Hi, Tracy.
Just when I think I know what's going on, new information pops up. Apparently my UTI is a UTI after all, but maybe no longer.
In my last post I said the problem with my urinary tract infection was that it wasn't an infection, but more likely the result of irradiation, and that I had been prescribed medication. Well, the story has changed.
First the information was that a specimen showed no indication of bacterial infection. The doctor used a cystoscope to peek into my bladder and found it inflamed, theorized it was from radiation and authorized medication to calm things down. Before his examination, my symptoms had already calmed down and after the exam they went away almost entirely. I concluded that the meds were likely keeping at bay a problem that was already diminishing.
But then, after I passed the information on to my radiology team, I heard back that I indeed had an infection after all -- involving e-coli! And then the urologist confirmed that. However, before he he had sent a camera up my urethra to study my bladder, he took the cautionary step of an antibiotic injection in my hip to prevent potential infection.
Put that all together, and now the theory is that I indeed had a UTI, that the radiation from last spring was not the source of the problem, and that the antibiotic I was given as part of the examination is what took care of the UTI.
So I purchased, a month's supply of bladder-soothing Elmiron for $40 (cost to Kaiser Permanente: $750), and I only took a few pills before the doctor said don't bother, wait and watch.
And that's where I'm at. Things have calmed down. I store my pads and diapers for the next crisis. I will just sign off with the same moniker as the famous author of "Yellow River" -- call me I.P. Daily.
Love,
Dad
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