Hello Everyone!

Hello Everyone,

I'm 55 years old and was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes two years ago. Since then I've been on Metformin 500mg twice a day.

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and hopefully put my mind at ease regarding certain problems I've been having.

Dave

Hi guys, thanks for your replies.

Steve, I've detailed my problems in a thread entitled "Type 2 Diabetes and a Recurring UTI" Maybe you or someone you know has suffered similar problems and could offer me reassuring advice.

I have an appointment to see my GP this evening. I went to see him last week and he gave me a 7-day course of antibiotics (Trimethoprim 200mg). I finished the course yesterday and although it seems to have relieved the actual water infection, I still have the high temperature and am still waking three or four times during the night literally soaked with sweat. Also, I have lost over a stone during the past month bring my weight down to 13 stone. Obviously this is giving me real cause for concern. I'm due to go into hospital for the day in a couple of weeks to have a CT scan of my abdomen. I also have to go into another hospital three days later for a Flexible Cystoscopy where they insert a tube (camera) into my urethra so they can examine the inside of my bladder. Apparently, during this procedure they also remove a small piece of bladder for analysis.

Needless to say, I'm bricking it at the minute, fearing the worst but I guess they can't really deal with my problem until they know what's causing it.

John, the worst part for me on discovering I had Type 2 Diabetes was the fact that I had a very sweet tooth. It was really difficult for me to give up all the things I loved, such as cakes, biscuits and chocolate. In fact, I would go as far as to say I found it lot easier giving up smoking ten years ago. It took a great deal of self-discipline to eventually give up eating cakes and other sugary stuff. At first the nurse said it was okay to have the occasional treat but unfortunately this soon turned into daily treats! I finally decided I would have to give up sugar for once and for all. I think my diabetes is pretty much under control. Like I said, the only thing bothering me at the minute is this darned Urinary Tract Infection. Apparently, diabetics over the age of 50 are more susceptible to such infections. This UTI has been making my life a misery since the beginning of May. My GP keeps giving me antibiotics but they only seem to clear it up for a week or two before it returns. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

Dave

Hi Steve,

My hospital appointments aren't until Monday, 28th September and Thursday, 1st October respectively, which is next week. Both appointments require me to stay in hospital for the day. I will of course let you know how things go but I don't know how long after it'll be before I get the actual results. I just hope they don't keep me waiting too long because the suspense would kill me!

Dave

Thanks Hana.

UPDATE:

Well, I finally found out the cause of these recurring UTIs... I have kidney stones. The Urologist showed me the image on his computer monitor (from my recent CT scan). There's one in my left kidney which he said can be broken down using shockwave treatment (or words to that effect) but the one in my right kidney is too big and will have to be broken down via an operation. Apparently there's no cutting involved, they just access the kidney via the same method they use to check the bladder. The Urologist assured me it's a straightforward procedure and would only require me to stay in hospital for a day or two.

I'm so relieved to find out it's nothing too serious... Well certainly not as serious as I was expecting it to be! I'm just waiting on a letter from the hospital now. I'll be glad when it's all over so that I can get my life back on track.

However, before then, I think I'm going to need another (and hopefully, final) course of antibiotics from my GP, as I'm starting to get all the usual symptoms back: burning sensation when urinating, high temperature with night sweats, loss of appetite, nausea and general feeling of being very unwell. :cry:

Anyway, I'll let you know how things go at the hospital and give you an update in due course.

Thanks again those of you who have been following my progress.

Dave