treatment for frequency

[jessicab]

i had a quick question about frequency/urgency....

granted i've only been on the IC diet for about a week, but i have found that it's been helpful in getting rid of a lot of the pain i was feeling.

however, i am still suffering from frequency. even if there's nothing in my bladder, it feels like i have to go! i assume this is because my bladder is badly inflamed? if so, does the IC diet help with that eventually, or are there any medications? or do us IC-ers just have to live life within close proximity to a bathroom?

[cmclien]

The overactive bladder meds have been a huge help for me in reducing frequency and when I have to go I can hold it alot longer when I take them. I have tried oxybutynin but now I am on vesicare which I really like though they are drying. My doctor likes to treat IC with both elmiron, instills (not doing those yet), overactive bladder meds. He says it comes at it (IC) from different angles. Sometimes I can go 4!!!! hours with the vesicare in between but mostly 2-3 hrs. It definitely helps get rid of that constant feeling of having to go. It really makes a difference in my quality of life.

Some people who have retention (and I think alot of ICers might) cannot take them because it relaxes the bladder too much and then they can't go.

[cmclien]

Oh yeah, one more thing. Elavil, amitriptyline might help with that symptom too if you can't take the OAB meds.

[jessicab]

thanks cindi! it's good to know there are treatments that may help, because this is just irritating! i normally commute to dc on the weekends and i'm terrified to try to make the trip.

[cmclien]

I agree, its totally annoying. When I don't take the meds then I usually feel like I gotta go about an hour after I last went even tho I know I don't have to go so then I hold it with that feeling until I think enough time has passed. Sometimes like I said 4 hours will go by on the oab meds and I start thinking wow, I better go but nothing has ever been wrong I'm just so used to that feeling, like its normal, but its not!
Hope you get to DC soon!
Are you on any meds yet?

[jessicab]

None! Waiting to see the 2nd uro on Tuesday after the first said she didn't know what was wrong with me and only mentioned offhand that I could have interstitial cystitis without telling me what it is...and then said we'd do a follow-up by phone!

I'm hoping that this one takes me more seriously and I won't have to wait too long to have the cysto done, and maybe he can even start me on some meds before that because I'm having a bit of a tough time and I have all the symptoms....