Waiting for an uro consultant appointment - terrified
Discussion
In January this year I had terrible back pain. By the first week of Feb it had become back pain with a temp just over 38, so I trundled off to the GP, urine test confirmed kidney infection. GP said don't worry, very common, take this 1 week course of antibiotics and all will be well. It was, briefly, then it came back.
Since then I've seen 5 different GPs as the surgery has a 5 day wait if you want to see a particular doctor and a triage list for anyone that can't plan their illness, plus the out of hours doctor last bank holiday weekend. I'm on my eighth course of antibiotics, which are now a repeat prescription as it's the only way to stay even slightly well. After the 5th or 6th course the GP finally decided to refer me to a consultant, then waited another week before he got round to it.
Appointment is on Friday next week, but I can't stop thinking about it. Can't concentrate at work, can't be bothered to do anything at home. GP hasn't done any blood tests. Urology clinic have sent me the IPSS chart which came out at the upper end of moderate symptoms, but that hasn't changed for me in best part of 10 years.
Is there anyone I can contact to discuss my concerns? GP would only see me if I need a triage again, and I'm probably not ill enough.
Since then I've seen 5 different GPs as the surgery has a 5 day wait if you want to see a particular doctor and a triage list for anyone that can't plan their illness, plus the out of hours doctor last bank holiday weekend. I'm on my eighth course of antibiotics, which are now a repeat prescription as it's the only way to stay even slightly well. After the 5th or 6th course the GP finally decided to refer me to a consultant, then waited another week before he got round to it.
Appointment is on Friday next week, but I can't stop thinking about it. Can't concentrate at work, can't be bothered to do anything at home. GP hasn't done any blood tests. Urology clinic have sent me the IPSS chart which came out at the upper end of moderate symptoms, but that hasn't changed for me in best part of 10 years.
Is there anyone I can contact to discuss my concerns? GP would only see me if I need a triage again, and I'm probably not ill enough.
If you get a fever again or something, straight back to the GP or even to the hospital if they have a walk-in attached.
When you say 'concerns', are you getting at the treatment delay there? Cos I agree, it doesn't sound great, and the people you need to talk to are probably PALS.
I've had a lot of contact with urologists and spent a fair bit of time on urology wards, couple of minor ops too - it's not exactly fun, but you don't have anything to be immediately terrified about, the first thing they will do most likely is also the easiest, send you to take a piss then ultrasound your belly (yep exactly like prenatal scans!) to see if your bladder emptied all the way - straightforward, painless, near instant, and a not uncommon cause of repeat UTIs. You're going to be in exactly the right hands for whatever IS going on (another possibility is just a bloody virulent bug that needs higher dose and/or different antibiotics than the ones you've been having to wipe it out), they'll see you reet.
Pretty sure there's a few who've had uro probs on here, definitely not just the pair of us.
When you say 'concerns', are you getting at the treatment delay there? Cos I agree, it doesn't sound great, and the people you need to talk to are probably PALS.
I've had a lot of contact with urologists and spent a fair bit of time on urology wards, couple of minor ops too - it's not exactly fun, but you don't have anything to be immediately terrified about, the first thing they will do most likely is also the easiest, send you to take a piss then ultrasound your belly (yep exactly like prenatal scans!) to see if your bladder emptied all the way - straightforward, painless, near instant, and a not uncommon cause of repeat UTIs. You're going to be in exactly the right hands for whatever IS going on (another possibility is just a bloody virulent bug that needs higher dose and/or different antibiotics than the ones you've been having to wipe it out), they'll see you reet.
Pretty sure there's a few who've had uro probs on here, definitely not just the pair of us.
Repeated UTIs in men (I took a wild guess with your username) require investigation. The assumption is that there is some reason that urine is not flowing normally through from the kidneys to your bladder and out. This could be an obstruction to a ureter,or a small outpouching of some part of the urinary system where urine stagnates, or a foreign body such as a kidney stone which gives bacteria somewhere to hide out and prevent your body flushing them away. There might be other reasons too,
Your first appointment will all be really simple scans and maybe some blood tests.
Your first appointment will all be really simple scans and maybe some blood tests.
As a rule, if they are going to perform any procedures, they'll send you leaflets with the appointment that describe what they're going to do, how and what you need to do to prepare (if anything).
As it's a first appointment, then I'd assume that you'll maybe you'll have a blood test, pee in a jar, maybe an ultrasound and/or an X-Ray and that will probably be it.
If they need to investigate further, while it's not fun, even the next procedures aren't too bad. I've had flexible cystoscopy a couple of times. It's not pleasant to be honest but it's more of a mind game than anything else. I also had a CT scan where they inject dye in to the body and also fill the bladder with fluid. It was a bit odd (it feels like you're going to pee yourself) but again not painful or particularly uncomfortable.
Good luck with your appointment, you'll be fine and definitely no need to worry.
As it's a first appointment, then I'd assume that you'll maybe you'll have a blood test, pee in a jar, maybe an ultrasound and/or an X-Ray and that will probably be it.
If they need to investigate further, while it's not fun, even the next procedures aren't too bad. I've had flexible cystoscopy a couple of times. It's not pleasant to be honest but it's more of a mind game than anything else. I also had a CT scan where they inject dye in to the body and also fill the bladder with fluid. It was a bit odd (it feels like you're going to pee yourself) but again not painful or particularly uncomfortable.
Good luck with your appointment, you'll be fine and definitely no need to worry.
Thanks for the input. The GP did a CT scan for possible stones some time back which came back clear, but then waited another 3 rounds of infections before making the referral. Letter from the consultant clinic was a copy of the IPSS form, an input/output chart to fill in for a week and info about flow measurement.
However, due to the wonderful nature of the NHS I had a letter on Wednesday to tell me my appointment was cancelled and moved back to 15th July. So I'm self funding a trip to Bupa on Monday instead.
However, due to the wonderful nature of the NHS I had a letter on Wednesday to tell me my appointment was cancelled and moved back to 15th July. So I'm self funding a trip to Bupa on Monday instead.
Going through BUPA sounds worth it for your peace of mind; the NHS is really good once you are in the system for something serious, but the waiting for more routine things can be very difficult to handle.
I have had multiple UTI's, perhaps 4+ per year, but was not in great health for other reasons. If you get another one do make sure the GP does a culture, they have probably already done so, but it helps confirm what antibiotic to use. Mine became resistant to nitrofurantoin and trimethroprim, and due to allergies levofloxacin is the only one that still works for me. Sometimes prostatis can develop, and this can be better treated by some antibiotics than others.
I had a full check up - bladder ultrasound, cystoscopy, DRE (finger!), PSA (blood), then a prostate MRI. At the end of it the conclusion was I just have benign prostate enlargement, quite a relief, but they forgot to tell me so I had to chase for the outcome!
You will probably be fine, good to find out soon and hopefully get on top of it. If there is no clear cause you might want to ask if they will allow you a spare prescription so when rather than if a UTI does hit you can nail it fast before it makes you very ill.
I have had multiple UTI's, perhaps 4+ per year, but was not in great health for other reasons. If you get another one do make sure the GP does a culture, they have probably already done so, but it helps confirm what antibiotic to use. Mine became resistant to nitrofurantoin and trimethroprim, and due to allergies levofloxacin is the only one that still works for me. Sometimes prostatis can develop, and this can be better treated by some antibiotics than others.
I had a full check up - bladder ultrasound, cystoscopy, DRE (finger!), PSA (blood), then a prostate MRI. At the end of it the conclusion was I just have benign prostate enlargement, quite a relief, but they forgot to tell me so I had to chase for the outcome!
You will probably be fine, good to find out soon and hopefully get on top of it. If there is no clear cause you might want to ask if they will allow you a spare prescription so when rather than if a UTI does hit you can nail it fast before it makes you very ill.
Suppose I should follow this up for closure (hopefully...)
Had initial consultation with the urologist under Bupa On Demand, who went through the IPSS sheet which gave a intermediate or high score. Did a full exam externally then internally (gulp) and concluded no signs of prostate problem but possible bladder issues. He recommended a cystoscopy, for which the local NHS hospital would make me wait about 4 months...
Dug deeper in the piggybank and had the cystoscopy 3 weeks later (surgeon was on holiday) which was inconclusive as to bladder issues due to a pinhole size bulbar stricture. Recommended for urethrotomy.
Last Wednesday I was back at the same hospital for the surgery. Oddly, Bupa deduct the cost of the cystoscopy from the urethrotomy, so there was not that much extra to find. GA about half 10, back in my room and properly conscious about half 12. Stricture was about 10mm long, dealt with and catheter in. No issues in bladder. Sent home about 4.
Unlike one of the other posters on here I found the catheter quite painful particularly at night, and was very glad to have it removed on Monday. Not so keen on the removal, but when a nurse says count to 3 and deep breath, I guess it's a clue it will sting a bit. Spend most of Monday peeing into a series of bottles and having repeated bladder scans to check residual volume and was then sent home.
End result is I now have a fire hose instead of a dribble, the stinging when peeing is going down too. Instead of going every half hour I can drink coffee all morning without needing to go, so I'm hoping to try going to the theatre or similar soon now I can hopefully sit through a whole act. (Comedy shows aren't fun if you have the weakest bladder in the audience). Might be better company on driving tours now I shouldn't need so many comfort breaks too.
My surgeon reckons to have a 70% success rate, much better than most sources are quoting, so I'm optimistic that'll be the end of the problem. Doesn't help with deciding what to do when no two info sources agree, even between different NHS hospitals. I found one advising not to drive for two weeks after the procedure as it could cause issues with braking?
Had initial consultation with the urologist under Bupa On Demand, who went through the IPSS sheet which gave a intermediate or high score. Did a full exam externally then internally (gulp) and concluded no signs of prostate problem but possible bladder issues. He recommended a cystoscopy, for which the local NHS hospital would make me wait about 4 months...
Dug deeper in the piggybank and had the cystoscopy 3 weeks later (surgeon was on holiday) which was inconclusive as to bladder issues due to a pinhole size bulbar stricture. Recommended for urethrotomy.
Last Wednesday I was back at the same hospital for the surgery. Oddly, Bupa deduct the cost of the cystoscopy from the urethrotomy, so there was not that much extra to find. GA about half 10, back in my room and properly conscious about half 12. Stricture was about 10mm long, dealt with and catheter in. No issues in bladder. Sent home about 4.
Unlike one of the other posters on here I found the catheter quite painful particularly at night, and was very glad to have it removed on Monday. Not so keen on the removal, but when a nurse says count to 3 and deep breath, I guess it's a clue it will sting a bit. Spend most of Monday peeing into a series of bottles and having repeated bladder scans to check residual volume and was then sent home.
End result is I now have a fire hose instead of a dribble, the stinging when peeing is going down too. Instead of going every half hour I can drink coffee all morning without needing to go, so I'm hoping to try going to the theatre or similar soon now I can hopefully sit through a whole act. (Comedy shows aren't fun if you have the weakest bladder in the audience). Might be better company on driving tours now I shouldn't need so many comfort breaks too.
My surgeon reckons to have a 70% success rate, much better than most sources are quoting, so I'm optimistic that'll be the end of the problem. Doesn't help with deciding what to do when no two info sources agree, even between different NHS hospitals. I found one advising not to drive for two weeks after the procedure as it could cause issues with braking?
Have they provided you with and taught you how to self catheterise with a range of increasingly widening home catheters as if not there is a strong risk of the stricture developing reoccurring over the coming months and years??
I have had a structure at the same point removed 3 times now and do the self catheterisation thing every couple of days to ensure an open urethra
it's not as bad as it sounds and only takes a few seconds ... In/bladder drain/out
I have had a structure at the same point removed 3 times now and do the self catheterisation thing every couple of days to ensure an open urethra
it's not as bad as it sounds and only takes a few seconds ... In/bladder drain/out
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff