[suffering]

I did a minor in Psych. I really like English lit. too. I love writing. Sorry to hear your job search is so rough right now.

I am very familiar with the bright yellow pee! I take a lot of vitamins too. I have never taken pau d'arco for my bladder. I am not even sure what that is.

I just got the results of my broth culture test and it came back positive for group d streptococci. So it looks like more antibiotics for me. . . ugh.

I'm glad to hear you having some success w/the supplements and everything - yay.

[urethritis]

oh, well I graduated w/ a psychology degree so I'm pretty much guaranteed no job!!! I'm looking for anything that doesn't involve food or customer service. I've started on some new products today from nature's sunshine. those people must love me b/c I've bought a LOT of stuff from them lately. I've really been hitting the vitamins. so much that my pee is turning bright yellow.
English lit sounds fun. I'm a language type too. forget math, though. I run from math. I like me some doestovsky though. have you ever taken any pau d'arco for your bladder? I'm taking some right now and it seems to be doing something. we'll see.

[suffering]

Koala, thanks for the link. I personally can't take St.John's wort because of manic reaction but it might help someone else- thanks for posting it. How are you feeling these days?

Urethritis- congratulations on your graduation. What kind of job are you looking for? What did you study at college? I was stuyding English lit. I have 2 credits left to go but just can't get back to school. I tried to return two years ago but had to withdraw halfway through the semester and come home because I wasn't upto it.

I am pretty much just waiting now to get the results from those other two tests and get in to see this Lyme doctor.

I hope your bladder stays calm. Once a night is pretty good. It would be great if you didn't wake up at night at all. Right now I would kill for once a night (not to minimize your problem). I am waking up 6-10 times/night every night. This symptom has never eased up. I haven't slept through the night in over two years. This is probably my worst symptom. I miss sleep!!

Take care.

[urethritis]

oh, suffering, I lied in my other post. I have had to get up at night but only once. it would be an absolute miracle if I didn't have to get up at all!

[urethritis]

thanks koala. that's good to know.

[koala]

Thought you guys might like this:

http://health.msn.com/healthnews/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100136259

of course, this and birth control don't mix

[urethritis]

I just graduated college and I am having trouble finding a job. Depending on how bad it gets, I am able to work. It's only been really bad one or two times where I was peeing every 30 minutes or so and I couldn't do anything.
Right now my bladder is much calmer for some reason. I am happy that I haven't had to get up at night at all the past few nights.
So you are just waiting, huh? I'm considering my next move. I may go and see a naturopath next. Take Care.

[suffering]

Hi urethritis. Stuff is pretty much the same as always. I am still sleeping really poorly. I'm glad to hear your symptoms have been better at night lately, that is great. You might be sleeping so much to make up for the sleep you lost.

I think I'll get the results of my broth culture this week. Other than that I don't really have anything going on this week.

I don't think I've ever asked you but what is it that you do? Are you able to work or go to school with these symptoms?

[urethritis]

so suffering, how is it going? I've been better at night lately. which is good but now I've been sleeping all the time. about 16 hours a day. Maybe it's PMS.

[suffering]

I have to get a referral because it is a specialist. I hope they will recognize my test even though it was a US lab.

Unfortunately I already know the recovery won't be instant. I think I am looking at a two year recovery period. I have probably had this bacteria for about 10 years now. That is my guess anyway.

I'm glad your bladder is doing a bit better today. My bladder was very irritated earlier but it's okay (well as close to OK as it ever is) right now.

[urethritis]

oh, my bladder is better today but it's still hurting off and on. I'm trying to heal my stomach right now but that's not my main concern. I am waiting for the yeast cleanse to arrive so I can try it. I am anxious to know how fast you will recover once they start treating you. hopefully it will be instantaneous! that would be really cool. why do you have to get a referral even tho your test came back + ? I always have to get referrals to see different docs. I need to see a derm about my acne right now. I need to write a note about that. well, ttyl.

[suffering]

The cat is back at my house. He is in rough shape. He smells horrible (he was un-neuteured). He is missing both ears not just one. But he is overall healthy and he is recovering. He has never been in a home so he's in shock. They gave him lots of antibiotics and he had surgery. I think he will be okay, he just looks weird with no ears!

I've never heard of a naturopath who is an MD. That is very interesting. I can understand why you are sick of doctors.

I will stay clear of aspirin. I've actually never taken it before. I can't get in to se the Lyme doctor for a month .... well first I have to get a referral and my g.p. is away for 10 days. So 1 month plus 10 days. I know it's not very long but I am so sick of waiting. This doctor is the only Lyme doctor in the city I live in (which is the biggest city in the province). There really aren't many lyme doctors.

Anyway I'll let you know if I find out anything interesting from my other tests. I should have the results this coming week.

How are you feeling these days?

[urethritis]

wow, I hope that cat is okay. I've never trapped one myself as I am afraid of getting someone's loved pet.
so I found a naturopath who is also an MD. I ordered a yeast cleanse online and I'm going to try that first. my mom said I could have candidae and that may be some of my problem. who knows. wow, so a hyperbaric chamber? I hear those are really healthy for you. I'm done w/ doctors. I can't deal w/ it anymore. I'm still trying natural things but nothing has worked yet so far. but stay clear of aspirin! that's one thing I've learned!!

[suffering]

Urethritis,

Sorry to hear your appointment was so lousy! So he doesn't know how to treat it but he does know that naturopathy won't help. Hmmm. UGH doctors! I am so thoroughly sick of them and I am really sick about how they are giving you the run around. I have been going through a similar run around for 2 years and it is SO unpleasant. They just wanted to push me out the door.

What makes no sense is the fact that he admitted to you that he does NOT specialize in female issues& IC yet he automatically dismissed naturopathy. Wow, does he not see how dumb he is being? "I don't specialize in this and I don't know how to treat it but naturopathy won't help" Great logic, doc. I can see why naturopaths might get sick of doctors.

I think you are better off with a naturopath, at least at this point. Seeing too many bad doctors can really lead to burn out. At least it has for me.

I still think broth culture is a good thing to try. And the best part is you don't have to go through your doctor to get it done, you can just send it off yourself. If you want detailed instructions about how to give a good urine sample let me know and I can email or PM them to you. The nurse gave me good instructions about how to do the test.

Your mom is right about the antibiotics. Part of the treatment for Lyme is antibiotics. I also plan on doing hyperbaric oxygen along with antibiotics because the two work well together, much better than antibiotics alone.

On a whole other topic I have a sick cat in my basement. It has been an eventful night. I set out a humane trap (hav-a-hart) to trap a sick stray (he is missing his ear and is all bloody) and I accidentally caught what I think is a housecat, then a raccoon and finally the sick cat. He is in the trap in my basement right now and I'm taking him to the vet in the morning. I just hope he's not too stressed out. What a day! I am still new to this trapping thing can you tell? You should've seen the expression on the housecat who wandered into the trap, he was pretty freaked out. When I opened it he ran so quick he was just a streak. My other cats are all downstairs smelling at the laundry room door they know there's a cat in there.

Again, I am sorry to hear your appointment went so badly. I hope you aren't too discouraged.

[urethritis]

okay, so that urologist now hates me. I took my mom and we ganged up on him. he was pissy w/ us and we were very rude to him. he kept trying to tell me it wasn't my bladder and that I should go see a gyno. Well, that's what I did last time and he sent me back to this urologist. he said he doesn't think I have IC but he can't rule it out and then he said no natural cure would work for me. oh yeah, then what will smartypants???!! It was very irritating. so now he wants me to go up to seattle to an IC specialist and I told him I couldn't afford it and he said that if it were important to me I could. &%$* him!! He is such an ass! and now he hates me. so I will go and see a naturopath now in Oregon. I'm tired of these docs. but he actually admitted that all he sees all day are old men w/ prostate problems and that he isn't specialized in female problems that aren't easily diagnosable. ha! anyway, that was my day. hope things are going well for you. I mentioned you in my appt. and I even brought up the mycoplasma and broth culture and he said it wasn't the right way to go. whatever. my mom said you would have to take antibiotics for Lyme. is that what they told you? take care.

[suffering]

Hi Urethritis: Ouch, that stomach sounds painful! Let me know how your urologist appointment goes.

I am relieved to know that it is something that can be treated and the Lyme diagnosis makes a lot of sense given my symptoms. I will keep you updated. I am curious to find out the results of my other tests too.

[urethritis]

oh, I forgot to mention that my stomach problems were caused by the aspirin that I was taking for my bladder. It ate a hole in my stomach. Blech!

[urethritis]

YAY suffering!!!!! I am sooooo excited for you! Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel??? I know one day soon this will all be behind you and it will be just a bad memory. Your life will begin and be full and happy again! That is very good news. You finally have an answer!
I'm seeing that urologist today again and I'll ask him about broth culture and Lyme and mycoplasma infection. Not hopeful. You should be out celebrating this news! Keep me updated! Toodles.

[suffering]

Koala: Sorry to hear you have another UTI! It sounds very painful and frustrating. I hope you feel better soon.

Urethritis: I just found out today that my Lyme test was positive. It was actually a 1:128 which means they diluted the blood 128 times and the bacteria still showed up. That is the highest Lyme score you can get. I now have to find a Lyme specialist in Canada. I am encouraged. This could explain a LOT of my symptoms and not just the bladder either but lots of things.

I am still waiting on my broth culture results and the vitamin-mineral blood test. Those results will be in next week and the nurse is going to call me about them then.

Finally something makes some sense! I hope you are feeling OK today. My sleep is still crap but I might be one step closer to figuring this all out.

[koala]

Grr..... I've gone so long without one ( for me thats about 2 months) and i freaking get one today. it hurts. What do ya know... .i stop chugging water 24/7 and i get one. damn damn damn