Um, So, Yeah...

Gonna talk about, like, er, pee and stuff so feel free to skip this one!

So I have (had? cuz maybe it's all better now as this is my last day of antibiotics?) a urinary tract infection.  Sigh.

I've had them before.  Most women I know have had one, but men can and do get them too.  Turns out Jason has never had one and didn't know much about them so allow me to do a small PSA.  THEY SUCK.  Ahem, whoops, that was an inside thought.  Uh, basically, bacteria get into the (ewww) urethra and, yeah that's not good.  It makes going pee (urinating) really hurt and if you don't get on antibiotics, it can spread up into your bladder and kidneys and that happened to me once and NO THANK YOU! 

It's quite common for women to get UTIs post sexual activity, so it's recommended that one pees after sex to "force out" any bacteria that might have been pushed up... er... there.  (So awkward to talk about y'all!)  It's also important to... er.... be mindful of the direction of your butt wipage (ahem) so that *that* bacteria... you know, stays away?

There may also be a hormonal aspect for some women and that's where I'm leaning at this time although quite honestly I don't know who to talk to about.. hormone stuff and I'll be honest about the fact that I'm still kind of avoiding medical stuff (like, I really should have called the doctor a few days earlier than I did but I wanted to beat it myself.)  Anyway...

So I haven't had a UTI in years.  Like really.  They're fairly common at Burning Man due to the dust and, well stuff, and so I think that was probably the last time I had one, so... 2015?  So a long while.  Thankfully.

I used to take cranberry capsules to help prevent UTIs (not always a "proven" thing but.. hey, I'll try, you know?) and I actually used to have a urine sample and requisition in my bathroom cupboard from my old doctor (I guess I used to get them more than I remember?) but I got rid of that and my capsules a couple of years ago as they were both ancient... and I didn't need them.

Now, in the past, from what I remember, I was quite uncomfortable with a UTI.  This time it wasn't so awful, it was just more of a "hmmm, that kind of sucked, maybe I have a small UTI?" and I figured I could flush it out myself.. it wasn't THAT bad?

Someone at Burning Man had recommended this stuff that doesn't help the infection but helps with the pain (which in my brain meant I could drink more and pee more and so be more likely to flush things out.)  So I used that on the Sunday and the stuff turned my pee BRIGHT ORANGE.  It says on the box that it would but OMG.  NO!  So... so very creepy.  Oh and I had my period too so it was just a general misery "down there".  LAME. (P.S. the stuff that turns your pee orange also stains things so I would have to clean my toilet every pee just so it wouldn't potentially stain orange ok kill me now? Ahem.)

So, yeah, I suffered for a few days but kept telling myself it "wasn't that bad".  I was not a happy camper but it wasn't getting worse so... I would just keep trying, right?  I'd gotten cranberry capsules, I was hammering them, I was drinking way more water, I was trying to take care of myself, it wasn't getting worse... so... this is good, right?  RIGHT?

Jason, who's never had a UTI suggested antibiotics.  NO, AM STRONG.  AM DEALING WITH IT.  My (female) co worker I mentioned it to "sorry, this is TMI but I have to tell someone, this is happening, I just need to whine to a human who understands!" flat out said "I would have gone to the doctor day one" and, well I guess that kind of tipped me over the edge.  I mean I'd had a day of orange pee, a day of crying every time I had to pee, and another day and a half of "not great."

I was starting to imagine that it was something else.  Some... maybe.. kidney stone?  Or, I dunno, my whole pee system had suddenly given up and I was stuck like this forever!

Plus I knew I wouldn't get in to see my doctor, plus I was working (and I don't know that her hours match my hours anymore with work?) so I really am grateful that the office helper person worked things out for me.  When I called I literally said I don't know what to do I think I have a little UTI, I guess I can't see the Doctor?  She said no, sorry, and I said, well I guess I just try a clinic then?  And she, being awesome, said, well it's a holiday tomorrow and you honestly probably won't get in anywhere on Friday either and you really shouldn't go all weekend with a UTI and no promises but I'll see what I can do and she took down my cell phone and the doctor actually called while I was on my way home and I really am so grateful.

I pulled over half way to the pharmacy (long way from work to there) and asked them if they'd gotten the fax.  They literally just had and said it'd be about 20 minutes so I sat in a parking lot and called C-Dawg and chatted with her for ten minutes and then headed on to the pharmacy.

Y'all, I was really only half expecting it to work and figured the antibiotics would just completely mess with my system and make me feel like crap, but then, within an hour of starting them?  I went pee and it didn't suck!  "Oh", I thought "I guess I actually had an infection after all... go figure?"  And I don't think I'm dumb... just, stubborn at best.  And it really wasn't as bad as I remember some others.  And I don't love being on antibiotics and I did think it was something I could just handle myself.

Well, no.  

I mentioned it to my Mom a few days later and she (I don't think I've told you but she used to be a nurse) said that there is "no such thing as a little infection" and that next time I suspect, just talk to the doctor ASAP.

Oh.  Lesson learned.  My bad.  Not like a cold or something you can or should fight off yourself, got it.  Ooops.

Ahem.

Anyway.  From what I remember, once you've had one, you're a little more likely to have another in the next while so I'll be extra thoughtful.  Staying on the cranberry capsules (because they might work), keeping my fluids up (beyond my "normal"), taking care of myself and, well, er, watching the area? 

I really also should try to get a referral or something to a person who deals with lady things and getting older lady things and, blah.  Being human is stupid.

I'm thankful that I have probiotics in my house right now, randomly for the first time in ages.  That'll be helpful to rebuild things once I'm done the meds.  Universe works in weird ways, eh?

But, yeah, anyway.  It's been a little unpleasant around here this last week or so.  Things aren't back to perfect yet and I'll be "watching" how things feel and maybe talking to my doctor again.  She said if things hadn't improved to let her know, but they have improved... just not back to "normal".

If you have a normal, pain free pee today y'all, be thankful to your body and don't take it for granted! (Or just ignore me and rock back and forth because ewwwwwwwww, pee!)