Feeling like I have to pee all the time!

[2littlemonkeys]

My spasms have finally stopped, knock on wood, but now I have the constant feeling of needing to pee. I MAKE myself get up in the middle of the night at least twice b/c if I don't all hell breaks loose in the morning with my bladder. All I drink is water now, b/c I've come to realize that Coke or any other carbonated drink makes me hurt, so that sucks. I love lemon in my water, but I'm afraid to add some b/c of the acid. What do ya'll think? Good or bad idea?

[ICNDonna]

Unfortunately, frequency is one of the bad things about IC. I hope you will soon find something that will help.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[jjt001]

Before I knew what was wrong with me I found that if I drank a lot of water it really helped. And then I had the bright idea that adding lemon to the water would REALLY help since it's a natural diaretic. It turned out to be a BAD, BAD idea for me! All that time until I was diagnosed I was putting lemon into my bladder. I know that some say that lemon is not an irritatant because it becomes alkaline in the body (or something like that, I don't remember the specifics). But in my case, lemon is a huge trigger. Any lemon or other citrus and I am soon burning in my bladder.

I remember for the last several years that after a glass of lemonade I'd be running to the restroom quickly and often (but no pain). I always laughed and said "Wow, lemonade goes right through me" but never figured out why.

When my symptoms really started to get bad I was at a party and had been having a lot of pain and discomfort that day. I knew that I really needed fluids in there to make me feel better, so I drank a couple of glasses of homeade lemonade. Then I literally went to the bathroom four times in 15 minutes. Oddly, I did feel better because I had peed a lot, but that wouldn't be the case now as my bladder is super sensitive.

So, my advice is not to add lemon to your water :-) But, I know that some can tolerate it, so it may be a trial and error thing with you, as so many things are with this disease! Good luck!

[Roxie2007]

HI! I can't drink anything but water these days......and esp. no lemon or anything citrus or with citric acid.
Have you tried Azo (OTC) or Elavil (prescription) for the frequency? Sounds like you need to 'calm' your bladder down. That feeling of having to go all the time is really the pits! I feel for you! I hope you get it calmed down soon......but stay away from the lemon! Roxie

[Berkshire Road]

My opinion: Lemon is a bad idea. I know how boring it is to just drink water all the time, but for me at least, the lemon is not worth it.

[2littlemonkeys]

When I first started having symptoms I tried Azo. I'm not taking it anymore since I've read on hear that it could be an irratiant. As for the other meds, my Urologist pretty well blew me off b/c nothing showed on the Cystocospy.

[Roxie2007]

HI! I think you should look for an IC dr. Some times dr.s just go by symptoms to diagnosis.
As for the Azo.....did it cause problems for you? I know quite a few women who use it and hasn't ever caused any of us a problem. Infact when one of us runs out we call another friend and borrow some till we can get to the drug store. lol It's always the first thing I grab when I have that first pang of bladder pain. Good luck! Roxie

[GriffsMommy]

Monkeys,
Did your uro just do an in office cystscopy or did he do a hydro/cysto because from what I understand a lof of IC bladders will look completely normal during an office cystscopy and will not show the signs of IC until a hydro/cysto is done. When I had my office cystscopy done he could see areas of chronic inflammation but he wasn't willing to say it was IC yet. He put me on Macrobid for 6 weeks!(which isn't work AT ALL) and then told me that if I didn't feel better after that he would do the hydro/cysto. If all he did was the office one then I would probably consider going to a different dr who will try harder to get to the bottom of your problems.

[mom_in_ma]

Ok....first...NO LEMON!

Second, AZO (for me) is a blessing and a course. It does stop that constant need to pee, but it also seems to increase some of my burning and irritation in my urethra/vaginal area. But, it it stops that constant urge to pee and lets you get some rest, it may be worth it.

Third, you are not alone, my first uros blew me off because my bladder looked fine in an in office cysto. Thankfully, I found wonderful uro who believed in me and agreed that my symptoms were really IC.

Finally, there are many other meds you can try. Keep looking for a good doctor! There is a great list of ic specilists on this site.

[tigger_gal]

have you tried kool-aide?

[lonen86]

What flavour of koolaid

Hi tigger what flavour of koolaid can you drink ?:woohoo: Let me know because i love koolaid and can drink anything but water and milk . LOREN

[2littlemonkeys]

I go to my OB on April 8. So, I will see what she says. I'm really worried about starting my period again b/c that is when I had most of my pain. What kind of Kool-Aid do you drink? I've always hated that, but if it means being able to drink something other than water, bring it on!!