Coping With Urinary Tract Infection

It was late at night & my doctor’s office was closed. I called my insurance companies nurse line and gave them my symptoms. I had pain below my left ribs and around the same place in my back. Bad pains. I felt a little nauseous, I felt like I had a fever but I didn’t.

The nurse line looked up the symptoms and instructed me to: Take an aspirin, unlock my door, call 911 and elevate my feet. I asked why and they said they diagnosed cardiac problems.

Not wanting to alarm my daughter – nor did I feel like I was going to have a heart attack – I had my husband driver me to the 24 hour walk in clinic. They asked me more questions and one question was did I have a problem urinating? I was experiencing minor discomfort and did not think to mention it (nor did they ask) when speaking with the nurse. They performed a urine sample and determined I had blood in my urine and diagnosed a urinary tract infection I am on antibiotics.

Although we spend HOURS at the clinic I saved money because the co-pay for an ambulance if it is not necessary is $250 and I did not have the embarrassment of all the neighbors and the fear that would have instilled in my daughter.

Thank God it was just a urinary tract infection!