My urologist has had me taking Uribell, and I hate it! It turns your urine blue, instead of the orange color that some meds do. I have had bladder and kidney issues my entire life and I had my very first ever test with contrast ran when I was three years old and I am 51 years young now. I have had numerous catheterizations since then and they most always stretch my urethra and I actually had my urethra stretched last year and I thought they never was going to get done BC they just kept on gaging up on the size they were using to stretch it! My daughter actually took me to this visit bc 4 yrs ago I had a series of mini strokes and now it's like they won't let me do much by myself. Anyway I know exactly what UTI's feel like and I have had many cultures that comes back negative. I have also had kidney infections, the first when I was around 10-11 yrs old, I was in 5th grade, and I remember it vividly BC I asked my teacher if I could go to the restroom but she said no! I was in so much pain and I couldn't hold it back, so I braced myself and grabbed the seat of my desk on both sides and I just pulled myself into the seat as I urinated on myself and the burning and pain was unreal!!! I remember it so well BC it was the day that Elvis Presley left the building (died)! So afterwards my teacher sent me to the office where they called my mom to come pick me up. There was one big difference in this infection as I bled once I had finished peeing and once I was done bleeding, the burning and stinging would stop! My mom and teacher thought that I had started menstruation and mom took me to the store and bought me a big box of stayfree maxi pads. Funny thing mymmy  never spoke of "the birds, and the bee's) but she said you know you can get pregnant and I was absolutely terrified at the thought! Wasn't funny at all back then but anyway I have had terrible health my entire life and in 2002, I was hospitalized for surgery on my back. I have had 3 more since then, and I went numb from my waist to my foot on my left side. I still have damaged nerves on that side! I have also been told that I have partial neurogenic bowel and bladder! 

     I have a follow-up appointment with my urologist on July 5th, but It may as well be Christmas! I don't know if I can wait until then! I am really scared BC I'm already in pain mgmt for the chronic pain that my spine causes! Bad thing is what I take now doesn't help much anymore! I just wanted some relief when I pee, it's difficult to go sleep when it feels like your bladder may rupture!. I called my urologist a couple days ago and they decided to try to treat me for OAB, I don't think that's it! But night one i slept all night and got up just once to pee, I was thrilled and excited that just maybe I did have OAB, FF to last night when I slept but gup twice to pee, and after the second time I just never went back to sleep BC I got not one bit of relief! Yes twice is great compared to the 5-6X's I had been going but what good is going if you continue to feel like you still need to go?

     I have done tons of research as I found out with my spinal issues, you need a good health advocate when you have many health issues and takes lots of medications. So either myself or my husband was constantly online looking for answers or just some good advice! At this point I feel like I may be losing my mind! BTW my mini strokes turned out was a result of a very rare heart tumor! Lucky me, right? Well not exactly BC I was in the hospital for a very long time just recooperating from the strokes and when I finally got out, I had to go back in a week later to have heart surgery and get the tumor removed! I am just so Lucky (Bad luck not good!

So I have looked at everything online from OAB, to bladder cancer and so on! You know that you have gone too far, when you become terrified at the what ifs! I really don't know where to go from here! I am thinking I need to get in touch with my urologist and demand to get an earlier appointment! I am thinking enough is past time enough and I am sick of all the suffering! If this wasn't enough though, I fell in the night on 4/22, and I broke both bones in my wrist on my left arm (the left arm was the side that my strokes affected and left me w/o the use of the left arm but I did realize that I was falling and I tried to catch myself with my right (better) arm, but when I missed I threw out my left arm to keep from falling on my face and breaking my glasses!

guess I am just a glutton for punishment!. I guess I am looking for someone with some good advice as to what I should do from here about my annoying bladder issues. If you were in my shoes, what would you suggest I do? Thanks in advance and God bless you and the rest of your day!

Blessings

Cindy in SC