So, because of my many UTI's, I had to go see a urologist. He told me to call them when I feel like I get my next UTI. So, I went today and they wanted a catheterized specimen! I refused. Has anyone else had this happen to them?? It seems excessive and invasive. I know in women there is more of a change of contaminants but it hasn't been a problem for me in the past. Honestly, I just hate this getting old stuff. D Mannose doesn't work for me, BTW. I don't always get infections from E Coli. I need to beef up on the probiotics........
I go to urologist and have had many problems for many years. Actually, many times a cath is done because there is better chance of getting unconaminated specimen so that the culture and sensitivity are more apt to be more trustworthy. A lot of routine UA'S into the "sterile container are fairly contaminated. Many times the lab has to sort out the contaminates. Actually, sometimes having a cath will save you money in the long run. If you get a more trustworthy spec the first time the antibiotic used to treat may be more specific. There are many times that a voided UA is done and the antibiotic is used that may not always cover the bacterial infection. These times can result in having the infection return very quickly because it was not totally killed off the first time.
As a nurse I guess I don't find a catheterized spec that invasive. They have these little tubes now with with a small straw like tuber with a hole in the end. Just insert the straw like tube (very small) in an inch or so and the urine goes into the sterile tube. So easy and more reliable. Ask the nurse or doctor at the urologists office.
I am seeing my urologist again in a couple weeks for another cysto and a urodynamics test. I have had urinary incontinence of some kind for about 2+ years. Trying to figure out if it is autoimmune in nature or if it came from the damage to my spinal cord prior to my spinal fusion. If it isn't one thing it is another. Hope you get your problem taken care of. Irish
I agree with Irish. I would have have allowed them to insert a catheter to collect a specimen. I would put this in the category of mildly invasive and it?s worth it to get a good specimen.
I know those UTIs can really wear you down so I hope the urologist can get to the bottom of this.
Thank you Irish and Skylar for the replies! I gave them a regular specimen but I am going to have to do a cath specimen to make sure the infection is gone because it grew out two organisms! One was Klebsiella and the other good ole E Coli.
I guess I got what I deserve!!! LOL... It's just been a rough few years for me. Things that I don't expect to cause difficulty and pain cause me weeks of pain. I just don't feel like being poked or prodded any more than I have to.
Those are the two that I have had in the past months. The Klebsiella put me in the hospital in Dec with sepsis. I have to drink a lot and just plain keep track of myself cause the klebsiella is hard to get rid of. To think that I had to get to age 76 to get the bladder infections. Sure glad I didn't have to worry about that when I was younger. Irish