Does anyone see Dr. Bruce in Austin?

[Lisa_S]

I have already been to one uro, who thinks that my urinary problems are from a narrow urethra and wants to dilate it. I saw the nurse practitioner at my gyn's office, who was surprised that the uro didn't think I had IC (I haven't been tested for it yet). She referred me to Dr. Bruce, who I later found out is listed as one of the IC doctors on this site. However, my appointment isn't until July.

Has anyone here been successfully diagnosed or treated by Dr. Bruce? I would like to get another opinion anyway, but it is hard to wait until July. I'm on Elavil and UTA capsules and trying to follow the IC diet, but I'm still having pain.

[2flyingdogs]

Sorry for the delayed response, I just saw your post. I have been going to Dr. Bruce for about a year now. He is super nice and patient. PM me with any questions.

[mary124]

I go see Dr. McClelland in Austin, but he has mentioned to me that he might send me to see Dr. Bruce. I know of a few other people that sees him...

[8kits]

Lisa-

Don't know if you remember me ... but I wrote to you - way back. I seem to recall your first appt w/Dr.Bruce is this Friday 07/07? If I'm wrong- sorry. Just wondering how things went with Dr Bruce if you have already seen him?


Take care,
8kits

[mary124]

I went to see my Uro (Dr. McClelland-) as a followup from a Hydro a week or so ago) he wants me to see Dr. Bruce. I have an appointment with him On August 1.

[Lisa_S]

My appointment with Dr. Bruce is actually tomorrow (July 11). I'll let you know how it goes.

[8kits]

Good luck tomorrow, Lisa.

My only piece of "advice" for whatever its worth- if he makes comment at the end of your appt. asking if you'd mind seeing his Physician's Assistant for your next appt.... if you do like Dr.Bruce (and I DO) then say "NO- you'd rather see him (Dr. Bruce)" because once you say you will see his PA- it is VERY difficult to get into seeing anyone but his PA (which is what happened to me). Don't get me wrong -his PA is nice enough- but he is NOT the expert.

Take care,
8kits

[Lisa_S]

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely keep that in mind. :)

[akrose]

don't let any doctor dilate your urethra- severe pain.

[mary124]

oh, yes, I know about the PAIN!! Had that done twice. ( second time I had some pain medicine with me, so I didn't feel too much of anything.) !!

[Lisa_S]

So... my appointment went pretty well. First Dr. Bruce's assistant spent some time with me asking a lot of questions to find out what's going on. Then he talked a bit about IC, and although I am fairly well informed about IC at this point, it was useful to hear. Then Dr. Bruce came in and did a pelvic exam (I've already had an in office cystoscopy which turned up nothing). Everything seemed fine there.

So after the exam, he started talking to me about treament options for IC. He did also mention overactive bladder and pelvic issues, so I don't think IC is a definite right now, but he is going to start treating me for it. He mentioned the cystoscopy with hydrodistension as more of a treatment than a diagnosis tool, and talked about other treatments like instillations and biofeedback.

He wanted me to up my Elavil dose from 25mg to 50mg and to start taking Elmiron. He also asked me to keep a bladder journal for three days and he is going to do some testing on my urine flow in my next appointment.

I was there about an hour and most of that time was spent talking to either Dr. Bruce or his assistant (who seemed pretty knowledgeable to me). I think having some knowledge about IC and related issues really helped going in. It would have been an information overload otherwise.

One thing he said that I found interesting was about my UTIs. I started getting UTIs last year and had them nearly every month for the second half of last year. He said that at age 26 it would be unusual to start having so many UTIs if I had never had them before. He said that in a recent study, one in five women at any given time have bacteria in their urine... but it doesn't always cause symptoms for everyone. So it's possible that my UTIs weren't actually UTIs, even though they were helped by antibiotics. The symptoms may have been caused by the bacteria irritating a weak bladder wall. So, from what I understand, bacteria in the bladder doesn't always cause symptoms for regular people... but for people with IC it can be very irritating and can possibly show up like a UTI.

[jah]

If you have had a cystoscopy with hydro and they did not see anything and told you you do not have IC--then ask...then YELL for one of these antibiotics--Macrodantin or Augmentin. Do not leave his office without trying one of these antibiotics. What I have read and first-hand witnessed is many patients who suspect IC actually really do have UTIs but the bacteria has mutated and is not successfully treated with other antibiotics. The experts in IC have gone full circle and realized this is the case. Only 2 antibiotics can treat the mutated bacteria, but you need a long course of it. Your infection will not show up cultured or in the "quick" test. I have done a lot of research and personally have lived through this...it is worth trying.:angel:



I have already been to one uro, who thinks that my urinary problems are from a narrow urethra and wants to dilate it. I saw the nurse practitioner at my gyn's office, who was surprised that the uro didn't think I had IC (I haven't been tested for it yet). She referred me to Dr. Bruce, who I later found out is listed as one of the IC doctors on this site. However, my appointment isn't until July.

Has anyone here been successfully diagnosed or treated by Dr. Bruce? I would like to get another opinion anyway, but it is hard to wait until July. I'm on Elavil and UTA capsules and trying to follow the IC diet, but I'm still having pain.

[Lisa_S]

I haven't had a cystoscopy with hydrodistension yet, only the in office cystoscopy.

[jah]

I assume your in-office scope was ok. Go ahead and get the cystoscopy with hydro, but tell your doctor you want a subscription for Macrobid or Augmentin with you when you leave the hospital. Had my doctor done that for me, I would not have had to live through 10 days of horror. I eventually cried in my gynie's office for one of the two antibiotics mentioned and he gave me 10 days' worth. It started working IMMEDIATELY. I explained to him why I wanted it and he obliged. My scope with hydro showed NOTHING; my biopsy showed NOTHING; everyone said I have NOTHING inlcuding a diagnosis of no IC. I knew I had SOMETHING THAT CONTINUED FOR 4 MONTHS....bladder pain. I lost 15 pounds because I could not eat or sleep; I could only cry. Bacteria mutate--especially if you have been using antibiotics for UTIs. Doctors still have a lot to learn and need to listen to their patients. For the most part, everyone on these boards knows more than their doctors. BTW...uros treat mainly men--go to a Uro/Gynie.:headbang:


I haven't had a cystoscopy with hydrodistension yet, only the in office cystoscopy.