Yet another UTI 🤒

[CecilyParsley]

I have felt so unwell for the past week. By Thursday evening I was spiking a temperature and shivering, living in the loo and exhausted. I was concerned about calling the GP but after being up all night I had to on Friday. The receptionist tried to fob me off telling me to drink cranberry juice. I was so restrained and politely told her I needed Macrobid ASAP. Fifteen minutes later such relief as my own GP called. She said the prescription will be in the chemist within the hour and if you feel worse call the on call GP over the weekend. . I am still feeling rough but the pain is easing so I am grateful. ❤️

[Wendy39]

Hello CP

Bless you. UTIs are truly awful. So many of us suffer and understand how they effect us lupies. I’ve posted many times myself.

I’m glad the GP telephoned back so promptly.

The receptionist has elevated herself to triage nurse, as many of them do.

I had a UTI a while ago, went to GPs after the school run. Got there about 9am. I was told no appointments left. I explained lupus & UTI etc. I cried as I felt so low and begged. Wouldn’t budge.

On the 15 minute drive home, my phone rang a few times and I eventually answered it whilst opening my back door.

The receptionist offering me an appointment at 10.30.

I have a feeling either someone over heard our conversation at the reception desk where all waiting patients could hear and see my leaving in tears, or she relayed how pushy I was to someone who knew me and my condition or even a GP and told her she was wrong to send me away like that??? Something must have happened in the interim.

It was confirmed UTI and antibiotics given.

The trouble is I can stand up for myself most of the time, but when I’m ill, I don’t have the energy to fight.

Please make sure you get back to your GP if this doesn’t improve soon. UTI and Kidney infections can make you seriously unwell.

I hope you are resting.

I like a hot water bottle when I get one. Oh and last time, I took cranberry capsules I found in the cupboard and I think they did help. Apparently cranberry juice isn’t recommended any more, because of the vast amounts you need to consume to make a difference and therefore the extremely high sugar consumption with it.

I hope you feel much better soon.

Wendy xx

[CecilyParsley in reply to Wendy39]

Thank you Wendy. I feel rough. One minute I am boiling, literally hair soaked running down my face, needing to change my top, the next I am icy cold. The burning is dreadful and I feel so weak with it. I just want to sleep. I was very fortunate the GP who rang me knows me well did not ask for samples etc and knew immediately which antibiotic I needed. Other GP’s insist on Trimethoprim but it just does not work for me. I take two triple strength cranberry tablets daily and drink 41/2 litres of water. I even shower straight after a bowed movement and yet I still get them. How are you doing Wendy? Xx

[happytulip]

Er, hang on a minute..... receptionists are a vital part of a doctor's surgery but I was under the impression that they were trained to do admin, answer phones, liase with patients and medical staff but NOT give out medical advice? You sound really sick. What if you had just said "OK, I'll drink a load of cranberry juice," and hung up. You'd be in hospital with possible sepsis by now. Well done for being assertive with them. It might be worth pointing this out to the practice manager at another time when you are well enough.

I'm another unfortunate one who has spent far to many weeks on IVabx for kidney infections. They make you feel unbelievably unwell and I hope you improve on your abx.

Just for the record, trimethoprim is contraindicated in Lupus patients. Not many GPs know this. The trimethoprim can trigger a lupus like flare and if you have an infection on top of that.....well I don't need to explain.

I'm glad you got through to a GP who knows you.

I hope you feel better soon.

Take care.

(Still astounded that a receptionist nfeels it appropriate to give medical advice).

[CecilyParsley in reply to happytulip]

Thank you so much. She kept talking over me saying just drink cranberry juice every morning it will sort you out. She even told me she wore pads that she bought from the chemist. Honestly I felt like saying it is about ME not you. However I persisted and told her the Continence Nurse has advised me to call which was true and that she would be following up ..not true 🤥🤥It worked though. I did ask her why I had not had a letter to isolate? She said we only send them to sick people love. I persisted and asked what criteria they used to identify the vulnerable. She said well it’s people with cancer and chest problems. I left it there because I made the decision not to go out well before lockdown but I do feel very neglected and forgotten by the whole service if I am honest. I feel that I do not matter. Not self pity but acceptance really. Since the Rheumatologists downgraded my Lupus to UCTD there is a significant change in the way I am treated sadly. How are you HappyTulip? Xx

[Kevin53 in reply to CecilyParsley]

You matter very much to all of us. Well done. Best wishes Kevin

[CecilyParsley in reply to Kevin53]

Thank you so much Kevin. Honestly it is not self pity, I truly believe that not one of my Health Professionals cares. My own GP is very nice and kind . She used to call me just to see how I was doing which was enormously valued and I was so very grateful but since the UCTD diagnosis they all keep saying that I should be thankful I do not have Lupus and should just lose weight and think positive. I wish it were that easy because no matter what the diagnosis my symptoms remain the same. I am the same person. I find it very sad because I do not trouble them unnecessarily. I love this group here. It helps so much to chat to people who understand.

[happytulip in reply to CecilyParsley]

Furious! That's how I am. Furious for you!

What an utterly ignorant woman. I would have loved to have had her on the phone. I would have told her that cranberry juice contains alot of sugar and you'd have to drink about 8 litres of the stuff for it to make a difference. Nice guidelines (unless they have changed) state that cranberry has no effect at all anyway, although my urologist told me to take capsules as they acidify the urine and what works for me, works for me.

To say its only 'sick people' who get a letter is unbelievable. Clearly the woman has literacy problems and can't read because it clearly states that there are many on the list other than cancer patients and respiratory patients. I dare say that this woman doesn't know her olecranon (yes that is an actual bone, one of my favourites, look it up), from her butt and isn't qualified to give medical advice.

Not now, but when you are stronger I think you should make the practice manager aware.

I don't know you personally but you DO matter. You ARE important. I'm not giving up on you and I know no one on this forum would give up on you. I know how awful kidney infections make you feel so take it easy, rest up, take your meds and go back to the GP if they are not working and know that if you come across that level of ignorance again.....well, just know that you have an army of support on here for you who do value you and will always be here to listen and help.

What an unhelpful woman. I'm all in a huff. If she did that where I used to work it would be the first and last time.

If you come across her again just ask very politely, "are you medically trained to give me this advice? Is it in your job description?" That shut someone up who tried it on with me once.

I have to say that I am now very lucky and have a wonderful team of receptionists at the GP surgery where I am and couldn't wish for kinder more helpful people. I hope things change for the better for you.

Take care of yourself xxx

[CecilyParsley in reply to happytulip]

Thank you so much. Honestly I am not upset by it. My husband has had so many run ins with them. At one time he toLd them I do not like your manner or your effectiveness , please kindly provide me with a complaints form. They said we do not have one? Strangely the issue was resolved quickly that time. It was the same receptionist that told me that I could not speak to a Doctor when I developed macular oedema. She said we don’t do eyes. I told her you are not a doctor and I need to speak to a doctor. Her response was well the Doctor will just say the same thing. Eventually she did agree to get a GP to call me back. I do understand that they have to safeguard the Doctor’s time but I do think the advice they give can be dangerous. Thank you for the support. It is so much appreciated xxx

[stiff19 in reply to CecilyParsley]

Glad you got help cecily, you sound like me and like to remain polite but really when instead of think ‘ it’s about me’ perhaps we should start saying it.

I’ve been in your position and am in the position that non of my health care professionals care, def not gp, only ent who I see no more but thankfully said I could contact them any time I need to. It’s very hard so understand, glad you come here 🙏

Receptionists shouldn’t be giving advice .

Cranberry will not cure.

🙏🤗🐝

[Jmiller623]

I’m sorry CP. Please tell the doctor that the receptionist is triaging which is inappropriate. He/she should deal with that. I know my GP got on his receptionist case when he noticed she was quite delayed in passing my messages along.

I hope the Macrobid is working to continue to relieve your pain. I wouldn’t hesitate to ask for a culture or a stronger antibiotic if you start feeling unwell again.

Sending hugs your way. ❤️

[svfarmer]

Hope you are on the way to recovery now x

[CecilyParsley]

Thank you so much I have told the GP’s previously. Last time my hubby took a sample over as requested by the GP after finishing a third course of antibiotics. The receptionist refused to accept it and said I had to call the following day at 8,30 am and a log would be made to speak to a GP. The GP would then decide whether or not I needed to bring in a sample. I did as she advised and the GP asked why I did not just bring in a sample. I advised that I had. It was by that time late afternoon Friday so I had to wait until Monday and lo and behold I still had the infection. Xx

[Krazykat26]

Hi Cecily 🤗

Before I was diagnosed with SCLE I had severe ulceration on the soles of both my feet..I couldn't get out of the flat I was living in so the GP visited me n referred me to district nurses to come n dress them for me. District nurses came n said if I needed to contact them in between dressings to just ring the surgery n ask to speak to the district nurse!!

One day I phoned the surgery n came across one of the worst receptionists ever! I said "Hello..can u put me through to the district nurses please?" She said "No I can't just put u through to the district nurses..they don't take direct calls..who told u to call the district nurse?" I said "the district nurse!" She said "Well they shouldn't have told u that!"🤦🤷😹

Honestly some of these receptionists think they know better than the doctors n nurses they work for!! I have a background in nursing n have dealt with many tricky receptionists n doctors in my time..so fortunately I have a way to deal with these obstructions..I ask them their name n then repeat back what they've just said..giving them the impression that I'm writing it all down..this usually puts them on the back foot n then I can move things forward n actually get what I asked for in the beginning!! Mind u it's not as easy as all that now I'm actually the patient!! 😹I do my best though n usually get there!! 😹

I'm sorry to hear that you're unwell CP I hope that the antibiotics kick in soon n u start to see some improvement..n please don't feel like your not important or loved..or a time waster ok? Because dear lady you are a star!! 🌟 🌈😽😽Xx

[CecilyParsley]

Bless your heart Kat, you gave me a chuckle. I can imagine you flustering those receptionists. Good for you. In fairness most are ok but you seem to always get that one jobsworth when you feel the worst.I don’t feel unloved or unwanted except by my Doctors honestly. I am feeling less unwell and less feverish today so that is a good sign.Thank you for your kindness and positivity. How are you feeling? Xx

[Spotty-ewe]

My heart goes out to you Cecily because I know only too well how wretched UTIs can make you feel.😩 I had them recurring every month for a long time and was sent for investigations. I became obsessed with hygiene in that area and still am, but they found an atrophying kidney was behind mine and I’ve been on a prophylactic antibiotic to prevent them recurring for several years now (just 1 per day alternated every 6 months with another antibiotic to prevent resistance). But I find if I go in a public swimming pool, even whilst on the prophylactic, a UTI returns.🤷‍♀️ So I don’t use them anymore.

I found a teaspoon of bicarb in a glass of warm water really helped to relieve the burning symptoms and the urge to pee even whilst sitting on the loo. Doesn’t taste the best but it REALLY helps.

For me coffee, pepper, ham and curries exacerbate it, but once it is under control I manage these things again.

I wish you well and hope the symptoms die down quickly once you are on the antibiotic.🙏🏻

Take care. 🤗😘

[CecilyParsley]

Thank you so much. My fever has gone but the burning is still present. Hopefully it will ease for me. I suspect once this is over I will have to bite the bullet and get an internal as the burning is vaginal as well as bladder. Even the vaginal moisturiser burns terribly. Thanks for the tip re the bicarbonate , once I get the antibiotics done and the nausea goes I will try it definitely. I am so pleased that yours are under control now. What a relief for you xx

[Hidden in reply to CecilyParsley]

Bicarbonate is my go to every time , works well with burning plus paracetamol for abdo pain. xx