I had had some lower back pain Friday and just a vague feeling of unwellness. Saturday morning, I awoke with a raging bladder infection. My urine was red. I was not a happy camper. SwampMan asked me if I wanted to go to his shop so I could help him cut out parts for Christmas presents for a divorced teacher’s young children; I declined so I could go to an emergency clinic that was open on the weekend. Unfortunately, when I checked my bank balance, it was $1.32*. Yikes. Not enough to cover the co-pay! SwampMan, with the checkbook with “our” money (actually his money) was off working, I was at home with “my” money in my bank account (my two weeks’ salary is usually completely spent within 4 days of pay day, but I had hope that there would be something there.
I had read that massive doses of vitamin C could help with a bladder infection, as could cranberry juice and blueberries. Hmmmm. I had a couple big bottles of chewable vitamin C in 500 mg tablets. I HATE chewable vitamin C. I manned up, however, and chomped my way through 10 thick, nasty tablets. Urrrgh. Then I waited in trepidation for renewed bladder spasms, bloody urine, and pain. It did not come. I was able to get out, to go to the library to return some books, and to stop and commiserate with the neighbors about the economy.
I took additional vitamin C before retiring last night, even though I no longer had sufficient incentive to chew through 10 tablets–I think I got 4 down–I wasn’t in significant pain this morning. I chomped 3 or 4 tablets this morning and then gave up, got out my bigass marble rolling pin, and crushed the rest of the vitamin C tablets and dumped it my (decaffeinated) tea.
Unfortunately, that nasty artificial citrus taste is about the same as the nasty stuff for the bowel prep that I stirred into my tea to make it more palatable. Eeesh. I gotta buy some unflavored powdered vitamin C to keep on hand as soon as I get paid again.
My point, and I do have one, is that if you get a bladder infection on the weekend or, for whatever reason, do not have the funds necessary for a trip to a physician, try the vitamin C and cranberry juice. Blueberries are supposed to be good for bladder infections, too, so bake a blueberry pie purely for medicinal purposes. Eat it all most of it yourself. Your bladder will thank you, and so will your protective fat layer.
*Yes, I know that “hope” is not a valid financial strategy. Unfortunately, I *thought* I had about a $50 cushion because with such a small salary, I keep a running tally in my head. Apparently my head forgot a grocery store run.
