Re: doctor appointment today, an update, some questions

[Guest guest]

---

Hi Carla,

I used a cane when I had my hip repaired the first time and my Dr.

told me that even though my injury was on my right that I still could

use my right hand to hold the cane so that is what I did-whatever was

good for me. I now use a walker and a wheelchair if I have someone

to push me-I'm only 43 years old. About your blood in your urine-

your Dr. needs to get you to a Urologist-I had blood in my urine and

it was the first stage of bladder cancer-I don't want to scare you,

but that was what it was. It might also be a small kidney stone or

an infection. Please go to an Urologist. I will pray for you. I

know you don't need anything else to worry about with as much as you

have already. I will pray for you.

God Bless, Sue in Michigan.

In , " Carla Kay Laesch "

<claesch@n...> wrote:

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> Well, here comes a book your way. I've had a long day today and

been to

> my doctor. First off, she okayed the possibility for a support cane

for

> walking to get out and about. I went to a home health supply store

and

> looked at some. I think a standard support cane, no quad base,

would be

> the best. The quad canes seemed to heavy for my right hand.

Question,

> has anyone ever told you that the support cane usually goes in the

hand

> opposite the pain, i.e. the pain is in my left hip, so I'd use the

cane

> on my right? This works great, when I use my Seeing Eye Dog

because he

> is always working on my left side and would have a hand free. The

> problem is, sometimes I leave the dog at home and use my white cane

and

> I'm right handed. Can you switch and use the support cane in the

left

> hand even though that is the side that has the pain? I just

wondered

> about that. I wouldn't be able to use the support cane only unless

I

> worked the dog if that is the case.

>

> Ok, the other problems I discovered are as follows. I've had

problems

> with my bladder for the past two months. I seem to be having

accidents

> every night. Not sure why, my doctor didn't seem to see any

infection,

> but did notice some blood in my urine. I'm hoping the medications

> aren't causing me problems internally? Has anyone ever had a

problem

> with incontinence, or this blood in the urine thing? She said if

this

> fourth anti-biotic doesn't help, I'll have to go into the

eurologist and

> get a look. It sort of scares me to think that the anti-

inflamatories,

> or mtx could be causing problems...but i haven't been able to take

the

> mtx for two months now...because of the bronchitis and urinary trac

> infections...so it would have to be anti-inflamatories. I don't

know, I

> just hope that this all isn't related to the pa somehow, and that

the

> bladder problems clear up. I'm tired of waking up soaked, and

having to

> do laundry...not to mention my poor brand new matress!

>

> I'm just a little down and discouraged about all of this. I feel

bad

> having to ask for some sort of mobility aid other than a cane or

dog. I

> already have enough to worry about when I'm out and about. I do

think

> the support cane would help, I just feel so embarrassed. I'm really

> down right now, so sorry for the negative feelings. I just need to

get

> things out and off of my chest. Any support, ideas, or suggestions

> would be appreciated. I am greatful to have such a caring group to

come

> to. Not very many people understand this condition, and it is

harder to

> compensate for two disabilities it seems...both the blindness and

it's

> obstacles, and then the pa and it's challenges.

>

> Thanks for listening, and hope to hear from you all soon.

>

>

>

> Carla, Jacques (The Little Golden Boy),

> Sandy & Schroeder (Kitties)

> HYPERLINK " mailto:claesch@n... " claesch@n...

> Interested in Buying Avon?

> To browse for products, or

> place an order visit

>

HYPERLINK " http://www.youravon.com/claesch/ " www.youravon.com/claesch/

> Our Personal Webpage

> HYPERLINK

> " http://www.geocities.com/prayingkitty/ " www.geocities.com/prayingkit

ty/

> ID " HYPERLINK

> " mailto:prayingkitty@y... " prayingkitty@y...

> MSN ID " HYPERLINK " mailto:claesch@n... " claesch@n...

>

>

>

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>

[Guest guest]

hi sue thanks for your response. yes it is a bit scary to think that

their could be signs of bladder cancer! but i'm glad you mentioned this

as i need to keep things in mind when i go to the doctor again. These

are things I will suggest. Thanks for your prayers, I'm feeling a

little more up beat today!

Hugs

Carla

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[Guest guest]

" Has anyone ever had a problem with incontinence, or this blood in

the urine thing? "

Hi Carla: YES -- I have had this problem. (Apologies, as I just

posted another response to you under a different thread) I did

undergo testing to try and determine the source of the hematuria and

none was found. The urologist chalked it up to, " well, some people

just have 'leaky kidneys.' "

Forgive me for repeating this -- incontinence is very common in folks

with connective tissue disorders. While a urologist is a specialist

in treatment of disorders of the (entire) urinary tract, a

UROGYNECOLOGIST specializes in the treatment of women with

INCONTINENCE. I've unfortunately had experience with both

specialties, and the difference in the care I've received between the

two has been astounding. The expertise of a urogyn is well worth the

effort it sometimes can take to see one (which sounds very similar to

what many of you have had to endure to find a good rheumatologist!).

I'm still trying to learn about PA but I'd be happy to help with the

incontinence issue, if I'm able.

Warmly,

Cat

>

>

> Ok, the other problems I discovered are as follows. I've had

problems

> with my bladder for the past two months. I seem to be having

accidents

> every night. Not sure why, my doctor didn't seem to see any

infection,

> but did notice some blood in my urine. I'm hoping the medications

> aren't causing me problems internally? Has anyone ever had a

problem

> with incontinence, or this blood in the urine thing? She said if

this

> fourth anti-biotic doesn't help, I'll have to go into the

eurologist and

> get a look. It sort of scares me to think that the anti-

inflamatories,

> or mtx could be causing problems...but i haven't been able to take

the

> mtx for two months now...because of the bronchitis and urinary trac

> infections...so it would have to be anti-inflamatories. I don't

know, I

> just hope that this all isn't related to the pa somehow, and that

the

> bladder problems clear up. I'm tired of waking up soaked, and

having to

> do laundry...not to mention my poor brand new matress!

>

> I'm just a little down and discouraged about all of this. I feel

bad

> having to ask for some sort of mobility aid other than a cane or

dog. I

> already have enough to worry about when I'm out and about. I do

think

> the support cane would help, I just feel so embarrassed. I'm really

> down right now, so sorry for the negative feelings. I just need to

get

> things out and off of my chest. Any support, ideas, or suggestions

> would be appreciated. I am greatful to have such a caring group to

come

> to. Not very many people understand this condition, and it is

harder to

> compensate for two disabilities it seems...both the blindness and

it's

> obstacles, and then the pa and it's challenges.

>

> Thanks for listening, and hope to hear from you all soon.

>

>

>

> Carla, Jacques (The Little Golden Boy),

> Sandy & Schroeder (Kitties)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Carla,

I don't know about the incontinence but I know a bit about canes. I

use a " forearm " crutch(a rather large awkward looking thing!) because

my wrists/MCPs are so bad I can't put any weight on a regular cane.

And, yes, you are supposed to try to put the cane down on the ground

on the opposite side of the 'bad' leg/foot at the same time the bad

leg/foot hits the ground. This way you can shift some of the weight

from that bad leg/foot to your arm. But what if you have TWO bad

legs/feet? And what if, as in my case, your shoulder gets flared up

on the side you are supposed to use the cane? Well, then you

improvise and just figure out what works for you. You will get some

benefit out of the cane even if you use it in the other hane, it will

help with balance and IF you can figure your gait out so that the

cane hits the ground at the same time as your bad leg it will still

do its job of sharing the weight.

And, do try not to feel embarrassed. I find that using my crutch and

wearing my wrist supports often gets me extra help from strangers

opening doors, letting me in front in line, etc. !!! So try to turn

your self-conscientiousness around and let all those healthy people

offer you help! Take what you can get. I wish you luck with adjusting

to the cane and finding help for the wet bed at night. Bless you.

Tsan

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> Well, here comes a book your way. I've had a long day today and

been to

> my doctor. First off, she okayed the possibility for a support cane

for

> walking to get out and about. I went to a home health supply store

and

> looked at some. I think a standard support cane, no quad base,

would be

> the best. The quad canes seemed to heavy for my right hand.

Question,

> has anyone ever told you that the support cane usually goes in the

hand

> opposite the pain, i.e. the pain is in my left hip, so I'd use the

cane

> on my right? This works great, when I use my Seeing Eye Dog

because he

> is always working on my left side and would have a hand free. The

> problem is, sometimes I leave the dog at home and use my white cane

and

> I'm right handed. Can you switch and use the support cane in the

left

> hand even though that is the side that has the pain? I just

wondered

> about that. I wouldn't be able to use the support cane only unless

I

> worked the dog if that is the case.

>

> Ok, the other problems I discovered are as follows. I've had

problems

> with my bladder for the past two months. I seem to be having

accidents

> every night. Not sure why, my doctor didn't seem to see any

infection,

> but did notice some blood in my urine. I'm hoping the medications

> aren't causing me problems internally? Has anyone ever had a

problem

> with incontinence, or this blood in the urine thing? She said if

this

> fourth anti-biotic doesn't help, I'll have to go into the

eurologist and

> get a look. It sort of scares me to think that the anti-

inflamatories,

> or mtx could be causing problems...but i haven't been able to take

the

> mtx for two months now...because of the bronchitis and urinary trac

> infections...so it would have to be anti-inflamatories. I don't

know, I

> just hope that this all isn't related to the pa somehow, and that

the

> bladder problems clear up. I'm tired of waking up soaked, and

having to

> do laundry...not to mention my poor brand new matress!

>

> I'm just a little down and discouraged about all of this. I feel

bad

> having to ask for some sort of mobility aid other than a cane or

dog. I

> already have enough to worry about when I'm out and about. I do

think

> the support cane would help, I just feel so embarrassed. I'm really

> down right now, so sorry for the negative feelings. I just need to

get

> things out and off of my chest. Any support, ideas, or suggestions

> would be appreciated. I am greatful to have such a caring group to

come

> to. Not very many people understand this condition, and it is

harder to

> compensate for two disabilities it seems...both the blindness and

it's

> obstacles, and then the pa and it's challenges.

>

> Thanks for listening, and hope to hear from you all soon.

>

>

>

> Carla, Jacques (The Little Golden Boy),

> Sandy & Schroeder (Kitties)

> HYPERLINK " mailto:claesch@n... " claesch@n...

> Interested in Buying Avon?

> To browse for products, or

> place an order visit

>

HYPERLINK " http://www.youravon.com/claesch/ " www.youravon.com/claesch/

> Our Personal Webpage

> HYPERLINK

> " http://www.geocities.com/prayingkitty/ " www.geocities.com/prayingkit

ty/

> ID " HYPERLINK

> " mailto:prayingkitty@y... " prayingkitty@y...

> MSN ID " HYPERLINK " mailto:claesch@n... " claesch@n...

>

>

>

> ---

> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

> Version: 6.0.792 / Virus Database: 536 - Release Date: 11/9/2004

>

>

>

>