Any thoughts?

[AJLang]

i am feeling VERY weak and hypo but BGS is 5.5 and has been very steady all day but I feel hypo. I had 10 carbs slow acting about 15 minutes ago but that hasn't helped. I've had bad pubic pain for no identifiable reason which still hurts despite Cocodamol and Neurofen. Sample was given to the GP this morning. They've sent it to the lab because it was "inconclusive" as it didn't have nitrates but trace blood and lucecytes (white blood cells). The lack of nitrates means that they don't think it is an infection.

 

[Ljc]

I'm sorry your not feeling too good. My bet is on a uti, I've had those dipstick tests done many a time which were inconclusive, didn't show much of anything or GP wasn't convinced but when tested in the lab ...... I was right.
UTIs can make you feel pretty rough and weak too, hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the results.

 

[AJLang]

Thanks Ljc, that's reassuring

 

[Amigo]

My understanding is it doesn't have to test positive for nitrates if there's a significantly high number of leukocytes in the urine to indicate a urinary tract infection. There's always leukocytes as a kind of white cell debris but too many signify infection. Certainly sounds like it to me. Would explain why you feel so cruddy AJ.

Just seen Ljc's post. I agree with her. I'd be asking for more testing in relation to my kidneys in your position.

Hope you feel better soon x

 

[Ljc]

With us women, usually UTIs are caused by our poor plumbing design, um sweet water 😉 or wiping from back to front. I know too much info sorry.
I hope I'm right and its a uti. If you aren't already doing so I suggest drinking a little more as it helps to flush the little blighters out.
They do keep an eye on our kidney function through our routine blood and urine samples

 

[Amigo]

I mentioned kidney function because I seem to recall AJ mentioning increased creatinine levels recently.

 

[AJLang]

Thanks Amigo and Ljc. I wipe the right way🙂 Creatinie and Egfr results came back ok today - they're kidney tests??? So "just" got to wait for results of waterworks sample sent to the lab today, myeloma screening and light chains test. Obviously hoping like crazy that the latter two will be normal. I've been drinking lots eg 2 litres of water yesterday and lots of liquid today. I will carry on doing that. Still feeling "hypo" despite being in the 6's and having eaten dinner. Hopefully they will get the lab test results tomorrow and I will get the relevant antibiotics.

 

[AJLang]

To avoid confusion Creatinie and Egfr were tested two weeks ago and again this week x

 

[Amigo]

Hope you get some answers soon AJ. Obviously it's just speculation at the moment without the benefit of the results. Reassuring that your creatinine clearance rates and glomeruler filtration rates are ok though.
Feel well soon x

 

[Lilian]

My GP told me to look at my urine and if it was cloudy it was most likely a urine infection.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

You can still have an infection if you have only leukocytes in your urine. Was it an unusual colour/smell or anything? Really hope you feel better soon AJ xx

 

[AndBreathe]

AJ - I recently had a recurring cystitis that was diagnosed as a UTI a week or so ago, and therefore given the dreaded antibiotics. Horrid things.

Anyway, I bought some urinalysis strips to have at home so that I can test if I have a niggling feeling it's happening again as it was horribly unpleasant. Reading the leaflet carefully their acuity relating to the various components is akin to the efficacy of urine strips for diabetes management. They're helpful, but only as a starting point, and there are so many reasons why so many elements of the usual 10 tests can be inaccurate or contradictory.

I'm happy I have the strips, but I wouldn't be going for any cast iron diagnosis, unless it was a virtual light show on the diagnostic strip.

 

[jocat]

Hope you feel better and get some answers soon aj,
Take care,
Jo x

 

[AJLang]

Thank you everyone for all of your help and thoughts. It was normal colour and no smell. It's the same pain in the pubic area that I had when I had an infection approx 10 weeks ago (that was my first water infection in over 30 years). No pain on passing water and nothing shows up on the testing strips at home (I bought two different bottles from Amazon after the last infection). For months I've been feeling thirsty even when I drink lots and this pubic pain is still here this morning. I posted last night because Mark was getting very worried about how weak I was feeling. Fingers crossed that I don't feel any worse because I want to enjoy Mark's holiday and if the lab test results don't come back today then I won't know whether I need antibiotics until Tuesday at the earliest. At the moment I'm thinking thank goodness for cocodamol and ibupprofen.

 

[KookyCat]

Oh dear, if I had to guess I'd say that original infection might not have been fully purged. If the infection reaches the bladder it can make you feel very unwell, I've only ever had two UTIs but both took residence for longer than I'd like, and with both of them I had pain just behind my hip bones, and a sort of "cramp" like pain. To be dead honest prior to my brush with the bladder infection, I thought it was a relatively minor malady, after my first brush I realised the error of my thought processes. You could try upping probiotic foods, it won't clear an established infection but it will help the body deal with the antibiotics when they arrive and it might alleviate some of the symptoms (if you're lucky), that and as much water as you can muster to keep flushing the pipes. Hope it isn't too unpleasant over the weekend. It can make you feel very unwell and a little "altered", I went a bit loopy with the first one, but that was a mix of dehydration and infection apparently and it mostly happens to older people, and me because I don't like to miss a chance for a bit of giddy altered hysteria apparently 🙄

 

[AndBreathe]

There was an article recently in the press (OK, enough said, I hear you yell), stating how often recurrent UTIs are missed in women. I can't recall the exact stats right now, but where there is a recurrence of the infection, a longer course of antibiotics is sometimes justified to really see it off.

Much as I detest (and I mean detest) antibiotics, if mine shows it's head anytime soon, I'll be asking for a lower dose, longer terms course of the devils, targeting the specific bugs, if it isn't suggested.

 

[AJLang]

I phoned the GP because I feel so bad. Lab result has come back clear. I've got an appointment with the GP at 9.40

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I will carry on doing that. Still feeling "hypo" despite being in the 6's and having eaten dinner.

Any chance it's a false hypo? I know earlier you said your A1c had gone up quite a bit. If you have an infection though you will feel spaced out even without touching a drop which is a bummer.

Another option....... has your ear problem come back?

 

[Amigo]

AJ, I'm not wanting to alarm you but just under 2 yrs ago, I presented at the doctors with this and both a dipstick and lab test proved negative. I know I'm in a different position with cancer of the immune system because my body can't fight these things off successfully. However, within 5 hours I had to be hospitalised with a raging infection of unknown origin and I had sepsis. Ironically it was clear I had undiagnosed diabetes at that time.
I'm not suggesting this will happen to you but keep a close eye on your temperature particularly and contact the doctor if it goes over 38 consistently because certainly in my case, that's a warning that infection has taken hold.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

Good luck at your appointment