my uro/gyn appt.

[this_sucks]

i dont know where else to post this but i just want to tell you all how my ic specialist appt went.
we found the doctor on the ic website and made an appt and i went this thursday. he seemed pretty nice, and he was much much better then my uro. he told me basically to stop all my meds that i was currently taking except the zelnorm and ortho-evra. I told him i would but not the imipramine since i think it has helped me so much. Then he told me he will have to exam me today and then next week we were going to do a bladder testing and talk about what i might have.
ok so now to the exam part :ignore: even though i go to a gyno. i have never been examined you know down there so i was nervous as hell and on top of it i had my period! it was so gross! i got in there and sat down and told me i had to get a catheter put in me!! i didnt know how it worked but from hearing some people talk about in here i knew i was going to be in extreme pain in a second. but it was really quick and well it was weird. then he you know put his finger in me and felt my bladder wall and uterus and stuff. he didnt notice anything out of the norm except my uterus being tilted a little (?). he also had to give me an anal exam (!!!!) very very disgusting. I told him how i tried to have sex but it hurt so much i couldnt do it, the same with tampons and he then felt my pelvic floor muscle and i could feel how tight it was! it was strange, he told me to relax but i couldnt really relax that muscle. i thought he would have told me something about pfd but he just said alot of people got tense during exam. and that maybe he willl talk about that muscle next appt. and yeah thats prety much it for my first exam! i felt all molested it was a strange feeling. i have to pee in a hat for awhile to measure cc's and right it down in this diary he gave me and well yeah that was pretty much it for my appt. I am so scared for this bladder testing though! he said it was like almost painless but it says it goes on for an hour! eeekk...
thanks for listening!
:toilet: katie

[vm]

Katie - That first pelvic exam is very weird, isn't it? I am glad you sruvived and I am sure it was helpful to him in deciding how to proceed with testing and treatment. I used to tell myself that my docs aren't seeing anything they haven't seen a million times before when they check that area out - they aren't thinking it is a big deal. We sure are in that little paper gown with the paper thrown across our legs and feet in the stirrups, huh? :lmao:

He sounds like a good doc, though - I hope he can help you feel better. :kissing:

[twiggy]

Oh, I am sorry you had to go through this. It doesn't matter how old you are, it is not pleasant! Did he have a nurse in the room with him or did you bring someone else in with you, because you have that right! I often take my husband with me as it makes me feel better knowing he is there. My husband also helps me to remember what the doctor said because all I can think about is "get me outta here!" A titled uterus is supposedly not a big deal. I had one, and when I had my first child, my family doctor told me it would "right" itself. However, apparently with IBS (irritated bowel sydrome), I have heard it can cause more discomfort when emptying your bowels. (?) Anyway, glad you have finished with that experience!

[Hope]

Hi Katie,
I guess we can say welcome to the club now that you have had your first gyno appointment. Like it was said above, there ain't nothing there that he hasn't seen 10 million times. It does feel uncomfortable and wierd though. After awhile, you get used to it, but I am always glad when it is done! One trick I have learned over the years is to remember to breath. I know it sounds wierd, but when you get anxious, you hold your breath and tighten up all the muscles. See if next time you can focus on breathing.

I had one gyno who had pictures up on the ceiling. I kind of liked that idea.
Oh yes, the tilted a little thing probably refers to how your uterous sits in your body. Some are tilted back. Mine is tilted back and never gave me any problems.

Take care,

[icnmgrjill]

Katie,

Well girl.... you definitely joined the club. We've all been there. But, these examinations are so normal that you really shouldn't be worried... or feel badly about being touched this way. Even the rectal exam is important. The good news is that you're over all that for now... and just have one more test to go. So, take a big breath.... let it go... and then remember you got through the first... and you WILL get through the second. We all did too!

Big hugs... and don't worry... kay???? A year from now, you're going to be helping others go through it... and you'll be a veteran at it.

Jill

[this_sucks]

thank you so much everyone! you all are so kind and helpful, really. Its good to have people like you to talk to and listen to!
.katie.