Question-Please help and advise me!

[Mom of Twins]

Hi everyone, I am a new member and have enjoyed reading all the posts. This is my first post on these boards. It is so nice to see that I am not alone with all of this IC.

My question is this: I was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago. I had my ups and downs, but in the past few months, things have gotten progressively worse. Actually, in the past 2-3 months, I have been feeling very bad.
Today is a very, very bad day for me.

Anyway, my doctor told me that when I was ready he wanted to do a hydrodestension again. I have been putting this off since fall, but I am at the point that I definitely feel that I need to do this procedure again.

Now, here is my predictiment: I know it sounds trivial, but my family and I are scheduled to go on a cruise the first week in April. I was unable to get a dr's appt until 3/17 and nothing will be scheduled until that time. :headbang:

My concern is this: how long does it take to feel better after the procedure (I cannot remember)? I want to feel better for our trip, but the way things are going, I absolutely do not feel good now. So, it is like a catch-22. Do I go ahead and do the procedure before our trip and risk feeling worse or keep on like I am doing now. I honestly know that I will not have a good time the way I feel now. I have to take pain pills daily and that is the pits.

Any advice and please let me know how long it took after a hydro before you felt better. Thanks so much.
:help: undefined

[hoping4acure]

first of all :welcome:

I had 3 hydro's done, the last one being last November. I can tell you as far as I go...they have helped me. I have been in remission for the most part since then. I have only had flares here and there, nothing major. I will tell you this, each time was different as far as recovery. The first one was only a couple of days. The second one was a KILLER of recovery (my bladder bled out as soon as she began.) That was WEEKS of recovery! The last one was in between the two. I think it all depends how bad of shape your bladder is in and how high your tolerance is to pain. I am pain patient, so...

Like I said, everybody is different. I hope this helps you. If you have any other questions, I will be glad to answer them, feel free to PM me too. :)

:grouphug:
Louann

[Babs RN]

My hydro pain relief is about 6 months(well, when they actually do them)and as far as immediate post op pain, I am sore for about 3 days. I actually went to Disneyland right after one and spent the rest of the day in the hotel sleeping and was raring to go the next day.

Hugs and :welcome: ,
Barb

[Dani72]

Execpt for this last one I had, due to the docotor's ignorance, Usually takes me 2 days at the most. Like Barb, The next day after one I was ready to take on the world! Although I would find out if he plans on doing anything else, this last one did a biopsy and that was unnessecary (Sorry Barb can't spell haha) and that seems to be the reason I am taking longer to heal.
Big Hugz,
Danielle :grouphug:

[Betsie]

My comment? keep everything as scheduled...it seems like a good space and things have a way of working out. It seems you should be fine...perhaps get an antibiotic rx just in case to have with you in case a UTI like thing should arise. I always travel with a back up one just in case. I had surgery in 2002 for gyn issues, after a UTI and what would later be dxd as IC...I traveled 6 days later to Disney world...I was fine and took my pain meds as needed...I also went on a cruise a year after Dx, and it was the best choice for me...relaxing, bathrooms, everything right there, and warm sunshine...so I say don't stress over this, just take care of yourself now and travel later...something to look forward to.........:)

[Babs RN]

Betsie--I agree. Hey, are there any extra tickets for the cruise?? :biglaugh:

[applebetty]

It took me two weeks to get over mine both times it was done.

[IC SARAH-CPP]

I know that I am not normal as far as the hydro's concerned, but I am still in severe pain from mine and it has been almost a month. The pain is starting to get better, but it is still much worse than it was before the hydro. I don't think I have a low pain tolerance, probably somewhere in the middle, and this was some of the worst pain I have ever felt. It felt like someone stuck a knife up there!! However, I seem to be the minority in the group!!
I hope yours goes well. I would go on the trip for sure if I were you. I would ask for stronger pain meds than what you usually take though, because the pain will be worse than your usual pain. I had a problem with that because they gave me the med I take daily, and it DID NOT help my post-op pain very much!
Good luck
Love Sarah

[vm]

I went to the beach about 2 weeks after mine. I was flared up, but not any worse than I was prior to the hydro. It is so individual, though. If I were facing your choice I would probably reschedule the procedure even with my past experience, just in case I had a bad reaction or something, but you can see many others here would go ahead and do it. I say go with your gut! :)

[ICNDonna]

I have had well over thirty hydrodistentions in my 30 years with IC. I plan to rest for a few days afterwards, but usually feel better within a day or two. Since your uro appointment isn't until the 17th, I'm thinking it may not be possible to schedule a hydro before your vacation. Actually a cruise would be very relaxing --- wish I could go along.

Donna

[Mom of Twins]

Thank you everyone for advising me. I will have to see when the dr. can even schedule this. More than likely, I will have to wait until after the cruise. At least, I KNOW how I feel now! You all are great and supportive. Thanks. :grouphug:

[lindy lou]

I was in a similar situation last summer. We had scheduled a cruise to Alaska even before the uro suspected IC. He made a tentative DX based on symptoms. I scheduled the hydro for 3 days after we returned and boy was I glad I did. I had severe pain for 3 weeks after. Seems to me that a sure thing right now beats feeling worse if you had a reaction to the hydro and then went on the cruise. Of course, I don't gamble. It may be decided for you at the uro appt. Just make sure you take along a pain 'kit".

Linda

[Betsie]

Andrea,

I mis-read your initial post-I thought your procedure was the 17th...so I change my advice and say schedule after...the cruise will be very relaxing and even a flare can't be made bad on a soothing ship.

The whole itinerary revolves around your choices, so relax and enjoy...the hydro can wait. My advice on excursions and port hopping? less is more....mostly it is shopping for things you can get anywhere, even on the ship...and some of the excursions don't end up as smooth as they sound.

If I go back, I will stay onboard and be more relaxed and enjoy the beauty of the islands from the ship (not to mention all the empty deck chairs ;) )....it really depends on the locale....but the ship has all your needs and very little hassle...to think you are missing anything, is not true.

As a matter of fact I could use a lounge chair and some sun right now........hmmmmm. Just enjoy and be as carefree as possible. :)