I'm new here, so I hope I am posting this correctly - if not please let me know!
I was diagnosed with RA this summer. Finally was able to get in to see a rheumy on Sept 7th. He put me on Plaquenil, I had already been on Daypro for over a month by then as that was prescribed by my regular doctor.
I didn't notice any difference until Week 6 of taking the Plaquenil. I saw a vast difference over that week in a lessening of my pain (which was mostly in my jaw and shoulders at that time). However, at the same time, I started having UTI-like symptoms (burning urgency to go, even after I had just gone to the bathroom). My rheumy assured me this could have nothing to do with the meds. Had a urinalysis done and they found nothing, but had put me on an anitbiotic just in case. The problem went away by itself over the next week or so.
Well, I came down with the same problem again this month. Blood tested and everything is normal, they are again doing the urinalysis.
So, I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced these UTI-like symptoms on Plaquenil or Daypro. I hate to stop taking them, but the pain I'm in now seems worse than the pain of the RA.
Kathy
I get that funny feeling of an on coming bladder infection. I'm not sure if its med related or not, but I do drink a few glasses of cranberry juice when that happens, and it goes away. Could it be that your immune system is down a bit and that (lucky you) the UTI is just your thing? I guess it is possible that you are having symptoms early and that it is not showing up in the urine. I mean, you can have some bacteria there and they may not read it as pos. for uti because it isnt gonna be a totally clean specimen anyways. I have seen people with little or no symptoms and the UA comes back showing alot of infection....so the opposite could happen as well. Just push fluids, and dont hold your urine..go as soon as you feel the urge. Empty your bladder often, avoid caffeine and spicey foods, and wear cotton undies...oh yeah, and try to urinate after intercourse. Okay that is the crash course on avoiding/caring for uti's...hope the tips help. One more thing...no tub baths for a while either.Thanks for the UTI advice Terinski and crunchy. I had hubby go out and buy cranberry juice today and I've been drinking a lot. Now I just have to wait for the results of the UA. I'm dreading that it will be normal and then I'll just get passed on to a urologist with an appointment available in 7 weeks - don't think I can take this pain for that long!
Sort of reminds me of my diagnosis day for my RA - I was told over the phone by a nurse, no advice, no info., just "You have RA, we'll send out a referral to your insurance." So, it was me and the computer, reading all that scary RA info. all by myself. Why couldn't I have married a rheumy?
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