interesting thing I didn't notice...

[m123]

Ok sorry ladies and gents, I'm going to get a little gross here.

Yesterday I had to go number 2 and I noticed a striking similiarity of what I felt afterwards to what trouble I am having with my bladder.

For the past 6 months or so, I've had watery stools every now and then (every 3-4 weeks, only once). No pain or cramping and I go as often as I always did, but I have had a little teeny bit of blood in my stools occasionally. Nothing else abnormal. After I go, I would feel irritation afterwards that would go away after about 20-30 minutes. Not strong unbearable irritation, just a little bit so I never paid attention to it.

I noticed this is exactly like my bladder problems. My urethra feels irritated only after I go use the bathroom, and it goes away after a while if I avoid the bathroom. I have seen traces of blood in my urine twice. The irritation feels the same, except with my bladder it's more often since it's constantly filling and we go number 1 alot more then number 2.

Does anyone else have this, I wonder? :toilet:

[Tina K]

I get this too. I have a little blood in my urine a good bit of the time and also in my stools. Are you pushing really hard? That can happen. After I go to the bathroom in the morning my muscles go into spasms so bad it is painful for the rest of the day. I have been trying lately not to strain when I go because this will only make it worse.
I am finding this is when most of my pain happens after I have gone to the bathroom, especially in the morning because I also hold it in my sleep.
You may want to try some physical therapy or Kegel exercises. They are supposed to help build up those muscles or teach you how to relax them. When we are in pain we tighten up, that affects the muscles after a while and they become dysfunctional and can cause us a lot of our pain.

I hope this helps! Happy New Year!
Tina

[sweetangel2080]

I know if I strain,this causes my bladder to spasm and creates frequency

[tigger_gal]

I would let my doctor know about this. Blood in stool can be a problem. You might have IBS. Hope everything is ok.

[traceann]

I totally agree with Tigger, it's never a bad idea to have it checked out. It's not really fun, lol, but blood can be anything, hemorrhoids, colitis, etc. Always a good plan to get it checked out!! And it can relieve fears as well, lol ;)

Hugs!

[m123]

Yeah, blood in stool is definetly a call-doctor thing. I don't know why I haven't already. I'm just wondering why it is so similiar to my bladder problems. It's as if it's spreading.

[traceann]

LOL, I hear ya!! I just went through all that sort of thing starting last Jan, it gradually kept worsening in "emergency" potty trips, cramping etc (didn't start that way for me) and I kept putting off calling the doctor. It wasn't until May when I noticed blood, that I couldn't ignore it any longer...believe me I wanted to!! :biglaugh:

Well, after a lovely colonoscopy and biopsies (pretty much standard operating procedure, lol) I discovered I had a form of colitis! I was relieved as, it wasn't something worse.... :bow: My imagination was seriously working overtime on all of it, and I think (just like with my bladder) my freaking out about it was making things worse. From what I have read, seems these kinds of things go hand in hand with IC, totally stinks! But there's a high percentage who have IBS as well as IC, like we need one more "system" acting up!! GRRR!! :cussing:

Hugs!

[m123]

lol I wanted to ignore it too, I was successful there!

I'm definetly not looking forward to a colonoscopy though... :biglaugh:

[traceann]

You know, I was terrified of the colonoscopy - I will never be again, lol. The worst part was the prep, and let me tell ya - even that wasn't so bad. I had been dealing with really relentless cramping and being on the toilet so often, it was a breeze :biglaugh: Actually, it was better than what I had been dealing with....that's a frightening thought, :bonk: I think out of it all, drinking the phosphosoda stuff was the worst part, super salty - blech. The drugs I had for the procedure were great, I was out in recovery before I knew it. I wasn't even aware it was over, :biglaugh: Good stuff!!! :woohoo: So, whenever I need one again, I will not be as nervous and scared as I was that time around!!! Plus it made me feel so much better that knowing that it had been "examined", lol.

Hugs!

[m123]

At first I didn't know what it was but when I read it online, my first reaction was "they put the what now WHERE?!!! :dizzy:"

But hearing it coming from you, I am a bit relieved.

[traceann]

Seriously - no worries!!! I don't remember a thing and felt completely fine afterwards. I tell ya the meds were good, I barely remember asking my girlfriend (the 2nd worst part was the wait at the hosp. - my doc kept getting called away for emergencies, so it was after 7pm by the time I got scoped, and hubby had to leave to go to work right when I came out, so my girlfriend took me home) to take me to Subway, and I barely remember wolfing down some form of a sub....not sure what I had on it either, lmao!!! :biglaugh: The bladder didn't complain, so who knows....

Hugs!

[Cricketmk3]

I have experienced a big difference in my potty habits since being diagnosed with IC. I have the emergency trips too. When I have to go...I have to go right then! The poop looks different too. I figured it was the side effects of Elmiron. I don't see why if Elmiron coats the bladder lining, it doesn't coat other linings too.

[traceann]

I too noticed that's when all my bathroom habits changed, lol, when I started the Elmrion, ugh. The bladder was better, but the intestines a bit touchy... go figure eh?

Hugs!