Deciding if my body is in crisis or simply experiencing a 'normal' flare is a terribly complex problem.
So what do I do? Well, usually I pretend like it is a simple every day occurrence, until I can't ignore the signs of it being more serious.
The last couple weeks have been complicated. I started having some symptoms regarding my bladder last Monday. Now, over the last several years, urinary tract infections have been a relatively common occurrence, happening a few times per year. Since I am constantly cycling between three antibiotics, if I feel a UTI coming on, I switch my antibiotics and that usually takes care of it. Sometimes I have to go on an additional antibiotic, but not always. So my instinct is to wait a few days after I have changed antibiotics before I go and get checked. No use in wasting the doctor's time right? Especially if it clears up on its own.
But then, last Friday, I also experienced some very blatant signs of a Crohn's and Pouchitis flare.... blood mainly. And lots of it.
Again, this is relatively normal to have once in a while. It usually only lasts a few days and some Cortifoam generally takes care of the problem.
But then things got a little strange. Luckily, the IBD symptoms and bleeding DID settle after a few days of Cortifoam.
Great!
One down, one to go.
The bladder symptoms seemed strange in general. Yes I had some pretty straightforward symptoms, but they seemed to worsen significantly when I became stressed or moved around too much. On days I simply stayed in bed and made sure I was relaxed, I felt completely normal. COMPLETELY. Like I had never had the symptoms in the first place. But then I would move around or get stressed and BAM, back to burning and urgency and all sorts of nasty pains.
So I finally went to the doctor - thinking all I needed was a course of extra antibiotics for a (seemingly) obvious UTI. But when she tested me, no UTI. Now before someone jumps to an embarrassing conclusion, I have been in a loyal and committed relationship for over two years, so the only chance for an sti would be from receiving a blood product for my HAE.
Okay - now that the elephant in the room has been dealt with - what are my options?
Am I experiencing an adverse effect of the hysterectomy I had in January?
Have I developed a new auto-immune inflammatory condition that affects my bladder?
Is this a simple symptom of menopause? (Simple as in common, not easy)
Is my Hereditary Angioedema affecting my bladder? (I DID have to go off of Tranexamic Acid recently because I have had to go on hormone replacement therapy, and I DID have quite a bad HAE attack last Friday night...)
Is this some sort of other random infection?
Could it be something that simultaneously affected my intestines AND my bladder? And if so, what other organs might it be affecting?
Once we knew that it was unlikely a UTI, although still potentially possible without much evidence in my urine, then I kinda started to panic.
So what do I do now? If it is something more serious, should I go to an Urgent Care facility? But Urgent Care does not have ultrasound or MRI machines... so what else could they do for me? Urine cultures take 2-3 days no matter if they are deemed an Emergency or not, so I would still have to wait. Do I go to Rockyview, since it is closer to home, I have been there multiple times, and I am more comfortable with that facility? Do I go all the way up to Foothills Emergency since my surgeon, my pelvic pain specialist, AND my gastroenterologist all work there?
But what if I am making a mountain out of a molehill? What if it IS a simple infection that can be easily taken care of? Then I have wasted resources in the Emergency Room that could have been used elsewhere? And what if the ER docs treat me poorly or send me home or simply give me heck for coming in?
What a confusing week.
So, instead, I called my surgeon's nurse and got an appointment with him tomorrow. I also have an appointment with my family doctor to get the urinalysis and culture results.
Then I sing in the afternoon.
Geez I hope it's not bad news... that singing gig might be a lot tougher if I get bad news.
But what if it's no news? What if the tests show nothing? The symptoms are still there, and they SUCK, so if the tests show nothing then more tests will need to be ordered. And that takes time. Which makes me worry more.
I think my head might explode (figuratively). It is probably a good thing that I am singing tomorrow to take my mind off of things.
So, family doc at 9, surgeon just after 10, and meeting my duo partner close to 1pm. Oh boy will I have to be heavily medicated... which means I also cannot drive. Thankfully I have incredible family and friends.