daughter. She had a nasty infection with lots of blood and they just gave her meds and she was fine. Autum.... I have the same problem as you with not having to go and them when you think you do you end up sitting there forever waiting! Doesn't happen to me all the time but maybe a few times a month. Take care all. Mo
I have had many UTIs in the past and have had blood in my urine but have never had to have a ct scan for it. They always gave me meds and off I was. Same thing with my daughter. She had a nasty infection with lots of blood and they just gave her meds and she was fine. Autum.... I have the same problem as you with not having to go and them when you think you do you end up sitting there forever waiting! Doesn't happen to me all the time but maybe a few times a month. Take care all. Mo
avogadro
08-28-2003, 10:40 AM
Sara,
I haven't had a UTI since I started taking the cranberry pills so they might be working. I don't usually have much faith in "natural/holistic" type treatments. I usually think that stuff doesn't work go for traditional meds. But, my doctor actually recommended it so I guess itmight be working! The only problem is they are kind of expensive!
I haven't had a UTI since I started taking the cranberry pills so they might be working. I don't usually have much faith in "natural/holistic" type treatments. I usually think that stuff doesn't work go for traditional meds. But, my doctor actually recommended it so I guess itmight be working! The only problem is they are kind of expensive!