I Have A Question

[Jean12]

I wasn't happy with my first urologist and changed. I couldn't get any real answers from him/them and that didn't make me happy. I do like the new office I'm at now, but it is like starting all over because I feel like I don't know much at all. I was hoping that some of you with more knowledge might be able to help me out here. I've seen some different postings on bladder capacity and have been wondering what really is "normal".

I think I read somewhere that an undiseased full bladder can range anywhere from 400-800 ml. That is quite a wide spread. Now I'm reading here about the different volumes both distended and undistended that different people have had measured and their doctor's comments about it. I'm also reading about at what point the urge to urinate comes in to play. Does anyone have any information about what is "normal" in the eyes of a decent urologist? I plan on asking about my specific results when I go back for my post-op check on March 3rd but I was curious what some of our more experienced IC'ers might have to say. As I mentioned in a previous post when my hydrodistension was done I held 400 cc's but I was not fully knocked out and I started to get restless so he stopped filling. The doctor said he didn't want me kicking him in the face or anything, so I guess I was stirring quite a bit. At this point he saw nothing that would give him a clear IC diagnosis. Now I don't know what comes next. I will have to wait for my next appt. to figure things out. In the meantime I still have the urge to pee frequently and have only teaspoons to show for it. For me a really full bladder may equate to 1/4 cup. What the heck is "normal"? :help:

Jean

[ICNDonna]

A normal, healthy bladder will lhold approximately 500 cc, or about a pint. When distended under anesthesia, it can be much more. When I have a hydrodistention with anesthesia, my uro usually manages about 700 cc, but some ICers will have less. One of the things that happens with IC is that we can feel the urge to urinate, and feel like we have full bladders without having anywhere close to a full bladder. So if you're urinating a very small amount, it doesn't necessarily mean that's what your capacity is. I know if I'm in a flare, I can feel like I'm ready to burst and only have a tiny bit come out.

Bladder capacities can also vary a lot --- and some ICers have normal, or larger than normal capacity as well.

Donna

[Sarojini]

I agree with Donna -- normal female bladders hold about 500-600 cc without anesthesia. Male bladders in general hold more. My husband in fact has a huge bladder that probably came from a horse or something... he can hold over 800cc awake before really feeling like he has to go badly!!!!!! I made him pee in my urine hat (urine volume measuring device) to see because I have heard him make these enormous pees and was curious. So he peed 850 cc and then said, "well, I didn't have to go THAT bad." (Hmmph...did I mention I'm jealous of his bladder??? ;) ) Anyway, I think he's a bit weird, but males generally can hold 600-800 cc. Under anesthesia, however, most bladders hold more under anesthesia -- I have read that a normal bladder will hold 800-1200 cc under anesthesia (female). Males may hold slightly more.

My silly IC bladder only holds 600cc under anesthesia... and 2 urologists have told me (without urodynamics, both were too afraid to even attempt the test with me for fear of causing me agonizing pain) that their best guess of my awake bladder capacity is just 90-100 cc.

Lately though, I'm proud... I had several big pees... 250cc!!! Maybe my meds are working!! 'Course I had to go really bad an was starting to hurt, but there was a time I probably would have wet my pants if I had that much in there :)

[Jean12]

Thank you both for your responses. This information helps. Now we just need to figure out if I really have IC or not. Oh well.

Jean

[IC SARAH-CPP]

Well I have read in numerous places that a " normal" bladder can hold 1000 cc's of liquid. Even more when distended. I know for a fact that my hubbys holds 5 FULL cups, when he has to just pee normally. each cup has 250 cc's, so that would be 1250 ccs, I dont think he is normal though, he pees forever!!! My uro told me that anything under 800 cc's distended is considered small. But, when they put it in normally, not sedated, I could only hold 200 cc's before I felt terrible pain, so it is different when you are knocked out.
I know mine is small though, just from living with it everyday. My uro also told me that doctors are now starting to suspect that some people have likely had IC their whole lives, it just went undetected. I know that I have always had major urinary problems, I just thought that that was the way I was!!
Love Sarah