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Sometimes I think life is just to be endured, if you enjoy it you either don't understand the situation or you have masochistic tendencies.
Last week, I was on holiday and it rained most of the time, but I did have the TdF to amuse me. Then at the weekend I started symptoms of a UTI - that's water infection for the uninitiated. I tried the cranberry juice in sufficient quantities to be in danger of Vitamin C poisoning, I also tried potassium citrate granules in one of the cystitis cures. It helped but hasn't got rid of it. On Monday, I couldn't get to the loo in time - yeah, that's what I thought too. Phoned the doc, well his receptionist, who sounded helpful please bring in a sample.
As it was after five and I was still working, I did so the next morning having asked for a prescription for antibiotics - I knew what it was, I've had it before. Unfortunately, no prescription was forthcoming - I'll play hell with the quack next time I see him. I did, however,take in a sample - mid stream and all that. It might also explain Cathy's attitude to doctors in last night's Bike.
Bearing in mind the weather is still awful and is forecast to be so for the rest of my life, well at least for the next few weeks, and everyone is totaly fed up with it, I had the delight of my car refusing to start this morning. I suspected battery trouble and was right. Phoned in and notified my team leader, my surgery to cancel the patients and the RAC to come and sort the car. They suggested a two hour wait. At least I was at home.
Called the doctor for the result of the urine sample - I needed antibiotics - why do I bother? I told them that in the beginning. They had a script for me - okay, I'll dash up there on my bike. Just about to get the bike out and it absolutely hammered down with rain.
Decided I'd wait, no point in adding a soaking to my other woes. The RAC phoned to say they were on their way - things looked as if they were improving at last.
It was the battery, they carry spares - probably not the cheapest supplier but at that stage if he'd wanted sex for it, well... instead it cost me £110 and he did fit it. So I was able to get my trimethoprim for the discomfort down below which should improve in the next 24 hours.
Hopefully things will stabilise with the exception of the weather which is now getting frightening in its dreariness - the Scots have a word for it, dreech - aye it's that a'richt.
At least I can go and torment my own patients this afternoon, well a girl's got to get her kicks some how. The moral of this story is: Life is a bitch, a rather wet one at the moment, but keep on trying, occasionally things do go right - well long enough to lull you into a false sense of security.
Angharad
Comments
yeast infection
I believe you mean a yeast infection. A doctor told me once to drink lots of apple juice, aside from cleaning oneself properly, to reduce the chance of it happening. Also panty liners help kept one dry if your in a rush alot.
I would be HAPPY to have rain. Here in canada we have had nothing but 30-35 degree celcius weather for weeks. Going anywhere is a chore during the day. Forget doing anything outside in this heat and surprise surprise no end in sight yet.
Be happy you are not getting drained out by super hot humid weather. Ill take cold wet summer days over hot humid days anytime.
Side note your battery probably did not need a replacing just some water added to a cell. If you had a decent mechanic at the time he would have told you this, fixed you in like 5 mins and charged you maybe 10 pounds.
Nope
That's a UTI she's describing, quite clearly.
As for the battery, I can't say for sure about the UK, but here in the US the automotive batteries, both new equipment and replacements, are sealed lead-acid batteries; you can't add water to them.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
still don't get it.
The only infections I know of are bladder infections, where you pee blood in your urine and Yeast infections where it REALLY hurts. Dunno what you mean by UTI thats a new one me.
Karen I havent seen a sealed battery since 1991 new all the batterys made since then are all servicable by removing the caps. I am in canada btw.
Re: still don't get it.
Hello tels,
UTI = Urinary Tract Infection. That's the 'tube' (the urethra) that carries urine from the bladder to the outside world.
Regards,
Dave.
UTI
Urinary tract infection. It is a non-specific diagnosis for any variaty of infections of the urinary tract.
Yeast
Yeast infections are both internal and external. You can have one or the other or both.
Ive been on hormoned for 15 yrs. lets just say there has been some "shrinkage". I get more than a few such infections recently. Ive also had "urinary tract infection. Id rather have the UTI by comparison.
Dayna
NSU
Is another term for it, non-specific urethritis. Confusingly, it was also the name of a track by Cream and of a motor manufacturer, who made the rather unfortunately named NSU Quickly.
I have suffered similar periods of fun. Condolinng hugs.
UTI
For me, a UTI is characterized by a strong burning sense that I need to pee, badly. If I'm lucky enough to have urine in my bladder, actually peeing affords a bit of relief while the stream is strong. As the stream tapers off, it feels as if my urethra is being wrung out by a pair of pliers. There's a momentary pause while I wipe and flush the toilet, and about the time I'm washing my hands, the burning urge to pee reasserts itself until I again have enough urine in my bladder to repeat the cycle. Urine typically appears cloudy, and tests positive for blood. Antibiotics will generally clear it up in a day or two, and there's an analgesic that removes the burning urge to pee in the meantime, but turns one's urine bright orange. I've had two UTIs in the 13 years I've been post-op, and it is one of my great hopes that I never have another. Anyone suffering through one has my sympathy.
You have my sympathy.
I had a urine infection last year and it was the most pain I've ever had to suffer ... every hour, on the hour for about 2 weeks. I don't know if it's the same for women but it certainly is for those of us with male genitalia. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy and certainly not you.
I can also sympathise with your car battery failure. I remember when they used to give up the ghost gradually but now they fail without warning. I was in the middle of nowhere on an airfield when mine popped its clogs a few weeks ago and I had to phone SWMBO to come and get me in the camper which, being a diesel, has a massive battery and big jump-leads so I got away with it. Cost about the same as you for a decent new one. Surprised you're in the RAC rather than the ETA (Environmental Transport Association) 'cos they cover bikes as well.
Of course we're both pissed off with the persistent pissing down but the Tour helps a bit. Hope you're very soon over your infection.
Robi
Life's like that.
This time last year, I went to the E.R. [A&E] because my body was retaining water.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Damned f-----g, s----y, c----y WEATHER.
Pissing down! Or, as we Welsh say Bwrw Glawr (Well that's my spelling for it>) Steph will probably have another way of putting it. It'a just bloody awful!!!
The only thing I can do is get on my bike, get out and get wet. There's just no escape.
I think all the Olympic events will be water sports this year.
Going fishing, it's the only fun left! Oh! And the Sparkle festival this weekend. I'll probably be wearing my new Wellie heels.
Bev.
Bwrw glaw
Loosely means 'throwing rain', but it works even better in your serendipitous pun, from 'llawr' which in this case means 'down'.
Throwing it down indeed!
OUCH! That sounds VERY painful
Some weeks it all seems like cra*, IE like when your windshield cracks from extream hot weather, you are out of work, a cousin's soon to be ex-husband dies and so on.
Then you get three job interviews and a job offer, nice weather and so on.
My EVIL BLONDE TM sister understands. No, um, you know problems but a touch of arthritis in her case.
I can't resist. The title of your blog starts just like this song. Maybe this cute Canada singer will cheer you up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NPBIwQyPWE
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Weather...
Knee pain in my case, coupled with crap, dreich weather in which I have become drookit several times. The boss broke his rear mudguard on his bike, and that meant he arrived to work needing to wash his back. Not good, and getting rather fed up with it.
More news
I live on the Surrey/Sussex border, and my local river has just been given a flood warning. Bum. This is a very, very silly Summer.
Over use injuries to knees ...
... are probably quite common in wet weather. I was off my bike for 3 weeks with one after completing a 300km Audax through the mountains of mid-Wales in continuous rain and flooded roads. More enjoyable in the recollection than in the execution :) The same event the following year in warm sunshine and a pre-planned walk up the Devil's Staircase was knee pain free. I was advised to do straight leg raises whilst sitting on the floor, which seemed to work, but then, I was a mere child of 47 in those far off days :)
I'm surprised your boss even had a back mudguard. They don't seem fashionable these days. You get an earful if you don't have a mudflap as well as a guard amongst my friends.
I've hardly turned a pedal since May. Now I don't have to cycle to work every day I've got lazy.
Robi
Barmy Weather
You got rain? Send us some. Here I sit, by one of the world's largest bodies of fresh water, and we're in a drought. We're supposed to have 4.5 to 5 " of rain, but we've only received 1.5". So, catch yours in bottles. Ship it over to Chicago. We'll dump it into Lake Michigan, and irrigate the entire Midwest.
Yes, this is all related to the global warming, but nobody knows what's going on. It's hard enough to predict weather when everything is nice and stable, but with the warming comes changes in the ocean and the air. The Gulf Stream, which warms all of Europe and delivers plenty of atmospheric moisture to the North, is even warmer than usual. And, the jet streams are all messed up, so dry areas are getting dryer and wet areas are getting wetter ... on average. So, enjoy whatever you're getting now, because it's apt to change dramatically over the next thirty years or so.
And, we all hope your infection clears up, Angharad. Urinary tract infections are yucky and not to be messed with. So, take your meds, and get better.
Go Wiggo!
Red MacDonald
Oregon Dreech !!!!
I can most certainly sympathise with your feelings regarding the abominable weather there right now. Portland, Oregon is wet and soggy about 10 months of the year, and this year it went right up to the 4th of July before suddenly drying out.
Like you, I had a really severe UTI a few weeks ago and it nearly drove me bats. There was a great deal of pelvic pain with it too. In my case, the antibiotic dose was 6 pills, 2 a day for three days.
I do so very much hope that the weather improves for you.
Gwendolyn
110 quid was quite a good price.
Cheap battery by itself will be around 70. And only 40 for drive to your place and work is a bargain. (And adding water can help sometimes but it will just mean that you have couple of days to replace it by yourself. Otherwise you'll need to charge battery with charger very other day... And it will give you half a year of constant agony if your battery will be good enough to start your car at the "other end" of your journey. I can tell you lots of stories about car batteries :-) But only reason to try to keep half dead battery alive is if you have no way of replacing it. And you can't use tap water. You need distilled water...)
It seems that rainy weather is starting to disturb you... But as I said all of the forecasts available online are promising +25 and some sun for most of the England and Scotland by the middle of the next week.
Also, regarding doctors, every single medical professianal I've ever met thought that he/she is the only reliable authority on all things medical. Even after repeatedly being proven wrong in their diagnosis.
Battery problems
Before they came out with Jumper packs for jump-starting a car I used to carry a spare battery in my trunk with jumper cables to self-jumpstart my car. Here in New England or Kansas that tends to come in very handy in the winter time when for various reasons the battery will not start the car and you want to get home from work in the middle of a blizzard.
The day improved
The rain has stopped for now and we actually had some sunshine, which enabled me to cycle out to the main road to Weymouth and photograph a road kill of what I think is a polecat, if it is, then they are uncommon in this part of the world. I've sent the photos to the Mammal Society for verification of species and distribution.
Polecats aren't cats at all, but members of the Mustelidae or weasel family.
Angharad
UTI
Yup, I had one a couple of months ago and it hurt like BH. Shortly after you've rushed to the loo and released a thimble-full, you still need to go. One place that you don't want to be far from until the antibiotics kick in is the toilet.
And it doesn't seem to matter how carefully and thoroughly you wipe; if it's got your name on it, it's yours.
As they say, Ang, when one door shuts, another one slams in your face.
S.
Keeps getting better
On the weekend a hedgehog was killed on the road 10 yards from my house, which distressed me. I'd seen on in the garden several times, and most recently I'd seen a smaller one in my garden. Tonight, I've just seen two smaller ones in the garden, although the casualty in the road is quite possibly their mother.
Angharad