Needing help, do I have IC?

[Casshan]

First thanks in advance for any response you may give.

I am seriously in bad shape with my frequent urinations and lower pain in my pelvis. Let me give a brief history. 23 year old male in KY. Slowly over time I had noticed at my job and everyday life I was needing to go to the restroom really bad and it rapidly got worse in a few months to the point where I knew something was wrong. I had a trace of bacteria in my urine and since I have had many UTI since childhood I thought my meds would clear it up when I went to my doctor.

Finishing the meds I had gotten no better and my symptoms seem to like all flare up where in addition to my bathroom problems my lower region would have mild pain and I would feel as if I were on fire inside down there. I would have to go at least every 15-20 mins and wake up 2 times a night.

Went back to the doc and was sent to a urologist. Had the tube test done (boy did it hurt) he didnt see any internal problems, checked for prostate probs that was ok. He told me I had overactive bladder and gave me ditropan XL. Well I took the medication but I really couldnt tell too much of a difference. The doctor wasnt understanding my problems of buring and pain clearly, which I dont think you have with a OB.

Well let me say that I dont always feel this way. I have just gotten through about a month of my symptoms being calm and not having a huge urge to go and no discomfort. But 3 days ago it has flared up again with the burning and going a ton of times, which it has done this pattern for close to a year now where it goes away, comes back awhile, goes away, comes back again, and so on. I expect it to calm down in a couple of days. Which even when its in the calm stage its not completely normal I still go often but its not really bad. But when I get like I am now its hard to even do anything.

I had earlier suspected it could be IC so I have tried to control my diet but it is hard to stop the sodas and spicy foods. Also I have stoped the ditropan I felt it wasnt working. My big problem is I have a good job but I dont have insurance currently, and my parents helped me the first time pay the bills. Also I cannot go back to the specialist nor can I have the bladder extending test done it will cost too much. So what advice can you give me as to get the diagnosis done for IC and some medication for it without the big doctor bills? I feel that it is IC that I have which is bad because I am a man and I have to work no matter what, also it is hard for me to go to the restroom at my job often. So I found this website in hopes of at least calming it down when it gets real bad like it is now. If I can just get it to stay down like in the better periods that is tolerable. Maybe I can even go see a movie for once and not sit by the exit door :help: :toilet:

[Dixiefireball]

:hi: and :welcome: to the icn boards.
please check out www.ic-network.com/handbook there is some great information there also the ic diet which it sounds like you are already trying the diet is very important when first starting out with ic to get the systoms under control some people can add things a little at a time back to there diet but spicey foods anything with tomatos caff. things like that most icer can't handle it. it will take a while to get use to it but its worth it when you find you have little to no pain at all.
also ask your doctor about elimron this medicine coats your bladder to help stop any type of pin point bleeding you may have.
i take he heparin and marcaine cocktail treatments but don't know if you want to go there since your a man.
a cath. doesn't feel good to a women so I would hate to think of it for a man, but its been well worth it to me.
if there is anything we can do for you please let us know we are here for you and we do care.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[AmandaRN]

I just wanted to point out that having IC is bad for women also. I too have to work no matter what. I hope that you didn't mean that quite the way it reads. ANYWAY. It sounds like you definitely need to see a Doctor who knows about IC and can help you. It is very difficult to work when you have too go to the bathroom every 20 minutes or so. I have patients that are very sick and have to have someone watch them everytime I leave to use the bathroom. SOmetimes it is impossible for me to go as much as I need to and then I really start hurting. Good luck to you. this site has helped me alot since my symptoms started 6 monthes ago. You can find answers to alot of questions here and the people are very supportive. :welcome:

[ICNDonna]

First of all, I'd like to welcome you to the IC Network. You might talk to your doctor about the possibility of having a potassium sensitivity test to see if it says you have IC. That would be less expensive than having to be hospitalized for a hydrodistention and biopsies.

And I do think diet can be important --- and some of the most irritating things for most ICers are sodas, coffee, fruit juices --- anything citrus. I do suggest you totally eliminate them from your diet for a while to see if it helps.

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[vm]

:welcome: So nice to see more men posting here - there are lots of us women here, but we need that male input, too. :)

I agree with Donna - I'd ask about the potassium sensitivity test.

Some of the less expensive meds commonly prescribed for IC are Elavil (amitriptyline) and Vistaril/Atarax (hydroxyzine). Maybe you could read up on them in the Patient Handbook and then ask your doc about them. They are available generically so typically less expensive than say, Elmiron.

The other thing is that there are patient assistance programs available through many pharmaceutical companies and you may be able to use one of those to help with the cost of meds. There is information about that in the handbook, too.

Welcome and I hope to see you around! :)

[VickiB]

Casshan, Welcome to the board!

Your story sounds much like mine in that I'd go for periods feeling fine, though more frequent trips to the bathroom than one might considered 'normal'. Then, WHAM, -misery would set in. I couldn't stay out of the bathroom for more than 10 minutes, felt like my bladder had been run over by a truck, and worst of all was that awful, awful burning! I've since learned that for me, almost all these episodes were caused by diet. Please do look at the diet in the handbook. Some of the foods that can cause flares may surprise you, as they seem like they should be soothing and mild, -like sour cream. I learned that one the hard way! Or chocolate.

I too, would recommend you ask your doctor about the potassium test. That's how my IC was diagnosed. Well, that and my long, and miserable bladder history. I don't have insurance, and I believe that's why my Uro chose that test instead of the cysto-hydro.

I do hope you find some answers. Hang in there, and don't give up on reaching better days! If you do have IC, I want you to know that most of us do find treatments that bring us a certain amount of relief from the symptoms!

Vicki