July 6th 2024.
Grace and Mo, two young women, recently went through a difficult time dealing with painful symptoms. Grace, a 27-year-old PR professional, shared her experience with a urinary tract infection (UTI). She described the pain as "excruciating" and said she felt nauseous and disconnected from reality. Along with cold shivers, fever, and intense back and stomach pain, Grace also developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition.
In her own words, Grace recalls having to call an ambulance when her lips turned blue, her temperature spiked, and she felt completely disoriented. Even the paramedics initially thought she had appendicitis, although she didn't have any pain in her side. It took months for Grace to fully recover, and she is still taking antibiotics. Her boyfriend, who initially didn't believe a UTI could be that painful, only realized the seriousness of the situation when he saw how ill Grace had become.
The symptoms of a UTI can be debilitating, and women are more prone to getting them due to the shorter length of their urethra compared to men. These symptoms include a constant urge to urinate, a burning sensation during urination, and passing small amounts of urine frequently. Women may also experience pelvic pain, while men may feel rectal pain. In severe cases, a UTI can also cause fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting.
While UTIs can affect both men and women, it is more common in women. However, a recent study found that 71% of men who have never had a UTI don't believe they can be that painful. This misconception is similar to the belief that giving birth is not as painful as being kicked in the groin. Dr. Chung Tang, a medical director, explains that men may not be as familiar with the symptoms and severity of a UTI due to its higher occurrence in women. Additionally, societal expectations of men being tough and downplaying pain may also contribute to this belief.
Another misconception about UTIs is that they are temporary and easily treatable. However, research suggests that 25% of women who have had at least one UTI will experience recurrent infections. Some people may even have constant symptoms due to long-term UTIs, which can be fatal and affect around 6,000 people in hospitals every year. Sadly, this issue is not well-researched, with only one research center in the UK dedicated to recurring UTIs.
Dr. Rajvinder Khasriya, the lead researcher at the center, shared that many patients feel dismissed and not believed, often being told that their symptoms are just "women's issues" and something they have to deal with. In response, there is now a patient advocacy group called Live UTI Free, which aims to educate women on how to advocate for proper testing and treatment.
Mo Carrier, a 27-year-old from Manchester, also dealt with recurrent UTIs during her time at university. She described feeling constant pain in her lower abdomen, as well as pressure and dull aches in her pelvic area. Mo remembers having to leave a lecture due to the intense pain and being unable to focus on anything else. She also recalls the temporary relief of urinating but immediately feeling pain afterwards.
To reduce the risk of getting a UTI, there are a few precautions one can take, including staying hydrated, urinating frequently (especially after sex), and wiping front to back after using the bathroom. George Sandhu, a Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist, also suggests taking a UTI test if you experience any symptoms.
In conclusion, UTIs are a serious and often painful condition that can have long-term effects on a person's health. It is important to understand the symptoms and misconceptions surrounding UTIs and take necessary precautions to prevent and properly treat them.
Grace and Mo, two young women, recently went through a difficult and painful experience. Grace, who is 27 years old and works in PR, had to deal with a urinary tract infection (UTI). She described the pain as excruciating and even felt nauseous and out of touch with reality. Along with cold shivers and a fever, Grace also experienced intense back and stomach pain. Unfortunately, her condition worsened and she ended up with sepsis, a life-threatening condition. It got so bad that she had to call for an ambulance, as she was barely conscious and her lips were turning blue.
Even the paramedics were initially convinced that Grace was suffering from appendicitis, despite her not having any pain on her side. It took her months to fully recover and she is still taking antibiotics. Grace's boyfriend, who initially didn't understand how painful a UTI could be, was finally convinced after seeing her in such a critical state.
UTIs can be debilitating and can cause a lot of discomfort. They are usually caused by bacteria from feces entering the urinary tract. Women are more prone to UTIs due to their shorter urethra. Symptoms include a constant urge to urinate, burning sensation during urination, and passing small amounts of urine frequently. In severe cases, there may also be fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Men can also get UTIs, but it is much more common in women.
Surprisingly, a new research showed that 71% of men who have never had a UTI don't believe that it can be that painful. It seems that men, like those who underestimate the pain of childbirth, have opinions on something they have never experienced themselves. Dr Chung Tang, a medical director, suggests that this could be due to societal expectations of men being tough and downplaying pain. It is also common for people to think that UTIs are temporary and not a serious condition. However, research shows that 25% of women with at least one UTI will have recurring infections, and some may even have chronic UTIs.
Shockingly, UTIs can even be fatal, with 6,000 people dying from hospital-acquired infections every year. The risk is even higher for elderly individuals. Mo, a 27-year-old from Manchester, also experienced frequent UTIs during her time at university. She recalls the constant pain in her lower abdomen and pressure in her pelvic area. The pain was so intense that she had to leave a lecture once just to go to the bathroom.
Unfortunately, UTIs are not given enough attention in terms of research and treatment. There is only one research center in the UK that focuses on recurring UTIs. Dr Rajvinder Khasriya, the lead researcher, stated that patients often feel dismissed and not taken seriously when seeking help for their UTI symptoms. This has led to the creation of patient advocacy groups such as Live UTI Free, which aims to educate and empower women to advocate for proper testing and treatment.
To prevent UTIs, it is important to take care of your urinary tract, including your bladder, urethra, and kidneys. Staying hydrated, peeing frequently (especially after sex), and wiping front to back after using the bathroom are some precautions that can help reduce the risk of UTIs. If you experience any symptoms, it is important to get tested for UTIs.
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