As a one off infection...all is needed is a specimen of urine for culture and sensitivity of a mid stream sample of urine.
Further investigation is only required for recurrent attacks OR one attack which has been particularly resistant to treatment and in this case an ultrasound and or bladder investigation with a camera (cystoscopy) and possibly dye investigation of the urinary tract (Intravenous pyelography).
If it takes some time to reply to further questions it is because mrs sqad has called me to breakfast ;-)
sqad thank you, have had same problems for over two months, pain around kidney area, flanks, lower abdomen, and a discharge, for the last 4 weeks.
I did suggest to the doctors about UTI, cystitis back then. I need to rule this out, i also get pain between should blades and down to lower back, have to urinate frequently, but no relief when i do.
cath, thanks, it's been wholly miserable for the last three months, and have come to my own conclusion that at least part of this, i hope! is a UTI,
have had any number of urine samples taken, but the blasted pain persists, and has travelled up my back, which i hate. The last lot of antibiotics may well have caused the diarrhoea i had after christmas.
sqad apologies if interrupted your breakfast....
mmm ... have any of the tests come back positive for infection?
if not, you may need to push for more investigation, instead of 'go away little woman'! UTI is too easy to blame *all* pains on, when it may be more complex! (although the frequent urination looks right)
sqad, if that my love remark was for me, thank heavens for something cheery...
Cath, sadly there is a degree of go away it's all in your head with a number of GP's in the practice. However this has persisted, and i am in pain. Not least i have dropped all this weight, and still eating so as some can tell i have not been a happy camper
i hope the breakfast was good, i am tempted to have egg and bacon in a while, push the boat out a bit, but my tummy is in such disarray, can antibiotic problems last two months, if so i will kick the GP in the proverbials, well not really, but i confess that this has been yuck
As per some of my recent posts, I asked for a test quite recently as I suspected I had one due to pain (flank and lower down and generally though got gastro problems and gallstones in the mix), feeling really sick, going to the loo a lot and feeling generally crap and run down. The nurse did a urine dip test and it showed up a number of things (blood, protein and other stuff potentially gallstone related) so she went to check with a GP.
I was having blood tests anyway (for my arthritis) so they checked those results and sent the urine sample to the lab which showed red blood cells and my creatine level was raised but no infection. My inflammatory markers were up too but that's not unusual for me.
I had a 3 day course of antibiotics but not much help so am going back to have some restests in mid Feb to see if anything shows up then. Not much they can do on the back of just those tests as it's not like it diagnoses anything in itself - more markers of a possible problem - and am sure if there was anything really worrying that showed up that something else would have been done so will wait and see what the retest brings.
I've been suffering with evil back pain especially round my shoulderblades (nerve pain from gallstones) and find having something cushioning my back helps and warmth can be nicely distracting like a hot water bottle (makes for a nice cushion too). I love my V pillow too which helps prop me up and get more comfortable.
I find drinking a lot of fluids help too to keep hydrated and help flush my system, water, diluted cordial etc... and some cranberry juice. I tend to feel dehydrated quite quickly which makes me feel crap so preventive measures do help. I've cut down a lot of coffee and other caffine, avoid anything with lots of sugar or artificial sweetners and drink far more water. The healthier and more natural and less processed your diet the better.
Jenna sorry did not get back till now, i know exactly how you feel, it's a nightmare, I have a blood test today, i hope it shows up as thyroid, seems bizarre to say that, to put to rest the idea it's all in the head. Had gallbladder out a few years ago having had pancreatitis, so no stones, but everything else you have put matches up.