Pain and Weight Gain

[KChideaway]

:help:
I have a sensation something like suddenly sitting on a knife. I get a sharp stabbing pain that goes up inside. I feel like I have to urinate and then I can hardly release it. Of course I have frequency also. I have found that muscle relaxants (like Soma) works well for me as long as I take my other meds that the uro-gynecologist prescribed. I take Amytriptiline at night, but cannot take Elmiron as I began to lose m hair. I also notice that after my husband and I are intimate, I feel very bloated. I also feel like I have menstrual cramping. (I had a hysterectomy 10+ years ago so I know that it isn't cramps) I am also experiencing a lot of abdominal bloat. I have gained almost 20 pounds in the last 18 months. (I was diagnosed last year) I started at 95 pounds, and now I am at 118. I know I am not fat, but having such a dramatic change...going from a size 3 to a 7, my husband suggests sit ups, but I tend to have pain in my stomach/abdomen and it keeps me from exercising.

Any suggestions? Thanks for letting me ramble.

[Sherry5]

I am sorry you are having such a hard time. I have a bit of a hard time sympathising with 118 pounds ;) I have been exercising religiously for over 4 years just to stay at a normal weight. Not skinny, just normal(O.K about 140, but muscle weighs more than fat :) ) When I wa DXed, I was in so much pain I stopped exercising for three months, and promptly gained 15 pounds. That was devestating to me, because I work so hard just to stay normal. Then I got pregnant, went into remission, and started exercising like a fiend again. Unfortunately, I am still fat and gaining way too much weight, no matter how much I exercise. The people at my gym are flabbergasted.

I worry that after I have this baby my IC will come back full force, and I won't be able lose all this stinkin baby weight. I understand where you are coming from. Good Luck!

[KChideaway]

Thanks for responding. ........
I feel bad that my post just starts rambling, I'm sorry....I am just very frustrated at the pain, bloat and the fact that none of my clothes fit...and it's swim suit weather here! Plus, my doc said he doesn't know what the pain is that I am experiencing, I told him it is like a bladder contraction........anyhow....sorry!!!!!!

Thank you for letting me know that I'm not alone. :)

As for the baby weight.....you have a beautiful little gift growing inside of you, you have every reason to gain weight and take as long as you'd like to get rid of the extra weight.

Hey, do you think I could use that as my excuse?????? My youngest is 12.......LOL!!!

[watergal]

hi there! you are definately not alone! i was a swimmer with a great swimmer body! and was diagnosed with ic 5 years ago.. once the pain got really bad, and after all 5 surgeries failed.. i just hardly ever moved, i have gained over 20 pounds.. and none of my clothes fit anymore either... and when you wear tight paints.. that does not help the pains at all! i wouldnt be caught in a bathing suit... and have switched over to the stretchy waist work out type pants! it is so hard to work your abbs when thats the part that hurts.. but i have found the more muscle you can build the better you will feel... it just hard to get there. work at it slowly.. be patient.. it wont happen in a month let alone over night! slowly build up what you can do.. start with a small amount of sit ups or any abb excersises, and work your way up to more when you feel you are ready! i am still trying.. but its still hard for me.. try at least 3 times a week to set aside time.. and do what you can, and walk... start out with short walks if you have to, and just go further everytime! it will help! and the one thing i have picked up from my doctors is that even when you dont feel good.. even when you dont want to do anything and it your time for ecersise get up and do them.. just do less and easier excersises.. and walk not as far! if you get in the habbit of doing it on a schedual it is much easier to stick with it! and you will see results sooner! anyways... you are not the only one who rambles! good luck! i hope everything works out! at least now you have someone to go through the hard times with! we can go through it together! take care!

[KChideaway]

Thanks "watergal"...I'm glad I am not alone. Have you ever experienced the symptoms I am describing also??? (the sharp pains)....I'd love your feed back. I will also take your advice and walk everyday as well as try to go slow with exercises. We have a beautiful in ground pool, maybe I can swim each day as well?

[theoutlaw77]

I have been so frustrated with this weight gain lately too!! Before my symptoms got really bad, I had lost some weight, and was pretty happy with what I weighed. But, now I am gaining like crazy!! And, I am in so much pain forget exercising! Even though weight gain is not a side effect of the meds I am taking (though it is for many meds,) I still think that the meds have something to do with it. They give me cravings, or I don't want to feel sick to my stomach if I take a pain pill so I eat...Just letting you know that you are not alone!

[watergal]

i do know exactly what you mean about the sharp stabing pains! i describe it as a glass bomb, that burns like the fuse is lit, then explodes pushing shards of glass into every direction of my bladder! and then when you feel like you have to pee.. you go into the bathroom and it feels as though you are peeing out the shatterd peices of glass! but it is definatly sharp and stabing.. and i get the knife thing when i sit down! where it feels like you are sitting on a knife! i get that alot.. especially if i over do anything, and dont pace myself! anyways! back to happy things! a pool is great excersise! take advantage of it! as long as the chlorine doest bother you! i have never been bothered by it, and i found it the most soothing exersise to do! because it really takes all pressure off the bladder, and really works all the muscles in your body, plus is a great cardio! again dont over do it! but definatly try it out! maybe swim a few days and walk the other days! but do one or the other every day if you can! and again the sit ups 3-4 days a week.. whatever you can.. and even try stetching the other day.. and it will help you be relaxed and ready for a walk or swim! i'll try and think of other things to help you, as i go through with them.. and see what works and doesnt! but thanks for trying what i have sugested! i have seen a difference in me since i have stared! good luck and let me know how you are doing! and i will let you know anything inew i learn! take care!

[KChideaway]

:love: Watergal!!!!!

Again, I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad to know I am not crazy :loco: !!!

I have read over and over of the all the time pain and flare ups that some of our fellow IC'ers have talked about and felt like I was really lucky to not have pain all of the time. I have discomfort all the time, but not pain. I also have pain/discomfort when I wear a waistband around my waist and pain in my kidney...but I have what I call "my big flare ups" which are days where I get twinges that grow into the stabbing, knife pain. That usually takes my breath away and just ruins the next several hours. My last major flare up lasted 18 hours straight. After a trip to ER (where the doctor did not want to listen) said I had a bladder infection (no indication via lab work) and told me to take pyridium. Told him I was already on it with little help, but it only took the edge off. :cussing:


Anyhow.....................

I am glad (sorry, I don't want you to suffer. :) ....) but I am glad to know someone else out there can relate to what I have been trying to tell my doc about the stabbing pain. I actually just changed doctors recently. My uro cancelled my last 3 appts and I got fed up. Saw my Uro-Gynecologist again (follow up appt after my last surgery in March) and asked if he would continue my IC care as well.....hopefully he will be able to help more. He wants to do bladder instillations of the typical Lido/Sod.Bicarb/Heprin.....have you done these? Do they help?

I also have been swimming. It does for sure feel good and feel theraputic. I know I will continue to walk....only I need to do more than I usually do. I'm here for you too Watergal....I'll keep you posted as I learn more as well.

THANK YOU WATERGAL AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS SOOOOOOOOO GREAT AT LENDING SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME AND THOSE OF US WHO SEEK ANSWERS!!!!!

Hugs :grouphug:
Karen in Vegas

[Texas Baby]

I am new to the IC chat room, but I have been reading KChideaways struggles. I have been diagnosed with IC as well as Irritable bowel for 5 years now. I have tried DMSo and meds. Nothing worked. I finally got an Interstim implanted. I was virtually pain free for 2 years. I recently had an accident and had the implant removed temporarialy. I had forgotten how bad the pain was. Anyway long story short one of the things that helps me with small flare ups and symptoms is swimming and exercise. I feel like it helps relieve stress which I find also contributes alot to my flare ups. Believe it or not another thing that helped me was going on a low carb diet. this helped tremendously. I went off for awhile and I feel awful. I am starting back on tommorrow as well as getting back into exercise. By the way... I also have experianced the sharp stabbing pains in my bladder as well as the cramping. SomA and rest help me as well as a hot water bottle.when I am eperiancing that. I hope my ideas help. I know its not much , but good luck.!
Littleva

[KChideaway]

Littleva:
Thanks for the info. I swam tonite and really enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the fact that I was bouyant in the water. It seemed to keep the pressures of a heavy abdomen at bay!

I also was glad to hear that Soma helps you as well. My uro-gynecologist said he never heard of it working....I can't seem to live without it!
:)
Hugs:
Karen in Vegas

[watergal]

i'm so glad you enjoyed the swimming! i love how you are working out, but at the same time relaxed, and i find the exercise also helps with sleep if you have any problem with that too? if you wake up alot at night.. or are like me and just cant sleep... you may find that you are sleeping longer and sleeping better! again, i am so happy for you and the fact that you are trying, the hardest part is getting into the habbit! so good for you! and good luck! i really hope that it starts to help you with pain as well as you can soon fit back into your old clothes! that will be an exciting day for both of us!

[KChideaway]

Wow Watergal.....you are the BEST cheerleader!!! :woohoo:

Thanks again for the words of encouragement. I have little to no hope for my old clothes though....so I bought new ones this afternoon!!! :)

I did enjoy swimming...it really was more relaxing. I did sleep well, (or at least, fell asleep faster) but got up to go to the bathroom so many times I lost count. I also was having some mild twinges of pain before I went to bed so I took my pyridium.

How are you feeling?

[Texas Baby]

KChideaway,
glad to hear the swimming helped. On a different note, I think there is a lot of things that help IC symptoms that Doctors aren't aware of(soma helps me as does valium). I also think there are a lot of side effects from the meds that they are not aware of or don't tell you about. I am fortunate to have a Uro that really listens and cares about what and how I am feeling. I hope you are feeling better. I have had a good 2 days. My symptoms have been pretty well controlled the last 2 days. I can probably get my implant reinserted next month. I am looking forward to that. Another idea that will helps me relax is yoga. I tried a class with a friend and I don't know when I have felt soooo relaxed! I am seroiusly looking into taking a class on a regular basis. I don't sleep well as it is( I am peri menpausal) at an early age so any relaxation technique I can find helps. these things are hard though when you feel like crap. I sometimes just want to curl up with a hot water bottle and a cup of herbal tea during those days when I can't seem to control the pain. Right now I can't take any pain meds because I have a staph infection. So i have to grin and bear it with just Ditropan and soma and xanax for stress. I know i can do this, but it's hard. you can also do this. We aRE ALL PULLING FOR YOU !!!
Littleva

[watergal]

hi KChideaway! i am feeling fine! thanks for asking! but it could just be that my doctor upped my dose of morphine! lol.. but so far my excersises have been feeling good... and i havent overdone it yet! i am actually struggling to find some time but i have been doing pretty good! i dont like going out of the house much.. so i have to relly motivate myself to walk! but anyways.. you are very welcome for my words of encouragement! and anytime.. i am hear with more! try and keep up the motivation! take care! and keep in touch!

[KChideaway]

Thanks Watergal and Littleva.....you guys are great!!! (ok...you Gals are great)

I'm feeling a bit better tonight, but had to take some pyridium to help the pain again last night. I am out of Soma, and only taking the Oxytrol Patch currently and I'm not convinced it is working yet...I go back to the Doc on Friday.....

Hope this finds you both doing well. Watergal: Definitely give yourself the same motivation you give me to get up and exercise.....otherwise I'll scream..."NOT FAIR" ;)

As for you, LIttleva...I'm with you when you talk about a good cup of tea and a hot water bottle.....there are days like that for me too. I've found that if I read a bit that it helps distract me from feeling horrible. I also agree with you when you said that there are definitely some med's that doc's aren't really familiar with or that they think works. I cannot tell you how much Soma has saved my life when I flare really badly.... Thank God for that! :angel:

Bye for now.....

[Texas Baby]

KChideaway and watergal,
? for you both, do either of you have problems with fatigue? I really struggle on some days . Sometimes I am fatigued all of a sudden. Anyway just wondered if you gals ever feel the same.
littleva

[KChideaway]

Yep.....sometimes I am really tired!!! I just keep going, like the energizer bunny, but I eventually sit still...when I do, I crash.

Yawning as I write this....
Karen

[watergal]

Hello KChideaway!

How have been? any luck with the exercising how is the pool! with the heat in las vegas it must be nice to have a pool! remember to wear sunscrean! and drink lots of water or fluids! anyways just wondering how you are doing? walking is doing great for me! but its getting too hot for it! so i just try to walk in a mall, or later when it cools down a bit! just went to reno! and it was really nice because you can just keep walking and go through many casinos and its all air conditioned! but i am sure they have something like that in vegas? but anyways.. i got to walk so much, then go back to the hotel room, and get in the big bath tub/jacozzi ( i cant spell ) and relax and help my bladder relax and sooth everything! i loved it! anyways! get back to me on how you are! i would lave to hear from you! i really hope you are doing good! hope to hear from you soon!

hugs,
watergal

[Babs RN]

Karen,
My inlaws are in Vegas, I am there all the time! My hubby grew up in LV too. Swimming is an awesome exercise with the IC I have found. So I am slowly working on it. I saw a picture of myself this spring and YIKES!! I actually live about 175 miles from Las Vegas at Fort Irwin near Barstow(off I-15) :grouphug:

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[KChideaway]

HI Barb and Hi Watergal:
Doing well here, just trying to stay cool. We had really hot weather then rain so the desert is humid....go figure!

I have been swimming a bit, but I also am trying to walk each night. I still need to find my motiviation to exercise.....I'm not obese...but I will admit....when my clothes don't fit (and they really don't) I have been slowly replacing them!!!!! :)

My IC has been ok, but I have had quite alot of pain these last 2 days...was itimate with hubby....need I say more?

So, Barb....where abouts in Vegas do your in-laws live?

Watergal, how have you been feeling? Thank you so much for asking how I have been. I admit, it's been crazy here and I haven't been online in a while. My father is a quadrapelegic and I have been taking care of him these past few weeks. It was really nice of you to write.

Well girls, hope this note finds you both well, or atleast as well as you can be with IC........

:grouphug:
Karen

[watergal]

KChideaway,
that must be hard having to take care of yourself and someone else! but that is great to hear you are that loving to do so! i hope everything is going good, and you arent hurting yourself over it or at least not that much! but anyways.. i know excactly how you feel about replacing clothes! i jus bought a nw pair of pants that actually fit! i as so excited! i went to go put them on a few days later.. didnt fit as well anymore! they were not at all tight on the belly, because i cant have any presures there.. well obviously, thats just not good for the pain, but when i tried them again they were o tight to wear bcause they really hurt! so i was back to the store today, i am boke but at least i have a caring mom and sister with money.. lol... and got some bigger clothes.. that i can even have some more room to grow into! and some more soft work out type pants and shorts to wear when its hot! so i am so happy an fortunate, but this is really getting rediculas! i cant keep buying clothes ever week! anyways.. i really hope you find the motivation! i wish i could too! the only thing tha motivates me is my boyfriend. when i met him my stomach was flat! and i was many smaller sizes from now! i dont want to get like that perfect again.. mainly because i dont think that i can! but i just want to look good for him! he says i dont need to and i am still sexy o him, but i dont feel it, i pretty much lost confidence, so i need it for us, so i can feel more comfertable around him too! but anyways.... i really hope you can find the motivation soon and a good one! the only way to keep excersise up is being motivated, and to not miss a day, make it a habbit! and hopefull by then you will realise your motivation and keep going! sory if i am starting to not make sence! i am heavily drugs, and very xtreaml tired... so i am going to bed now! hope you are doing eally good, and will continue to feel good!

kepp in touch,
watergal

[Prinny Joy]

Hey KC, when I saw your knife pain, I knew I could relate. I get razor blade pains that feel like a razor ripping through my bladder, I get needles pains, feelins like a bunch of needles in my bladder and I do get the stabbing knife pains as well. OH how I can relate to those pains. Of course those are my sever pains. I have back aches and on top of all the IC I have pelvic arthritis so my pelvic area is quite painful at times. Fortunately I do not have pain daily at the moment as I watch my dieting and such and exercise is what works best for me. I've had many months of weight gain but fortunately I don't ever have problems shedding the weight and for the most part can still fit in single digit dress sizes. We do keep our home as Dr. Phil would say, a no fail environment. No chocolate allowed and that sort of thing. Hope that helps! PEACE and JOY