Burning, etc, while at work

[Butternut]

How do you deal with the symptoms while at work. I work 12 hr shifts (4 nights straight, every other weekend) and carry a pill box in my pocket with Azo, Advil, Prelief in it. Any other suggestions? One of my greatest fears is how am I going to keep working, if this gets worse.
My first Cystoscopy is tomorrow and I am very afraid. Afraid of the diagnosis and then what next....
Do you know of any people that had symptoms that just went away, after a period of time?
Thanks

[traceann]

Sometimes my burning is helped by the 1 tsp baking soda in a glass water idea. (but it's one of those you have not have concerns of high blood pressure, etc). I keep some at my desk, and I always have bottled water to drink here at work with me. Just a thought, since you covered the other options I use! Hope this helps a little... :)

Tracey :)

[mick]

Butternut,

Good luck with your cystoscopy. It has been seven weeks since I had mine. Are you also having hydrodistention? I hope this is able to help you with IC.

[shennan]

Arnica Ointment.

you can buy it at some pahrmacies that carry homeopathic products.

it works for my vulva burning.

my uro told me to buy it.

good luck...
shenna
:)

[twiggy]

I strap a 12 hour (throw away later) heating pad to my underwear. Playtex makes some and I believe this site sells some too. Sending a warm hug your way. Take care!

[ICNDonna]

Tums can help with burning --- and they also provide calcium so that's the one I take if I have any burning.

Donna

[poetgirl]

I take Calcium Citrate (brand name, Citrical) twice a day and that helps a lot to reduce burning (I get both urethral and vulvar burning.)

It also helps to keep your urine dilute. Of course I say that, and I'm the worst about remembering to drink fluids on a regular basis!

Hope you feel better. For the past year, that has been my primary symptom (once the rest of my IC symptoms stabilized with medication) and it can be really annoying.

[traceann]

Huh, after reading this, I think I am going out and buying me some Citrical! I get the vulvar burning also, and the baking soda doesn't help that, just my urethra! Thanks guys, even though it wasn't my question! LOL

Tracey :)

[Butternut]

They couldn't do the Cysto yesterday because I was so sick when I got there, I was crying in the office and they found blood and bacteria in my urine. So now on long-term Cipro, Urispas and Ditropan XL. The Urispas seems so much more affective than the Pyridium (Azo) was.
I feel a little better today. The cramping/spasms are not as bad in my lower abdomen but my back still hurts.
Oct. Pain....positive culture Cipro
Nov. slightly better....negative culture Levaquin
Dec. Terrible pain.....Cipro

Dr says I may not have totally been clear of bacteria in Nov, even though I had a negative culture. Monday we should know what type of bacteria.
In Nov. I had a Colonoscopy. I wonder if E.Coli is now the culprit, from the procedure....In Oct. it was Enterobactor Aerogenes.

[Babs RN]

Hey there Butternut---
You wouldn't happen to be in the medical profession--like nursing, RT or something like that. I am a nurse and would be glad to give you some tips on surviving 12 hr shifts.

Hugs,
Barb :kissing:

[Butternut]

Yes, I am also a nurse. There must be many now that work 12 hr shifts!
I appreciate all the help here.
We couldn't do the Cysto this week because of infection again.
Thanks so much!

[Babs RN]

Butternut,
I had to postpone and c/h and bladder lift due to another infection. I have had them back to back. I also have a cystocele and it was full of gunk. I worked ER so IC and I hated each other. Everyone's suggestion to drink tons of water is good and I finally told them what I had and no one cared that I had to pee often. Use the hot packs if you get the back pain--ours weren't chargeable to patients so my boss let me use them at will. Sit if someone actually says, "hey do you want to sit?"Don't be a martyr and stand at the counter to chart. On your few days off, take at least one(I am a Type A to the max and this was hard)to just be a bum and rest! That gives your poor body a chance to regroup. Are 4 shifts mandatory for you? If so, yikes! Take care and know we are here for you. If you want you can PM me too.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[Butternut]

Thanks Babs,
I will try the heat. I have only used ice before. I guess the burning and spasms were really bothering me the most, the last stretch that I worked. I work the 4 twelves in a row (over my weekend to work) so that I then always have 10 off in a row. But they have also mandated us to work extra 8 hr shifts too, occasionally, if needed. Do you get mandated often? Seems that is how they get by without paying overtime. My gripe....

[Babs RN]

I quit working in May to stay home for a while but mandatory overtime is very rare in CA since most of the hospitals have unionized. What kind of nursing do you do? That might help me with some suggestions. I've done just about everything thanks to moving with my dh.

Hugs,
Barb