[Chazen18]

Good morning fellow MS'ers! I haven't been here for a while but I always know if I have any concerns or questions I can come here and be comforted and informed! A little history of myself and my wonderful disease. I am 25 years old, female, diagnosed in November 07 and currently am feeling fairly good. I think I am basically just getting used to the changes I have had to face in my life and it's becoming normal life again.... well... until about a month and a half ago that is. I have never once in my life had a urinary tract infection and I managed to have two in one month. Broke down and went to the ER with the first one because my lower back hurt so bad I thought I was going into renal failure. Luckily I managed to catch the infection before it hit my kidneys.. Then about 3 weeks after i finished my initial antibiotics, I was back at the doctor with excruciating back/hip pain again. This time, due to the repeat of the UTI, they ordered an IVP (basically X-rays of your urinary tract)(oh yes, and don't forget the incredibly fun bowel cleansing you have to do with that test... ). I am signed up through my pcp to receive my results via email. I received an email and it said due to the IVP test results, your doctor has ordered a CT scan. So, what does any normal human being do when you read something like that? Yep, I freaked out and got on the phone trying to figure out what the heck was wrong with me. I called and the best result I received from that phone conversation was, "its just a precautionary measure" and "we think you may have a blockage". Ok, so, blockage can be anything from kidney stones, to neurological issues, to cancer.... I have a urologist appt today and am very concerned... I guess Im just here basically for support and maybe some ideas of what this appt will be like.... and of course if anyone has experienced anything like this in their journey with MS. Any comments would be appreciated! Thanks to all!

[hollym]

I don't know what your appt will entail as I haven't had a urology consult at this point, but I wanted to say good luck and I hope everything is OK. Hopefully, this appt will solve the mystery of why you are getting recurrent UTI's and they will get you fixed up.

Don't panic about the unknown, just wait until they explain it to you. I have been through the ringer with diagnostics being told everything from it could be brain tumor, pareneoplastic syndrome (cancer), ALS, pulmonary emboli, etc. to it's probably just an atypical presentation of MS.

I've learned not to read too much into a doc ordering a follow up test because of something they saw on a previous test. Just get the testing done and wait to find out somethign concrete. I know that is easier for me to say than for you to do, but it isn't going to help you to get overly worried.

((((Chazen18))))

[NurseNancy]

i'm sorry, but i can't answer your Q's.
but, i hope you have a good appt and start to get some answers.

[hollym]

Chazen - How did it go with the uro???

[SandyC]

Jim's had bad urology problems for awhile. They often go in and look for blockages and such. It could be scar tissue, a stone or a diverticulitis type problem where bacteria is stuck in the bladder wall. Try not to worry until you have to.

[Chazen18]

Thanks to all that read and replied! Well, I went to the urologist. I just saw the PA, not the doctor yet. She was super nice and I am so glad I chose that office. Basically, they did an ultra sound of my bladder to measure the amount of urine left after I went. I ended up still having 162mL remaining after I went to the bathroom. I knew I had a retention problem. She ended up giving me Flomax for my issue with getting started with urination. This stuff is pretty weird. It severly effects my cognitive functions, makes me dizzy, and makes me slur my words pretty bad. Which really sux because I work in a customer service call center and half to talk all night long. It feels like my tongue is about 5 inches thick. So, I think I may have to contact the doc and see if she wants to prescribe something else. Has anyone else experienced this?

She has ordered a "special" CT scan... no idea why it is special or why it has to be special... and also a "special" urine analysis... I am going to give my urine sample tomorrow and my ct scan is scheduled for friday!! I guess we will find out! Anyone else been through this?? Would love to hear from you all!

[tovaxin_lab_rat]

I hope you get some answers after your appt on Friday.

When I was first dx'd with MS, I too had urinary problems. I made several trips to the ER just to get "cathed" because I was not able to "pee." That was the beginning of my diagnosis process.

I had a bladder ultrasound, a CT scan, and was taught how to self-cath. The doc rx'd valium (5mg) for me when I am having problems so my bladder will relax enough to allow me to urinate. I really haven't had any serious problems except when I have an exacerbation.

I have had a lot of yeast infections in the past due to having so many IV solumedrol treatments. My ob/gyn doc finally suggested that I take daily AZO Yeast (over the counter) and it has been great. Not one yeast infection since. It's cheap stuff and I take 1 tablet daily.

Keep us posted on your appt on Friday and keep asking questions! We are here to help you.