Too many instills?

[rosesitty]

I've been in a flare for two months and have had 9 instills - about one a week. My uro today said she wanted to start me on Elmiron because the instills weren't helping all that much. Is nine in two months alot? I know that's a dumb question because some of you are instilling 3 times a day, but that doesn't seem over the top to me. It usually gives me 3-4 days of relief and then I tough it out for 2-3 days. Thanks for your input!
Rose

[hiphuray4peas]

I dunno what she's taking about... 3-4 days of relief would be a god send for me! That to me sounds like its doing SOME good (Tho I'm not a doc, so maybe I'm wrong). Are you getting complete relief after you've had one? If not she prolly has some fact based in her statement... as far as I've heard it's good tho to have two things to help you get better.... Elmiron takes a little while to work and while you're waiting for it to kick in maybe you could keep up with the instillations...

[rosesitty]

I think she's looking at my past history, and prior to this 2 month stretch, I was averaging an instill less than once a month. Over the course of 3 years, I've had two remissions of 6+ months and one of 2+ months - where I could eat or drink (except for alcohol) pretty much anything I wanted. She's making a comparison to that, I think. Maybe she's one of those uros who doesn't advocate ongoing instills as a way to minimize symptoms unless it works right away and for an extended period -- I guess...who can read the mind of these docs!
Rose :bonk:

[rosesitty]

BTW, how's the Elmiron working for you? Do you get urine retention with the Detrol LA - where either voiding is slow or where your bladder isn't competely empty?
Rose

[ICNDonna]

I think my question would be why do you "tough it out" for days before a treatment that helps. Elmiron can take six months or more to be effective, which may be the reason your doctor wants you to get started. Elmiron doesn't help everyone, but some do find it extremely effective.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[hiphuray4peas]

I just saw my doc today... Detrol was giving me some gnarly side effects.... (Retaining, poor urine flow, severe constipation, and almost an inability to flex my pelvic floor muscles). It worked initially because I was incontinent, and then went overboard.
I've been on Elmiron for two months now, and I can tell it's working. If I skip a dose by accident I feel more of my symptoms... I'm excited to see what happens in the next few months, maybe I'll be able to greatly reduce the number of instillations.