test tomorrow

[Crittle]

Deborah,

What do you think I should take? I have burning every time I pee, which is why I'm having this study done...so chances are...it may not help. I haven't been diagnosed yet so this is all fairly new to me.

In comparing myself with typical IC symptoms...I'm fairly different. My main symptom is painful urination (dysuria) along with urgency. I've lost all sense at to what is 'normal', but I don't think I have alot of frequency, however, I do get up 3 or 4 times per night. I've had UTI's that were absolutely horrible and know that many here suffer with the symptom of not being able to void a significant amount and gosh, my heart goes out to those people. My last UTI was AWFUL! Well...I've gotten off the subject, haven't I! lol Anything to keep my mind off the test tomorrow!

I'll try to relax during the test. Maybe I need a crash course in lamaze breathing before I go in! Man..I feel like such a baby !

[Crittle]

ooops...I accidently his 'post new topic' instead of 'post reply'! duh! banghead

[poetgirl]

Crittle,

I was experiencing a lot of the burning you describe. It drove me nuts. My uro put me on Urocit-K, which has helped stop it. Some people's urine is more acidic, which can irritate the bladder, urethra and vaginal area. I don't know if that's the case with you, but it's certainly something you can bring up with your doctor. I also have the frequency which comes and goes. (Mostly comes and never goes away, is more like it.)

Good luck tomorrow -- I'm sure you'll be fine. Just let us know what the doc says.

[auntiedeb]

Crittle.. I will be praying for you and hopefully they will find something out. Hang in there.There's hope.

[Crittle]

Poet,

Have you be diagnosed with IC? Also...how long have you suffered from Dysuria? I've struggled with this for 14 years now and I feel like I finally have someone who can relate!! Please write me back and let me know. I'm definately going to mention urocit-k to the doctors.

Thanks!
Crittle/Crystal

p.s. Thanks for all the encouragement I've received today!!! You guys are great!

[poetgirl]

Hi Crystal,

I was diagnosed with IC about 2 months ago, but have had symptoms for about 5 years. Most of the time the burning and frequency/urgency is what really bothers me. I used to always think I had a UTI since I am prone to them, but now I can tell the onset of one from when these other symptoms act up. I'm taking Detrol LA to help with the frequency/urgency and it helps somewhat -- more so at night than during the day. Most nights I get up once or maybe twice to go, and if I'm really lucky, I don't have to get up at all.

I hope your doctor can help you out and anytime you have questions, just holler!! We're here with ya!

[Crittle]

Well...sorry I accidently made two threads for this topid...how confusing! I'll just stick to this one to make it easier.

My test is over with and I can honestly say I NEVER want to go through anything like that again. I actually had two appointments back to back today...first the Urodynamic study and then a Cystoscopy. Getting the catheter in for the Uro was very painful. The woman doing the procedure said there's obviously some blockage and that my urethra seems 'tilted'. Once she got it in..it wasn't bad...in fact, when I peed...it wasn't painful at all and actually felt soothing. (oh, how I miss that...it's the little things in life, eh?!) She also said that I have a small bladder and that it contracts when it's not supposed. They are actually surprised I don't have incontinence. She told me (and I don't exactly know what the numbers mean) that normal is 20, and I'm at 150. So...obviously there's something going on here and none of this is in my head...as suggested by my last Urologist (and I use that term loosely!).

After the study, she sent me over to a doctor who specializes in IC for the Cystoscopy. Well...that didnt' fly AT ALL! After numbing gel and three tries...it was way too painful for me. They opted not to do it and after meeting with another doc will have me schedule the hydro under anesthesia.

So...I'm sooooo glad that is over with!! Now...onward and upward to see if we can get a diagnosis and meds. At this point they are thinking IC...but will see what my bladder looks like first.

[poetgirl]

Glad to hear you made it through! When I had my urodynamics testing done, the doc found that my bladder contracts when it's not supposed to, and also doesn't always empty completely. What happens (usually about anywhere from a minute to 5-10 minutes after I've gone) then is that whatever little urine remains tends to trickle out (that post-void dribble.) Very annoying. I've never heard of a urethra being tilted. Did they say what might cause that?

Did they give you a prescription to help with the bladder contractions?

There was no way I could have tolerated a cysto/hydro without anesthesia. Yikes -- I'm glad they're scheduling yours with anesthesia.

[deborah b.]

I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU DID ALLRIGHT WITH THE TEST AND I AM GLAD THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CYSTO. MAYBE WHEN THEY DO THE HYDRO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE IC. KEEP AS POSTED WHEN YOU HAVE THE HYRDO DONE. I HOPE YOU DOING OAKY AND WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU. DEBORAH kissing kissing

[Crittle]

Poet,

She didn't tell me what may have caused my urethra to tilt...or to be curved...can't remember how exactly she put it...but she said my problems may simply be atonomical...or that it may be causing at least some of my discomfort. We also found with the test that it takes me a while to void...there's definately not a full flow there...although, went I left the office I had to go again and it was definately better. I think I may have a wee bit of a post-dribble void as well...but I normally hang out on the potty for a few minutes just to make sure I've emptied. It's amazing how I can go and then think I'm done and then there's that urge again.

No..they didn't give me any medication for the contractions. I'm guessing I'll learn more about treatments and the different medications available after my hydro.

I read on another thread that when you had your Urodynamics done that they used a pediatric size cath...that's good info to have if I ever have to have another one done. Hmmm...but I think I'd rather give birth than to do this again!

Deborah...thanks for your kind words. This site has been a lifesaver for me! Just talking with people who know exactly how I'm feeling means so much to me!!!

~Crittle/Crystal

[poetgirl]

Yes, the pediatric catheter is the way to go, at least for me. I have some narrowing of the urethra although I don't usually have a problem with voiding (in other words, the stream is fine.) It just doesn't always empty completely. I will sit there longer until I feel my muscles relax completely again and then the remainder comes out. But then I'll still dribble a little bit after getting up a minute or so later. I had had a congenital stricture that was corrected 4 years ago but even back then with the stricture I didn't have too much trouble voiding. I've had fewer UTIs since having the stricture corrected, which is good, but I think maybe because of the narrowing, some urine still hangs around. Very annoying.

Hopefully the doc will get you treatment that works for you!!

[Crittle]

What is a stricture?


Well..it's been a couple days since my Urodynamic Study and it's weird...but I'm finding that my flow has increased somewhat and that it hasn't been as painful for me to void. I went three times last night...and there was little to no pain. Does anyone know why this might be? There have only been a handful of times in the past few years that it hasn't been painful...if that. I'm wondering if maybe I had a blockage (per their suggestion) and when they put the cath in and then attempted to put the scope in...the blockage was pushed out of the way. This is just really odd to me. Also...I'll be meeting with an IC specialist next Thurs for a pre-op appt for the Hydro. I'm wondering if I should maybe put the surgery off if my symptoms are getting better. What do you all here think? This is all so new to me and I'm worried about the doctors getting in there and messing around if I'm feeling better. Gosh...I feel so clueless here. I just don't want to make things worse if they are getting better.

Any ideas out there?

[Crittle]

On second thought...maybe it's the Levaquin they put me on that's helping with my symptoms. I guess I'll find out after today since I've just taken my last dose.

[poetgirl]

A stricture is any kind of narrowing of the urethra. It can be congenital (something present at birth) or can develop as a result of trauma to the urethra -- like scar tissue, for instance.

Your improved flow is probably a result of both the urodynamics (the catheter may have stretched the urethra a little) and the medication you're on. The hydro may help some more, but you have to decide if it's worth it to you to undergo the treatment. See how you're doing over the next few weeks and re-evaluate.