urine retention and IC pain

[cwood]

Help... I have been reading these boards for quite a while now and I have a lot of the same symptoms everyone else does. Urethritis is the worse along with the nightly bathroom visits. My Uro has me on Cysta-q, the IC Diet, etc, because I don't seem to do well with anything else. I had a Post Void Residual done 6 mos. ago and had a 80ml bladder capacity with an 18% residual. I have been on Vicodin HP for the last 3 mos. Presciption is 1 10mg tablet four times a day but I take two a day which helps with bladder and urethral pain. I just had another Post void residual done and my bladder was a 101 ml with a 30% residual. I am thinking the higher residual (retention) is the vicodin. Anyone else with this problem. Also, even though there is approximately 30 ml residual my question is could this be a problem. I am seeing my internist (he precribed the vicodin) Thursday. Any comments or suggestion would greatly be appreciated. Its just so nice to get away from this pain. :woohoo:

TIA

[Berkshire Road]

I don't know, but I'm sure someone will. Meanwhile, I just wanted to you to the Community, now that you've started participating.

[topcop229]

I have retention as well, but as far as percentages and what's okay and what's not, I really don't know. However, there are a few nurses on here that are quite knowledgeable about that sort of thing and I'm sure one of them will advise you soon enough.

The only thing I can tell you is that if your retention is severe, you may have to learn how to self cath. You never want to push or force your bladder to empty or even to start your flow. If you have a problem starting your flow, try to relax, elevate your feet slightly, breathe deeply and slowly...basically, relaxation techniques to try and get your flow started without forcing.

Glad the pain meds are helping you out in that area.

Good luck, glad you decided to join us here!
Claudia

[cwood]

Update

My internist called with my test results and said that the retention was not enough to worry about. It came out to about 30 ml. I told him about the vicodin and he did say that their is some retention with that medication, but to continue it for pain. Of course, I was not going to argue with that

Thank you for your replies they were very supportive

[L. Thomas]

I have a large bladder vol. and high retention.

Vol= greater than 550cc
retention= 150cc

With treatment my retention is within normal limits.(30cc)

My urogyn sets the upper limit of 125cc for retention.

[bahhumbug941]

I have retention too

I have undiagnosable retention. I know that narcotics are a major factor in making retention worse--something about their chemical compound. I spent a long time rying to find solutions to my retention, and trying to find what was causing it, so I can give you a little advice. For pain, Loritabs seem to work the best with the least amount of retention side effects. Also, you can always learn to self-cath. It is extremely easy, I just learned how to do it myself, and I feel like I ave my LIFE back again!! Just message me if you need to know anything or want to vent--I completely understand your frustrations.

[L. Thomas]

Venting?

Naugh we don't know anyone that needs to vent

Sometimes we just need to mdevdi; qe ;ff a little
Remember?

Everyone here has IC.