Today started out with lots of having to pee, but by the time I should leave for work things seemed OK. But, at work, off to the bathroom 6 times in the first 90 minutesr, and the next time I didn't make it - and I was wearing beige pants. Sp. I went home, and called the urologist - went to his office and gave a sample - and am now on Cipro and doubling up on the Detrol LA.

But, when I was leaving the doctor's office parking lot, the attendant asked me to prove I'm over 55 to get the senior discount. At 69, that is a silver lining.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 06:02 pm:

I'll say! {{{HUGS}}}

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 06:23 pm:

Woohoo, about not realizing you were old enough for the senior discount!

Sorry about the UTI! Ugh, I hate them! Cipro should have you feeling much better, in a hurry!

One Sunday afternoon, I was trying to work at the clinic with one. It was NOT fun. It didn't take me long to run to the bathroom for a sample, so I could get it sent off to lab. I had to get booked in that day, too.

Ginny, when's your birthday? My mom is going to be 70, in November.

By Karen~admin on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 08:11 pm:

LOL, Ginny! Sorry you are feeling bad, hope you feel better soon!

By Brooke327 on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 09:03 pm:

Hope you are feeling better. I have been thinking of you. Take care of yourself

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 10:35 pm:

I'll be 70 in December, Dawn.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 11:25 pm:

Oh my Ginny... Very cool on getting carded. I still get carded regularly. I am pretty sure there are a lot of people out there in need of a good eye doctor. LOL Hope you feel better quickly...

By Dawnk777 on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 12:12 am:

She was born November 16, 1938. I never realized you were my mom's age, almost exactly.

I always get her a calendar, for the next year, since the new calendars are always out, by November.

By Debbie on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 10:36 am:

Ginny, I hope you are feeling better soon.

I hope I get carded when it's time for me to receive the senior discount!!!

By Shellyg on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 11:54 am:

Oh that made me laugh! I hope you feel better soon!

By Colette on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 02:07 pm:

Hope you are feeling better soon, Ginny.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 09:00 pm:

Feeling fine, only problem remembering to (a) take the Cipro and (b) not have anything with noticeable amounts of calcium along with it (yogurt, milk, calcium-added juice, etc.). I'll be especially interested to learn the results of the lab tests because from the time I left the doctor's office I had no real problems, no rushing, no urges, none of the usual stuff, and today was "normal". I was on heavy doses of antibiotics from May 9-14 because of having gum work done all over my mouth, so I was really surprised by the symptoms of UTI but, as both my son and the nurse pointed out, it could be something those earlier antibiotics wouldn't affect - though one was Amoxycillin, which I thought was a broad-spectrum antibiotic, as is the Cipro I'm taking now. Ah well, as long as the symptoms go away and there is nothing else involved, I'm not going to lose sleep.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 12:15 am:

I've never seen our docs give Amoxicillin for a UTI, though. I've had Cipro myself, for the last few I've had. Before that I've used Bactrim. Macrodantin is a popular one, too. Bactrim and Macrodantin don't work if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, though.

From Cipro.com:
Cipro is considered the "gold standard" therapy for many types of Gram Negative infections and has maintained a high level of activity against Escherichia coli compared to other agents used for UTIs.

UTIs are often caused by E.coli, which is a gram-negative bacteria. Cipro just works better. Penicillins are more effective against gram-positive infections like strep. (Gram positive means that when you dye the bacteria, it turns purple, where gram negative bacteria turn more of a reddish-pink color. It has to do with differences in the cell walls. (Are your eyes glazing over yet?)

Simple explanation of Gram test.

I loved microbiology in nursing school and doing the gram test was kind of fun! It was fun growing cultues and even more fun running the tests to figure out an unknown bacteria, at the end of the semester. Darn lucky Sarah, gets to take microbiology at some point, I'm sure, Wish I could take it with her! LOL!