Steroid side effects or UTI

[charisma]

UPDATE SUNDAY: got Out of Hours appt 11.30. Throat worse overnight. Not worth taking risk of unchecked infection/s on Amgevita.

Sat: Hi all, been thinking this evening that symptoms I put down to coming off/taking prednisolone might actually be a UTI.

Symptoms noticed 11 days ago:

Sweats in short bursts

Abdomen bigger

Urges to go empty bladder

Trembly legs

Temp normal for me at 36.5

No pain on passing urine, seems normal colour, no blood

Also some sneezing and throat tickling (Pollens irritating? Though I don’t get full blown hay fever.)

Went and bought a 4 pack of cranberry juice just now, drinking that. If not improved by Monday, or worsen overnight, will seek medical advice as I just started Amgevita last Friday ie 8 days ago.

Symptoms began the Tuesday before (11 days ago) although the short sweats were happening already.

Will take hay fever pills too since I have them on prescription for swelling of lip, rash etc from DMARD I was taking.

Anyone have helpful thoughts on telling the difference between steroid side effects and UTI?

[JFlay]

Hi, if it was me I would ring 111 for advice. Hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted 🤞

[ruth_p]

It sounds more like a uti than the steroids. I usually get night sweats when I take steroids. Hopefully the cranberry juice will help. If not definitely go to the doctor tomorrow.

[dbestdeb]

When I have a UTI, it’s never a question. Urgency all the time and awful pain when I go. If you are coming off steroids, be sure it is a gradual process. Sweating is a common symptom with steroids, but I’ve never heard of the rest. I hope you feel better.

[charisma in reply to dbestdeb]

Thank you!

They did a thorough examination at Out of Hours, tested urine, found some tenderness over bladder and kidneys but nothing much else. Still no pain going to the loo. No blood, no desperate ‘must go’ just more frequent urge to go.

Took blood to test neutrophils etc. No sign of bacterial infection but back of nose and throat passages were worse this morning; feels like a viral infection coming on.

So I am just to stay hydrated, watch for fever developing and get back to them urgently if fever does happen.

So far, so good!

Probably won’t be having my Amgevita injection on Friday though.

[dbestdeb]

I do take a cranberry supplement to help with frequency of bathroom trips. I’m glad you got checked out. Better safe than sorry with the biologic injection is always my philosophy. ❤️