Hey, I went to ER yesterday because my R lower back and side was killing me, and I felt the need to urinate and could absolutely not go! I wandered around the house, mostly the bathroom for 45 min to an hour until I went and told hubby, we HAVE to go to hospital I just can't take it. I walked with my cane stooped over just to get there.
After 2 different catheters were inserted finally some urine began to flow. When it did the pain almost made me pass out. The nurse said sometimes the urine can back up and cause problems in the kidney. I wondered if this was the case due to intense pain. I've had bladder infections before but none like this.
I had explained to them that my "neurogenic bladder" has been getting worse lately and that I was afraid it had totally locked up. In case you aren't aware, the neurogenic bladder is when you can not empty the bladder completely when you go, and it takes considerable pressure to get any urine out. I've had this since around 2003 or 04.
I've never taken any meds for it, but the ER doc says that "flomax" usually given for males has been shown to help with women as well. It has something to do with the prostate in men, but he said it is yet unknown how it works in women.
After they were able to get some urine they of course were able to tell that I had infection there. They found elevated white blood cell count and bacteria. So, I was given bactrim for 7 days and sent home. He had also said I was dehydrated, so drink water, cranberry juice and no caffeine.
This is really beginning to worry me that the catheter and I may become closer than I'd like.
I go to PCP tomorrow anyway, does anyone have similar issues?? I will tell her what my concerns are but should I ask for flowmax? Or are there other treatments? I will do some online research, but I thought if anyone had similar issues maybe someone could help with their experience??
Thanks for any help.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Have you been tested for Tethered Cord Syndrome? One of the symptoms of Tethered Cord is a Neurogenic bladder.
An MRI of your lumbar region could diagnose it. A low laying conus is typically a red flag for a tethered spinal cord.
Posted by twicebitten (Member # 5412) on :
Not that I'm aware. I think I've only had MRI of cervical spine area. This has never been mentioned. My 1st llmd said it was just another sx of lyme. I think my neurologist said it was just neuropathy, to which he has found no cause.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I would try the drug. Is that the same as Hytrin??
Are you able to do without a catheter now? I hope so!
How is your lyme treatment coming along?
I feel for you! Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
This is definitely a symptom of lyme.
It can either cause issues like yours or incontinence.
Until you get neurological lyme, you have no idea how many things can go wrong when nerves are affected.
Posted by twicebitten (Member # 5412) on :
Lymetoo, My doc didn't put me on the drug when I saw her on Tue. She sent a referral to Urologist, which I think I see on 25th.. No, the cathether is out. They just had it in when I was in ER. After they found the infection they pretty much stopped looking, drained the bladder, sent me home. I am not treating lyme at this time. I'm taking some time to get the rest of my body checked over.
I do this every 5 years or so. I have to have a break from treatment. My treatment was not helping anymore anyway, and my llmd would not change a thing. So, I went to a new PCP, which immediately took me off abx, and has been doing lots of other things to make sure nothing else is going on but the lyme stuff.
I am going to Urologist, Opthamologist, ENT, doing a sleep test, and have been back seeing a neurologist, along with the pain clinic.
I can only afford to do one or the other, lyme or regular treatments. I guess the word for what they do here is not "treatment" but more "test and guess"..ha!
Poppy- So true, neuro lyme can affect SO many things. I've found out 1st hand. But, right now, just checking things to make sure there is nothing else going on. If the tests all come back neg. , then we know what the problem is!
Thanks for responding..treatment or no treatment, this crap is SO hard!
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