Incredibly depressed :(

[Amanda1106]

So my story, (it's long, bear with me please)

I'm 25yrs old, I have two children aged 2 and 4, and work as a nurse at a hospital.

On Saturday March 5th I woke up at about 3 am with severe UTI-like symptoms. Burning, urgency, bladder spasms, pain with urination, urinating small amts at a time, etc. I woke up and drank several glasses of water. I had a rx for antibiotics that I never ended up needing for something else so I took one of those, some motrin, and a xanax and finally got to sleep. I had 3 days worth of antibiotics taking them twice a day. I worked all weekend so I couldn't go to an urgent care and the antibiotics were helping so I figured I'd be okay.

Well after taking the antibiotics I felt as though my symptoms weren't completely eradicated so I went to an urgent care center on Thursday the 10th. They did the quick urine test and it was negative for bacteria, but he stated the antibiotics I was on could account for that and Rx'd me another antibiotic to take for a week. I took that through the weekend but didn't feel any different so I went to my OB/GYN on Monday the 13...thinking maybe it was a now a yeast infection. They did a urine culture and Rx'd me Diflucan pills for a yeast infection. I took those and no improvement. The cultures came back negative for bacteria and yeast.

So here I am, almost 4 weeks later still miserable. My symptoms now are burning urethra (it burns and my urine feels hot when I urinate), over-sensitivity in my vulva, a burning/pressure/cramp -like pain while I urinate, and after I urinate for about 20-30min. I have urgency and some frequency (but only because I choose to go thinking it'll help the pain ...so maybe a couple extra bathroom trips/day). My pain is always bad in the am and before bed...but right now it's pretty bad and it's 2pm. I've been sleeping through the night. I have noticed some occ. vaginal itching and dryness.

I have an appt with a NP at a urology office tomorrow am. Since Monday I've been following the IC diet pretty strictly (completely avoiding everything on the "no" list, and as much on the "maybe" list as possible)....no improvements noted. OTC AZO / tyelenol have not helped. Sex doesn't hurt, but my drive has sucked due to the pain.

Possibly-pertinent info:
- I've always been UTI prone, especially because I have a problem drinking enough water (I don't ever feel thirsty and I work a busy job where I can easily work 9 hrs without drinking/peeing). However my UTIs have always responded well to tx and I've never had this length of symptoms.
- I had a missed miscarriage in January, the baby died but I had no symptoms, I had to do several doses of intra-vaginal cytotec to induce a miscarriage. I've had 2 pretty normal periods following the cessation of the miscarriage bleeding.
- I feel like I have a "nervous" bladder, when I get anxious I have to pee more often.
- I had two vaginal births, after the second I never felt like things were normal down there, immediately after the birth I had stress incontinence, and now if I run/jump it feels like things may just come out...however I can never actually feel tissue protruding or anything. I'm not having stress incontinence now...but imagine I could if I let my bladder get too full.

I'm really depressed. I'm terrified of a dx of IC. Many of you seem more miserable than me and are so hopeful...I don't know how. All I can think about is missing vacations, soccer games, etc bc of pain/urgency. Thank you for reading through all of this if you have...I just don't know what to do

[Deirdre]

((((hug)))) I could write a book but i don't have time right now- One thing I'm wondering- Have you had any hormone levels checked? The itching makes me wonder if your estrogen is low. You were just pregnant even though you miscarried. HANG IN THERE!

[Amanda1106]

((((hug)))) I could write a book but i don't have time right now- One thing I'm wondering- Have you had any hormone levels checked? The itching makes me wonder if your estrogen is low. You were just pregnant even though you miscarried. HANG IN THERE!

not yet, but that wouldn't be causing my other symptoms would it?

[ICNDonna]

It's good that you will be seen so soon in the urology office. Even though it's possible that you have interstitial cystitis, it could also be something else. If you do have IC, try not to panic. Many of us do very well in spite of it --- even though we have literally thousands of people registered on these forums, only a very small percentage post; and for every individual posting because they are having a difficult time, there are hundreds out there who are not coming here because they feel good and are busy getting on with their lives.

You'll find the latest food list at the link in my signature below. I suggest you stick with the "Bladder Friendly" column for a while.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[Amanda1106]

It's good that you will be seen so soon in the urology office. Even though it's possible that you have interstitial cystitis, it could also be something else. If you do have IC, try not to panic. Many of us do very well in spite of it --- even though we have literally thousands of people registered on these forums, only a very small percentage post; and for every individual posting because they are having a difficult time, there are hundreds out there who are not coming here because they feel good and are busy getting on with their lives.

You'll find the latest food list at the link in my signature below. I suggest you stick with the "Bladder Friendly" column for a while.

Warm hugs,
Donna

Thanks for the reassurance...I'm just feeling so depressed about the whole thing. It's been a rough year for our family so far, with the loss of the baby and all the medical bills that accompanied the miscarriage process, and the normal stresses of jobs and such. Thanks for the diet list...like I said I've been trying to follow it closely for the last 4 days...I've had nothing to drink except water and milk and am staying away from fruits and other acidic foods. I've found myself hoping for a diagnosis of bladder cancer over IC. There are so many horror stories about urinating every 20min...etc.

[Deirdre]

I was surprised to find out that low estrogen can cause bladder symptoms. I am not trying to diagnose you but it could be a part of the puzzle.
Also wanted to say- I am 2 months into this and while I have bad days where I am depressed and scared- (like today actually) I am having a lot of better days where I can cope better. I also have little kids so I know how tough that part of this is. The thing I have been telling myself is "Every day you are one day closer to figuring this out " So on the day I had a flare form a kind of tea- Instead of freaking out, I said "OK, cross that off your list" I am still coming to terms with this too and I know what you're feeling like right now but this is the beginning and it is upsetting and scary- you'll start to figure ways to cope and things that make you feel better. Read what Donna wrote and imprint it on your brain- there are thousands of people with IC going about their lives perfectly happily (maybe minus the pepperoni pizza) Take care and DON"T READ ANY HORROR STORIES. Get to your appointment and go fromthere. (((hugs)))

[Amanda1106]

I was surprised to find out that low estrogen can cause bladder symptoms. I am not trying to diagnose you but it could be a part of the puzzle.
Also wanted to say- I am 2 months into this and while I have bad days where I am depressed and scared- (like today actually) I am having a lot of better days where I can cope better. I also have little kids so I know how tough that part of this is. The thing I have been telling myself is "Every day you are one day closer to figuring this out " So on the day I had a flare form a kind of tea- Instead of freaking out, I said "OK, cross that off your list" I am still coming to terms with this too and I know what you're feeling like right now but this is the beginning and it is upsetting and scary- you'll start to figure ways to cope and things that make you feel better. Read what Donna wrote and imprint it on your brain- there are thousands of people with IC going about their lives perfectly happily (maybe minus the pepperoni pizza) Take care and DON"T READ ANY HORROR STORIES. Get to your appointment and go fromthere. (((hugs)))

Thanks. I have wondered if my hormones were off because my periods were short prior to getting pregnant, and although I did get pregnant, low progesterone was the suspected cause of the baby's passing around 7 weeks. Since having my second baby I've also noticed a lot of hair loss, dark hair growth on my face, and poor sex drive.

[sailawaygrl]

Your last post makes me want to strongly suggest you have your hormones tested. Even if you do have IC, your other symptoms are saying hormones. You will be much better equipped to handle whatever happens in your life if your hormones are balanced! I think we, as women all know that to be true.

I can see that you have had a difficult year, I am so sorry for the loss you and your family experienced. I know things are upsetting but please try not to "wish" for anything other than excellent medical treatment for anything that may be wrong and strength to deal with whatever comes your way. Many of us have learned just how strong we are, when many felt as you do now.

Please try not to diagnose yourself prior to any test or exams you may need. Your stress can make things worse for you and you don't want to do that right now.

Keep us updated,
Sandra

[Deirdre]

. I am so sorry for your miscarriage- I've had 3 and one was a missed miscarriage. That was so awful. I thought I was happily pg and then- bam- the shocking u/s. I don't think causes illness directly but I do think it can exacerbate things. In my case, we had some rough stuff too in the year before this and I feel like It was a perfect storm of events. Please don't read the stories that sound worse than you. I wish i never had. Right now- you are starting the diet and seeking care. You are starting on the track to recover, whether you have IC or not.