Cinsin - update on my botox

[tesschron]

Well, by the time the dust cleared on the bill, it was
still ridiculous, but I only owed 82 bucks. In the
meantime, I have been happily enjoying having a
non-bladder. I drink, it says go, I go, it fades into
the fleshtone until the next time it says go - after
volumes of liquid, for a change. The bottom area
still had some sensation, and would act like a mild
flareup if the estrogen level varied, but was easily
tolerable compared to before.

AT least, until Sunday of this week. I do not have
urgency yet, but I do have hot, swollen, with the
spasm stabs of pain in the lower regions. And my doc
is on vacation this week with all of his staff. The
original surgery was July 13, so this means the botox
lasted 3.5 months.

He left a referral to another urology group, who have
a guy on staff that specializes in IC, but has not
done the botox treatment (I asked). He does do
lidocaine washes. I realistically can maintain until
Monday when my regular doc gets back, as long as the
urgency does not perk up (just the thought of that
drives me to tears). But I decided to take this
opportunity to get a second doc's take on what he does
for his patients. In the meantime, grabbed the
Prelief, mixed up and downed the baking soda cocktail,
and will go home and have a good cry. It was so nice
being normal again....

terry

[tesschron]

I visited the referral doctor today, which was a very pleasant and interesting experience. He had not tried Botox, but was interested in my experience and will talk with my doctor for his patients' benefit. We talked about his treatments for patients with my symptoms and condition, which boiled down to antihistamines, Elvaril and Elmiron. He has had good success with elmiron with patients after 6-8 months of taking it. Offered me Detrol samples for the urgency, which was my greatest fear, and a PST installation, which I turned down until I see how the Detrol does, and if I get worse. But told me to just call Friday and see his nurse if I get concerned. It was an affirming visit for several reasons - 1) I know that I am on top of the options available to IC sufferers, 2)I now have a backup doctor for anytime I can't reach mine and 3) I know that my doctor is aggressively pursuing new options and passing them on to me.

At this time, the bladder is still hot, fussy and bothered, but I think the urgency is lessened, maybe even gone - so I can make it until my next Botox hit...

terry

[Flore]

Hi Terry

Where did you have the injections??

Before my first injection I had alot of urgency with frequency (and of course pain) and the dr that I was watching in that time sent me Detrol, and I had retention, so I had to quit

Are you taking it now??

[tesschron]

I had the injections July 13 this year. Yesterday afternoon and evening I had little or no urgency, and the bladder swollen hot discomfort had subsided. So I made it out of flare with the Detrol help. I can see what you mean about retention, but for me it is no worse than with a flareup, (in fact I had attributed it to the flareup until your message) so I just drink a lot of fluids, which gets me back fairly normal - or should I say tolerable.

terry

[Flore]

I think our best firend is the water!!