THEJNSREPORT

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Battling For Health and Healthy Living 2

So it’s been a month since my last post on the topic of health.  In that time I’ve had a couple of strange occurrences that knocked me for a loop both figuratively and literally.  First, came in the middle of the month when I began to notice just an ever so slight tingle when I’d begin to urinate.  I ignored this as I would just chalk it up to that feeling you get when you’re holding it in too long.

Over the course of that week there was nothing that really gave me  any cause for concern until Friday evening. While using the restroom to release some of the many glasses of water I’d consumed throughout the course of the day, upon finishing and wiping clean I noticed a pinkish hue on the piece toilet paper I had used.  I thought I must be seeing things so again I ignored it and went about my business.

The following Monday is when I really began to notice that something was not feeling quite right, because now when I went to the bathroom there was this feeling of urgency.  I kept telling myself it could be that I’m feeling this because I’ve just been holding it in too long. The tingle sensation I had felt the week earlier had now become a moderate burning sensation.

Being stubborn, I thought this would just pass on its own and it wasn’t anything of concern as far as an STD because I’m in a monogamous relationship and practice safe sex.  I figured just drink more water.  I even considered the idea of drinking more alcohol because I figured the body will get rid of alcohol just as it does water filtering it through my system and “burn” whatever was causing that moderate burning sensation.  Silly idea right?  I tried it though. LOL

Anyway with each passing visit to the restroom my discomfort when taking a leak got worse.  So much so it began to feel like I was pissing razor blades and wasn’t fully emptying my bladder even though I felt like I was each time.  Then it happened.  For the first time I’d seen what I was in denial about.  On my next trip to the restroom I went through the painful process of releasing a urine stream when near the conclusion I saw a stream of blood shoot out.

I was shocked as well as feeling the (excruciating by this point) burn of taking a leak.  I shared this with my significant other when I realized that my threshold for this amount of suffering had become intolerable and because I didn’t want to keep what was bothering me a secret any longer.  It was suggested that I go to the doctor to see what was going on.  I having insurance had always been reluctant to use it and took pride in foregoing what I used to deem unnecessary trips to the doctor.  All that was about to change.  I called to set up an appointment to see my primary care physician but was told the earliest opening was the following week Monday.  There was no way that I was going to be able to hold out for another week.

From Bad To Worse:

By the late morning of that day I began to feel like shit.  I didn’t want to eat much and my body had begun to feel achy.  I laid down on the couch and decided to just take it easy.  Within an hour I was heating up and developing a fever and suffering pain in my lower back on my left side.  By the evening I was barely able to get off the couch to get to the restroom.  My muscles ached like I’d played tackle football all day and my head and body were burning up.  I sweat profusely and still was like I’m not going to get in an ambulance and go to the E.R. that night.  Instead I took ibuprofen drank more water and had some chicken soup before going to bed.  By morning my sheets were soaked from all the sweating I’d done that night due to the fever.

I got in a cab and went to the E.R.  I was surprised how quickly I got entered into their system and then seen by a nurse and doctor.  It was literally within 15 minutes.  I prepared to wait for hours as I knew the custom at most E.Rs in the outer-boroughs.  My experience this time was a total surprise and very much welcomed.  After some routine health questions from the nurse the doctor on duty came to see me.  I was given a check of my vitals and genitals and my back after a couple of taps with the tips of his fingers to the tender painful spot in my lower back, I exclaimed “Yep right there!!”

My doctor had my blood drawn, I gave a painful urine sample, and then was given an IV and put on antibiotics for what I was to later find out was a bad kidney infection accompanied by a UTI (urinary tract infection).  Thank God for doctors and antibiotics.  Over a week of antibiotics and Tylenol later I was free of infection.  I learned my lesson.  Lesson number one listen to your body if you feel something is not right go to the doctor and get it checked out especially when you have and are paying for health insurance.  Lesson two I learned is don’t wait till symptoms get worse to seek treatment.  I could have avoided the muscle aches, fever, chills, profuse sweating and general razor blade blood spurts had I gone to the E.R much sooner.

Not saying I’ll become a hypochondriac after this experience but I definitely won’t hesitate to seek medical attention when I need it.  I want to be around for a very long time and as I get older I realize the childish days are behind me.  Paying close attention to one’s health as well as living a healthy lifestyle is the key to longevity in my opinion.  Still no idea how I ended up with a kidney infection but I guess that’s not the point.   The point is doing something about it before it’s too late.

Till next time…