Does this sound like IC?????

[ljg7094]

While watching TV three nights ago, I experienced sharp pains that seemed to be vaginal. I'd get a really painful one and then it'd go away. As the night went on, it became more frequent and sleeping that night was very difficult. I'm a tummy sleeper and that was definitely out of the question. My husband said I moaned as if in pain many times throughout the night. I awoke about every two hours to pee because of the pressure on my bladder. It didn't hurt to pee, and in fact it relieved the pain.........until my bladder would begin filling again. The area over the bladder was hypersensitive to touch. I ended up going to the emergency room the next night after first presenting to a prompt care facility. The doc at the prompt care advised me to go to the ER because I needed testing to rule out diverticulitis. After all was done and over, 5 hours later, diverticulitis was ruled out and they didn't know what was causing the intense pain I was having. I was sent home with Vicodin and am now wondering if I should go to my regular doc or skip him and head to a urologist. Yesterday the pain was off and on all day long and I can best describe it as feeling like what bladder spasms must feel like. Can anyone help me??? I'm 51 and 4 years menopausal, which was natural. I don't have an appendix or a gallbaldder, so it's not either of those. The prompt care doc ruled out female organ problems by doing a pelvic exam. I'm sorry to go on so long, but I need advice...........

[traceann]

Hi there! Did they do a urinalysis to rule out a UTI?? If you haven't gotten any relief, I would go to my regular doctor or a uro to discuss what's going on. I had urethral spasms (ouch) and my doc gave me Ditropan (this was before we got the diagnosis of IC, we thought it was just urethral spasms period) and that worked wonderfully for the spasms.

There could be so many things, it would definitely be best to head to a doctor and go from there. And the sooner you go, the sooner you can figure out what's going on and start whatever treatment is necessary to make you feel better as soon as possible!!!

Hugs,
Tracey

[patricia1]

I agree about testing for a UTI or Kidney infection.

[humpieumpumkin]

I'm very sorry you are suffering like this. In my opinion(i'm no doctor!) I would try to get into a urologist ASAP. If it's going to be a while, like with most specailist, I would go to your gp and leave a urine sample like the other ladies suggested to rule out uti. Also, in the mean time otc pyridium(Uristat, Azo Standard) can bring releif to some of us. For me it is a miracle! Good luck to you!

Erika

[Sarojini]

I agree with the others... make sure you were/are tested for a urinary tract infection, and if you don't have one, then it's time to see your doctor. If your insurance requires referrals, you'll probably have to go to your regular doctor first, but it sounds like you may end up at a urologist. They can rule out a bunch of stuff... IC is in part a diagnosis of exclusion, so you may not get a diagnosis immediately. Be prepared for that, it's normal... frustrating as all heck, but normal

[ljg7094]

Thank you all for your help! I did forget to include in my story that they did rule out a UTI. They didn't do a KUB (kidneys,ureter,bladder xray), which I thought was odd, but of course at the time being so uncomfortable, I didn't think to ask why they didn't do one. My urine was clear according to the ER. I've put a call into my regular doc and am 'patiently' waiting for them to call me back this afternoon.

Again, thanks to you all! I'll keep you posted...........

[ljg7094]

I went to my regular doc today and he thinks I am suffering from IC and has now referred me to a urologist. He also gave me an anti-spasmodic called Levbid that I'm hoping will kick in soon and hold me over until I get to the uro.

One more question..............does this condition come and go? I have the pain still, but much less intense than when it started a week ago. Is this IC's pattern? Thanks!

[traceann]

Well, to be honest, it's different for everyone, That makes it hard to say yes, it always does this or that etc. Maybe it's "lightening up" because you have been eating foods that aren't too aggrivating to your bladder?? Um, under less stress? It does most times cycle in "flares", when the bladder is angry about something, it can last for a week or so or even just a few days - in the range of you are very very aware that your bladder etc is there, then it can start to calm down and feel better with some TLC Most of us have flares from something we've eaten or drank, hormones are another aggrivator, stress, etc...

Have you looked at the IC Diet? That is something you can try for yourself. It can be a very helpful tool in managing symptoms, it was a life-saver for me! Especially in the beginning, which most of us agree is the worst time - the time prior to diagnosis. It can be VERY helpful. Here's link to it in the handbook:

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/diet.html

If it is IC, sounds like maybe you've "caught" it quickly - sounds like you have a good doctor - and can get on the road to feeling better! There are lots of medications and lots of combinations of those medications that can work really well - sometimes it's trial and error in finding the right one for you. I wish when I went in to see my doc for the spasms we would have started investigating IC right then, *sigh* Oh well, doing great now (knock on wood - no point in jinxing myself, hee hee), thanks to the diet and finding the magic bullet of med combos for me!

Keep us posted as to how you're doing!!!

Hugs,
Tracey

[L. Thomas]

I went to my regular doc today and he thinks I am suffering from IC and has now referred me to a urologist. He also gave me an anti-spasmodic called Levbid that I'm hoping will kick in soon and hold me over until I get to the uro.

One more question..............does this condition come and go? I have the pain still, but much less intense than when it started a week ago. Is this IC's pattern? Thanks!

There is no pattern for IC. Sometimes I can go for days without any symptoms, maybe even a week or so. Then sometimes I have symptoms almost daily. Sometimes the symptoms are worse than other times...no patterns. IC is a lifelong desease that has not cure, but treatment is effective for a lot of us. Some have a harder time finding treatment that works for them. It seems like I know "my desease" now and I can live with IC without it changing my life. I just know that I need to be a girl scout...be prepared.

[Briza]

My symptoms generally come and go like L. Thomas posted above. Sometimes they go away completely for days at time, other days mild symptoms that can be well-controlled by my meds, and I recently had a complete 2 month remission! Unfortunately that remission has ended, but I sure enjoyed my vacation from IC!

[ICNDonna]

My suggestion, like Tracey's, is to give the diet a try. It shouldn't hurt and just may help relieve your symptoms. You'll especially want to eliminate such things as coffee, tea, fruit juices, citrus, and tomatoes.

Donna

[jen74]

I think that IC is different for everyone. Like my Gastroenterologist said to me, IC is like irritable bowel but of the bladder. And he said that it is unfortunate that there is no cure, and that urologists seem to be still in the dark ages when it comes to knowing much about the bladder and it's function according to my GI doc, and from what I have seen with my uro docs, he is right about that.

Also, I just thought I would add, just because the prompt doc did a pelvic exam does not rule out that the problem could still be gyne related. My mother in law had a ovarian cyst that was as big as a grapefruit and the gyne did not detect it during the pelvic exam. Maybe an ultrasound would show if anything could be going on there. That is just a thought.

Also, if you have any urogynecologists in your area, maybe it would be good to see one of them as they specialize in the uro area as well as the gyne area. Good Luck and hope you get better soon.
Jen