Urinary Tract Infections

Hello, hopefully someone will be able to answer this. I often post and never get a response :(

*very descriptive, don't read if you get grossed out*

how can you tell if you have a urinary tract infection? i looked up some of the symptoms and i do feel like i have to go to the washroom a lot, and i sometimes can't go as much as i think i can and one of the symptoms was leaking a little urine - which i do. today a large drop of blood was in the toilet. i am about 99% sure it is not my period. the only symptom they didn't list was lower abdomen pain. for the past few days when i've gone to bend down (at the waist), i get a pain that is mostly on the left side. it radiates a little, but not much.

has anyone had a UTI? when should i make an appointment? can it wait a week if i have to? it is hard to get an appointment during "popular hours" and my mom usually drives me to my appointments since it takes so long for me to get there by bus.

thoughts? advice? help!!

thanks so much in advance

I would NOT wait a week. You should see a Dr as soon as possible. Is there an Urgent Care facility you can go to? (they're usually open on weekends and evenings) I've had UTIs before...waited too long to go to the Drs once & ended up with a serious kindney infection. 

Also, the Drs will want a urine sample from you when you go in, so don't take any of the over the counter stuff like Uristat cuz it turns your urine orange & they won't be able to check it for infection that way.

Hope you feel better soon! 

I suggest getting to a Doctor.  There are many symptoms, and blood in the urine is one.  However, left untreated you can get more serious infections.

A simple urine test will determine if it is UTI.

You deffinitely should see a doc as soon as possible.  It could be a urinary thing, or it could be a female problem.  That pain on your left side is worrisome.  You may have a cyst or something.  Don't wait and worry, get it checked out!

i'm actually starting to think that it may be my body trying to have a period.  i have not had one in months - so many months that i've forgotten, and last week i started hormone therapy for hypothyrodisim. i called a nurse and she was less concerned with the blood, more with the pain in the side. but if i was getting pms cramps, then that could be it. unless in the next 24 hrs something changes, i'm not going to my doctor... it's a huge hassle to get there and no, i cannot change doctors. i have horrible anxiety and i must see MY doctor - whom i've know since i was 12.

thanks for the advice... i'm gonna play it by ear...see what happens...

a uti usually has sharp hot stabbing type pain with it... also bladder infections....  and often the pain occurs b4 you can see blood....  they treat with antibiotics and even have an anesthetic for the pain if it's too gr8.

If this is not your totm, then the absence of pain might indicate other typ problems like nerve damage or ????

presence of blood in the urine is a huge red flag and should always be checked (unless it's totm)

definitely see the dr asap.  uti's are common and not so serious, but kidney infections are no joke.  I had a kidney infection that had come from a uti and wound up in the emergency room with a 105 degree fever, receiving iv antibiotics.  uti symptoms vary greatly depending on the woman and I had none that were noticeable.  I've always been the "small bladder" type so frequent urination didn't sound any alarms.  do yourself a favor and get it checked out sooner rather than later.

blood in the urine and pain on urination or feeling like you have to urinate can also be symptoms of kidney stones.  you should see a doc asap - you can also head to the grocery store or a pharmacy and buy an over the counter urine test which can detect uti's.  i have suffered both, so hope this is of some help.

addendum: One of the symptoms I had that led me to believe something was wrong was serious pain in one side of my back, kind of on the side under my rib cage.  Still, I did nothing until the fever.  If you're having similar pain, I really suggest seeing someone.  All they really need to do is a urine test to see if the bacteria is there.  No pain or intrusiveness- just pee in a cup.  I think it would be worth your while to see an md.

thanks everyone for your help and advice. the nurse that i spoke to said if i did nothing, my symptoms would get worse, but after 24 hrs or so, they are better. because of my hormones being off-kilter, i only get my period once or twice a year, but now that i have started hormone treatment for my thyroid, it looks like my body was trying to right itself. too bad, because i didn't mind not having my totm!

thanks again!