Anyone have this problem???

[tommygal]

I have had a problem for the last week and the only thing I can guess it is is either the IC or a yeast infection, but I'm not one to get yeast infection like a lot of you do, in fact I have never had one. (Course i'm only 19) Anyways so I take baths a lot to relax and help my body aches. For the last week everytime I have taken a bath I get this stingy, burning in the area were you urinate. I was hoping it would go away, but my 2 minute bath today proved it hasn't. I had to get out cause it hurt so bad. It doesn't hurt when I shower or any other time. Well sometimes it will burn a little here and there, but that is a regular thing for me for a long time so I never even notice it. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestion what it is?

[mirandab]

Do you use bubblebath or scented soap? My doctor advised me to switch from baths to showers and told me to use a mild bar soap, like any of those plain white bars. I still have some spasms in urethra; they come and go. I have to admit, when I sat in the tub, it seemed like I did have more problems.

[Dixiefireball]

i agree it could be the soap your useing or bubblebath if your useing any of that. IC don't seem to like that. it could also be a UTI brewing up. so watch out for more signs of that too, but if your using the same soap when your taking a shower and its not borthering you then it may be the uti. instead of the soap. keep watching your signs to make sure it isn't a uti coming up if it is a little anti. should help clear that up.
sending you best wishes
Rhonda

[tommygal]

No I don't use anything when I take a bath! Not even soap. Because I only take a bath to relax, I also take showers almost everyday. It is for sure not the soap I have used cause it is the same kind I have used for years, and it doesn't bother me in the shower. Plus I don't use soap in the bath. So yeah, can you think of anything else it could be besides a UTI? Cause as I said I have never once had a UTI before.

[Kathi]

It's worth having your urine checked. Can you just drop it off to your doc to see if you are positive for a UTI? I'm using some OTC cortisone cream right now cuz I'm burning. I just got off antibiotics & think it might be yeast. I just did a 1 day Monistat. Hope you feel better soon. Kathi

[ICNDonna]

I can't take a tub bath without some irritation. I take showers only.

Donna

[Diagnonsense]

How frequently do you clean out the bathtub?
If you live with other people there could be a chance you're having problems because of what they use in their shower/bath. I know that I've gotten UTI's just from residue of other people. Now, I rinse out the tub for a few minutes and bathe with 3 tablespoons of baking soda. It seems to help.

[LindaP]

Tommygal...

I had something like that happen and I only take showers. I was told to change to using a baby detergent for all my underclothes and go to natural menstral pads. I did so and was better but not completely so I was still irritated. My gyn told me that sometimes hormonal changes can cause our natural bacterias in our bodies to give us some reactions like this. Then I started journaling my pain etc and found that this happened mostly post-menses. Now, since continuing the baby detergent and progesterone cream at the proper time of the month, I don't suffer from that feeling of stinging and burning. Since you say it occurs for you everytime you take a bath, this may not be helpful to you, but perhaps someone else will benefit.
I hope you find out what it is, and fast. Best to you...

[Dusty]

I also used the baby detergent and then switched to one that is hypo-allergenic. So many things can cause an irritation. I had forgotten myself about the baby detergent. It is good to have eachother because sometimes others have ideas we don't know about or just plain try to help us and I appreciate that so much.
Dusty

[tommygal]

I'm never giving up my baths! With all the physical pain and problems, stress, and my emotional problems (Depression and Anxiety disorder) plus having to live with my family that cause me a lot of stress and hurt, I need my baths! I do need to try another detergent cause I always have rashes from mine, but it's a matter of my Mom buys it and always buys the cheap stuff, and won't get anything different for me. I'll try to get something diff. when I go to college next fall. What a good brand to get?
It could possibly be irritation from other people taking a bath, but I don't know cause I have shared the same bath with them for years, and never had this problem before. So many things it can be, it's so confusing! This week I have had a major flare, like this morning I can't even rest cause I'm going ever 10 minutes and totally clueless what from! The only thing I can think of is either bothersome from new med I am taking for the ic, hydro-something, or from my hormones case I have endo, and probably have endo on my bladder and should be getting my period soon, so could be flaring my bladder up.
I got so busy I forgot about calling the doctor to go into to check for a UTI. The doc. is 45 mins away though, and the weather is bad, and my Mom won't drive in bad weather, so don't know when I will be able to go in. Is it bad to live a infection for a while if you have one without treating it? Well thanks for all of the idea!
Linda I use natural progesterone cream too. Do you use natural or from the doctor, and what do you use it for? I use it every night except during my period, how do you use it?
~Rachel

[tommygal]

Dusty,
Well you can't always listen to the doctor! You are in control of your body not your doctor! Do you think in the long run that maybe if the bath helps all those other problems that it may be worth it actually to take a bath once in a while? What state do you live in? I live in the Rockies too, in Utah, but I only know of one of those hot springs things, but it is so full of germs and bacteria and who knows what else I would never get in it! I'll look into that detergent you told me about! Thanks for replying back!
~Rachel

[ICAmy]

I can't take baths anymore either. So, instead I sit or lay down while the shoewr is running. It works just as good for me. I can't get in the hot tub or swimming pool either. Always end up in a bad flare after I do. I always thought it was due to the chlorine, but not really sure.

Amy.

[PamIvanicki]

You should check with your doctor. It could be a vaginal infection. Many of them have the burning, stinging symptoms. I wouldn't mess around with it - see if you can get an appointment.

[LindaP]

Rachel-
I use KAL Natural Progesterone with DLPA. General guidelines for use as found in a book by Dr. John R. Lee (my comments are in parenthesis):
The larger area of skin the dose is spread on, the greater the absorption. Sufficient time should be allowed for maximum absorption, which is one reason to apply the cream at bedtime. Best spots to apply, palms, chest, inner arms, neck and face. (I do the inner arms). Another reason to use at bedtime is that it can be calming and help you sleep. (I use a dab smaller than dime-sized and rub my inner forearms together in circles.) Take 3-7 days off every month. (I use it the 2wks before my period only) This break protects against endometrial thickening in the uterus by allowing for complete shedding of the uterine lining each month. (so if you have Endo...you might want to check with your doctor about using the cream and as much as you do).

I am no expert, only an IC'er researching deeply into everything that is happening in my body. I can only tell you what works for me and hope that by telling my story someone else might benefit. I find it overwhelming that there are so many of us and so little is known by the public about it. I often get a shrug and a comment on like 'oh, I'm always looking for a bathroom too." General public just don't 'get it'.
I hope Jill realizes all the people who read this site and may not respond in a thread, that are being helped. Just having others to share stories with is a lift.

Oh, and another thing...watch out for fabric softeners!! They have additives too.
I was even told not to use dryer sheets when drying my underclothes.

Take care of yourself the best you can,
Linda

[SrMaggie]

I've found warm baths very soothing for the irritated skin. Sometimes I use an oatmeal soak. When I came home after my first DMSO instillation, I headed for the tub. It was the only place that I felt any relief. Not hot water - tepid. I only use soap on the rest of my body. Things are getting a little better. THank the Lord.
Maggie

[tommygal]

Linda,
I read Dr. Lee's book before using the progesterone cream. So you have endometriosis too than? I used the cream for about 5 months, and thought it was helping, but decided to take a break from it for a bit to be able to tell if it was that that was helping or something else. Well 3 and a half months of using it and I had a period of almost no cramps, it was a miracle for me! So after 2 months of off it the bad, bad cramps had came back. So I just got back on it a couple of weeks ago, and will probably take a few months for it to start helping again. I don't have a doctor I am going to for my endo, so I just kind of figure things out on m own. Does the cream make you drownsy? And how much do you use at night? I only use 20 mg. but with just that it makes me so fatigue! Some nights I have even been sleeping 10 hours a night, outside of waking up to go to the bathroom, it's crazy, I'm never one to sleep that much! But I use it the whole month outside of my period, cause if I did it only the two weeks it would mess up my sleeping even mor than it already does! Do you get your cream from the health food store? And what's this DLPA you say is with the cream? I order mine online, it's a good brand that I know several endo ladies have had success with. And me too!
Ok one more question. With having the endo, does your bladder flare up badly before your period? mine has been really, really bad this last week and I can't figure out why. I'm sure I probably have endo growing on my bladder, and it does get worse before my period, but usually not this bad! Course I need to talk to the doctor and maybe go check for an infection too, even though I have never once got those before! Sorry for all the questions, it is just nice to find out from others with the same problems some things!
~Rachel

[tommygal]

Wahoo for baths!!! I'm soooo sooo sorry for those who can't take baths cause of infections, that would kill me if that happened to me! It might be causing me stinging and burning right now, but man if i got an infection everytime I took a bath I would be in trouble! I take a bath almost everyday! Put on some music, get a book, no bubble bath or anything, but the wamth feels great, especially with how cold it is here a lot!!!

Dusty,
Happy Birthday! What luck, I happen to click on your name and it is your birthday this very day! I hope you have a great day and great birthday! And yes the weather is exactly the same here in Utah, doesn't want to decide what to do! Go from sunny to rainy, to snow, to back to sun, to back to storms, it's crazy! We have got so much moisture here there has bene flooidng and stuff, luckily not at my house, even though the canyon 10 minutes from me the river in it flooded the houses in the canyon last week, it was a mess! Well I hope you can find other ways to relax outside of baths! Have a great birthday!!!

[LindaP]

Rachel-
No, thank God, I don't have endo, well, not that I know of. I basically thought I was using the cream to balance out my hormones because I'm perimenopausal. I had all kinds of symptoms..hot flashes, hair growth etc...after reading up and researching the net I noticed several sources suggested the cream so that's what got me started. I have reaped more benefits from it that I thought ...yep it makes me sleepy (which I needed too). I only put just less than a dime-sized of it on one forearm and then rub my forarms together until it is completely soaked in...Dr. Lee says the bigger the area covered the better results so this is why I do it this way. I buy it from either Whole Foods or the Fruitful Yield. Here is how the bottle reads on the back:
500mg Pure Progesterone per ounce; USP Grade Progesterone; Supportive Comfort Factors like DLPA(DL Phenylalanine) and Evening Primrose Oil; Stable, Liposomal Preparation for Enhanced Skin Absorption. Made by KAL Inc.

and...YES my bladder flares prior to my period but a huge flare during ovulation. I have been journaling all my symptoms and find that 4 days of ovulation is when I get my monthly horrible flare, so now I try not to schedule things during those 4 days and I make sure to only eat brown rice and other totally allowable foods.

I hope this helps you. I really believe in the power of the mind....try to think healing thoughts and stay positive!

Hugs,
Linda