I am being such a typical nurse...

If I was one of my patients, I would be telling me to go to the doctor. I have been fighting off a UTI for almost a week. Over the weekend I started drinking tons of water and taking Azo-cranberry and felt better. Yesterday I slacked off on the water and quit the cranberry. Today I feel yucky. The burning is back and I feel run down. I have been drinking loads of water again and restarted the cranberry. I should so go to the doctor. Isn't it crazy when we do this? Caryl

Caryl, I think you answered your own question. Step back and tell me what you would tell your patient. Don't feel bad, I think it is just something that is built in to all of us as nurses. Joy

Caryl, yes you answered your own question. Go see the doctor and use this as a lesson. You are wanting this surgery I assume to regain your health. Well a long the way we need to allow ourselves to be the patient and not the health care provider. Take care of yourself and listen to your body it will serve you in the future. Robin

Caryl, I know how you feel. Even though I am just in nursing school I can relate. Just to make you laugh...I was on surgery rotation last week and everyone made fun of me because I was the only person sweating in the or, all the nurses and docs were freezing of course. I just kept telling my self 2 things. First what an idiot I must look like and second I AM doing something about it. But after it was all over, I just had to laugh. I guess I am getting used to using the 'hot flash' excuse that way I don't have to say oh its just because i'm obease. I think most people in the medical field tend to think of our problems passively not actively like we do our patients. We are taught to be critical thinkers when we look at something. But for those of us who are obease we don't want to look at ourselves. So we tend to ignore things until we physically cannot any longer. But like the others have mentioned, step back and look at your own post. There is the answer. --Angela

Hi Caryl, I'm dealing with the same thing! Slightly different though. First off, just decided 2 hours ago I have a UTI! It hurts like H*ll, but I did schedule a Dr.'s appt. I want drugs!! lol... but as far as the weight loss surgery goes, lately I have been waffling back and forth trying to decide if I'm doing the right thing, and I thought.. "Hmmm.. what would I tell a patient in the same condition as me?" DO IT! That's what I'd say.. but it's still hard to commit!! Go to the Dr! If nothing else, just think how much better you're going to feel, AND, think of it as preparation for having multiple visits post op. (((HUGS))) Katie

Yes, but we nurses know it's "just" a UTI. It is such a pain to have to go to the doctor, pee in a cup and then get a prescription for the antibiotic. (But believe me, plenty of women go to the emergency room with a UTI!) Sure would be so much easier if we could just call and say "I have a UTI. I need an antibiotic. Please call it in." But, no - some silly stuff about actually seeing a patient before prescribing a medication. Then, you get old like me, think you have something wrong, have tests and find out everything is normal. I suppose I'm just gettin' old and falling apart! Sue