Wondering if this could be IC and just looking for support.

[matt009au]

Just an update. Have strung together a couple of decent days which is good. All blood and urine tests have come back normal. Doctor does t think a urologist is necessary. But he recommended a physio for pelvic floor exercises. Not sure if they will be of benefit but happy to try anything.

thinking this coming week I’ll try to add a few things back into the diet and see how things go!

edit, forgot to mention they diagnosed me with ‘overactive or irritated bladder’ in the basis of everything else negative.

[matt009au]

Well went for a long walk and added back in some red capsicum (bell pepper) and had a nice steak (was sick of chicken) for dinner. Not having a good night now... ugh

[ICNDonna]

I don't have a problem with beef --- was the pepper a spicy one? Did you have anything to drink with dinner? dessert? I hope you can figure out what caused your symptoms to worsen.


Donna

[matt009au]

Just a plain red capsicum. Not spicy at all.

haven’t drunk anything except good old water since this all started.

Sigh. Really getting depressed over this whole thing tbh.

[matt009au]

Just wondering if anyone has had much success with pelvic floor relaxation? Was back at the GP who gave me some sleeping tablets and suggested that I visit a physio for pelvic floor exercises.also recommended that I switch to low fat dairy.

ive been using a heat pack at night between the legs which seems to at least dull the sensation that I need to urinate some. Would this indicate muscle involvement ?

matt

[ICNDonna]

Just wondering if anyone has had much success with pelvic floor relaxation? Was back at the GP who gave me some sleeping tablets and suggested that I visit a physio for pelvic floor exercises.also recommended that I switch to low fat dairy.

ive been using a heat pack at night between the legs which seems to at least dull the sensation that I need to urinate some. Would this indicate muscle involvement ?

matt

If you are one who has pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), physical therapy can be a huge help --- it think it could be a good idea to see a PT to at least evaluate possible muscle involvement.

Donna

[matt009au]

Just thought I’d post an update. I’ve been sticking with the IC diet since the last post and have noticed some improvements. My wife had another health episode last weekend. The next day was bad - not sure if it is normal for a delayed reaction to stress like this. But bladder bounced back to behaving the following day.

ive taken the family away for this week to try and distress. Keeping strictly to the diet is a bit harder (no kitchen in the room). The first two days had been good. But did some cheese tasting today (only the mild motzerrllas, boccinici and cheddar) but seem to be having a flare up a few hours after this. Thinking that maybe I’ll try knocking out cheese from the diet as well.

ive also been going to the physio who specialises in men’s health and have been doing the exercises religiously.

the symptoms have improved on the whole which is good. But still feel like my bladder is on a knifes edge just waiting to flare at one wrong step.

The gp also referred me to a urologist - booked in for November.

[ICNDonna]

Thank you for the update --- I'm glad you're feeling some improvement. Some of us have problems with some kinds of cheese --- I know I'm okay with (and I can't spell some of them) motzerrela, mild cheddar, string cheese, which I still eat like a child, pulling off the "strings" --- I avoid sharp cheddar.

In these times it can be hard to avoid stress --- with winter coming and most areas seeing increases in virus cases. I hope you continue to improve.

Donna

[matt009au]

Thought I’d give an update. Had been sticking to the diet and my pelvic floor exercises and had some extended weeks where I felt almost normal again!

Unfortunately I seem to have picked up a stomach flu and after a day all the symptoms have come back with a vengeance. Ugh!!!!! So depressing.

do others see a relationship between getting ill and a flare up of their symptoms.? My initial symptoms really started after 3 or 4 months of being constantly sick from the kids.

the other thing I’ve been wondering if it is possible my low carb diet I’ve been on for the last few years for my migraines may have caused these bladder issues. Wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on this hypothesis?

Matt

[ICNDonna]

I honestly don't have a lot of information on how low carbs and bladder issues, other than the fact that when there was a low carb fad we tried it at our house --- I did okay at first, but after several weeks my IC bladder advised me that it wasn't okay for me. I still try to keep carbs fairly low, but not extreme.

I can say that if I have a bad cold or flu, my bladder doesn't like it. My children have turned into adults, but when they were in school, they were very sharing when it came to germs.

I hope you feel better soon.

Donna

[matt009au]

Thanks Donna! feeling much better today (everywhere except the bladder. Ugh. )

Yeh might try and up the carbs slightly... they always mentioned the diet might raise my chances of kidney stones. I think because it makes everything a bit more acidic. So don’t imagine it is great for any of the urinary tract.

[matt009au]

Just wanted to ask. Does anyone else get these momentary feelings that they might ‘leak’. Is this a symptom of IC.
since the gastro in mid December I’ve been getting these weird intermittent momentary feelings that I might leak. Has been way worse over the Christmas break.
bloody exhausting.

[ICNDonna]

I wonder if it's bladder spasms? Definitely tell your doctor about this --- if it's spasms, there are medications that will ease the feeling. In the meantime, it could be that wearing some light incontinence pads would help relax those muscles --- when there's a feeling of possible leaking, just knowing that pad is there will sometimes help.

Donna

[matt009au]

Thanks Donna, wore some light blue briefs and happened to noticed today that there has been a bit of leakage after the spasms so pads might be on the cards.

Sso depressing. Just to think I had a few good months of bladder performance. Then hit with this. Sigh.

Rreally hard to stay positive.

[ICNDonna]

Just remember that you got better before --- and you will again.

I know it can be hard at times; and adding the pandemic can't help.


Donna