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Hello there, ICers (perhaps my future brethren).
First things first: I have an appointment with a urologist in two weeks.
My story is as such: I'm a 27 yo female. About three months ago, I had the familiar ache in my side that indicated to me I had a UTI. Went to a walk-in clinic, got a positive urine test and antibiotics. Finished the full course, but still had the pain, so I went to my local health center thinking it hadn't gone away, but they didn't find any evidence of bacteria. The pain was an ache, sometimes a stabbing sensation in my flank and lower back, so Doc #1 suggested kidney stones, small ones since the pain wasn't awful. I went back about a week and a half later because I'd been unable to sleep the night before, chained to the toilet with urgency I had never experienced before. Doc #1 suggested it was just residual from my last UTI (but was not a new one), and recommended AZO for the urgency (which didn't do too much). At this point I was voiding no less than about 14 times a day, and more than three times a night. I took some home tests, which just said there were white blood cells/leukocytes in the urine. A professional urinalysis said there was blood. I got tested for diabetes (my dad has Type 2), but that was negative. Doc #2 was convinced it was kidney stones, scheduled me for an ultrasound. By that point, I was beginning to consider my frequency, urgency, and periodic flank pain to be normal. My gyno (Doc #3) suggested I might have IC, but couldn't really do anything about it. When I actually got the ultrasound (I guess this counts as Doc #4?), which featured a pelvic ultrasound, which required me to fill my bladder and hold it until I was called back. Except the staff kind of forgot about me and couldn't get to me for two hours, the worst two of my life, where I was encouraged to void "only a little bit," because if my bladder wasn't completely full, I'd have to wait yet again for the ultrasound. (This was about two weeks ago, and I haven't gotten the results, presumably those are being sent to the doctor that scheduled it and/or the urologist.) Since then, though, I've had urethral burning (no pelvic pain, no pain when I void), and the distinct sensation of being unable to empty my bladder fully, usually having to double void. It still burns after I've finished, although usually that goes away after an hour or so. Until I have to go again, and then the cycle starts anew. I don't know if this is the direct result of my incomplete voids while I was waiting for my ultrasound or what. (Also, I just finished my first month back on Ortho TriCylen Lo, which I was only off for about four months and has never given me problems before.)
TL;DR: Mild to moderate flank pain, frequency, periodic urgency that's gotten worse over the past two weeks, including urethral burning. I'm not sure how or what I'm supposed to bring any of this up with Doc #5 in two weeks, so I'd appreciate your suggestions. I HAVE been keeping a voiding diary and a list of the foods I've eaten and possible triggers, but there doesn't seem to be a pattern. I drink at least 50 ounces of water a day (at a minimum) and have given up coffee, much to my horror. Looking up IC symptoms helps because it gives me an idea of what I might have and might be facing, but it's also severely increasing my anxiety, which probably isn't helping much. Sorry for the long-windedness.
First things first: I have an appointment with a urologist in two weeks.
My story is as such: I'm a 27 yo female. About three months ago, I had the familiar ache in my side that indicated to me I had a UTI. Went to a walk-in clinic, got a positive urine test and antibiotics. Finished the full course, but still had the pain, so I went to my local health center thinking it hadn't gone away, but they didn't find any evidence of bacteria. The pain was an ache, sometimes a stabbing sensation in my flank and lower back, so Doc #1 suggested kidney stones, small ones since the pain wasn't awful. I went back about a week and a half later because I'd been unable to sleep the night before, chained to the toilet with urgency I had never experienced before. Doc #1 suggested it was just residual from my last UTI (but was not a new one), and recommended AZO for the urgency (which didn't do too much). At this point I was voiding no less than about 14 times a day, and more than three times a night. I took some home tests, which just said there were white blood cells/leukocytes in the urine. A professional urinalysis said there was blood. I got tested for diabetes (my dad has Type 2), but that was negative. Doc #2 was convinced it was kidney stones, scheduled me for an ultrasound. By that point, I was beginning to consider my frequency, urgency, and periodic flank pain to be normal. My gyno (Doc #3) suggested I might have IC, but couldn't really do anything about it. When I actually got the ultrasound (I guess this counts as Doc #4?), which featured a pelvic ultrasound, which required me to fill my bladder and hold it until I was called back. Except the staff kind of forgot about me and couldn't get to me for two hours, the worst two of my life, where I was encouraged to void "only a little bit," because if my bladder wasn't completely full, I'd have to wait yet again for the ultrasound. (This was about two weeks ago, and I haven't gotten the results, presumably those are being sent to the doctor that scheduled it and/or the urologist.) Since then, though, I've had urethral burning (no pelvic pain, no pain when I void), and the distinct sensation of being unable to empty my bladder fully, usually having to double void. It still burns after I've finished, although usually that goes away after an hour or so. Until I have to go again, and then the cycle starts anew. I don't know if this is the direct result of my incomplete voids while I was waiting for my ultrasound or what. (Also, I just finished my first month back on Ortho TriCylen Lo, which I was only off for about four months and has never given me problems before.)
TL;DR: Mild to moderate flank pain, frequency, periodic urgency that's gotten worse over the past two weeks, including urethral burning. I'm not sure how or what I'm supposed to bring any of this up with Doc #5 in two weeks, so I'd appreciate your suggestions. I HAVE been keeping a voiding diary and a list of the foods I've eaten and possible triggers, but there doesn't seem to be a pattern. I drink at least 50 ounces of water a day (at a minimum) and have given up coffee, much to my horror. Looking up IC symptoms helps because it gives me an idea of what I might have and might be facing, but it's also severely increasing my anxiety, which probably isn't helping much. Sorry for the long-windedness.
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