pressure down below

[mariadee]

I am newly semi-diagnosed. I have no pain just the constant "presence" of needing to urinate. I urinate about 8-14 times a day - i have been practicing retention - so i can urinate less. The continual urge appeared out of nowhere 3 weeks ago. I had a urine culture/ no bacteria present. I have scoured this website and my heart goes out to many of you. I thought I would tap into your wisdom and insight on what therapies you would do right now if you were me... I have jumped onboard to the non-acidic diet and have ordered some cystaq. Should i look into elmiron? I do not want this to progess if there is a way.
:loco:

[Imustpee]

I had good results with it for many months. Trying the diet along with the Elmiron is a good next step. Take care...:flower:

[armslee]

Hi Maria-:welcome:
Are you seeing a physician yet? If not, you may want to find a urologist or GYN who treats in IC. You are right in early treatment. The diet modification may help you out tremendously. For most of us though there are other triggers like stress, illness and trauma so be aware of those situations as well.
Check out the patient handbook if you haven't already it is loaded with material and FREE!!!!:smile tee

Wendi

[mariadee]

Yes, i have a doc that's treating other's with IC. We haven't ventured towards the cystoscopy yet 'cause it seems too invasive at the moment. I've heard that it can help or hurt symptoms... I'll do it when I have too though. It's hard at first to know what to do. You want to make things better not worse with the least bit of drugginess. I'm definitely appreciative of this forum. If I don't do anything except watch my diet and drink water will it still/usually progress??

[patricia1]

You can also diagnose IC with a PST (Potassium Senstitivty Test). Sometimes diet alone can help with symptoms. Progression is debatal. For me because I did not get the treatment I needed early on, mine did progress, but after diagnose it has not gotten "worse". Some do progress while others dont. Also with IC symptoms vary some just have one others have urgency, freq and pain. Good luck

[Chatypaty]

I am trying to watch and follow the IC diet now .. I have a silly question .. why is it that my jeans always make me feel worse.. I even bought a larger pair .. and they seem to still cause me alot of pain .. end up after an hour taking them off.. I have had two days now .. pretty good .. today , I have hopes.. thanks to all who advised me to stop with the cranberry juice and follow the diet.. I am in waiting to see a uro gyn doctor on the 30th .. good health to all of you ..

[armslee]

Try wearing loose fitting garments. My belly seems to swell mid day and by supper time I have got to get on something comfortable!!!

Many of us end up wearing skirts, dresses or loose fitting pants as anything restricting (like jeans) around the waist is irritating and painful.

[Silverfern]

Watch for the crotch seam in the jeans! If you look at it, it's often really thick there and it's just where it pushes onto the urethra (that's if you're a female of course). It took me awhile to figure this one out, but I've decided me and jeans are parting company.....such a shame but not worth the angst!

Hugs

[mariadee]

I have not been formally diagnosed - I would like to be so that I can know for sure for sure that I have IC so I can take a mental stand. But, i am confused about cystoscopy. I've heard it can exacerbate symptoms and I don't want that! Yet, it can definitely tell you if you have ic and how good/bad of a case you have. Is knowing the state of your bladder important in the grand scheme of deciding treatments? On the otherhand, does the potassium sensitivity damage the bladder at all since it's supposed to "make you uncomfortable" for IC diagnosis. Also, if one takes elmiron (which coats the bladder) and then one tries something alternative at the same time like bovine colostrum to try to heal the bladder will the elmiron prevent alternative treatments from trying to do their thing?
And lastly, is having a bloated belly part of being an icer? And when there is mention of people in and out of remission does that mean people with urgency problems actually experience periods without the urgency?? Oh Lord how I pray it can be so!:hmm: