 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Meg Mangin R.N.
Research Team (on leave)
|
Posted: Fri Dec 1st, 2006 00:29 |
|
What should I do for my bladder symptoms?
Bladder infection (cystitis, urinary tract infection, UTI)
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an acute bacterial infection occurring in any part of the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder), the most common UTI is a bladder infection.
The medical term for bladder infection is cystitis which literally means inflammation of the bladder. Bladder infections are more common in women because their shorter urethra provides easier access for bacteria but men are also susceptible.
Symptoms of a bladder infection include:
-urgent desire to empty the bladder
-frequent urination
-burning or pain during urination (dysuria)
-bladder spasms
-the feeling of having to urinate even though little or no urine actually comes out.
-in some cases, you may have cloudy, bloody or foul-smelling urine
-maybe a mild fever.
Cystitis is diagnosed with a urinalysis to assess the amount of bacteria in the urine. Although urine contains a variety of fluids. salts, and waste products, it normally does not have bacteria in it. Sometimes a culture of the bacteria is done to determine the appropriate antibiotic. Until your doctor does a culture and sensitivity, any antibiotic you are given for a urinary tract infection is an educated guess.
Symptoms may be due to immunopathology
If the urinalysis does not reveal a bladder infection, your symptoms may be due to immunopathology caused by inflammation in the genitourinary tract which causes emergent symptoms that mimic cystitis.
Burning with urination could be due to inflammation in your bladder or prostate that has kicked up due to an immune system reaction.
Irritation in the urinary tract is not related to the alkalinity or acidity of urine. Here is a primer on the pH of urine.
Genital irritation may be due to vulvodynia. This may or not be related to an alteration in the pH of urine and this article offers self care options to reduce symptoms. A medical exam is also suggested.
Polyuria (excessive urination) may be due to subclinical kidney inflammation.
Slow down the immune system reaction
If these symptoms are intolerable, try slowing down the immune system reaction to see if those symptoms are relieved.
The MP goal is to achieve and maintain tolerable symptoms (physically, mentally, and emotionally) by adjustment of meds dosing and schedule as suited individually within the guidelines. The ARB (Benicar) and the antibiotics make the symptoms evident in the immunopathology. The cause is the inflammatory disease.
Finding ways to dampen immunopathology may provide relief. See My immune system reaction is too strong. What should I do? any time that your symptoms are going past tolerable:
If your urinalysis is positive and doc wants to use something other than minocycline, refer to I need to take a different antibiotic for awhile. What should I do? Until your doctor does a culture and sensitivity, any antibiotic you are given for a urinary tract infection is an edcuated guess.
if you need extra, temporary relief of your symptoms contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice about Rx or OTC palliative medications.
Cranberry for prevention
A substance in cranberries is thought to prevent bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. Some folks find that taking cranberry capsules for urinary symptoms can be helpful to their continuing on the MP. The recommended dosing for UTI prophylaxis is based on the most recent positive randomized controlled trial19 that used one tablet of concentrated cranberry extract (300 to 400 mg) twice daily, or 8 oz of pure unsweetened cranberry juice three times daily. Note: Pure unsweetened cranberry juice can be added to clear diet soda (eg diet 7-up) to make a more palatable drink. To be effective in preventing UTIs, cranberry must be taken 'around the clock' in order to maintain its physical presence in the bladder.
D-mannose
Dr. Marshall cautions: "stay away from ALL sugars, including D-mannose."
Hematuria
-I had Haematuria also and because I was hypercalcaemic. Calcium deposits into the kidney and forms stones i.e Calcium oxalate crystals. This rips into the kidney as they move and causes blood in the urine and it shows by your elavated creatinine and Urea. I'm not saying this rules out tumour but it's more likely your diagnosis is the Calcium in the Kidney. Since going on the MP, I don't have anymore stones forming or passing and my Haematuria has gone. By keep the 1,25D done below the Merc level Calcium from the bone doesn't get reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. ~Simom Elrahi
Bladder tumors
-I understand your emotions re bladder cancer. I went through it but can now say I am convinced the MP has strengthened my immune system to prevent it again. My last two bladder scopes after surgery to remove tumors were negative (for the past year) and the FISH chromosomal test of the bladder wash was also negative for cancer. Take a look at my MP thread under “edj2001”, I just posted an update earlier today. SEE Gene in phase 3 My doc called Dr. Marshall and he explained to doc why BCG was not an option. I also declined chemo due to the disruption to the immune system. As Dr. Marshall said in a post the VDR transcribes an anti metastasizing gene along with others to control/prevent cancer.~edj2001
Insterstitial cystitis
My IC has improved greatly on the MP, 8 years in need of 5 meds everyday and no relief. I wanted to kill myself it was SO BAD. Then 8 months on MP, no more meds, and the IC is doable. Before the MP, there was no ABX to treat IC as they considered it an inflammatory disease. Did not respond to Cipro and showed no bacteria according to the urologist. LOL I saw 7 before diagnosis. The usual treatment for UTI, cranberry juice is like putting alcohol over an open wound for IC patients. ~Lori
Prostatitis
-You are doing something to fix your prostate: the MP. You can expect herx like reduced stream, painful urination, and other prostate problems, but they do go away, and the PSA does drop to normal.
My prostate troubles were limited, and did not go as far as a cancer finding. However, other folks like Gene Johnson have used the MP in place of chemo successfully. ~Chris
See also:
Diagnosing flank pain
I have a yeast infection. What should I do?
Menopause
Last edited on Sat Oct 4th, 2008 03:25 by Meg Mangin R.N.
____________________
Nothing contained in this site is or should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by your physician.
|
Current time is 13:29 | |
|
|
|
|
