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.