I gave myself a UTI

[ItsCordell]

So as the title says, I was goofing around with a straight catheter because I was curious: practicing putting it in (I have a penis), feeling how to do it without pain, watching as it entered the bladder and begins to drain, etc. like I said, I was curious and just wanting to experiment.

 

Well, I ended up apparently pushing a little too hard one time and had some blood in my urine. A couple of days later, my urgency became crazy crazy and painful - and frequency became like every 10 minutes. The bleeding increased to where I was passing small clots (smaller than a fingernail size).

 

Anyways, I went and got urine tested, and got on some antibiotics. Cultured for e Coli.

 

The doc didn’t ask how I got it. And I didn’t surrender the truth that I gave it to myself. I was very embarrassed because as a under-40 male, I understand it’s very rare for people like me. I felt guilty and stupid.

 

Do you think the doc suspected anything like this? Are there other reasons besides being an idiot that a young man like me would get these? Is over active bladder or urgency a risk factor for uti in men?

 

Thanks

[willnotwill]

It's not completely unheard of.   I was fairly certain I had a UTI at one point long before I started messing with catheters.   I just drank a lot of cranberry juice.
 

[horrorfan]

The doc gets paid too much to have an opinion of you. Don't get them mixed up with cashiers who tend to have a lot more free time on their hands. After meeting with patients, doctors have to do documentation, which takes a lot of time, focus, and is exhausting (they have to use medical terminology to write a report which will go on your file for the next time you see him or someone else at that location). Also, odds are that your doctor has seen weirder, more bizarre cases which he is bound by confidentiality laws and can't discuss with other people. He could lose his license to practice medicine for breaking confidentiality, so it would be contrary to his best interest to belittle you or gossip about it. I wouldn't worry about what the doctor thinks, just don't try it again.

[Warmwetandcozy]

I had I uti when I was 13 and the when I was sitting in the ER dry heaving and screaming in agony with my left testicle swelled up to the size of freaking base ball the idiot male doctor just kept saying "he has the symptoms of a UTI but males can't get those so it must be an std" I told him a dozen times I haven't had intercourse finally a female nurse corrected that idiot doctor and got the freaking test done and you know what it said I had a UTI so I understand what your going through but being as my doctor had all the wrong opinions I wouldn't be to worried about it 

[dlnoir]

People can get an UTI for a number of reasons and this is not related to a certain age or gender. A doctor is there to treat the problem and so he did. Apparently he didn’t see a reason to ask detailed questions for they do not assume people play around with objects in their urethra. Most people who get a UTI get it without an apparent reason, it just happens. I belief that is the angle your doctor used while treating your UTI.

 

[ItsCordell]

It's not completely unheard of. 
 

Right, I’ve heard that it’s rare in young males - and usually due to an anatomical abnormality, cancer, or some major neurological issue. I have none of those other issues as far as I know - although my overactive bladder is unexplained heretofore.

Is OAB a cause of UTI in males? I wonder

[willnotwill]

It's LESS of an issue in males because the urethra is long enough to avoid contamination from the outside which plagues women.    Bladder retention issues are indeed a frequent cause in males (just about anything from prostate issues to kidney stones or whatever that impedes the normal flow) can cause it.    Similarly, dehydration disrupts the normal "flushing things out" that keep bacteria from building up there.     Despite an oft-repeated statement that urine is sterile in the body, it isn't.   It just is low enough in bacteria that it isn't normally an issue with normal function.  Compromised immune systems for whatever reason are another thing that can cause it.    Even though the urethra is longer in men, that doesn't mean that things like normal sexual intercourse can't cause enough reflux to cause an infection problem.

So yes, a man with a UTI while rarer, isn't unheard of.   Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if they asked if you haven't had a PSA test and DRE recently and looking into other issues as I described above.

[ItsCordell]

 Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if they asked if you haven't had a PSA test and DRE recently and looking into other issues as I described above.

Thanks, yeah, they didn’t do that on me because they had recent (from an unrelated issue) imagery on file from a CT scan that shows my prostate is normal sized, etc. also, I had a scope inside the bladder to check for cancer or stones or whatever and it was totally normal

Haha [emoji23] that’s part of why I’m so embarrassed about accidentally causing the UTI - there aren’t other obvious causes in my case other than something like a STD or whatever.

I actually wondered, does the risk of UTI rise for males who have anal sex (as the one penetrating). That would seem to make some sense. It’s not an activity I participate in right now, but I wondered if that could be a reasonable excuse that wouldn’t draw more attention...

[jbz2079]

On 12/19/2018 at 1:45 PM, ItsCordell said:

I actually wondered, does the risk of UTI rise for males who have anal sex (as the one penetrating). That would seem to make some sense. It’s not an activity I participate in right now, but I wondered if that could be a reasonable excuse that wouldn’t draw more attention...

Have you never heard

of Condoms?

Could be a lifesaver in certain circumstances.

I'm Male and have suffered frequent UTI infections.

I have had incontinence for 15 years, it just started out of the blue as a totally unexpected wet bed.

This became a recurrent thing that got regular quite quickly.

I consulted my Doctor hoe done all the standard tests for infection and a visual inspection, this lead to an appointment with an Urologist and shortly after that another

appointment with the Continence Nurses.

I had all the Urology tests and a through scoping of my urinary tract and bladder, nothing unusual was found and they were confident I didn't have a water infection.

 

Now I was wetting my bed every night, the bed was protected with a waterproof cover, I attempted to waterproof myself with the Continence Service all in ones.

At first I thought wearing PVC Pants would stop the leaks I was having, but no they didn't, what I needed was better nappies.

They could not supply me with anything better, so I began using cloth nappies and vinyl pants.

I started to have repeated UTI infections, I got the Males don't usually get those, have you by any chance been using catheters?

No, I had not been using catheters or anything else, then they wondered if the infection were caused by using cloth nappies.

I was almost certain it was not caused by the nappies.

Now every time I got an infection, I got a course of Antibiotics to take, this would appear to clear the symptoms up in a few days only for it to return the following week.

I began to wonder if I had something really horrible that the Antibiotics was not shifting.

I was not very impressed with the Urologist and after several months of messing about, I asked the Continence Nurse if I could perhaps see a different Urologist.

It took a few weeks to get an appointment but the Urologist I seen was totally different in his manner and approach.

After I had explained what was going on and he looked through my notes he asked what I wanted him to do, as he basically would run exactly the same tests again,

probably having the same results.

I said all this had been going on for nearly 18 months and I would really like to know what is causing my bladder problems as I was beginning to have occasional daytime

accidents as well as wetting while sleeping.

He agreed with me that if this had happened to him, he would want to know what was causing it too.

He ran all the tests again, there was still traces of infection in my urine, so I got yet another course of Antibiotics, but a longer course this time.

He also reckoned there was differences in my urine flow tests, so either they were not done correctly last time or something has changed.

He booked my am appointment at the hospital as an outpatient and a whole lot of paperwork came to my house, apparently I was to be Anaesthetised and he was 

going to have another good look around my urinary tract and bladder while I was asleep.

I was to be accompanied by a responsible adult after the anaesthetic to see me home safe and I had to eat nothing after my evening meal the night before.

Unusually I was to drink as normal and he said he would be giving me a large drink 30 minutes before I was put under.

I got my friend to take me to the appointment, It all happened in just under an hour, I got a pint of water to drink 30 minutes before I was put to sleep by the  Anaesthetist.

He gave me the white milk of amnesia through a port the Nurse had put in the back of my hand, the next thing I knew I was awake again and the scan had been done.

The Urologist came to see me just after I had got my clothes on, he asked what I had had to drink since I woke up, just my usual mug of tea and the water he had me drink.

Right, because your bladder emptied almost as soon as you were put to sleep he said.

Did you see anything? I asked.

You have scarring on your sphincters, probably caused by the recurrent infections, so you will probably be incontinent during the daytime as you feared, 

You also have an enlarged Prostate and I think that is what is causing the infections, you are not emptying your bladder completely and the residual urine is causing

the infection.

I'll give you some tablets to try and reduce your prostate, these will help you empty your bladder too.

Won't that make my leaking worse? I asked, 

He just nodded and said hopefully it will clear the infections though.

Anyway between the tablet he gave me and the discovery that I was type 2 diabetic just made my incontinence worse.

I now manage daytime with a Conveen external catheter and leg bag and cloth nappies and vinyl pants at night.

 

[ItsCordell]

Have you never heard
of Condoms?
Could be a lifesaver in certain circumstances.
I'm Male and have suffered frequent UTI infections.
I have had incontinence for 15 years, it just started out of the blue as a totally unexpected wet bed.
This became a recurrent thing that got regular quite quickly.
I consulted my Doctor hoe done all the standard tests for infection and a visual inspection, this lead to an appointment with an Urologist and shortly after that another
appointment with the Continence Nurses.
I had all the Urology tests and a through scoping of my urinary tract and bladder, nothing unusual was found and they were confident I didn't have a water infection.
 
Now I was wetting my bed every night, the bed was protected with a waterproof cover, I attempted to waterproof myself with the Continence Service all in ones.
At first I thought wearing PVC Pants would stop the leaks I was having, but no they didn't, what I needed was better nappies.
They could not supply me with anything better, so I began using cloth nappies and vinyl pants.
I started to have repeated UTI infections, I got the Males don't usually get those, have you by any chance been using catheters?
No, I had not been using catheters or anything else, then they wondered if the infection were caused by using cloth nappies.
I was almost certain it was not caused by the nappies.
Now every time I got an infection, I got a course of Antibiotics to take, this would appear to clear the symptoms up in a few days only for it to return the following week.
I began to wonder if I had something really horrible that the Antibiotics was not shifting.
I was not very impressed with the Urologist and after several months of messing about, I asked the Continence Nurse if I could perhaps see a different Urologist.
It took a few weeks to get an appointment but the Urologist I seen was totally different in his manner and approach.
After I had explained what was going on and he looked through my notes he asked what I wanted him to do, as he basically would run exactly the same tests again,
probably having the same results.
I said all this had been going on for nearly 18 months and I would really like to know what is causing my bladder problems as I was beginning to have occasional daytime
accidents as well as wetting while sleeping.
He agreed with me that if this had happened to him, he would want to know what was causing it too.
He ran all the tests again, there was still traces of infection in my urine, so I got yet another course of Antibiotics, but a longer course this time.
He also reckoned there was differences in my urine flow tests, so either they were not done correctly last time or something has changed.
He booked my am appointment at the hospital as an outpatient and a whole lot of paperwork came to my house, apparently I was to be Anaesthetised and he was 
going to have another good look around my urinary tract and bladder while I was asleep.
I was to be accompanied by a responsible adult after the anaesthetic to see me home safe and I had to eat nothing after my evening meal the night before.
Unusually I was to drink as normal and he said he would be giving me a large drink 30 minutes before I was put under.
I got my friend to take me to the appointment, It all happened in just under an hour, I got a pint of water to drink 30 minutes before I was put to sleep by the  Anaesthetist.
He gave me the white milk of amnesia through a port the Nurse had put in the back of my hand, the next thing I knew I was awake again and the scan had been done.
The Urologist came to see me just after I had got my clothes on, he asked what I had had to drink since I woke up, just my usual mug of tea and the water he had me drink.
Right, because your bladder emptied almost as soon as you were put to sleep he said.
Did you see anything? I asked.
You have scarring on your sphincters, probably caused by the recurrent infections, so you will probably be incontinent during the daytime as you feared, 
You also have an enlarged Prostate and I think that is what is causing the infections, you are not emptying your bladder completely and the residual urine is causing
the infection.
I'll give you some tablets to try and reduce your prostate, these will help you empty your bladder too.
Won't that make my leaking worse? I asked, 
He just nodded and said hopefully it will clear the infections though.
Anyway between the tablet he gave me and the discovery that I was type 2 diabetic just made my incontinence worse.
I now manage daytime with a Conveen external catheter and leg bag and cloth nappies and vinyl pants at night.
 

Of course condoms would protect from that. But I’m sure many people have unprotected anal sex and I wondered if that posed a UTI risk to the penetrating partner...

Did you ever get a diagnosis for your bladder problems?

[anned]

I get what feels like UTIs out of the blue but they will go away in 2 to 3 days without treatment.

One thing i have found is taking Mannose D plus  Phenazopyridine  takes away the pain and speed recovery.

 

[babykeiff]

UTIs are caused by bacterial infection. That occurs from bacteria outside the body multiplying in quantities high enough to defeat the protection mechanism of the urethra (the tube inside the penis / vagina) OR, by bacteria in high enough quantities on a device one inserts up ones urethra.

Urethra protection mechanism includes the voiding of urine - which is sterile to the person and caustic to bacteria.

Bacteria that enter the body (via mouth / nose / cut in skin) are usually defeated by ones immune system with / without the help of medical intervention. The bacteria that are not defeated by ones immune system that are allowed to multiply to high enough levels are from the reaction / side effect of medication that is comprising ones immune system.

Despite the myths that medical personal tend to tell us, OAB / diaper wearing / IBS etc are not a source of U.T.I.s. Catheter usage is the primary source. Some of the time, the bacteria source is from some medical test / inspection designed to check for their presence.

[Alex Bridges]

I did this the first and only time I played with a catheter. 2 nurses and 1 doctor tried to get me to admit I’d had unprotected sex.

I later told my primary, and she said if it happened again she’d have me see a specialist because it is so rare in males, and in the mean time, be sure I clean myself very well after BMs. So that was embarrassing.

If I ever do it again, I’m just going to lie and say I got it in the bedroom and let them draw their own conclusions as to how. 

And I may try again soon, but this time with a partner who is also a med-surg nurse. Safety first ?

[ut8ft]

I had my first UTI in the 3rd grade and nothing ever was mentioned about sticking anything in my urethra. The biggest thing about male UTI’s is they should be treated as complicated due to them not being frequent with males. Most males that get UTI’s either have neurological problems, poor hygiene, unprotected sex, or did something they should not have. That is not always the case though. There are a number of reasons why males don’t get UTI’s that often and the biggest thing is the length of the male urethra which prevents a lot of bacteria from entering the bladder or the kidneys. However since you had E. coli as the organism the doctor most likely assumed that you had unprotected anal sex as E. coli is frequently found in the rectum as is a bunch of other bacteria. However as the provider didn’t inquire there is no reason to be concerned it is being taken care of now. The only thing is that once a male gets an UTI they have a higher chance of getting another so that is something to keep an eye out for. If you notice any discomfort, burning, pain, or blood request an appointment with your doctor or go to an urgent care/ convenience clinic and they can check for an UTI for you.


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[Zdog]

The first experience that I had with a UTI is when my wife and I were first married and we had a semi that I drove cross country. We were loading lettuce in the Imperial Valley in California and she was experiencing burning during urination. After a trip to the clinic and picking up a prescription it was soon gone. Forty years later it was I that got the UTI from wearing a disposable diaper and having diarrhea. I had just began wearing diapers for incontinence and followed the instructions about “pointing the male genitalia down” to prevent leaking from the top of the diaper. This allowed feces to contact my penis and with a day or two I was urinating frequently and with great discomfort. I kept telling myself that it would go away but finally went to a clinic when I was at my cabin and was prescribed a sulfa drug antibiotic. After about eight days I was better but did as told and finished the ten day series. Last week I got a UTI again and made an appointment with the clinic right away. They did a culture as well as finding blood in urine sample and prescribed the same sulfa drug which I’m currently taking. I told the nurse/practitioner that I wore diapers due to incontinence and she thought that could be the cause and that I’m old enough prostate problems could be causing urine retention. I’m not sure what the cause was this time but I had a medical procedure done the day it developed and it prevented me from have the procedure I had scheduled for a week later. The only other thing I can think of is that I’ve woken up peeing my diaper while sleeping on my belly which is something I haven’t done for years (the sleeping on my belly part). Babies have small penises that don’t get flattened out like it does later in life. This restricts the flow and causes my bladder to not empty fully and a possible source for the UTI. I don’t have a problem with feces any longer as I use two contoured diapers with two soakers pads followed by a folded terry bath towel and a folded terry hand for a liner. Both towels are unfolded in the front and rear making a V shape with the portion between the legs still folded which makes an effective barrier between the front and rear preventing fecal contamination.