Okay in the morning, worse as the day progresses?

[jjt001]

I saw the urologist yesterday who gave me a tentative IC diagnosis. However, I did have one symptom that surprised him -- I usually feel pretty good in the morning (well, not THIS morning, after after being poked and prodded yesterday!) but I start feeling more pain after urination and more burning/aching in the bladder as the day progresses. By evening I really need to use heat or cold to get some relief. Drinking lots of water throughout the day helps, if I haven't kept up my water intake during the day, the pain hits earlier. I was just wondering if anyone else has this? The doctor says he more often sees people with pain the morning from urine sitting in the bladder overnight (I get up at least four times a night, so there's not much sitting in there in the morning!).

He thought it might be something like pelvic floor dysfuntion or uterine prolapse, but upon examination thought everything looked fine. Thanks for any info you can provide!

[Briza]

My IC symptoms definitely worsen as the day progresses. I don't think that's unusual, especially if you work or are active during the day...or sometimes for no reason at all!

[traceann]

I have had the same experience as wcq - mine always got worse as the day progressed... I'd feel pretty good in the morning, but by bedtime it was heating pad time!!! ;)

[sarahjmiller]

i agree with the others - about pain progressing thru the day. but, for some reason, the reverse has happened as well, but usually it's the opposite

[dandelion]

I'm usually the opposite- pain in a.m. that goes away over the course of the day. I always thought it was because of all the water I drink. I guess it's just that... dare I say... We're all different.

[SharonA]

The first 6 months, or so before and after diagnoses, I felt good in the morning. By early evening, I was in horrible pain. Happened every day. Now, after almost 5 years, I have many, many more good days than bad.

[July]

My dr. said that with most illnesses, pain is worse later in the day. I'm betting it is because of fatigue. We get more tired by the end of the day.

[jjt001]

Thanks everyone. I agree that with this disease we are all different! It's good to know that I'm not alone (though I think I keep secretly hoping that some different symptom will mean that I don't have IC after all, and instead have something that will be easily cured with a pill or minor surgery...I can hope, right?) Thanks again for all your help. It was nice going to the doctor yesterday and feeling so much better informed than I would have been had I not found this site first.

[poetgirl]

My symptoms always tend to be worse at night. It used to interfere a lot with my sleep. Now they come and go.

[AmyMichelle]

I can't figure mine out. It seems the more water I drink, the more I hurt. In the morning I usually feel ok, but as I sit at work drinking water, it's like my pants get smaller and all my pelvic muscles contract. I have to go to the bathroom literally every half hour and it's SO painful. It has caused me to not drink as much water as I should and I actually have leg cramps in the morning. I know it has to be dehydration. Anyone else have this problem? Could it be the water I drink?

[ICB]

For patients that experience pain later in the day, the cause is usually gravity. We are standing, sitting, walking, etc.; all of our upper organs are pressing down (due to gravity) and causing more pressure on our bladders. So at the end of the day, we tend to feel more pain.

For those patients that feel pain in the morning, there could be two main reasons. Other reasons may exist; it is very important that you discuss your symptoms and possible treatment options with your healthcare provider.

1. Urine contains chemicals that irritate the bladder and they become more concentrated during the night because we are drinking less to dilute the toxins.

2. We may experience a small form of edema (Edema is swelling or puffiness of parts of the body. It is caused by water that is trapped in the tissues of your body.), which may cause inflammation and pain in the bladder and/or pelvic region. As we start to move around, the edema goes away and we start to feel better. A good example of this is when you wake up, your fingers are usually swollen, the inflammation goes away shortly after your start your day.

For patients that feel that their IC symptoms are made worse by drinking too much water and dehydration; I recommend that you take a very small sip of water every 5 to 10 minutes throughout the day. This will help to keep your kidneys clean, keep you hydrated, lessen the possibility of bladder spasms, and dilute the toxins in the urine.

Please check with your healthcare provider before trying any new form of treatment, including self-help techniques.

Best wishes to all, ICB :flower:

[traceann]

Hey AmyMichele, you might want to also look at your brand of water - for me Dasani was horrible, frequency went right up, but Aquafina is fine... go figure! ;)

[fje90]

Mine absolutely worsen- I'm in high school, and my doctor said that with all the sitting down and the stress, it's completely plausible that my symptoms worsen as the day goes on. If you're doing the same sort of thing- office work, or whatever- this explanation might apply to you too!
But yeah- in the morning, I'm usually alright (well, as far as moderate IC goes, anyway), and around lunchtime, I have increased false urgency and burning.

[asilva]

I agree with the others. I feel pretty normal in the morning and worse as the day progresses. I drink a lot of water during the day and have to pee pee pee all day.

[~*~Christine~*~]

Yep, I have this too! It does hurt a lot waking up during the night to pee but after that is when I'm in the least pain.
This is probably because if you have not eaten or drank anything for several hours there are not as many irritants going through your bladder.
I usually don't start flaring up until a few minutes after I've had something to eat