How does your flare FEEL?

[ithurtzz]

I have tried to describe to people but nobody "gets" it. Does yours feel like if you bear down like you are pushing out pee, you feel pressure or if you touch your area it feels almost swollen, maybe like when a tampon is not inserted right?? Sometimes i feel like it itches on the inside, not the outside. I know, so wierd and i always feel on the verge of a UTI. Please tell me i am not alone and that these symptoms are normal of IC??
i have been on Elmiron for almost 3 months, when does it go away????

[petrie86]

Elmiron doesn't always work for some people. It usually takes about 6 months or more to work. I've been on it for about 4 months and I've seen and inprovment. IC doesnt go away, the meds help to improve your symptoms. I feel alot of pressure on my bladder and mostly frequency and buurning. I dont know much about pfd maybe someone else will be able to help with those syptoms... I hope you feel better soon. If you ever need to talk to someone please feel free to pm me.

Rachel

[patricia1]

Having IC and trying to explain your flare ups to those that dont have it can be confusing and irrating. We explaining to someone about my IC I tell them "You know how it feels to have a UTI" they say "YES" so I tell them multiply those feelings by 10, then they might have an idea.

Everyone's flare up can vary. IC is a disease that differs from person to person. This is why not one treatment will help everyone. For me most treatments and meds do not work for me. I always have the "gotta go" feeling and I go every 20 to 30 minutes. This is a good day for me, on a bad day it is worse and my bladder hurts more.

Like Petrie stated for some Elmiron works and for some it does not. THe one thing about it is that it can take anywhere from several months to up to a year to see any benefits from it. Also it does not cure your IC. Right now there is no med that will do this. But if you are able to take Elmiron and it does work, it will help lessen your symptoms and maybe put you into a remission.

I hope things start working out and better for you soon. Hugs coming your way

[ithurtzz]

You are both so sweet.
So neither of you have that pressure feeling or feel like a tampon is falling out or the itchy from the inside feeling when you flare?

[leelee88]

Hey there, The pressure feeling can be a part of IC.. Thats what my dr said..

But I now believe its more of PFD<pelvic floor disfuntion..Why I have come to this conclusion is because I have been having my husband rubb my inner thighs and right under my buttocks area. When he started this it felt like needles sticking in me.. Before that I didnt even know it was hurting down there..Since he has continued this I have not had that intense pressure feeling you are discribing..So I would ask your doctor about PFD therapy

[patricia1]

I dont have the feeling you are describing. But when my bladder is full (which I think is, but it is not really only dribbles) I have the full bladder pressure feeling. And with the itching inside and out I get this when I have a yeast infection. Other than that I dont have this one.

There are some on here that have had the complaints you are describing.
Do you have or been diagnose with PFD also.

But remember we are all so different in what we feel with our symptoms. And what I feel and hurt from you or others might not have. But that does not mean you are alone or its all in your head, because its not and you are not alone. This board is great with helping people.

[petrie86]

ithurtzz,

I have alot of pressure at work. I sit all day, but it feels like someone is constantly standing on my bladder. You can see my bladder is swollen and busting out of my pants lol. I dont know how much liquid I can hold in my bladder ( not alot) but I know the pressure feeling. My urethra feels swollen sometmes, and it takes a long time for get the pee to come out (sorry if that is graffic) but I have to turn on the faucet. Trying to push out the pee is not a good thing sweetheart. I'm sorry your not feeling well. I will pray for you.

Rachel

[ABliske]

I think the desciption of someone standing on your bladder perfectly describes how I'm feeling right now. I also feel urgency a lot. I used to have burning inside my urethra before and when I was first diagnosed but that has gotten better. I don't know about the itching pain you're describing. It sounds like a yeast infection. Is it in your bladder?
I've been on Elmiron for 7 months now and have had a slight improvement. Sometimes it hard to gage if I'm really feeling any better. I have a severe case - in the words of my doctor. So, I still take MS Contin twice a day. When this came on the pain was so bad I would cry in bed nearly ever day after work. I hope that the Elmiron works for all of you. I know I expected results right away and was very dissappointed. Try some other pain relief strategies in the meantime. Just rolling a towel up and laying on it with it under your lower back it supposed to help your seratonin levels I've heard.

[smcclafferty]

I understand the "itching" portion of this. I feel like I kind of need to get inside my bladder somehow and "scratch" it with a brush!!! I think it's more of the nerves being irritated, but I'm just guessing. It is so annoying. It is not on the outside at all, but on the bladder wall.