Finally, a diagnosis! Dr. Evans is excellent!

[sugar]

Hey everyone,
Well, I saw Dr. Evans on Monday in Greensboro, and his reputation is well deserved. I was finally diagnosed with IC, and he wants to treat it aggressively. I'm glad he seems to know so much about IC and new treatments and research compared the three uro's I saw in Richmond. This is one time that I'm glad that I'm stubborn and wouldnt accept what the local uro's said and kept researching until I found a good one. I've found the info and advice on this site to be so valuable, and I appreciate everyone's recommendation of Dr. Evans. I live in VA but feel like it's really worth the 4 hour trip each way!
I was instructed to change my meds, and am now using the fentanyl patch 50 mg, instead of the percocets. I think I'm having some withdrawals from the percocet, because its now 3:30 am, and I only slept for 2 hours this evening before waking. Dont you love insomnia!?! I'm also now taking fewer meds, to include effexor, hydroyxzine, and elmiron. I will be learning to do the self-cath instills of lidocaine, sodium bicarb, and heparin next week, and then in May, I'll have another hydro with laser removal of the Hunners ulcers. I hope this is the start of some pain relief! I'm really looking forward to doing some of the things I used to do before this started last fall!
Thanks again for your advice and support!
Annette

[Kara Isabel]

Hi Annette!

That's great that you are on your way to *healing* and have found Dr. Evans. A great doctor is SO important! Although, I'm sorry you are diagnosed with IC and hunner's ulcers! :grouphug:

I've never used the patch, but have read it takes a few days to really Kick in.
I live in VA too! LOL...funny, I was considering going to Richmond if my new uro (I see on the 12th) doesn't work out, guess I'll reconsider that!

I hope his aggressive approach helps you! :)

[emilyrose197377]

I am glad you had a good dr.'s visit.

[ICNDonna]

Thank you for sharing your good news!

Donna

[ISONormal]

That's terrific. I'm a fellow Virginian, but I love North Carolina. We lived there for 4 years. I've wondered about going to see a doc like Dr. Evans since my uro is really so pitiful. I can barely get him to pay attention, and he never returns my phone calls, even when HE's the one who told me to call him. Did your regular insurance cover it? I could do it out of pocket, I guess (I have Kaiser Permanente), but I would need to get my main doc to agree to let the new one decide what meds I take. It might be worth a try. Did anyone else have this kind of struggle, between your primary doc and your outside-the-system urologist/IC specialist?

[mrsrmont]

I also just went for the first time to Dr Evans on Monday after I discontinued poor uro treatment 5 yrs ago, I have suffered for 8 yrs now with no meds, no one had even mentioned IC to me. I go in a week for my test even though Dr Evans said from my visit and exam that he was 98 % sure it was IC. I really felt like there was hope during my visit with him. Did you have the test that you were put to sleep?



Kathy