I Have Other Organs Down There

I appear to have a UTI from the catheter used during my surgery.  Went in on Friday for my fourth clinic visit of the week and had tons of pain when my main doc pressed on my bladder.  She was thrilled to give me a likely diagnosis and said gleefully, "I can treat a UTI!"  As opposed to any number of non-gynecological things that could be going on. 

Quick recap if the state of my uterus isn't at the top of your list to worry about:  had surgery 3/9 to remove scar tissue and more of my uterine septum, had a balloon put in my uterus, excruciating pain, ER visit threatened, balloon removed, more pain, more days off work, clinic visit times four, pain.

A urinalysis was normal on Friday but a culture came back on Saturday growing a common UTI bacterium, so I started antibiotics last night.  Pyridium seems to be helping a bit.

If this is indeed a UTI, it's my first.  What a horrible feeling.  I never would have expected this level of pain.  On Friday night, it was particularly bad and I went to bed planning my funeral.  I had taken Ambien to help me sleep, and was afraid I'd die during the night without realizing it because I was knocked out.  I told my husband to check my breathing before he went to bed and asked if he thought my doctor would attend my funeral.  Because it might be awkward, you know, as the attending physician.  For the record, I love her and would be happy for her to come.

I do not love one of the fellows who is in training.  First it was the mixed messages, telling me not to take narcotics one day and then later instructing me to take more narcotics so I can increase my mobility.  I'm fairly medically inclined, but with all the pain, meds, and stress of the past week, I needed some clearer communication.  This physician also told me, the day before my main doc suspected the bladder stuff, that I should take hot showers for the pain and stop bothering him.  Not in so many words, but that was the gist.

I'm tired of having to page the fellows on call.  I mean, I've enjoyed getting to know the hospital operators—we're on a first-name basis—but I really just want to be back at work.  I'm definitely leaving that sentence in so I can reread it when I'm hating work. 

I'm afraid I'm not out of the woods yet.  My doctor said she's perplexed still.  My urinalysis should have come back with increased leukocytes or whatever if this is a UTI.  If the infection is in the very early stages and my leukocytes haven't kicked in yet, I shouldn't be in this much pain.  My bladder could have been irritated by the fluid they injected for the procedure, but should be getting better by now.

Another theory before the bladder stuff emerged is that this is an endo flare caused by the hormones I've taken in the past month, but it doesn't feel like any endo pain I've had before.  I know that doesn't exclude endo, because it can surprise even us veteran sufferers, but I'm just not having any of the uterine crampy pain I typically have with it.  I think I was crampy while the balloon was still in place, but not since it was removed.

Someday I will blog about something other than pain, but for the time being, it's my world.  That and Netflix.