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View Full Version : Flaring badly - can you help


susayates
04-19-2005, 12:54 AM
Hi there

Greetings from England. I am currently in the middle of a really bad flare which began about 2 weeks ago and does not seem to be dying down. As a member of both the US ICN and the UK COB (Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation) for a while, I wanted to pick your brains (as we say here in the UK).

The main problem seems to be frequency and pressure (as my bladder refills) together with inflammation (that lovely cystitis belly that we all get). I am currently taking 20 mg of Oxybutinin at night and 15mg during the day together with 50mg of ami at night but the frequency is driving me nuts.

Any ideas as to how I can cope and reduce the frequency? Are there new medicines I could try instead of the ami and the oxybutinin. I eat a very bland diet anyway (having been a cystitis sufferer all my life) and read up all the literature available. I have dropped a sample into the hospital for analysis but suspect it will come back negative as 99% of them do.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Susan

ps I have been to see a Urologist over the last year who has upped my meds but commented "you had a cystocopy in 1997, your bladder won't have changed since then so we won't perform another one". I have had the usual ultrasound and flow study which have all come back as normal so no blockages. They just don't seem to know what to do with me

Babs RN
04-19-2005, 05:18 AM
Susan,
There is a new med in that family called Vesicare that just came on the market here in the States.

Hugs,
Barb

DanaW
04-19-2005, 05:27 AM
I am not familiar with your meds. I am on OxyContin and Oxycodone for pain. When I am flaring (which is almost all the time) I also take prescription Pyridium for the freq. and urgency. It helps me, specially at night. The generic is Phenazopyrid 100 mg. 1 tablet 3 times a day. Have you ever taken Pyridium?

Dana

susayates
04-22-2005, 02:31 AM
Thanks for your notes - I am currently taking Pyridium Plus which I have purchased over the net. My meds would translate as Ditropan (not XL) and Elavil.

I have heard great things about Vesicare so may ask my doctor to switch to this. Out of interest what are the results with Antihistimines like?

Any further suggestions greatly appreciated.

Susan

hoping4acure
04-22-2005, 06:27 AM
Hi.

I am on 40 mg. Atarax (Antihistimine) and that helps me with the pressure and frequency. I also use the pyridium plus, and of course HEAT (heating pad) is my best friend when going through a flare up. I also take ativan which seems to CALM me down during the flares (and helps me sleep.)

I am so sorry you are in a bad place right now. I know it will get better. You just have to find the combination that is good for YOU.

Keep your chin up and stay possitive...this board helps a great deal. We all know what you are going through. :kissing:



:grouphug:

gwynnie
04-22-2005, 03:07 PM
hope you are feeling better...