Re: Do I really have a UTI

April 10, 2009

Holly,

I don't know if you have a UTI, but Dr. Jonathon has two non-prescription

methods of dealing with UTIs and one is SCD legal. Unfortunately, he tells you

to stop the treatment when your symptoms disappear and since you have none, I'm

not sure it would help. But contact me offlist if you want a PDF of his

treatments.

, mom to

>

> My doctor ordered a slew of tests on March 31 (for giggles, I think), one of

them being a urinalysis. This was a surprise test, and I wasn't " prepared. " I

went to the bathroom before I left my house at 8:30 in the morning, and didn't

have time to eat or drink. By the time I did the test at about 11:30, it had

been ages since I drank anything (the night before), and I gave a very sad

little sample. I know you're supposed to clean up with little bacterial wipes

beforehand (they had none) and collect midstream (HA HA HA), but that wasn't an

option.

>

> I get a call today, April 9, saying my urinalysis shows I have a UTI and that

I need to take cipro for a couple weeks. I have no symptoms. I have the results

here, and all of the abnormal reading are very small, a trace of ketones (should

be none), WBC Esterase of 1.0 (should be 0), cloudy appearance, WBC between 11 -

30 (should be 0 - 5), and a specific gravity higher than normal.

>

> Now to my question. I had no symptoms before the test, and still have no

symptoms. It's been 9 days since I took the test. If it were really serious,

wouldn't they have called before now? Could the fact that I was probably

dehydrated affect the results? Do you think they are just doling out antibiotics

unnecessarily? We have some garlic oil pills, olive leaf extract, Grapefruit

Seed Extract (the concentrated liquid), and virgin coconut oil around the house.

I've never taken any of them before, but could one of them be an alternative to

cipro?

>

> Thank you for your opinions/advice! I think this is my last question regarding

all my test results .

>

> Holly

> Crohn's

> SCD 12/01/08

>

April 10, 2009

Hi Holly,

I am not sure about the test results...I would for sure ask for a second test before taking any medication ( second urianalysis). Especially if you have no simptoms.....

I hope it helps,

Subject: Re: Do I really have a UTITo: BTVC-SCD Date: Friday, April 10, 2009, 5:18 AM

Holly,I don't know if you have a UTI, but Dr. Jonathon has two non-prescription methods of dealing with UTIs and one is SCD legal. Unfortunately, he tells you to stop the treatment when your symptoms disappear and since you have none, I'm not sure it would help. But contact me offlist if you want a PDF of his treatments., mom to >> My doctor ordered a slew of tests on March 31 (for giggles, I think), one of them being a urinalysis. This was a surprise test, and I wasn't "prepared." I went to the bathroom before I left my house at 8:30 in the morning, and didn't have time to eat or drink. By the time I did the test at about 11:30, it had been ages since I drank anything (the night before), and I gave a very sad little sample. I know you're supposed to

clean up with little bacterial wipes beforehand (they had none) and collect midstream (HA HA HA), but that wasn't an option.> > I get a call today, April 9, saying my urinalysis shows I have a UTI and that I need to take cipro for a couple weeks. I have no symptoms. I have the results here, and all of the abnormal reading are very small, a trace of ketones (should be none), WBC Esterase of 1.0 (should be 0), cloudy appearance, WBC between 11 - 30 (should be 0 - 5), and a specific gravity higher than normal.> > Now to my question. I had no symptoms before the test, and still have no symptoms. It's been 9 days since I took the test. If it were really serious, wouldn't they have called before now? Could the fact that I was probably dehydrated affect the results? Do you think they are just doling out antibiotics unnecessarily? We have some garlic oil pills, olive leaf extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract (the concentrated liquid),

and virgin coconut oil around the house. I've never taken any of them before, but could one of them be an alternative to cipro?> > Thank you for your opinions/advice! I think this is my last question regarding all my test results .> > Holly> Crohn's> SCD 12/01/08>

April 10, 2009

Holly

Did the lab run a culture on your urine to ensure you really do have an UTI? If not, I would ask for it before taking cipro or any other antibiotics, especially if you're symptom-free. I get dehydrated easily, and apparently that can affect what turns up in the urinalysis, or so I've learned from experience.

I didn't know enough about asking for a culture and was told once, six years ago, that I had a kidney infection based on my urinalysis and WBC count (was given this in the ER when I went in with gallbladder pain....), took the ciprofloxacin, ended up back in the ER on my first dose (severe allergic reaction), was given Levaquin, ended up back in the ER since Levaquin is in the same family of antibiotics.... I opted to not take any more antibiotics, went to see my own PCP, when I then learned about requesting a culture to confirm the presence of an infection. I gave another urine sample, and the lab was requested to run a culture. No kidney infection, no UTI found.

Turns out I have interstitial cystitis, which means bladder lining inflammation, and it is common or normal for me to have a high WBC in my urine. Learned this a few months after this sad experience. All my urinalysis since this time have a high WBC count which sends up the red flags, so I have to insist that a culture be run first before I accept the kidney infection or UTI label. My doctors don't always remember this, so I have to stay alert.

You don't want to take chances with having a UTI or kidney infection, but IMHO it is worth asking the doctor to run the 3 to 4 day culture to confirm that you do have a UTI, especially when you are symptom free. Once your body reacts allergically to an antibiotic, you can't take it again. And we know how much damage antibiotics can cause, so why take one unnecessarily.

Kim M.

SCD 5 years

April 10, 2009

Hi Holly,

I would definitely ask for a re test of your urine using clean catch method. If you do have a UTI, all that is needed is 3 days of Macrodantin, ( 6 doses) not a couple of weeks of Cipro. Many women can have silent UTI's--usually older women ( I don't know your age) and they are only found by the UA, It is very common. I cannot speak to natural remedies for UTI because for me, I want those little buggers out of there. A bladder infection , which can ensue without proper treatment, is nothing to sneeze at.

Terry

Do I really have a UTI

My doctor ordered a slew of tests on March 31 (for giggles, I think), one of them being a urinalysis. This was a surprise test, and I wasn't "prepared." I went to the bathroom before I left my house at 8:30 in the morning, and didn't have time to eat or drink. By the time I did the test at about 11:30, it had been ages since I drank anything (the night before), and I gave a very sad little sample. I know you're supposed to clean up with little bacterial wipes beforehand (they had none) and collect midstream (HA HA HA), but that wasn't an option.I get a call today, April 9, saying my urinalysis shows I have a UTI and that I need to take cipro for a couple weeks. I have no symptoms. I have the results here, and all of the abnormal reading are very small, a trace of ketones (should be none), WBC Esterase of 1.0 (should be 0), cloudy appearance, WBC between 11 - 30 (should be 0 - 5), and a specific gravity higher than normal.Now to my question. I had no symptoms before the test, and still have no symptoms. It's been 9 days since I took the test. If it were really serious, wouldn't they have called before now? Could the fact that I was probably dehydrated affect the results? Do you think they are just doling out antibiotics unnecessarily? We have some garlic oil pills, olive leaf extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract (the concentrated liquid), and virgin coconut oil around the house. I've never taken any of them before, but could one of them be an alternative to cipro?Thank you for your opinions/advice! I think this is my last question regarding all my test results .HollyCrohn'sSCD 12/01/08

April 10, 2009

Hi Kim,

I had something similar happen to me. I went to the ER for dehydration due to a

crohn's episode. They said I had a UTI and started me on an IV antibiotic (I

don't know what it was though). I felt worse and was admitted. Upon further

review, they decided I didn't have a UTI but kept me on the antibiotics. After 4

days, a nurse noticed that I always felt worse right after she hung a new bag of

antibiotics. They quit giving them to me, I felt better, and they sent me home.

I was hospitalized and made miserable for no reason!

Anyhow, there was a urine culture done this time. Under bacteria, it says few,

which is in the normal range. The only abnormal result is the WBC at 11 - 30

(normal range is 0 - 5).

I'm thinking that maybe my doc is trying to be extra cautious since I'm taking

Humira. Unfortunately, the office is closed on Fridays, so I couldn't call and

ask more questions.

Holly

>

> Holly

>

> Did the lab run a culture on your urine to ensure you really do have an UTI?

If not, I would ask for it before taking cipro or any other antibiotics,

especially if you're symptom-free. I get dehydrated easily, and apparently that

can affect what turns up in the urinalysis, or so I've learned from experience.

>

> I didn't know enough about asking for a culture and was told once, six years

ago, that I had a kidney infection based on my urinalysis and WBC count (was

given this in the ER when I went in with gallbladder pain....), took the

ciprofloxacin, ended up back in the ER on my first dose (severe allergic

reaction), was given Levaquin, ended up back in the ER since Levaquin is in the

same family of antibiotics.... I opted to not take any more antibiotics, went

to see my own PCP, when I then learned about requesting a culture to confirm the

presence of an infection. I gave another urine sample, and the lab was

requested to run a culture. No kidney infection, no UTI found.

>

> Turns out I have interstitial cystitis, which means bladder lining

inflammation, and it is common or normal for me to have a high WBC in my urine.

Learned this a few months after this sad experience. All my urinalysis since

this time have a high WBC count which sends up the red flags, so I have to

insist that a culture be run first before I accept the kidney infection or UTI

label. My doctors don't always remember this, so I have to stay alert.

>

> You don't want to take chances with having a UTI or kidney infection, but IMHO

it is worth asking the doctor to run the 3 to 4 day culture to confirm that you

do have a UTI, especially when you are symptom free. Once your body reacts

allergically to an antibiotic, you can't take it again. And we know how much

damage antibiotics can cause, so why take one unnecessarily.

>

> Kim M.

> SCD 5 years

>

April 10, 2009

Hi Terry,

I'm 34. I don't think I've ever had a UTI before, so the Cipro seems to be a bit

extreme to use right out of the gates. My doctor is closed on Friday's, so I'll

have to wait to get another test. However, it took them 9 days to get back the

results of the last test. If I have to wait another 9 days from Monday, the UTI

really could get ugly. However, I'm highly suspicious that I even have one. In

the mean time, I've been reading up on natural remedies. I took 1/2 teaspoon of

coconut oil (the first time I've ever taken it). It's a far cry from the 3

tablespoons that I saw recommended, but I guess it's better than sitting around

waiting.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Holly

>

> Hi Holly,

>

> I would definitely ask for a re test of your urine using clean catch method.

If you do have a UTI, all that is needed is 3 days of Macrodantin, ( 6 doses)

not a couple of weeks of Cipro. Many women can have silent UTI's--usually older

women ( I don't know your age) and they are only found by the UA, It is very

common. I cannot speak to natural remedies for UTI because for me, I want those

little buggers out of there. A bladder infection , which can ensue without

proper treatment, is nothing to sneeze at.

>

> Terry

April 11, 2009

> Hi Terry,

>

> I'm 34. I don't think I've ever had a UTI before, so the Cipro seems

> to be a bit extreme to use right out of the gates. My doctor is

> closed on Friday's, so I'll have to wait to get another test.

> However, it took them 9 days to get back the results of the last

> test. If I have to wait another 9 days from Monday, the UTI really

> could get ugly. However, I'm highly suspicious that I even have one.

> In the mean time, I've been reading up on natural remedies. I took

> 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil (the first time I've ever taken it).

> It's a far cry from the 3 tablespoons that I saw recommended, but I

> guess it's better than sitting around waiting.

>

> Thanks for the input everyone!

Get cranberry juice.

Mara

April 11, 2009