# This is NOT FUN. Stop snickering! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 4, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374 "2005-02-04T16:08:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/1 "2005-02-04T16:08:27Z")
It started yesterday morning. An odd sensation in my belly. An urge to void that wouldn’t go away, even though I’d gone just before leaving for the barn. An urge that nagged at me, increasing in strength, until I got home. By early afternoon I could no longer fool myself that this was anything but the dread: :eek: BLADDER INFECTION. :eek: I lucked out when I called my doctor’s office. There was a cancellation and could I get over there right away? YES. My doctor’s office is only five minutes away and (after voiding as much as I could squeeze out) I zipped on over. I now have a prescription for Bactrim, started yesterday afternoon, the news from an LPN friend that it will take 48 to 72 hours for the antibiotics to clear things up, and a desperate need to go to the bathroom. Every five minutes. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/2 "2005-02-04T16:28:12Z")
Heh. My doctor will prescribe antibiotics over the phone for this. God bless her. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/3 "2005-02-04T16:37:52Z")
I hear that. I’ve never had a bladder infection, but I have had my share of UTIs. Always having to pee, never feeling empty–even if you _just that second_ stopped going, and the _burning_, the _ **burning** _. TMI possibly- One of the only ways I could get myself to pee when it was at its worst was to pour a glass of cool water over the area to start myself. Not easy at work. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/4 "2005-02-04T16:44:29Z")
Oh, the burning, yes, when I had UTIs before that was killer. Thank Og it’s all in the bladder this time and I don’t have to scream whenever I void. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/5 "2005-02-04T17:01:36Z")
For UTI’s, I use over-the-counter Cystex. 'Cause I’m allergic to so many antibiotics. Usually, if I start taking Cystex immediately at _the very first sign of a problem_ , and forcing fluids, I can get rid of an infection very quickly, without going to the doctor. Cystex has both an analgesic for the pain, and an anti-bacterial for the actual infection. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/6 "2005-02-04T17:30:08Z")
> [@](#): > > the burning, the burning. Use that orange stuff…pyridium? Stops the burning. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/7 "2005-02-04T17:39:16Z")
Cranberry extract pills help with some of the symptoms for me, though they won’t cure the infection. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/8 "2005-02-04T17:40:41Z")
Aie, aie, aie! That’s not funny at all, that’s painful ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/9 "2005-02-04T17:41:49Z")
Yeah, the doctor should give you something that NUMBS your ureters, etc. as it goes through. I can’t believe they didn’t give you that! You must be going BONKERS. Worst. Illness. Ever. You totally have my sympathy. If you force fluids, you might bring on relief sooner. I mean, you can’t work, eat, sleep, read, or do anything but drink and pee. But it might end the agony before doomsday. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/10 "2005-02-04T17:42:32Z")
UTI’s and I are close pals, unfortunately. I share your pain. Definitely not funny. Glad you’re on the mend, though. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/11 "2005-02-04T18:04:31Z")
I’m at least spared the burning, the burning as I pee. Having been through that once or twice, I am grateful, grovelingly grateful. No, my burning agony is confined to the endless pressure in my bladder. Would pyridium help that or is it just effective for the urethral scalding? I’m chugging down water and cranberry juice till I squish. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/12 "2005-02-04T20:03:40Z")
Sometimes I’m really glad I can pee standing up (And that it doen’t burn) ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/13 "2005-02-04T20:40:17Z")
Don’t think you’re immune because of that. Try being a guy and having a UTI and having that same burning sensation, only in a longer urethra. ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/14 "2005-02-04T21:06:56Z")
I often have to pee every 5 minutes. And feel like I still have to go, even if I’ve just gone. So I went to the doctor. She took a urine sample to check for infection. She also gave me the dreaded Finger Of Doom test in case it was prostate related. Her conclusion? “You just have a small bladder.” Great. I _wish_ I had a UTI; at least then it’d be curable. ---
**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/15 "2005-02-05T03:23:02Z")
> [@Sengkelat](#): > > Great. I _wish_ I had a UTI; at least then it’d be curable. No you don’t. TRUST me on this one. I too have a small bladder, and I’ve had more than enough UTIs to know which one I’d prefer! Max. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/16 "2005-02-05T04:10:20Z")
Definitely I’d take the small bladder over the UTI, oh yes oh yes! Heck, for most of my adult life I’ve had a teensy bladder. My friends found much hilarity in this. Oddly enough, since the changes of menopause concluded, I’ve had less of a problem. For the first time in years, decades, I’ve been able to sleep through the night without having to get up, flinging cats in all driections, for at least one trip to the bathroom. (There was one part of The Change where that was an almost hourly activity.) So, indeed, I know what it’s like to have to take a whiz every waking hour or so. I would gladly, gleefully go back to that for the rest of my life rather than go on another day with this infection, thankyouverymuch. Although it does seem to be abating somewhat. The pyridium I got today is helping some. It still is Um, excuse me. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/17 "2005-02-05T12:29:57Z")
Yeah, you might notice about the pyridium, it, ummm, makes your “output” frighteningly orange. Hi-lighter orange. Just thought I’d mention it. You definitely have my sympathies! Due to all my kidney stones, I get lots of infections; see the stones, when they move through, cause scarring on all my inner bits. The scar tissue provides lots of lovely footholds for bacteria. Yuck! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/18 "2005-02-05T13:13:35Z")
Having been warned about the Technicolor side effect, I’m not alarmed, just mildly amused. In fact, after taking the first pill I was impatient for the pumpkin piss to show up – “Aha! The pyridium’s finally reached my bladder! Get to work, dammit!” It definitely seems better this morning, although there’s still a lingering feeling of not-quite-there-yet. You have my utmost sympathies, **norinew** , I can’t imagine, and don’t want to know, how it must feel to pass kidney stones and have frequent bladder infections. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-fun-stop-snickering/288374/19 "2005-02-05T14:12:35Z")
You’re right; you don’t wanna know. But thanks for the sympathy.