Cysto on Dec 20th - I have some questions

[Jen123]

Hello everyone.
Well... I finally decided to have the cysto done even if my insurance wont cover much of it. I just can't stand the not knowing. Plus my uro says he will be able to treat me better after he knows what is wrong. My uro is having me get blood tests done next week (1 week before surgery) I am getting a CBC and Metabalic Test. I am guessing the CBC is to check for cancer cells and what not... but what is the metabalic test for?

I just read some posts about what the bladder pain feels like. and i was shocked! I had gone into my dr 2 years ago complaining that my stomach felt full, almost like there wasn't enough room for everything in there. Jeans were uncomfy, and when I had the cramping feeling I just felt like i wanted to lay around the house with sweats on.
so 2 years ago they did a bunch of tests and found that I had cysts on my ovaries and on my cervix. They said it was normal and the full feeling was because a cyst had burst (they said in the internal ultrasound they saw all the extra fluid).
At that time I had no frequency or urgency. And then about a year ago (I was still having this full feeling every once in a while) about a week before my period I would wake up in the middle of the night and barely make it to the bathroom on time. This started to get worse - happening more often. I mentioned it to my dr. and she had no idea what was wrong since it was ONLY happening at night. Then about 6 mos ago I was going to the dr all the time for bladder infections. About the 7th time i went they reviewed all the old tests and found I never had bladder infections.
Anyways... Finally I am having the cysto done!

I am currently on Elavil 25mg every night and on urispas 4 times a day. Some days it works great... some days not so good. I have been watching what I am eating but I can't figure out what is affecting my bladder.
I do have a question though... Has anyone noticed that standing still for a few minutes makes it worse?? Sometimes when I am in a meeting at work and standing.. it seems to get about 20 times worse. It feels like I am going to wet my pants! If I sit down or walk around it gets better.. I just dont understand that.?

I am worried because my uro really doesn't think I have IC.. He says he is really not sure what is wrong with me. Since I dont have really bad pelvic pain he thinks it is something else. I have noticed that I have had more bladder pain in the last month, but it is not too bad. It just feels like bad cramps (but in the center of my stomach). I have lived with bad menstrual cramps for 11 years so, maybe I am used to being in that kind of pain. I dont know!!

[VickiB]

Hi Jen123, and welcome to ICN!

It's tough when you know something's wrong, but don't have a name for it! Over the years I've been treated for multiple UTI's, having UTI-like symptoms yet no infection when tested. The doctors assumed since I was drinking large volumes of water (it seemed to help the pain), that my urine was so diluted that the infection didn't show up. Of course the anitbiotics they gave me didn't help either, and I eventually learned if I just 'toughed it out', my UTI went away without medical help. In hindsight, it was IC all the time.

I don't have an answer for you on what a metabolic test is for. Hopefully someone will come along soon who does.

I do notice that standing still increases my discomfort. I wonder if it doesn't put more pressure on the bladder? For that matter, being still in any position seems to magnify the pain when my bladder is unhappy. Lying in bed trying to go to sleep becomes darn near impossible!

I hope you get an answer soon as to what's going on with you. While you wait, you might check out the IC diet in the handbook. If it is IC you're dealing with, many of us have found a whole lot of relief just by eliminating certain foods and additives.

Don't give up hope on feeling better!

Vicki

[Babs RN]

And along came the nurse...

The CBC is a complete blood count. It checks your white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. They can do some special addititions, but that is a standard pre-op lab to make sure you don't have an infection, indicated by the white blood cells, that you are not anemic(severely), as indicated by the hematocrit and hemoglobin and that your blood clots properly as indicated by your platelet count.

The Metabolic Panel checks your sodium level(not a problem in a young person)your potassium which is an essential electrolyte to muscle contraction to include your heart, your blood urea nitrogen and creatinine to make sure your kidneys work and your calcium level which is another important electrolyte for proper muscle function. This is also a standard pre-op lab too.

If I can help at all with questions, let me know and welcome.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[SharonA]

:welcome: Jen...

Aren't you glad you found this site? So many knowledgeable people ready to help. I just love it. These people are the best. :woohoo:

[SaraJ]

I had the same problem and my doc did a lap and found cysts and adhesions. The pain continued and they found cysts and endometriosis. Then I was still having pain and they found out I have IC. My Cysto (I have had 2) look normal, but I didn't pass the KCL test and I have almost all IC symptoms in some way. Cysto is not so bad, but I have bladder spasms afterwards and valium helps that alot. Talk to your doc about everything. I know I drive my doc up the wall but remember that is what the doc is getting paid for. You pay the doc, don't let them try to control conversations. If your doc is not helping - find another!

[cybersis]

Your symptoms sound a lot like my story. I would get what I thought was an UTI but my stomach was so bloated I could only wear overalls. Then the frequency and urgency started and just lasted for months. The only pain I have can only be described as period like cramps in the middle of my lower pelvic region. I had my cysto three weeks ago and it confirmed by doctors diagnosis of IC. I am currently on Elmiron, no side effects yet just my head is itchy. I am really watching my diet and have noticed some improvement. There are many and varied symptoms to this condition and everyone seems to be a little different. Good Luck with your tests.