As of this morning, I have seen a newly posted urine culture result. I have an UTI. More TMI follows. You have been warned. Proceed with caution.
What I thought was just irritation from the catheter insertion and removal process is actually a urinary tract infection. I assume that the bacteria entered during the insertion of the catheter.
Maybe I didn’t manage the device well enough, causing the infection myself. In either case, I have the infection. I assume there will be a prescription forthcoming for an antibiotic. But there is also some good news.
The rash has begun to respond to the medications that were prescribed. In case you haven’t read the stream of consciousness commentary on that post, I will summarize. I have strong reason to believe that was an antibiotic reaction. The antibiotic was cephalosporin class.
I found out just yesterday that my daughter has had similar adverse reactions. Her reaction occurred to the same class of drug after the delivery of one of my grandchildren.
I was experiencing significant itching from a full torso deep red rash. That itching became pain on Thursday night / Friday morning. I had had no more than three hours sleep per night since this past Tuesday night.
Yes, anxiety from the election result probably contributed, but the rash was the main source of that lack of sleep. Overnight, the pain disappeared. I woke up this morning having achieved 6.5 hours of sleep. And while the rash is still mildly itchy, the pain is gone.
I am experiencing the very unpleasant, but anticipated, mood changes from the prednisone. I am nonetheless continuing to take the medications prescribed for the rash.
My body still looks incredibly unpleasant from that rash. The small pinpoints have spread extensively. I’m now largely just one big strawberry red blob from the neck down to the groin.
The rash has a considerable way to go before I will call it resolved. But it has turned an important corner. It’s not keeping me awake all night. Bless the Goddess for small favors.
And my journey continues.
An Aging Trans Woman 
I can not take cephalosporins. I have an anaphylaxis reaction, so am not surprised by your reaction. Do NOT take any sporin again…if you had a dang near full body rash the first time, your reaction next time could honestly kill you. Cranberry juice will help that UTI go away faster. Hang in there Janet.
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Thanks Suze. I already told both my PCP and HRT doctor to add cephalosporin to my allergy list. Yes, I know that it might only take one more exposure to be fatal. I won’t risk it. I appreciate you for caring and your concern. Blessed be.
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If you’re experiencing mood changes from the Prednisone, please make sure someone is monitoring you closely. I was on high-dose Prednisone in 2010 and went manic. I had no idea was wrong until I called someone and made no sense. I’d gone on so long that I had flashbacks for years. Take it as needed, but be careful.
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I’m not alone Christina. Thank you for being concerned. This is a known thing with me. I get bitchy. then I take that, and I turn it into the will to fight. Today, it is “will to fight”. And I’ve seen drug induced mania, which became suicidality. I was alone then. But that? That was Cymbalta.
I have two loving caring women with whom I live. I warned them in advance that prednisone would affect my moods. They are here for me.
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