I went to the doctor like a big girl, and as usual this experience reminds me how much of a Sick Novice I am. Now, pregnany/fertility doctors? I can handle those rituals: the bloodwork, the ultrasounds, the shots. No problem. But ask me what my cholesterol level is and I’m all, “Um. I don’t know. Do I need an MRI to find that?”
When they walked me back to the exam room, I sat in the chair in the corner. The nurse looked at me like I was crazy, “Ma’am? We need you to sit on the exam table.” OH! Duh. Yeah. I am the patient this time. Not The Mom. After I peed in a cup, (And man, it’s been a long time since I had to do that) the doctor came in and said, “You have a very severe kidney infection. Are you in pain?” She then proceeded to karate-chop my back saying, “Does this hurt?” I’m all, “Well, uh, kinda. But I think it’s because you are hitting me.”
She brought me the prescriptions and said, “This is an antibiotic and this is to treat symptoms.” Do you want to know what as asked when she said that? I said, “Symptoms of what?” She looked at me and slowly said, like she was speaking to someone who didn’t speak English as a first language, “Your kidney infection? That I just told you about?” Oh! That! Right!
She sent me on my way and I went to get my prescriptions filled at Super Target. When I picked them up the pharmacist said, “Have you ever taken this one before?” After I told her that no, I had not, she listed of some of the side effects. “It might discolor your urine.”
REALLY? Are we talking, kinda brighter yellow - or are we talking Electric Blue? Because I think peeing Electric Blue Urine would be the coolest trick EVER. She then said, “And do you wear contacts?”
Huh? Am I going to start peeing through my eyes? Am I going to pre ELECTRIC BLUE through my eyes? THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER. I opted not to say any of these things and simply answered, “Nope.” “Oh,” she continued, “because it could discolor your contacts as well.”
B-O-R-I-N-G.
Anyway. Kidney Infection. Antibiotics. And some stuff that will turn my pee purple. I’m to go back on Sunday to pee (aqua) in a cup again. Good times.
I had a physical a few years ago and since it had been a while since I had one, the doctor had me get bloodwork and a urine test. I had a kidney infection, too, and I didn’t know it! They called me the next day, all concerned, “How are you feeling? Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” And I said I felt fine, and they didn’t believe me. Apparently I had quite an infection. Awesome! Whatever they gave me didn’t make me pee electric blue, too bad.
Because I was really dumb when I was in high school, me and some of my friends used to take water pills just so that our pee would be blue. We even sang a song about it! “I like to pee, I like to pee, I like to pee bright blue!” I still sing that every now and again. Its a good song.
This reminds me, I probably should see a doctor again soon. It’s HARD being a big girl, yo.
Ok I had that same “discoloring” drug a couple of years ago. No amount of “warning” they may give you will prepare you for the BRIGHT RED/ORANGE urine that will show up. It is SHOCKING!!!!! Scared the crap out of me even though I was warned. Blue would TOTALLY be better!
People who feel no pain with a kidney infection? I hate you. (No, I’m kidding, I totally love you… and want to know your secret.)
I have had three kidney infections, and oh, the pain. And Katie, you’re right - nothing prepares you for the HORRIFYING color of your pee. I also got the contact lens warning but never experienced any discoloration.
Zoot, I hope your pain-freeness continues and that we have sufficiently warned you to expect weird (although not blue, sadly) pee.
That orange pee freaks me right out every. single. time. I hate it. HATE IT! The horror of the orange pee!
Bitch, you better lay off that diet coke!
BRIGHT PUMPKIN ORANGE.
Startlingly halloween-festive orange. Been there!
I was once misdiagnosed with a kidney infection, but whatever they gave me did not give me multi-color pee. Not fair.
We used to feed my friend’s little brother green food coloring just to make his mom freak out when he peed.
I am glad that you aren’t in pain.
Has everyone (and their mother) told you about cranberry juice yet? I get UTIs all the time, and drinking the juice (and large amounts of other liquids) really helps if you catch the infection early on. Hope you feel better quickly!
For our first valentine’s day my (now) husband gave me a UTI. He’s such a romantic!
Hope your feeling better soon! Poor thing. Nothing like peeing a rainbow!
I’m surprised you weren’t feverish and in agony- you are one tough cookie. I had a severe kidney infection and could barely move to go to the doctor + had a high fever. Hope your kidneys are uninfected soon!
Here via Bobbieology. She told me how funny you are. She was right. Not everyone has the talent of making people laugh about pee!
Yup. Been there. Done that. More times than I care to admit. Seems like I can get a UTI by just THINKING about spending quality time with my husband these days. In fact, I just got over one about a month ago. Cranberry juice helps as does drinking shi*loads of water. Oh, and make sure you eat something before taking your meds - the red/orange pee pills will make your stomach rebel otherwise. Trust me. I said I’d been there, remember?
Hope you start feeling better soon!
–Mary
My sister, who is a nurse, swears by cranberry juice - just make sure you don’t get one of the “cranberry juice cocktails” that most stores have, ’cause there’s hardly any cranberry in those. I bet Fresh Market has some actual cranberry juice, though. She also says to drink lots of water and make sure you eat enough because otherwise those pills can upset your stomach. (I see that Mary already suggested all that, but I thought I’d second the recommendations!)
And I thought I saw you in Target this morning - but I had a headache that was rapidly approaching migraine level and I just wanted to get my stuff and get out of there, so I didn’t stop to say “Hi”.
Hope you’re on the mend soon!
Delurking again.
You crack me up! I’m sorry to hear that you have pee issues, er… I mean a kidney infection. Hope you get better soon.
Oh Zoot, I am betting they gave you pyridium and it will turn your pee red orange. It leaves spots everywhere and youwill find out if you splatter when you go! I’m a nurse and it stains alot of stuff. What is there that gives pretty blue pee everyone is talking about ?
You must have a really high pain threshold because UTIs are usually really painful and it takes a few days to turn into a kidney infection which is supposed to be even more painful! I’m pretty sure that’s why they were surprised when you said ’symptom’s of what?’. Pain is usually a major symptom! Other symptoms…having to pee constantly, just about your pants, actually your pants (but since you’re constantly, it’s just a few drops), in your . If you experienced none of this then you have a bladder of steel!
First sign of burning pee, I run to the doctor cuz I’m so afraid the other symptoms will be next to appear! Get well soon!
P.S. I’m a total lurker and I love your blog! Great way to start my day!
I had a really bad kidney infection once. I was peeing blood (painful, very painful), but surprisingly didn’t have any back pain until I went to the doctor, got karate chopped and started my meds. Keep drinking your cranberry juice and get some rest!
I once had surgery “down there” and they neglected to inform me or the aftercare nurses that I would be injected with die in the bladder. They did this to make sure they didn’t nick it or something - anyway… I had to drink juice and pee a certain amount of cc’s before I could be discharged. So I drink and have to pee (hallelujia I’ll be freed) and so I did. I get up and gently wipe (surgery remember) and turned and looked and froze. I still had some drugs in my system and couldn’t make the cookie-monster-electric-blue in the toilet (which was white when I went in) compute. I stood there so long the nurse got worried and came in. She looked. She looked kind of confused too, and just said “huh. I’m gonna go get your chart.” Anyway just thought I’d share I have indeed peed electric blue, and it was cool in a not supposed to be there kind of way. (I also was trying to compute if my body could actually make that color when the nurse came in)