Tweet
If IC diet helps a lot, still need to go to urologist to rule out other problems?
Hi to everyone,
I am new to this chat room.
I have had frequency since I was a child...eating too many oranges, would get a UTI. Just thought it was normal, going to the bathroom often.
As years went by, intense tea/coffee drinking, love of spicy foods, rich desserts were not helping, but I did not know the connection.
A urologist diagnosed me with overactive bladder in 1998 (shortly after my mother passed away, and I was living in the bathroom practically). At time, I had no health insurance, so he did not have other tests done he thought he should use (possibly he suspected IC).
In the last 8 months or so, I was on a long temporary job and getting a double-shot iced espresso everyday. I had lower pelvic pressure and soreness on right and left side in May or April. I cut out the coffee totally and did cranberry tablets for awhile. Things seemed better. Then I slipped back into my old habits. Then in August, I flared again. I went to walk-in clinic---small am't of bacteria in urine, so doc put me on antibiotic. It helped, but there was a company "potluck" for the end of the project. I ate different things, some spicy sausage, cheese, eggs with tabasco, bacon, and small amount of desserts. It knocked me out the next day. Went back to the walk-in clinic---no bacteria this time.
Since then, went to a gynecologist to find out if need Estrace cream (since postmenopausal and had total hysterectomy in 1997). Doc gave me Metrogel for vaginal infection from viewing area, and prescribed Estrace cream for atrophic vaginitis. They both helped. The Metrogel was only a 5 day course (no pelvic discomfort during it), but not something to stay on. The Estrace cream has no effect on pelvic discomfort from what I can tell.
During this time, came across IC websites with the lists of foods to avoid and the OK to try foods.
I have noticed a big improvement with the diet. But, if I stray a little for 2-3 days, the pelvic discomfort comes back.
After all the reading I have done (and can stomach), I just wonder if all these other conditions that urologists rule out before they give you the test for IC, would respond well to the IC diet too.
It just doesn't seem to me that cystocele, rectocele, bladder cancer, urethral cancer would fluctuate to the IC diet. Maybe urethral diverticulosis would.
Just wondering...as dread the scary testing, esp. hospital stay, and the huge expense when it may be that better off sticking with the IC diet and Prelief from time to time.
Probably have to go to urologist, but just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or wondered the same way I am thinking.
Thanks for any helpful ideas...!
Elaine
I am new to this chat room.
I have had frequency since I was a child...eating too many oranges, would get a UTI. Just thought it was normal, going to the bathroom often.
As years went by, intense tea/coffee drinking, love of spicy foods, rich desserts were not helping, but I did not know the connection.
A urologist diagnosed me with overactive bladder in 1998 (shortly after my mother passed away, and I was living in the bathroom practically). At time, I had no health insurance, so he did not have other tests done he thought he should use (possibly he suspected IC).
In the last 8 months or so, I was on a long temporary job and getting a double-shot iced espresso everyday. I had lower pelvic pressure and soreness on right and left side in May or April. I cut out the coffee totally and did cranberry tablets for awhile. Things seemed better. Then I slipped back into my old habits. Then in August, I flared again. I went to walk-in clinic---small am't of bacteria in urine, so doc put me on antibiotic. It helped, but there was a company "potluck" for the end of the project. I ate different things, some spicy sausage, cheese, eggs with tabasco, bacon, and small amount of desserts. It knocked me out the next day. Went back to the walk-in clinic---no bacteria this time.
Since then, went to a gynecologist to find out if need Estrace cream (since postmenopausal and had total hysterectomy in 1997). Doc gave me Metrogel for vaginal infection from viewing area, and prescribed Estrace cream for atrophic vaginitis. They both helped. The Metrogel was only a 5 day course (no pelvic discomfort during it), but not something to stay on. The Estrace cream has no effect on pelvic discomfort from what I can tell.
During this time, came across IC websites with the lists of foods to avoid and the OK to try foods.
I have noticed a big improvement with the diet. But, if I stray a little for 2-3 days, the pelvic discomfort comes back.
After all the reading I have done (and can stomach), I just wonder if all these other conditions that urologists rule out before they give you the test for IC, would respond well to the IC diet too.
It just doesn't seem to me that cystocele, rectocele, bladder cancer, urethral cancer would fluctuate to the IC diet. Maybe urethral diverticulosis would.
Just wondering...as dread the scary testing, esp. hospital stay, and the huge expense when it may be that better off sticking with the IC diet and Prelief from time to time.
Probably have to go to urologist, but just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or wondered the same way I am thinking.
Thanks for any helpful ideas...!
Elaine
The cystoscopy/hydro is not bad at all, and if I had to, I would do it all over again.
Volunteers are not medical authorities nor do we offer medical advice. In all cases, we strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.
Comment