Posts by Joshua Gray75

Well, it looks like my urinalysis came back positive for E. coli.
☕

James Anderson9 said:I'll have to go back for more blood and urine tests in about 10-15 days, but I should get these results in about 4 days.

There has to be a mistake somewhere because back on February 24th, my iron was at 14.2, and now it's showing as 52.3, which is just impossible. Even my doctor said it had to be an error.

My red blood cell count in the urine is at 3, but it used to be 20.
It’s also weird compared to that first test from Feb 24th; I didn't have any bacteria or yeast then, but now I have quite a bit of both, and I've been drinking tons of tea and haven't even been sexually active since.

I distinctly remember giving my blood and urine yesterday; the nurse wrote down ID 8, but then I got my results back with ID 58.

I'm just hoping the mistake was only with the blood work and not the urine sample.

Indeed—one must also account for the possibility of false positives, which, in my experience, are far from being a rare occurrence...

Scott Bennett4 said:A urine culture identifies the specific bacteria involved and determines which antibiotic will actually kill it off.
Urinary cytology is what detects whether red blood cells are present in the urine. I’m not sure what specific results > is waiting on, but if this isn't merely a bladder or kidney infection, I suspect the physician will refer you for cytology as well. In those cases, you typically have to provide samples for three consecutive days.

Much appreciated for the information...

melloworca6 said:I don't know, I didn't have any symptoms at all. No frequent trips to the bathroom, no pain, nothing. My urine was just darker than usual; if it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have realized I had an infection until much later.

Drink a ton of fluids to flush everything out of your kidneys and bladder. If you're taking cranberry supplements, don't mix them with lemon or anything similar because of the Vitamin C, and definitely don't mix them with uva ursi. Personally, I usually go with cranberry, but I'll add lemon to tea. Uva ursi tastes like garbage to me.

It is certainly curious that there were no symptoms present—though, after a bit of digging online, I stumbled upon another topic that brought back some unsettling memories. A few months ago, I experienced two rather strange episodes of pain; it was this sharp, radiating sensation that seemed to "flash" through my entire upper torso, stretching from my chest all the way through to my back. At the time, I naturally assumed it was just a gallbladder attack, given my history with gallstones... but looking back, I didn't have any other accompanying symptoms before or after those moments. Now, I find myself at a complete loss as to how to interpret it all. Perhaps the only logical course of action is to stop obsessing over Google and simply wait for my test results in two weeks—otherwise, I fear the sheer anxiety of it all might actually make me sick...☕

melloworca6 said:I had blood and protein showing up in my urine—my lab results were a total disaster, three plus signs for protein and two for blood. The weird part? I didn't feel a single thing. If I hadn't noticed my urine looked darker than usual, I wouldn't have even known something was wrong. Turns out it was just a kidney infection. I went through two rounds of antibiotics and that was that.

🤔
I had a kidney infection when I was quite young—though, to be perfectly honest, my memory of the actual pain is rather hazy... I don't recall it being particularly excruciating, even if I hear people describe it as an absolutely agonizing ordeal...🤷
I actually started my course of antibiotics yesterday—and honestly, I can already feel things shifting today. It’s subtle, but noticeable... for instance, I'm not running to the restroom nearly as often, and that sharp discomfort during urination is almost entirely gone...🤷 On the other hand, I can't shake this lingering discomfort in my kidney area—basically my lower back... and after reading through your post, I’m starting to wonder if I might actually be dealing with some sort of kidney infection... ☕
I won't get my results until Tuesday—which is driving me a little stir-crazy, if I'm being honest—so perhaps this entire ordeal is rooted more in my own head than anything else... I’m not particularly worried about the fever, though I am well aware that certain bacteria can be incredibly stubborn and difficult to shake once they take hold. As long as it isn't something more serious... that's really all that matters.😢
The eternal hypocrite...

James Anderson9 Please let me know once you have the results—we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you...😉

I’m bringing this topic back up, but I really need some quick advice here...
The situation is that someone from Microsoft is asking me to co-sign a loan for them—monthly payments would be roughly $667—while my own mortgage payment sits right around $667. My take-home pay is about $1933, and quite frankly, I want to be absolutely certain that I CANNOT act as a guarantor; I have zero intention of getting dragged into a financial mess like this...

I hope I’m reading this correctly and that it's actually impossible for me to qualify as a co-signer, though I realize her bank could easily run a credit check on me if I were to provide my Social Security number (which she already asked for🙄, though I haven't handed anything over yet until I'm positive about my own credit standing...)

Anyone have thoughts?

James Anderson9 said:I haven't dealt with any kidney or bladder infections myself. But honestly, I'm pretty worried now because I just read that smoking is one of the leading causes of bladder cancer, and I'm a smoker.
So, did you go in for a cytology test, or did you just drop off a urine sample at your doctor's office?

I took my sample—in one of those sterile specimen cups you pick up at CVS—down to the microbiology lab for a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test, as specified on the referral.

I don't smoke. And I am truly hoping this turns out to be nothing more than an infection, though seeing blood in my urine was definitely a shock... 🤷

Now I find myself caught in that endless loop of obsessively Googling symptoms...
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bladder-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350283
(It provides a small measure of comfort to read about "visible blood"—since mine isn't actually noticeable to the naked eye... 🤷

James Anderson9 said:I just read that part in the link you sent where it mentions "painless hematuria raises suspicion of urinary tract tumors."

That’s basically what my doctor told me. He said if there's pain, it’s usually just kidney stones or a bladder infection, but if it doesn't hurt, that's when you have to start worrying about cancer.

It really is a strange paradox, isn't it? How physical pain can actually be a sign of something less severe than the total absence of it...
I’m still waiting on my own lab results until Tuesday, and honestly, I'm pretty anxious; even though my symptoms point toward a standard infection, it doesn't make the uncertainty any easier to handle... 😢

I did deal with some kidney inflammation back when I was a kid, though I haven't had any major issues with those organs since then... 🤷... Granted, I've had two or three bladder infections over the years, but whenever I've gone in for an abdominal ultrasound—which covers the kidneys as well—everything has come back perfectly normal... 🤷

James Anderson9 said:I’m posting here because I really don't want to start freaking out my friends and family before I have any actual answers, but I need to vent because what my doctor told me today honestly left me reeling.

Since I’m starting a job on a cruise ship in about a month, I went in for some routine blood and urine tests a few days ago. I just wanted to make sure I was 100% healthy before heading out to sea.

Well, the results came back and my red blood cell count in my urine is through the roof. A normal reading is up to 2, but mine hit 20.
My doctor—who is usually the most chill guy ever, definitely not the type to panic and pretty much believes everything fixes itself without meds—kept asking if I was in any pain. I told him no, multiple times, because I seriously feel fine. Nothing hurts.
We did a kidney ultrasound, and apparently, there's some "sand" (kidney stones/crystals) which could be causing the bleeding, but the weird part is still that I have zero pain. He told me to come back in 3 or 4 days for another urine test. In the meantime, my urine has been looking really dark.

So, I went back today for more tests (bloodwork comes back tomorrow), and he asks me *again* if I'm in pain. I told him no, and that the fact that I'm not hurting should be the most important thing, right? Instead, he tells me that's exactly what worries him. He thinks if it were just kidney stones, I’d be in agony, so since I'm feeling totally normal, he said we have to consider the possibility of bladder cancer.
It makes zero sense to me. How can something like that happen when I feel completely fine?

Has anyone else dealt with something like this?

Unfortunately, it could be anything at all...😢

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/blood-in-urine/symptoms-causes/syc-20350313

I'm actually dealing with something quite similar right now—the blood isn't visible to the naked eye, but it shows up on the microscopic dipstick test—and I've been dealing with typical infection symptoms, like frequent trips to the bathroom, lower abdominal pressure, and discomfort when I go... I'm really holding out hope that it's just a standard UTI, because honestly, hearing that blood in the urine could point to something much more serious is pretty unsettling...😢

boldmarlin16 said:It seems teachers are once again voicing their frustrations regarding how meager their salaries have become... 🙂 The teacher is currently working with an iPhone and an Android Tablet...
🙂

Wait... what exactly am I looking at here? Is this some kind of joke...?

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

You really are quite the child...☕

James Roberts17 said:... It’s easy enough to save when you actually have a steady paycheck $1667. How am I supposed to set anything aside when I'm making $2,500 and the timing is always unpredictable...

🤣🤣🤣

A bigger paycheck usually just leads to higher expenses—so saving isn't really about the raw numbers, it's more about... well, I don't know... 🤷

My income is north of $5,000, yet between that and my mortgage payments, I'm finding it no easier to build a cushion than someone making significantly less... 🤷

At first glance, I assumed we were talking about basic conservation—you know, things like cutting back on water usage or electricity... 🤣

I do save money whenever possible, provided there’s actually a purpose behind it... I might contribute to a small life insurance policy, just for peace of mind... and I used to put money aside for a down payment on a house through a savings account...
Saving is more of a lifestyle choice for me, really—if I can manage it... for instance, I don't let the faucet run while brushing my teeth or washing my hair... sometimes I’ll park a bit further away from downtown and take a walk instead of driving to five different spots and burning through gas... or I won't park right in front of my office building, but rather in a lot about two blocks away—which, by the way, makes it much easier to merge onto the main highway later—so I end up saving on fuel (it's half a mile every single day!) and getting some exercise in the process... I don't pay for a gym membership because it's easier to just squeeze in 20 or 30 minutes of working out at home every day... I'll take the stairs instead of the elevator (saving a little power there, too...) and so on... Plus, I don't smoke, and I don't drink alcohol...

But then again—to be perfectly honest—I actually loathe the terms "frugality" and "budget cutting," especially if they imply I can't enjoy a few coffees a week at a local cafe, or that I shouldn't buy my favorite magazine or a specific face cream for $67 just because I felt like treating myself...
🤷

Michael James9 said:Is that actually dangerous?? It sounds pretty scary 😲
Could it cause infertility or something serious like that? 😲

I was reading online that white discharge is totally normal right before or after your period—like during ovulation, right? How am I supposed to tell the difference?? What if it's just that? 🤷

And one more thing... should I actually go see a gynecologist for this, or is it enough to just get a swab sent off to a lab for testing?

"We aren't just talking about an uncomfortable or painful disruption of the normal vaginal flora here—this is a classic inflammatory process."

Source:

(There's info on treatment options there too, including some alternative approaches...)

Steven Reed said:If his account isn't sufficiently funded by Monday, the transfer won't clear—leaving you to decide just how much risk you're willing to stomach. You could tell him to drop the cash off this Saturday and make a direct deposit at your local Chase branch (which guarantees the funds hit your account immediately), or simply wait until Monday afternoon for the Z transfer to settle 🤷

edit: He wasn't playing you. Under US banking regulations, a bank can't pull funds if they can't facilitate the transfer the same day—and since the Fed doesn't process these until Monday morning, he's stuck. Essentially, he set up the instruction to send you the money first thing Monday, but if his balance is empty when the system runs, nothing moves

Oh, please... if the transaction was processed (and that's what the record shows), the money will be debited from his account regardless—even if it pushes him into an unauthorized overdraft... the thing is, if a transfer hits a different bank after 3:00 PM, it usually won't be posted until the next business day. In this specific case—given the holiday weekend—that wouldn't be until Monday. As far as I can see, everything is proceeding normally and the order has been executed... 🤷

Richard White15 said:I don't know, I guess...
$20 It's not a massive amount, but honestly, every dollar counts these days, you know?
If anyone here happens to be a pro at online banking, maybe hit me up and I'll send over a screenshot so you can tell me what's going on
like if this payment actually went through or whatever,
I'm just kinda confused, is it possible you can't transfer money online over the weekend because of the holidays or something??

I'm not entirely sure if I've grasped the situation correctly, but here is how I see it:
If I'm transferring funds to an account held at Z, I can make the payment today—meaning with today's date—and the amount will be debited from my checking account immediately. Plus, I can simply email the confirmation receipt to whoever needs it...
However, if I am paying into an account that isn't with Z, the earliest available date for the transaction shows up as November 4th... though, again, I could still send over the confirmation via email...
☕

Edit: if you want, just shoot me a screenshot in a DM—it seems to me the payment went through fine, provided it said "transaction successfully completed"... 🤷

Kyle Williams57 said:Hey, just a quick question for the group. My billing cycle closes on the 10th of every month, and then the payment actually hits my account on the 20th. I’m trying to wrap my head around the timing here—is that 10th date actually the end of the current billing period, or does it mark the start of a brand-new one? To put it more simply: if I go out and buy something today, am I looking at that charge hitting my statement in ten days, or am I waiting until the 20th of next month?

I suspect it wouldn't come due until the 20th of next month.🤷

urbanharbor95 said:Well, for $1.75 the differences—you also scored a lifetime subscription to a doctor at home, which usually runs you about $35 a pop😁

I actually switched over to the US back in February, so there's nothing in the way of "doctor at home" services for me...☕

A brilliant strategic move—paying for $25 now that Medicare has slashed its coverage rates for $23... and naturally, the USA remains absolutely silent... just... well... you know...
🙂🙂🙂

electricridge16 said:I’m honestly not sure if this is the right sub-forum for this particular question—if I’ve wandered into the wrong section, my apologies to the moderators...

I was wondering about standard hotel policies regarding "bed and breakfast" stays—specifically, how late can you actually occupy a room before you're expected to be out by tomorrow morning? Does this vary wildly from one Marriott or Hilton to another, or is there some sort of universal industry standard?...

Typically, check-out is around 10:00 or 11:00 AM—though if it isn't peak tourist season, they might push it to noon. There isn't really a single rule that applies everywhere; it usually just comes down to whatever the specific hotel lists in their own house rules.

Steven Reed said:It’s a free swap—no harm in it. Mine gave out on me too. Just hit up the nearest Best Buy and call it a day.

Ah, I see... thanks for the heads up. 🙂

Hm... it appears the battery in my security token has finally given out... or rather, I can't seem to get the thing to power on at all...

So, what happens now? Will they just issue me a replacement, or...? And more importantly, am I going to be billed for this?
I'm left holding the bag... ☕

Steven Reed said:I suspect the app is version 1. It’s a complete novelty—and frankly, it gave me the exact same trouble last time.

Yes, it worked... I managed to get the payment through using my card... ☕