is it just me or...

[FloridaGirl1985]

I have a question..

Not sure if this is the right place to ask just thought i'd would... for the past week i've been bleeding.. so blood in the urine is new to me.. its not 2 heavy but heavy enough to have 2 wear a tampon or pad... and of course this week im now going to have my period... because im on birth control so i know when it is... my dr hasnt came out and said i have ic but thats what he thinks it is and prolly will tell me after i have my 2nd cysto. he thinks i may have stones since the blood in the urine... but then again i heard with ic blood in urine is normal... but anyways does any ic'ers find it irritating some times to wear a tampon?? cuz i've been using the same ones for forever and now they seem to be irritating me.. not sure if its because i've been having to use one for so long since the new symptom of being blood... does anyone else have the same problem of tampons irritating?

[Portia17]

They say if you have i.c. you should wear a pad, never a tampon because it irritates it. Supposed to keep things away and also you might get infections

[Betsie]

I might be misunderstanding this, or it may just be a symptom I am not familiar with.

Are you saying that you have enough blood in your urine (without your period present) to need pad or tampon? I have never had blood present, except on occasion it has been noticeable (by microscope) when a culture has been done...usually whaen I am dxd for an infection. Anyway, I am really alittle bewildered s I was not aware of this being a normal IC symptom. Unless someone corrects me here or weighs in on this, I would speak to your GYN or your URO...especially if you saying you don't have your period yet.

As for the tampons, I couldn't wear them for about a year after being dxd with IC,,but then again I had also had GYN surgery, so hard to tell which was the culprit....but it did get easier for me when my IC was much more controlled. Don't force them if you are uncomfortable, use pads until you feel beter about this option.

I still think you need to mention all of this to your Dr. It seems like you have, but I am not sure on the amount of bleeding (requiring pads) to be normal in between cycles.

[Jeanne D.]

If you have blood in your urine, which is what I think I am understanding, and you do not have your period, then it is unnecessary to wear a tampon. The uterus empties itself through the vagina, urine exits the bladder via the urethra. These are two distinct and different organ systems with different outlets. The urinary meatus or opening lies above the vaginal opening.

You may find a tampon irritating because with a lack of menstrual flow the vagina may be dry. If you are bleeding vaginally and you are sure this is not your period, you should mention it to your GYN.

If you are dribbling bloody urine, then a pad would be your answer to keeping dry, not a tampon.

Jeanne

[vm]

Yeah, I am confused, also. Tampons wouldn't help with blood in the urine so I was wondering if you are having vaginal bleeding or blood in your urine - coming from the urethra?

I alternate pads and tampons to cut down on my discomfort. Also, the smallest sized tampons don't seem to be as irritating for me.

[FloridaGirl1985]

well last month i had a uti which did show blood in my urine and i was able to see the blood... and this month i have ONLY blood no infection so i went to my uro and he wants me to go get a cat scan because he thinks the blood may be from stones that are not showing up on ultra sounds.. and wants 2 do another cysto.... so i've been bleeding i would say it was a week this past easter.. its monday now and i still am.. and my period will be on weds... and my cat scan is on weds.. he thinks its stones also cuz i have lower back aches... im just confused now really... i dunno what it is but i guess we can rule things out after some test

[pat rogers]

I have stones as well as IC and mine only show up on a ct. There are different kinds of stones and he will be able to tell what kind if they are there.
Good luck and keep in touch.

[Amyinagony]

I have blood in my urine all of the time. Before my IC was under control though, I had so many ulcerations in my bladder that blood was visible to the eye. Now even though my IC is under control, I still have microscopic blood in my urine, but not nearly the amount as before. My doctor also said it is normal for ICers to have blood in their urine.
I was confused about the tampon for blood in the urine too. I do remember tampons were a big NO-NO for me when I did get my period, before having my (unneccessary) hyster and before being dx'd with IC.

[Betsie]

I am still very confused as to whether this is a valid symptom of IC or anything else for that matter...so glad you have tests arranged, but I think (probably because I don't get it) it is still a good idea to have a very thorough discussion with you r Dr. and make sure you understand his explanation.

I am probably being overly sensitive on this, but I honestly never heard of this and as far as urine/blood, I would not have known that a tampon doesn't work as I have just never been aware of non-vaginal bleeding....seems others here are more informed.

Again, good luck and I hope you get answers that even I can understand.:::LOL:::

It sounds like you do have things under control though. :)

[FloridaGirl1985]

well reason why i was having to wear a tampon was because i have a kidney stone which i just found out from a cat scan.. so the blood that i was seeing makes all sense now