hydro question

[Dianne]

I was visiting with another IC patient that had a hydro from the same Dr. I did last time and neither of us got any relief or at least not like the other ones we had. She was wondering if this Dr. was aggressive enough on the hydro, meaning hers was only held for 1 min. I distinctively remember mine was held for 8 mins. though by the same Dr. I don't know how long it was held on my first one. My first hydro I had a 900cc capacity and the second one was 625cc which seemed bizarre because I had some measured voids at way more than that so I always questioned the 625cc part. I remember she told me the water was running back out at 625cc. Ok, so when the water starts running out, I thought they blocked the cath at that point and distended it some ways past that and then held it for 8 mins. Is that not so? Or do they just clamp it off when they start getting a backflow? Is it really possible that the Dr. didn't push it far enough and that's why I didn't get much relief last time. Also, since I've had an 800cc void although I was in agony, what's the diff in a self induced hydro vs. a real hydro? And yet I've never bled from a large void. It seems different. I don't get it. Can anyone explain this?

[ICNDonna]

I can't answer all of your questions, but I do know that when I have a hydro, my uro distends my bladder until the bleeding occurs, then drains the water out and distends again to the same volume. I have always, until my last one, had a continuous irrigation of solu cortef overnight --- my wonderful uro retired and I have had to reluctantly make a change. :( I think he's going to be okay, but nobody will ever replace the one who cared for me for all of my thirty years with IC. I only mention the difference because I had my last hydro in May and I usually go for close to a year or more --- and now only six months since my hydro, I'm having some symptoms (hoping it's just a temporary flare).

Donna

[Dianne]

Hi Donna, do you have any idea how long he held it in on the distension? Also what do you think was done differently that you didn't get as good relief this time if anything?