Bladder Infections: The Ugly Truth
Michelle Howard, R.N.
Have you ever found yourself scrambling from one place to the next? Or been so
busy at work that by the end of the day you realize that you have only gone to the
bathroom once? Sometimes we get so busy in our daily routines that we forget
that our body needs water to function properly.
I have to admit that this has happened to me. I forgot my bottle of water and
spent most of the day in the car running errands. By the time I got home I was
extremely thirsty. I quickly drank several cups of water and went about my house
hold duties. In the middle of the night, after I went to the bathroom I felt the urge
to go again. This continued all night. When I did urinate it felt like my insides
were coming out with help from thirty three needles.
I eventually made it to urgent care, because this can never happen during day
light hours, my urine was tested, and I received an antibiotic. Within a couple
hours I had relief, thank goodness for modern medicine.
There are three types of Urinary infections that have some common interests:
 Cystitis is an infection of the bladder and is usually caused by E. coli
normally found in the gastrointestinal tract. All women are at risk for
cystitis but sexual intercourse can cause cystitis.
 Urethritis is the infection of the urethra and can be caused by Gastro
intestinal bacteria entering the urethra or sexually transmitted infections
such as: herpes, gonorrhea, or chlamydia.
 Acute pyelonephritis is the infection of the kidneys. This can be life
threatening and needs immediate attention.
Who’s at Risk for getting a Urinary Tract Infection?
 The road from the rectum to urethra is shorter on women than men. This
increases the risk for women to catch a Urinary Tract Infection.
 Women who are sexually active compared to non-sexually active women
have higher chances of getting an UTI.
 Using spermicidal foams or diaphragms for birth control can increase your
chance.
 After menopause a women’s decrease of estrogen can cause changes in the
urethra making it susceptible to infection.
 Urinary tract abnormalities can cause urine to stay behind in the body
putting them at risk for UTI’s.
 Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate can cause a blockage and keep urine
in the bladder.
 Having a suppressed immune system such as Diabetes can increase your
chances of getting a UTI.
 If you use a catheter to urinate you are at risk.
You might be asking yourself what a UTI feels like. These are the symptoms of a
Urinary Tract Infection.
 The feeling we get when we have to urinate, just multiply that by 50.
Sometimes this is the first symptom people experience. The persistent
urge to urinate can be very uncomfortable and can get worse quickly.
 When you urinate you can experience a burning sensation, similar to that
of urinating tabasco sauce.
 If you are experiencing the constant urge to urinate, but very little urine will
exit.
 If your urine looks like you just poured a dark colored soda, pink lemonade,
or a bloody Mary in the toilet this could be an indicator of blood in the
urine.
 If after you urinate and you catch yourself holding your nose because it
smells that bad, this could be a symptom.
 Women can experience pain in the pelvic area.
 Men might experience pain the rectal area.
It can be difficult to identify a UTI in the older adult especially if a cognitive deficit
is present. Look for these symptoms: a fever of 102 degrees or more, abdominal,
back, side or groin pain, increased confusion, hallucinations, sudden change in
behavior, or withdrawal. It’s very important that you seek medical attention for
yourself or your loved one if experiencing symptoms of a UTI.
If you have ever had the privilege of experiencing this infection, you hope that is
never visits again. Listed are some tips to prevent a urinary tract infection:
 Drinking 8-10 glasses of water or more a day will help to reduce the
bacteria in the urine by diluting it, and will cause you to urinate more
frequently. Often times when we are out running errands, we may not
want to drink a lot of water. We don’t want the hassle of locating a
bathroom. Remember: You want to urinate frequently; this is a normal
process of elimination.
 Have you heard the old saying “wipe front to back?” This technique
prevents bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to enter the urethra.
 If you’re prone to getting Urinary Tract Infections after intercourse make
sure to use the bathroom right after and drink a couple glasses of water
to help flush bacteria out.
 Do you spray your nether regions with perfume or frequently use a
douching product, powder, or deodorant sprays? These kinds of
products should be avoided because they can irritate the urethra.
I hope these tips will help you from ever experiencing this terrible infection.
Remember to seek medical attention if you think you or a loved one has any of
these symptoms.
Michelle Howard, R.N is an Aging Life Care Manager with Elder Options, Inc.
www.elderoptionsca.com