Cystitis help
 

My aunt has Cystitis and her gastroenterologist wont do anything about it. She is a dialysis patient, has mobility issues and AFIB. I cant figure out if he thinks her issues are too many and therefore wont take additional steps to help her or if there really isn't anything that can be done. She works really hard to stay out of a nursing home by staying as mobile as she can so I hate to see her suffer with this. Shes only 79. She has diarrhea a couple of times a day, sorry for TMI. Any suggestions?

Yes... find another gastroenterologist and I recommend one not in The Villages.. call dr Bheema Singu 352-840-1001. He located in Ocala. Excellent Dr.

Goodness, that's awful! If she also has a urinary tract infection, that can be quite uncomfortable and it 's beyond bizarre for any doctor to refuse to treat it.

Should she perhaps be seeing her primary care physician instead of her gastroenterologist for the problem? Going to an urgent care center for a UTI is another option.

As far as chronic diarrhea goes, I hope your aunt has thoroughly discussed possible causes with her doctor.

The anti-diarrheal over-the-counter medication loperamide (generic name) can help control it. There are also prescription medications for severe diarrhea.

I wish your aunt the best.

If by ‘cystitis’ you mean a simple UTI, your aunt’s primary care doc or even an urgent care should be able to treat it with a run of antibiotics.

If by ‘cystitis’ you are referring to interstitial cystitis that is more complicated to treat. My very limited understanding comes from knowing someone who had the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. I think that would require a specialist.

I hope your aunt’s cystitis is one that can respond to simple treatment with the right antibiotic. Even though gastroenterologists specialize in the digestive tract, I cannot imagine why he could not treat a simple urinary tract infection or would not be recommending a urologist or urogynecologist if the condition is complex.

Another thought that just occurred to me is that as a dialysis patient, I assume your aunt must have a kidney specialist, a nephrologist, she could see.

I wish you the best as you work on finding the medical help your aunt needs.

- - - - - - -

While I am here this morning — posting at the crack of dawn — I am going to elaborate a little on UTIs because there is something about them that people might not know:

In an older patient, a UTI can cause symptoms that look like dementia. I have seen this happen with at least 3 people I have known.

One was my dad. My dad’s mind remained sharp for his whole life, but later in life, he got at least 2 urinary tract infections that caused him to appear to have dementia because he would go back in time to being on the farm, as a kid.

The first time it happened, it really scared me. I called his doc who put him in the hospital on IV antibiotics.

I remember asking his doctor, “Will we ever get that good brain back?” His doctor told me not to worry and sure enough, when the antibiotics kicked in, Dad was back. (I cried because I was so happy.) He and I talked about it and he even remembered the things he had said while the infection was raging through him.

I am throwing this info in here, just in case someone reading this needs to be aware that if they see sudden dementia-like symptoms in an older person, it could be an easily treated bladder infection. (I know Dad would not mind me telling that story because it could help someone else.)

Boomer

Cystitis
 

Either try a kidney Dr or Urologist. Second opinions are always better for the patient.

Thanks Boomer. This is so good to know.

All the gastrologist here are in the sa.e practice, according to my Aunt. We're in Dayton Ohio.

Gigi, a gastro specializes in the digestive tract, not the urinary tract, even so though I cannot figure out why he should not be treating a simple urinary tract infection, if that is what this is. If it is something more complicated that requires a uro specialty, he could recommend someone.

If that is not getting anywhere, you should be able to find a good urologist. She might want a urogynecologist, the specialty for women that includes urinary issues, along with the gynecological.

You said you are in Dayton. There will be someone there. Don’t forget to include Kettering in your search. (That is a nice hospital — and has the most gorgeous landscaping I have ever seen at a hospital. Word has it that Mrs. Kettering left the money to make sure it could go on after her.) But, I digress — enough about flowers and back to urology.

(I lived in Dayton for a few years, decades ago, and I have visited recently so I know the territory, sort of.)

Do a Google search for urologists and urogynecologists in the Dayton area, and start asking around to find a doctor who can help.

But, if I may be so bold, I suggest you go with your aunt to the doctor, maybe starting with the one she has now — if that’s OK with her — and help her get some questions answered and the treatment she needs.

Boomer

thanks for explaining this possibility. Good to know.

Are you sure it's cystitis and not colitis? Colitis would be the diarrhea. Cystitis is a urinary infection. If she was here I would recommend Dr. Marianne DeJong-Byer. I had an issue with colitis and cured with antibiotics. An urgent care center is all you need for a UTI (urinary infection). That gastroenterologist of yours doesn't know what he's doing.

As I was writing that treatise on urology early this morning, I kept thinking I had to be missing something. I think you spotted it.

Also recommend going with your aunt to the doctor. Sounds like she needs an advocate...you?

Cystitis is an inflamation of the urinary bladder usually caused by an infection. She needs to see her primary care doctor or a urologist

My mom would have an occasional UTI, which, as mentioned earlier in this post, caused increased dementia symptoms. She was already a nursing home resident for Alzheimer's. When she would get extra confused, a UTI was always the issue. Once treated with "Sulfa drugs", she would feel much better physically and mentally.
As for the diarrhea...has nothing to do with cystitis. Could be colon issues...She needs to take an anti-diarrhea med, stay hydrated and increase fiber intake. I am not a doc, just a mom...
Best wishes to you and your aunt!

She needs a urologist that understands older females.
I take a 10mg amytriptaline to stop bladder spasms.
The doctor put me on 100 mg 2X a day for 30 days first.
The lining near the urethra is very thin as we age.

Does anyone go to the appointments with her? Maybe at this point in her life she needs a patient advocate, to make sure she is seeing the correct Dr. Insurance companies have them and they even search the Dr’s in your plans ie: specialists

YES! OMG, you are so correct on the meds! it really affected someone very close to us, we thought he had lost his mind-and a friend had to tell us it was the meds that were making him act the way he did. THANK YOU for posting that info, because the dr's certainly never told us. (not villages doc's btw, was a specialist from up north)

cystitis help
 

There is a big difference between an UTI cystitis and interstitial cystitis I suggest you look up this site ://www.ichelp.org/support/ask-an-ic-question/
I have started with a lot of UTI that later developed into non bacterial interstitial cystitis. On that site is a place to click on to join the cystitis support group. I got alot more help there. I find the cystitis diet to be real helpful in controlling it. I would recommend a urologist or a urogynecologist. Make sure when you call around to check out doctors you ask specifically if they have dealt with interstitial cystitis and also UTI. I hope you find a good one because most of them lack bedside manners and don't care other than to prescribe antibiotic for a UTI. but if you have the non bacterial cystitis all the antibiotics will do more harm than good.

If it’s chronic UTI’s or the feeling of. Take her to a Urogynecology specialist. They specialize in WOMENS urology. I thought I had constant UTI’s. Turned out to be Interstitial Cystitis. There are meds abc treatments that could help her. Best of luck 🥰

As a dialysis nurse for 23 years, I caution you trying any new medications without consulting her nephrologist(kidney doctor).
Patients with renal failure can not tolerate many medications or over the counter drugs. They can do much more harm than good. I would go through her primary care physician first and have them clear it with the kidney doctor.
Just being on dialysis is difficult enough, along with her other issues.
I am so sorry for her situation but there has to be some solution for these symptoms.
Don’t give up hope!!!

She needs a urologist or her primary care should follow. Her gastro should figure out how to get the diarrhea under control.

I had chronic cystitis until I started using baking soda. Mix a tsp of baking soda in water twice a day. Burning stops within 30 minutes. Symptoms should stop within 36 hours. Good luck. Don’t exceed doses.

She didn't say anything about meds being the problem. It was the UTI that was the problem. It happened to my Mom. She had a small stroke later on and then developed full-blown dementia. She's in assisted living now & when she gets suddenly worse, they check her urine and sure enough, she has a UTI. She just will not drink enough water, even before her dementia.

Follow this excellent advice. Get her away from this "doctor" as quickly as you can. Only 79 ? If you can drive her (and I know it is a burden) do so, if you can get her to quality physician, she will have such a higher quality of life, the quality she deserves.

That is just not true. Dr.Tram and Dr. Matthews are not in the same practice.