Can you have "CHRONIC INFLAMMATION" , BUT NOT HAVE IC?

[smcclafferty]

Does anybody know if it is possible to just have "chronic inflammation" from things such as food, caffeine, hormones, etc...? Or does it mean that you definitely have IC? One doctor told me one thing, and another told me the opposite! Does anybody know? Thank you.

[shelbyriva]

Hi there, I am new to this web site, new with IC and new on how to post....hope I am doing this properly! I was just diagnosed in January with IC. Is it normal after urination to sometimes have such a painful spasm type symptom your eyes water?? Also has anyone been on the prescription drug Elmiron for IC and if so, had good results? Thanks everyone!

[smcclafferty]

If you scroll down to the TREATMENTS section, under ELMIRON, there will be a lot of help there...

[patricia1]

Hi have you had either a cystoscope with hydrodistention (done under anthesia in the OR) or a PST (potassium senstivity test) done?? Or is your doctors going on symptoms alone? The 2 test mentioned above would tell you if you had IC or not. One is done in the OR like I mentioned and the other is done in the doctors office.

[maryla]

Spasms?

Hello, and PLEASE get a copy of the ic handbook. It is very helpful. Yes, sometimes I have spasms so bad it feels as if they come from my very soul, it is sooooo hard to explain, They are just so painful. I cannot take any of the anti-spasm med, like ditropan, they all make me so sick at my stomach. You might want to tell your DR. if you are currently taking something that it is not working and try something else.

I'm here 4 u, God Bless,

[shelbyriva]

Hi Patricia,
Yes I have had a cystoscopy (twice), Urethra stretching, Urodynamic testing and a bladder dialitation done in the OR and the Urologist said I had "classic symptoms" if IC. I am just not clear what people mean by "spasms" and "Burning". Is a spasm after urination when you kind of feel a painful 'contracting' type feeling? I was on Ditropan before my final diagnosis and it made me so sick

[patricia1]

Hi !! shelbyriva

This is what my "Burning" feeling feels like. Everytime I go to the bathroom and urinate it burns. Like I have UTI. My bladder spams make my bladder feels like it is full and sometimes I get the urge that I have to go now. The one thing about IC is it is so different from person to person. This is one reason there is no one medicine that helps everyone.

[maryla]

Spasms?

Yes, Shelbyriva, Our IC are all so different, what works for one may not for another.

My bladder spasms sometimes feels like I have to go pee "right now" then when I go nothing will come out......and the pain feels like I'm trying to pee a football and it radiates to my back, then I have spasms where I haven't made it to the bathroom and peed myself.

Just listen to your body, we are all so different. I really didn't know what spasms felt like either, I finally figured it out by trying to cath myself and all I got was dribbles of urine out while it felt as though my bladder was going to explode it felt so full and yes it hurts so bad.

We r here 4 u!

God Bless

[kickme]

for smmclafferty

Hi!
I have the same question you do about is it possible to simply be experiencing a chronic inflmmation but not IC. My urologist tells me this is a possibility, and my cystoscopy w/hydrodistension did not reveal IC. Did you ever get a good answer to your question, as I'd like to know too! Thanks!

[jen74]

I believe IC is just a name for unexplained chronic inflammation of the bladder. This is why doctors have no clue on what causes it or why some get it. I really think it is like an autoimmune disease where our bodies are actually attacking our bladders and causing the inflammation. Just my thought.
Jen

[smcclafferty]

Hi!
I have the same question you do about is it possible to simply be experiencing a chronic inflmmation but not IC. My urologist tells me this is a possibility, and my cystoscopy w/hydrodistension did not reveal IC. Did you ever get a good answer to your question, as I'd like to know too! Thanks!

Hi kickme...I wanted to ask you, what DID your cystoscopy with hydrodistention show? Thank you.

[shelbyriva]

Hi Kickme,
I had a cystoscopy with water filling my bladder and nothing showed up but then my Urologist took me to the operating room and under anesthetic and cystoscopy and water to increase the size of my bladder (maybe that is called hydro distension???) it showed that I had IC. From what I have read, it is rare to diagnosis IC from a cystostopy without being under Anesthetic and the procedure done in the OR. Just what I have read and it was true for me. Maybe you need to insist on a further investigation.

[kickme]

My urologist said that my cystoscopy and hydrodistension suggested that my bladder was healthy, no marks or ulcers on the bladder and good capacity, etc.

[purpleviolet]

lucky in a way

To kickme,

I read your post that your bladder looks good, so maybe its lucky and maybe some of your symptoms are pelvic muscle tension. I just read this book "Headache in the Pelvis" and both men and women can have chronic unconcious tension that feels like something is drastically wrong with the bladder. So check that stuff out and good luck. PV

[jen74]

Hi.
I was actually diagnosed through a regular cystoscopy. My bladder was extrememly inflammed and vascular according to the urogyne who did the cystoscopy. I did not do the hydro as I read it is not the gold standard they like people to think it is as far a Diagnosing IC.

My gyne told me there were studies done where they did the hydro on people with IC and people without IC. Well, low and behold, there was pin point bleeding found in alot of the patients that did not have IC. THe hydroditention caused their bladders to bleed which makes sense because if you stretch your bladder beyond it's capacity, it is going to cause some damage to the bladder wall in anyone, let alone an IC patient.

I think for people who get help by doing the hydro, then that is great, but as far as diagnosing IC, they can do that without doing a hydro. If you have severe pain in your bladder and they rule out cancer and other things, then it is probably safe to say you have IC. That is just my opinion though.
Jen