A share at the least, please, I dont wanna lose my brother, 4, almost 5 weeks in and barely any help. On top of this we're trying to get 65$ by Sunday afternoon for the peetests and fingerprint things for all of us that the state needs for my brother to get his kids back, they need to be done before they go to the court date in Florida, they're leaving Sunday nignt to get there Monday morning. We're drowning its so much. Any help is a blessing.
Hey, you. Yes, you. When was the last time you remembered to go pee? Now do me a favor on your way to the bathroom and stand on the very tips of your toes if you can, and then drop down with your full weight onto your heels.
Did it suddenly hurt somewhere in your back/abdomen on one or both sides? Congratulations! You may have a kidney infection! Get to urgent care/the ER ASAP because you need antibiotics before the infection spreads! It probably started out as a UTI or bladder infection you didn’t notice or that didn’t respond to medication the first time - superbugs are real, y’all.
No shame. Asymptomatic UTIs and bladder infections are surprisingly common and sometimes manifest with as little as an increased or decreased need to go to the bathroom. Some people get very ill with them because they have sensitivities to things like bath soap and are used to ignoring urinary pain. It happens all the time, is a major contributor to hospital/doctor bills, can be deadly, and about 40% of all AFAB people are destined to get a urinary infection of some kind in their lifetime. They’re less common in AMAB people (about 12% likelihood), but just as hazardous if left untreated. An untreated urinary infection can lead to Urosepsis, which isn’t nearly as fun as Eurovision. Urosepsis has a 30%-40% mortality rate.
For those interested, here’s how and why your piss pipes can turn dangerous:
Kidney infections can be, and sometimes are, lethal. That UTI you had that resolved without antibiotics? Well, you got lucky, assuming you’re sure the initial infection cleared up on its own. Most kidney infections start out as urinary tract infections. It’s most usually caused by E. Coli, which is present on most surfaces, including other people’s skin. E. Coli is usually harmless unless it manages to infect, and if you notice that you get UTIs whenever you’re sexually active, a very common cause is a sensitivity to the bacteria natural to your partner’s body; you can reduce your chances of an infection by washing before sex and making sure you go pee as soon as you’re done to literally rinse out your urethra. Condoms and dental dams can also help depending upon your body chemistry, but not always. Properly using a bidet (they come in portable travel-size models now for like, $30, Americans) can also drastically help reduce your risk of an infection.
The problem is that the renal (pee) system is all connected by tubes and hoses that can be very easy for bacteria to climb. Here’s a very generic, non-gendered diagram:
(source)
Regardless of what you’ve got from a reproductive standpoint, that’s pretty much it! Same wiring and everything, save for that people who are AFAB aren’t typically born with prostates, which isn’t part of the renal system at all. People with short urethras (AFAB people, intersex, endocrine syndrome, etc) contract UTIS and bladder infections. AFAB or AFAB-similar people have a 40% likelihood of contracting a common UTI at least once in their lives. AMAB people only have about a 12% chance. The difference is so drastic because said AMAB people have pretty average external genitalia and therefore a much longer urethra than average for bacteria to try to survive colonizing. Drinking water and going to the bathroom regularly are highly effective at preventing a renal infection, because the bacteria literally has to climb its way from the urethra to the kidneys. Urinating helps to wash it out. Depending upon your immune system, it can take days or even weeks before the bacteria reaches your kidneys if that’s what’s going to happen.
Not only are kidney infections incredibly painful (There Will Be Blood), but those yellow nodules on top of the kidneys in that diagram I posted up there? Those are your adrenal glands. Where all of your adrenaline comes from. Those major veins and arteries also can give the bacteria unmitigated access to the bloodstream, which generally leads to sepsis, shock, and death. If your adrenal glands are infected, it can cause them to release dangerous amounts of adrenaline that can stress, damage, and even cause the heart to stop.
And no, cranberry juice and cranberry supplements will not cure you. If you have a full-blown infection, go to the doctor. You need a full course of antibiotics at the very least and probably urinary painkillers. AZO makes an over-the-counter brand in the US. It is non-addictive, temporarily stops the pain, but dyes your pee an electric orange color that will stain your underwear (fun fact: if you’re a swimmer or diver you can get a prescription for a version that turns your pee blue instead so nobody can see you pee in the water; my mom used it when she was a SCUBA diver). AZO is also responsible for making UTI home-test kits that you can buy on Amazon. The renal benefits of cranberries is largely a myth. The compound, which is good for a lot of other uses, is called D-Mannose, which kinda-sorta maybe can make it harder for bacteria to stick to the walls of your renal system and more easily flush out when you pee, but you do not want to play chicken with septic shock. It will kick your ass and you will die. If you’re experiencing urinary pain and/or a fever, get to the doctor.
I need $20 so that I can pick up two medications. One is a painkiller that I've needed to pick up for several days and the other is antibiotic that I need to take after being in the emergency room yesterday.
This is your friendly psa to inform you that CRANBERRY JUICE helps prevent/treat BLADDER INFECTIONS
I don’t know why, but it’s a trick my grandma taught to my mom who taught to me. So when you start to get that “I can’t pee” tingle DRINK A GLASS OF CRANBERRY JUICE and then drink ANOTHER LATER and do that for a few days!
