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  • #1

    Flare or infection

    Is there ANY way to tell if increased symptoms are due to a flare or an infection without a urine culture to rule out the infection.
    I haven't felt like this in over a year or more and I can't figure out why, except my period is very late (not pregnant) and I don't know why, so maybe everything is building within.
    I don't have burning when I pee, but it literally feels like I am going to give birth to my bladder, like there is a bowling ball in my bladder. The pressure is UNREAL and I pee only little amounts and the pressure returns within 2 minutes.
    I am DEVASTATED because I have been coping pretty well with my IC for sometime now. I haven't even posted on here in ages about my IC!

    I am scared I have an infection and what that would mean because this whole IC ordeal started for me almost 2 years ago after an infection with EColi. Infection cleared, but symptoms stayed. I haven't had an infection since, but if I have one I don't know if my bladder will ever recover. My baseline is FAR from normal, but this is horrendous.

    Any thoughts? Even baths aren't helping.
    Diagnosed with IC 6/05
    Developed Vulvar Pain 8/09

    Medications I am on:
    Elavil 25mg at bedtime
    Tags: None
  • #2
    are you on any medication for ic?

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    • #3
      I really think you need to see your doctor. You could try one of the home UTI test kits --- they aren't 100% but they can sometimes tell you that you have an infection working.

      I hope your tomorrow is better.

      Warm hugs,
      Donna
      Stay safe


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      I am not a medical authority nor do I offer medical advice. In all cases, I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.       [3MG]

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      Comment

      • #4
        Hi:
        Thanks, no believe it or not, I don't take any meds for my IC. It isn't that I have mild IC, it is just that I hate medication in general and have learned how to cope without it. Most days my IC is a mild to moderate nuisance, the past two days however are just torture.

        Donna: How or where do you buy those kits? Does anybody know how to get an at home UTI kit?
        Diagnosed with IC 6/05
        Developed Vulvar Pain 8/09

        Medications I am on:
        Elavil 25mg at bedtime

        Comment

        • #5
          Last week I thought I was having a flare until I woke up at 5am having to pee really badly and nothing would come out! It was torture. I had been doing so well too. Then that afternoon I went and it was like someone was stabbing me or twisting something in my abdomen, then it dawned on me-INFECTION. Went to doc to check it out and yep, that's what it was, put me on Cipro for 3days and I feel as good as before again. Sometimes its just so hard to tell what is infection and what is flare. I'd have it checked out. I've learned that infections aren't always a bad thing, at least they're easily treated. Good Luck. Feel better soon.

          Comment

          • #6
            UTI kits

            PeacePlease,

            Donna's suggestion is right on. The UTI kits have been a godsend to me. You can buy them at basically any drug store. I get mine at Walgreens. Usually they are found in the feminine health section, right near vagisil and pregnancy tests. They are not as accurate as doctors offices, but they have a nice chart that measures BOTH WBC and nitrites in the urine. The chart gives advice, based on your results on whether or not you should see the doctor.

            Before I knew about the at home UTI kits, I was rushing to the emergency clinic in town whenever I had a serious flare up that lasted more than a day, just in case. I swear, the nurses must have suspected that I was a cipro/pyridium junkie!!!!!! Now, I only go when my at home tests are positive for both...

            Good luck, I hope you get it figured out soon.

            Comment

            • #7
              osco also sells them they are azo uti strips

              Comment

              • #8
                Thank you so much. I will go buy them right after I drop off my two kids at school tomorrow.
                I don't know how I am going to get through the night. My bladder is KILLING me! It is taking me back to the trauma of when my IC first started, the pain is indentical and so I am feeling really emotional and depressed in addition to being in pain.
                I will do the test in the a.m. I wonder if it is negative if I should still go give a urine sample for them to send in to be cultured tomorrow?
                I wish my period would come, that can't be helping matters...
                Diagnosed with IC 6/05
                Developed Vulvar Pain 8/09

                Medications I am on:
                Elavil 25mg at bedtime

                Comment

                • #9
                  also, does anybody know how accurate these home uti kit results are?
                  Diagnosed with IC 6/05
                  Developed Vulvar Pain 8/09

                  Medications I am on:
                  Elavil 25mg at bedtime

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Dear Peace,
                    I'm in a horrible flare as well. I thought I was getting better and I have been getting up every 10 minutes with intense pressure and nothing is coming out. I want to cry. I cannot miss another day of work and I have just had it. Not sleeping at all. Hope we find relief soon.
                    Thanks,
                    Kim

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      you can get the strips from cvs/
                      hope you feebetter
                      'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

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                      • #12
                        I went back to the doctor today and had another instillation. It doesn't seem to have helped. She is putting me on Elmiron and Elavil, though. I am hoping that it helps soon. I had to leave work again because the pressure in my bladder was so bad and I hadn't slept all night. I'm just wiped out. I am going to see a counselor tomorrow who deals with pelvic pain disorders. I am hoping that she will help me cope with all of this anxiety. I'm praying that I'll get some relief soon.
                        Kim

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