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Went to ER on 7/24 for Kidney Stone Event. CAT Scan and Urine test done. Preliminary showed no infection. There was to be a culture done. I was given pain pills and nausea meds which I have not had to use along with Flomax. But, since starting Flomax I have been really spaced out. Can't concentrate or focus. Today urine goes dark again with bad odor. I remembered about culture. Anyway, went to Walk In Clinic affiliated with hospital ER hoping they had access to culture results and get checked again. Culture was positive on 7/24. Nurse Practioner tosses around sending me to hospital or prescribing antibiotics. She calls in a RX based on fact I have no fever. My follow up with Urologist is Tuesday. So, kinda wondering if anyone has any experience with Flomax making them feel "kinda crazy". I have been told by Nurse and Nurse Practioner that is not one of the side effects.

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Make sure you do not have a UTI....Urinary Tract Infection's can cause mental status changes in elderly. Urine that is dark with bad odor also points towards a urinary tract infection.
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Also if you have a kidney stone.....lots and lots of water with lemon squeezed in from a fresh lemon. If the kidney stone is small sometimes you can pass a stone just by drinking the lemon water.
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Lemon is an excellent idea, preferably organic, as it has enzymes that can dissolve small stones. Another excellent choice is Stone Breaker, a South American herb which I use, as I am prone to stones due to Medullary Sponge Kidney, a disorder I was born with. I got my first bottle at Whole Foods, and it works on dissolving stones within 24 hours. Works very well and I am so happy with it that I use it at the first sign of a stone.
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I have a prescription for Flowmax, but a different issue. I had colostomy surgery 1/19 of this year and for some reason my bladder wouldn't completely empty (I had a catheter for some time and was afraid I was going to be stuck with one for a long period of time.) Going to a urologist who apparently knew what he was doing, he enlarged the opening slightly (had become smaller due to the surgery) and put me on Flomax, which I am still on since March of this year. I have not had the problem you cite. I am on a number of other prescription drugs so if you are also, it may be a reaction between a couple of your prescriptions. You might want to check with both your doctor and pharmacist to see if this is the issue. Good luck, Nancy B.
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Thanks everyone,
I had a bad night. No real PAIN just left flank ache. But overall feeling of unwellness. Temp bouncing between 95.2-99.5. Urologist appt on Tuesday but feel this is going in wrong direction. Called PCP this morning. Appt today at 12:15.
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My DH is on Flomax for "frequent voiding" but he's only on 0.4MG

It's possible they put you on too high a dosage - since you're going to Urologist, make sure you mention the "spaciness" as that can be dangerous to your health.

I hope you have a driver?
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Oh! I am a former caregiver now trying to care for myself.😑 I am 56. Have been told UTI should not affect my thinking at my age but I sure saw it in my elderly Mother often.

We shall see what PCP Doc has to say in an hour or so.
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I have been avoiding driving! Hubby off today. He is taking me to Dr.
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Another sign of UTI is chills.
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My husband is kidney stone factory. We've dealt with it for years. I'm glad to hear you are seeing a urologist. It sounds like they thought it was small enough to pass rather than have lithotripsy at this point. My husband is on Urocit to make his urine more acidic and allopurinol to soften the kidney stones. He has finally found a urologist to help avoid future issues. Right now he's dealing with a scarred ureter from all the stones he's had. One kidney is not emptying so he's had to have a catheter placed inside the kidney to empty into a bag until they can get the inflammation down and try to get a stent in the ureter. I say all this to let you know it's nothing to mess around with. I am surprised they didn't let you know what the culture said immediately. That is negligence. It could make you feel unsettled. However, check online for the side effects of Flomax and also any pharmacist can help. They know more about drugs than doctors do.
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The Drs appt didn't go well. Receptionist booked me after last Patient of the day. They close at noon on Friday. Doc walks in grumpy about 1:45. He couldn't pull up my visit to ER or Walk In Clinic on his computer. So he couldn't see Labs, radiology.

We had a ridiculous conversation along the lines of who's on first, who's on second.

Doc says it's not kidney stone pain it's something wrong with my back. I said yes...kidney stone pain. He asked if a CAT Scan was done. We had already been over that.

I asked if this spaciness was infection related or drug related. He said my urine was clear. Nurse asked for sample. I told him urine always shows clear in office but cultures come back positive. On to drugs...

Doc said all meds I am on for this event can "mess with your head". Told me quit taking ALL of them. He wrote Rx for new antibiotic and nausea med even though I had not had to use nausea med given to me at ER.

Office visit was awful. He has been our Family Physician for 30 years. But, it's time for a change!

I think the antibiotic that was prescribed at Walk In is the right one for ecoli UTI. Not sure why he changed it to Cipro.

We have a 24/7 phone number for a Registered Nurse thru our Health Insurance. I will be calling that after my coffee to try to figure out the antibiotic thing to get me thru til appt with new urologist on Tuesday.
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Conversation with Health Insurance Registered Nurse went well.

She suggested to take the latest prescribed antibiotic (cipro) rather than the ER prescribed (Macrobid?).

She suggested ditching the Flomax. I only had one left anyway. I usually take that first thing in the morning. Today I did not. At 2pm the Brain Fog seems to be completely gone!

After I described my problems getting culture results and just state of affairs at PCPs office, Health Insurance Registered Nurse agreed it's time to make a change. She's compiling a list of Drs in my area that take new patients that are in good standing. Sending me list by email early next week.

Taking it easy and waiting for Urology Appt Tuesday.
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Oh, I am glad your brain-fog is gone! With luck, so is your kidney stone!

Thank you for posting your progress. And yes, it might be time for a new doctor.
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I'm confused. I thought you were going to see a urologist not your PCP for this condition. If you have kidney stones then a urologist is who you should see.
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I have an appointment with a Urologist tomorrow. That appointment was made on 7-25. The appointment just can't get here soon enough! Yesterday I developed a rash. Called pharmacy. Apparently from the Cipro. Again. Urologist appointment can not get here soon enough.

My Urologist retired. I am seeing this Urologist tomorrow as a new patient.
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I remember my last kidney stone problem... went to urgent care... had that mild pain on one side of my back, I had this decades ago so I remember the symptoms. While at Urgent care they hooked me up to an IV to get a lot of water in my system, a really good flush so to speak [pun intended].

Then went home to drink even more water. Used what is called a top hat urine catcher to check for a stone... felt like I was panning for gold. Eventually couple days later that ever so tiny stone appeared !!

Sometimes I think doctors overreact by running so many tests. If one has had a kidney stone in the past, that patient knows the signs of a new stone.
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ff,
I have had a couple of stones in the past. 2008 and 2009. 2008 was a 3mm that passed on its own. 2009 was a 5-7mm that had to be removed.

I was pretty sure Stones were the problem when I went to the hospital on the 24th. CAT Scan that day showed 5 mm stone north of bladder and 4 smaller stones (4mm) in kidneys along with some tiny stones.

I did pass a tiny stone on 7/27.

Yes, I have been panning for the larger stones since 7/24. Yuk.

The pain and nausea have been tolerable. Appears most of the problem was the drug ( Flomax) that was supposed to help pass the large stone.

24 hours until Urologist appointment.
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Some stones are too large to pass and need to be broken up by lithotripsy. 5 mm is pretty good size. No wonder your in pain. If you gold what a stone looks like under microscope they will amaze you how jagged they are. That's why they hurt! Plus the inside of the ureter is mucosa lined and not tough.
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