I'm back from the doctor and so frustrated, because the rapid test they do showed no bacteria. (Also not pregnant; despite my IUD, they wanted to test for it anyway. The NP said she had a patient once who got pregnant despite an IUD.) They're culturing the sample to check for bacteria that the rapid test doesn't check for, and they took blood to see if my white blood cells are up.

FWIW, my urologist said the rapid test is crap.

FWIW, my urologist said the rapid test is crap.

Man, I hope so. This -- whatever it is -- HURTS.

Did they at least give you something pending the test results, Teppy? In either case ~ma.

JZ, profile addy good?

They gave me an Rx for yet another antibiotic in my Year of Antibiotics: Bactrim, for 3 days. They push Cipro*, but because I had such a bad problem with joint pain after taking Levaquin (which is in the same family), I push back and tell them that I'll take it only if they culture my [whatever the problem is] and find out it's susceptible ONLY to Cipro.

*(I understand why they push Cipro; it's broad spectrum and therefore kills a lot of different strains of bacteria. That said, if Cipro is over-used [and I'm fairly certain it is], then resistant strains will develop, and that won't end well.)

WS, yes indeed. Thanks!

Teppy, may you have relief and health soon.

Teppy, some of those are the symptoms I had several years ago before I was major antibiotics and diagonised with painful bladder syndrome.

I really recommend both AZO and Aloe as supplements to help with pain. If your bladder is inflamed or sensitive due to an infection avoiding really acidic things (citrus, vinegars, etc), especially cranberry juice and spicy foods might help.

painful bladder syndrome

I've never heard of this. My bladder is pretty damn painful, though. I might have some AZO in the medicine cabinet.

Insent, JZ.