Sharp urethra pain....

[XkaraX]

Hi...I'm in the midst of a really bad flare. I never really had sharp shooting urethra pain....but this time I do.

What are some things you do to help with this symptom???

Thanks in advance!!

[Dixiefireball]

heating pad or ice which ever makes it feel better place it on the spot that is having the sharp pains.
pain meds if you have any if not take some tylonal to try to help.
a nerve pill sometimes helps relax the bladder if needed. sometime sitting in a hot tub of water helps too.
but you really need to be checked for an infection call your doctor office in the morning or call tonight if this doesn't get better soon
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[XkaraX]

thanks for the advice!!

i am pretty sure it is not an infection...as i have had them before and can tell the difference between them and a flare. (especially since it ALWAYS shows up in urine tests that i have a UTI.)

i currently have no insurance and was waiting for my elmiron to show up from ortho-mcneil....so i ran out....and didn't take it for 2 days, which is why i am super sick today.

i think i will try the ice....i've been using a heating pad and it doesn't seem to be helping very much.

xoxox

[XoChelsey03Xo]

I like to take a hot bath or just relax. Usually when I relax I end up falling asleep and when I wake up the pain is gone. I hope your not hurting too much longer. Chelsey

[bunnykinb]

I have had major urethra pain and I know it's not from eating anything on my no no list. Over the counter pain relievers don't work at all. But, AZO standard or uristat sound at pharmacies help with UTI, so that's what I used. It helped much better than Tylenol. Plus, sitting in cold water or an ice pack helped provide some relief. I really feel for you because I am looking for answers too.

bunnykinb
'

[louise]

Hi, I was just going to add that I have been experiencing severe urethra pain also lately but I have connected it to a new facial cream I recently bought. It contains amongst other ingredients a product called METHYLPARABEN which I have heard years ago can cause bladder irritation. It didn't click with me at first so I went ahead and used the cream for three days. By yesterday I was going crazy with the pain. So the only thing I can suggest is if you use some sort of cream (I would imagine the Methylparaben is an ingredient in other things but I don't know) that contains this ingredient it might be a factor in your urethral pain. I have not used the cream now since yesterday morning and by today I am feeling a little better but still worse than prior to using the cream a few days ago. Just a thought!!!

Louise

[RedLione]

Louise, I did some research and found that Olay Total Effects contains that ingredient. It's a preservative and seems to be in just about everything. I started using it a few months ago, at the same time I started this flare. I'm going to stop and see if it helps. At this point, I'm willing to try anything. I'm going to check all my moisturizers. The Walgreens site is an excellent place, it lists the ingredients of everything.

[Iris]

Oh thanks for the headsup on the ingredient in the product. I will have to check out mine, I use Olay as well, and never thought about that affectiong the bladder, thanks for the info, Iris. :hi: :flower:

[louise]

Hi Kara & Lois,

I hope you notice a difference in your bladder pain and symptoms once you stop the cream. I used my cream for three days and by the start of the third day I felt something was wrong but couldn't identify what brought it on.
Then the light bulb went on - METHYLPARABEN!!! As I said, I remember something about it years ago that finally clicked on.

Today my urethra and bladder are feeling a heck of a lot better than they were yesterday; but the pain is still worse than before I started the cream.
My pharmacist said to give it a few days and especially with having IC she said it would take a little longer. But at least I feel that the worst of the storm is over!!

I said that to my husband and other friends, particularly those who have IC - it would be interesting to know if there are a lot of women (mainly) who like me and you gals decided to try a new facial cream and I know in my case ended up with just horrible urethral and bladder pain. Maybe I will see if Donna and/or Jill would like to post a notice about this incident so more of us can decide if their bladder symptoms may be due to trying to decrease the darned wrinkles that IC probably helped to put there in the first place with the added stress on our bodies and psyche!!

Please let us know how you feel in a few days if you decide to stop using the cream. I truly hope you find that is what the culprit is and you begin to feel much better!!

Sincere thoughts,

Louise

[bunnykinb]

What a thought about facial creams. What facial cream is used now that doesn't contain the irritative ingredient? I have been using Ponds which doesn't contain that, but I just checked out my shampoo and conditioner that does contain the preservative. Could shampoos cause problems too?

bunnykinb

[michele]

i have had urethral pain in the past, and accupuncture is the thing that helped me the most.

insurance may or may not cover (i noticed you saying you don't have ins. right now). most accupuncturists will work out a payment plan with you...i've heard that many doctors will as well. they want to help you, you just need to ask.

as for methyparaben, it is in a ton of things and i never even heard about that ingredient causing issues before! i just ran around the house looking at stuff and it's everywhere!

recently, a friend of mine suggested using apple cider vinegar as a toner instead of moisturizing. it sounds nuts, but your facial skin really does like it a little more acidic. i've been using it for several months with no ill effect (and my face feels so soft) but i imagine if you can absorb the methylparaben you would also potentially be able to absorb the vinegar too, which would be bad. maybe try it once and see if anything happens.

if you do try it, i use a cotton ball to apply, let it sink in for a few minutes, and then rinse it off with plain water (otherwise you smell like a salad...not appealing!). it will burn like hell but it stops quickly and it really works wonders on my skin. i don't need to use a moisturizer at all afterwards, and the oily patches on my face are much better controlled as well.

good luck!

[stacey79]

I've never thought about products I use affecting my bladder. I use Olay daily facial cloths at night and Olay moisturizer in the morning. Both have that preservative. I just starting using them about two years or so ago, which is about when my symptoms popped up again. (I had been in remission for a few years.)

I'm going to try going without them for a few days and see if I notice a difference. I know we are all sensitive to different things, but I'm willing to try this. Preservatives in food don't seem to bother me, but you never know.

If you all find a moisturizer or cleanser that doesn't have it, please post it. I also found that www.olay.com had a place where you can look up their products and all of its ingredients. I know my moisturizer bottle only listed the active ingredients.

[michele]

the link below is for a website that has researched thousands of chemicals that are included in our everyday household products, and then provided a list (categorized) of which products contain them, as well as all the different names it can appear under. for example, methylparaben is AKA propylparaben.

anyway, if the link doesn't work, go to www.ewg.org and search for "skin deep" under reports. it's free, you don't need a membership, and the information is invaluable for people with chemical sensitivities.

http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep/chemhealtheffect.php?chem_id=4178

-michele

[michele]

i forgot to mention that the website also ranks, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst) each product and tells you why (cancer risk, untested ingredients, etc etc).

as an aside, i have used Dr. Bronner 18-in-1 Pure-Castile Soap, Hemp Almond (score: 2.3 at ewg.org...about as low as it gets...in fact, lower than most if not all baby care products!) as a body wash for years and it's lovely, it smells good, and you can also use it for almost any cleaning you can come up with (i know people who brush their teeth and do their dishes and laundry with it...really). the package alone is quite an enjoyable reading...they take product usage ideas a little further than many companies. it's also biodegradable/safe for the environment...basically it's all good stuff. health food stores have it, some drug stores. you won't find it in most grocery or mass merchandiser stores. you can get small size to try, and they have it in big bottles as well. you can also buy it from their website where you can also get a sense for what a good company they are and try to be. they also make bar soap, btw. www.drbronner.com.

this is the entire list of ingredients: Water, Saponified Coconut-Hemp-Olive Oils (with retained Glycerin), Olive Fatty Acids, Natural Bitter Almond Fragrance, Rosemary Extract

one word of warning...although the peppermint variety smells heavenly and is cooling (really nice in the summer), be VERY CAREFUL not to get it too close to sensitive vaginal tissues esp if you suffer from vulvodynia because it burns like hell and it takes quite a few hours to go back to normal...needless suffering! and bear in mind, i don't use anything but pure water on those tissues...this was just from rinsing the rest of me! use a shower hose so you can direct the water elsewhere or just use another variety (i think they have 5...the baby care one is especially gentle).

good luck!

[Jessica9379]

My IC pain is pain in the urethra, and I find that I can't put a heating/cooling pad "there" because it is up inside me ..... does that make sense? It feels like there is a bleach soaked tampon inside me. I usually end up in the fetal positions holding my crotch. The #1 way to relieve the pain is to sit on the toilet and pretend that I'm peeing .... relaxing those muscles. It doesn't make it go away, but I can tolerate it. Once I stand up, the pain comes back ..... but for those times when you just can't handle the pain, try that.

[the_lost_lenore]

Ladies if you are looking for a skin astringent I use Thayer's Alcohol Free Witch Hazel. It's rose scented. Very good and gentle, also helps remove old traces of makeup. Has not caused any probs for me personally. However before buying check the label to see if there are any preservatives in there that bother you, I haven't actually read the label.

[stacey79]

In looking around at my cosmetics and just about everything I put on my skin, I have found methylparaben in every lotion I have, whether it's facial or body. Be sure to check even your hand lotions. I've checked numerous brands that my extended family uses as well and every one has this in it. I have experimented a bit and found that this doesn't bother me, but I'm also not sensitive to preservatives in food I eat.

[hglsbabe]

My urethra pain only happens when it gets irritated by sitting in the car not on a cushion and moving around, wiping after urinating to often, back splash from toilet while emptying bowels. I found using Prosed/d works great plus using Zylocaine jelly or a compounded combination of Benzocaine/Lidocaine/Tetracaine works. I must warn you it will burn and the pain is horrible. I suggest using latex gloves and try to wipe off most of it and wait it does work. It will the numb the area. For washing use the veryprivate line.

[July]

Does anyone know of a safe list of lotions, moisturizers, shampoos, etc.?

[jeanniebug]

I have been having bad urethra pain and checked my main moisturizer, and I hate this because I love the stuff I use but..it contains that ingredient as well! Heck I'll try anything once to get rid of the pain..so I'm going to try not using it for a few days and see what happens. Also-I never thought of my frequency causing the urethra pain..but after reading some of these posts I'm wondering if wiping so much isn't irritating things. Does anyone know if the Zylocaine jelly or Lidocaine jelly can be bought over the counter? :grouphug:

[ICNDonna]

Jeannie, I think both require a prescription. One thing you might try is using a spray bottle of water to rinse after you urinate so you won't have any urine left there to irritate. And it can be important to blot instead of wiping. Also, be sure you are using plain white, unscented toilet tissue.

I hope this helps.
Donna

[jeanniebug]

Thanks Donna! :kissing:

[hglsbabe]

Both are only available by rx. Blotting is the best to do. Wiping just causes irritation because of the dryness from all those trips to urinate. I use the lubricant from the very private line everytime after I urinate. So that area is always moist. But you also need to address the pain. There are many things you can get through your doctor which I have mentioned in my previous reply. Another thing I use is Estrace cream. I put a small amount on my urethra with a latex glove to prevent further pain. I know from my experience which is happening as I write this that it can take sometimes up to three weeks before the pain goes away. But you need to go to your Dr to get those rx's for dealing with the pain. Sooner rather than later. I hope you do. I hope you feel better.

Verbal Hug

Heather

[hglsbabe]

The only type of body soap I use for down there is from the Very Private line. The Body Wash is the best!!!!!! I have no problems with it at all.

[catwoman]

I have the same pain, not quite as bad as yours, I always say if I could just yank out my urethra I would feel so much better. I put a cold pack on mine and it really helps. I say prayers all the time. Just wanted you to know my pain is in the same place.

catwoman

[PenguinK]

I'm right there with all of you. No one understood this pain that I have had for almost 10 years now. I always said it felt like someone kicked me in the crotch, or stuck a hot poker up there. Then, I saw the picture of my Urethra on the endoscopy screen! The entire screen Literally went RED. The doctor said, Oh my! there's your urethra.... and I almost passed out from the pain and the sight of it.
Luckily, my husband was in the room. Talk about a rude awakening into my pain! He has been treating me like a fragile little egg ever since. :kissing: I'm glad someone finally gets it-- I HURT!!! :cussing:
My Urodynamics study is next Tues. Wish me luck! I'll have the drugs and icepacks waiting....
KK

[Miki]

someone asked about a lidocaine type cream that is OTC.
I use Nupercanial. I have not be able to get it at the drug store recently, but I was able to get it online.
Google the Nupercanial, and it should come up with different places to find and buy the cream.
I don't know that it helps to use it on my urethea, but anything that doens't help one person can help another.

sorry, I don't have the website handy.
It is in my favorites list somewhere.
Bek

[Lindee]

Most of my pain is urethral as well and it's exactly as people have described it here. You would think they would know what the hell is causing it, but they don't. It doesn't hurt when I pee, gets worse at night...I'll check my products for that ingrediant.

[navemj]

I am confused. Do you mean that if you only apply these products to the face with methyparaben it could aggitate IC? I thought if a product got on the vulva it would cause a flare? Please let me know. I use a face cleanser with Methylparaben, but I don't use it in the shower. I have been having extreme urethra pain.

Thank you,
Navemj

[July]

I've seen methylparaben in many hair gels. Do you think it could be absorbed thru hair gel?

[trytosmile]

I'm in the midst of a flare myself. Same as you urethra pain. Mine so bad at times I pass out during urination. If you get any suggestions, love to hear them.

New to this messaging system. Hope this works