When Having A UTI Is A Cause For Celebration

This week I'm home in Arizona catching up on all the things I need to get done; mostly, maintenance on the old bod.

I went to the dentist and got my tooth fixed, then to the dermotologist for a facial. I got a manicure and pedicure (flip flop season is here!), got all our paperwork out of storage to get organized for taxes, went to Verizon for our new cellphones, registered to vote (Obama '08!!!) and...got my DOT physical, which was due.

During the DOT physical, they do everything to make sure you are healthy enough to drive; you know, checking things like eyesight and motor skills. They checked my blood pressure (perfect at 120/80), my hearing (like a bat), my eyesight (like an eagle), my coordination and reflexes (all normal), my spine and my balance (like a gymnast on a balance beam) and most important of all, administered a pee test.

While waiting in the examination room, the nurse came in, looked at me strangely and said, "Have you been having any trouble peeing?"

"Trouble? No. But I have been peeing a lot. Like freakin' crazy." I said.

"Well, that's because you have a urinary tract infection." she said.

"Really??? Noooo. How can that be? I don't feel anything. It doesn't hurt. I'm not in pain. I'm just peeing a lot. What's the deal?"

"It's from the infection." she said. "but it's nothing to worry about. We'll give you an antibiotic and it'll be gone in a week."

Great. That was easy. I had been wondering about the frequent urination. I know this is probably TMI for some of you, but I did wonder if something was wrong. Sometimes it would wake me up in the middle of the night, or I'd have to pee SO bad, Ed would have to pull over to get me to a bathroom and then I'd pee just enough to fill a thimble. WTF?

Since it runs in my family, I thought I might have diabetes since frequent urination is a symptom. But I had none of the other symptoms, so I was perplexed.

When I heard my diagnosis, I was actually happy. When she left the room, Ed said to me, "Wow. That's great. It's only a urinary infection."

"Why is that great?" I wanted to know.

"Well, at least it's not diabetes."

Good point. I guess as one ages, the lesser of the medical afflictions are the more preferred ones to have.