Re: another UTI - to Cam

[Guest guest]

Cam (and everybody else),

Thank you for the food for thought. I was at a two-day workshop out

of town Tuesday and Wednesday (got home last night just in time to

go to a class from 7-9 pm) and am just now reading this. I thought

I'd be able to read the board while I was gone, but it didn't work

out that way.

On Monday, I called the Urgent Care doc back because I still had

back (kidney) pain and the nurse suggested I go to the ER to see if

I have a kidney stone. I investigated just what the ER would do and

found out they'd give me pain meds and send me home to see if the

stone would pass before doing anything further. Well, I have plenty

of pain meds, so I opted not to go to the ER. I have been taking a

Norco at bed time and forcing as much fluid through my body as

possible.

I've questioned whether or not " new angles " could be a factor

(already have an " after " routine), but the thing that really

concerns me is that both infections have been in my kidneys. I

didn't have any normal lower UTI symptoms - no burning, difficulty

with urination, etc. - just pain and cloudy urine.

Your last thought is what has me concerned. Certainly, I have been

more aware of whether or not I've finished the job of late and I've

also been paying very close attention to whether or not I have any

other pain or discomfort in my abdominal region. I was having some

cramping in my lower abdomen, but I started on Tuesday (!), so I

think I solved that one...

What else could go wrong???? I fell down the stairs of my front

porch this morning, ripped my pants and skinned my knee. I called

Bernie (Dr. Bridwell's nurse) and she said that most often, there is

no serious damage in a situation like this. My right shoulder is

beginning to hurt quite a bit (landed on my right hand and arm) and

I'm noticing my neck is kind of sore, but my back seems OK at this

point. I know from the last time I fell on stairs that I may feel

like hell tomorrow. I took an Ultram when I got to work as pain

prevention.

I think I need to get back in bed and start over from last

Wednesday. The good news is, my spirits are still high and none of

this is getting me down. I'm going to call my PCP next and update

her on the goings on in the life of kam.

Thanks to all of you for your concern and encouragement. Oh the

adventures of flatback!!!

kam

>

> The other thought was that there often seems to be a relationship

> with all our scoliosis issues and potential nerve damage to the

> nerves that control the bladder....perhaps you now have to work

> extra hard to insure you have completely voided? I have read that

> retaining urine can be a problem when there are issues with nerves

> in the lumbar/sacral area. Maybe a quick google search and you can

> pull up some good info on that....

[Guest guest]

The last time I had a kidney stone, I called my PCP and he told me to

go to the emergency room if I started feeling worse. At the ER, they

did a CT scan and found " several " stones. Then they gave me pain meds

and told me to drink lots of fluids.

I also saw a urologist, and all he did was have me xrayed every 6

months until I decided it was a waste of money.

From previous experience, if you get to the point where you vomit when

you try to drink water, or if the pain gets extremely intense and you

start vomiting, then the stone may be blocking the exit path of the

urine and surgery becomes more urgent. Otherwise, it is quite

possible to live with kidney stones. They usually only hurt when they

are moving, or if you start getting dehydrated.

>

> On Monday, I called the Urgent Care doc back because I still had

> back (kidney) pain and the nurse suggested I go to the ER to see if

> I have a kidney stone. I investigated just what the ER would do and

> found out they'd give me pain meds and send me home to see if the

> stone would pass before doing anything further. Well, I have plenty

> of pain meds, so I opted not to go to the ER. I have been taking a

> Norco at bed time and forcing as much fluid through my body as

> possible.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Suzanne. It's nice to hear your thoughts. I stayed with my

senior in college (I was her nanny) while in Stillwater and told her to

take me to the ER ONLY IF I broke out in a cold sweat and started

throwing up. I'm back home and so far, my main symptom is still just

the constant back pain. I guess I'm fairly accustomed to dealing with

that.

BTW, I went to water fitness twice about a month ago and discovered I

don't have sufficient self-control to " be safe " in the water. I wanted

to do crunches and stuff that violates my restrictions, so I'm sticking

with walking for a bit longer. I haven't been in the water since and

you've given me another good reason to stay out for awhile.

I hope you get some relief soon! I keep thinking of you and my friend

who just had surgery with Dr. Bridwell in March and realizing how

fortunate I am to know two people who understand. If you need anything,

I'm close by!

kam

[Guest guest]

Kam,

Geez..how much worse can it get?....I am sorry you had a scary fall. I

hope all is still where DrB put it....I am guessing yes. I think

Martha, and a few others, have told similar stories of surviving early

falls...scary yes, but indicative of how securely they attach this

stuff to our spines!

I hope you are able to get to the bottom of this UTI thing...please

let us know what your PCP says.

I hope this week starts to go a little better.

Take Care,

[Guest guest]

I had an attack of foot drop and fell over stepping down from a curb about 10 weeks post op. It was moderately hairy as it was in the middle of a busy London street and I couldn't work out how, even with help, I was going to get up in time to get out of the road before the lights changed again (not sure why I wasted the energy to worry, as the traffic just couldn't go, simple as that) so was quite panicked. Everything stayed in place though, and the biggest injury was cutting my knees open and ripping my skirt. Fingers crossed it's the same for you, and the bruising heals quickly enough.

titch-- " The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom. " - H. L. Mencken

[Guest guest]

Oh, Kim,

So sorry to hear about your trials and tribulations. Just to let you know about my falls. About 4 years after my revision, I tripped and landed on my upper arm which broke, so far up that it was considered a shoulder injury . Absolutely no damage to my back. The following year, I tripped again, landed on my forehead causing a concussion. No harm to my back, though! Both times, there was not even a scrape on my hands or arms and the docs decided I landed the way I did in an attempt to protect my back. A fused back is quite strong. Hope you get to the bottom of the kidney issue.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: another UTI - to Cam

Cam (and everybody else),Thank you for the food for thought. I was at a two-day workshop out of town Tuesday and Wednesday (got home last night just in time to go to a class from 7-9 pm) and am just now reading this. I thought I'd be able to read the board while I was gone, but it didn't work out that way.On Monday, I called the Urgent Care doc back because I still had back (kidney) pain and the nurse suggested I go to the ER to see if I have a kidney stone. I investigated just what the ER would do and found out they'd give me pain meds and send me home to see if the stone would pass before doing anything further. Well, I have plenty of pain meds, so I opted not to go to the ER. I have been taking a Norco at bed time and forcing as much fluid through my body as possible.I've questioned whether or not "new angles" could be a factor (already have an "after" routine), but the thing that really concerns me is that both infections have been in my kidneys. I didn't have any normal lower UTI symptoms - no burning, difficulty with urination, etc. - just pain and cloudy urine.Your last thought is what has me concerned. Certainly, I have been more aware of whether or not I've finished the job of late and I've also been paying very close attention to whether or not I have any other pain or discomfort in my abdominal region. I was having some cramping in my lower abdomen, but I started on Tuesday (!), so I think I solved that one...What else could go wrong???? I fell down the stairs of my front porch this morning, ripped my pants and skinned my knee. I called Bernie (Dr. Bridwell's nurse) and she said that most often, there is no serious damage in a situation like this. My right shoulder is beginning to hurt quite a bit (landed on my right hand and arm) and I'm noticing my neck is kind of sore, but my back seems OK at this point. I know from the last time I fell on stairs that I may feel like hell tomorrow. I took an Ultram when I got to work as pain prevention.I think I need to get back in bed and start over from last Wednesday. The good news is, my spirits are still high and none of this is getting me down. I'm going to call my PCP next and update her on the goings on in the life of kam.Thanks to all of you for your concern and encouragement. Oh the adventures of flatback!!!kam> > The other thought was that there often seems to be a relationship > with all our scoliosis issues and potential nerve damage to the > nerves that control the bladder....perhaps you now have to work > extra hard to insure you have completely voided? I have read that > retaining urine can be a problem when there are issues with nerves > in the lumbar/sacral area. Maybe a quick google search and you can > pull up some good info on that....