New here and so scared!

[NancyS]

Hi, my name is Nancy and I have been lurking and reading the info here for several days.
I had a UTI several weeks ago that responded to antibiotics. About two week ago I thought I was getting another UTI so I went back to my PCP. He did a urine culture that came back negative for bacteria. They called a few days later to tell me that I had some yeast so he gave me some medicice for that.
Fast forward to a few days later... I am still having pain, mostly lower pelvic pain and pressure. I am going to the bathroom at least 3X an hour. This is July 4, doctor office is closed so I end up going to the emergency room. There they test my urine (negative) do a pelvic exam, and also a catscan. All those tests come back fine. I can't believe that I am in this kind of pain and nothing appears to be wrong. I mention to the doctor "could this be interstitial cystitis'? Maybe, he says, talk to your PCP about that.
The next day I go back to my PCP who says he will refer me to a urologist. I don't know how long yet until I can get in with him but I'm going insane.
I have alot of nausea from the meds that I am taking which are vicadin for the pain and hyoscyamine. PLease help...I am desperate.

[traceann]

Hi Nancy! Weclome to the gang, I am sure you will find lots of helpful information and support around here! It's always the scariest in the beginning when you don't know what's going on, why you are in pain, what could it be, etc. Sounds like you are on the right track in finding out what the deal is.

You could try the IC diet and see if that helps your symptoms (in case it is IC), it can't hurt! Here's a link right to the foods list:

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/diet.html

And here's some self helps for pain/discomfort that you try as well, until you find out what's going on, and even then after, ;)

Heating Pad/Heat Patches My heating pad (with auto shut-off in case I fell asleep) had become my best friend, lol. Most of ICers have a special relationship with our heating pads, lol. I put mine right on my abdomen and it can be so soothing - help the pain and sometimes curb the frequency feelings. The heat patches (such as ThermaCare) are great for when you need to be wireless - sleeping, travel, work, etc. They got me through some ugly days at work! ;)
Baking Soda/Tums Sometimes drinking a big glass of water with a tsp of baking soda in it can help calm the bladder if you find something has aggrivated it (something you ate, etc). But if you have salt-sensitive health issues, that may not be the best route. You can also eat a couple Tums, they work the same way. I use them for when I am not at home: travel, work, etc.
OTC Pyridium - Azo Standard or Uristat You can use this for a couple days at least to help symptoms. It's a basically an analgesic for your bladder, can numb things up nicely - but it's just a temporary help, not to be taken continuously. It did come in handy for me when I needed a break from the frequency/urgnecy etc. But it does stain clothing, so pantyliners were a blessing!! ;)

You might want to start keeping a pain/voiding diary, that way you will have the facts at hand when you get to see the urologist. Instead of guessing at how many times you are going a day, you can have actual counts and pain levels etc. I recorded everything in mine - what I ate and what time, when I peed and what time, what med I took and what time, where I was in my cycle (was always worse for me around ovulation and PMS) etc. It was very helpful to me and my doctor. I could see trends and spot potential dietary troublemakers, my little victories (even going to the bathroom one less time a day was a great victory, but one I would have never noticed had I not been keeping track...) :)

Hope this helps a little bit, and I hope you get into the doc soon and begin to find out what's going on with you!!

Hugs!!!

[NancyS]

Thank you so much for your response. You gave me quite a bit of info that I will try. It does make me feel slightly better knowing there are others who know what I am going through. I am having such a hard time with this as I have always been very healthy and active. I have not been able to do much of anything for the past 10 days and it's driving me crazy...I just want this damn thing to go away!

[Sarilou81]

Welcome. I can feel all of your pain and frustrations with pain, meds, doc appts and the like. I hope that you do find some moments of comfort. For the nausea, try little sips of water, some crackers and cool washcloth on the back of your neck. Find a cumfy position either laying down or sitting up.
Try to keep your spirits up and know that you are among friends.

[ICNDonna]

If you're having nausea from meds, it could very easily be the pain meds. I suggest you telephone your doctor's office and ask for something to take to help keep the nausea away. Any time I take a pain medication, I take a 25 mg phenergan tablet with it and it keeps the nausea away. If you're vomiting, phenergan also comes as a rectal suppository, which usually will stop the nausea fairly quickly.

I hope you feel better by now.

Donna

[graceimnot2096]

Welcome!! I'm sorry to hear that you may have this awful disease but am glad you found this place. I know it helps me to know that I am not alone.

When I was finally diagnosed I was so happy that it wasn't just in my head. I was begining to feel like maybe I was a hypocondract because I would go to the doc and they wouldn't find anything wrong. My uro came in and said that I had ic and that he was sorry he had to tell me that. I had never heard of it and didn't really know what he meant by he was sorry to tell that I had it. Although it is an awful disease, I was and still am happy to know that it isn't in my head.
I had trouble with the pain meds in the begining like you, I had to be sure and eat something with them and began to break them in half, I take 1 half and wait an hour then take the other half, it kept me from being so nauseated and the it is easier to stay ahead of the pain.

[traceann]

You are welcome Nancy! As you can see there are lots who can relate to what you are dealing with, lol. It is sooooo helpful to have a place like this where you can talk to others who know how you feel, what it's like to deal with these symptoms, etc. If it wasn't for here, I would hate to think what life would have been like, I learned so much from everyone, all the self-helps that made it possible for me to get through my day, my work-day, nights etc.

And don't be shy, ask anything you like, I don't think there's much we haven't talked about around here! ;) Once again, nice to meet you and welcome to the boards!!!! Hope to see you around! :)

Hugs!

[NancyS]

Well I finally got an appointment with a urologist... it's on Friday 7/14
What can I expect for my first visit? Will I have an answer then or not? My husband is going with me so maybe he will finally understand my frustrations...he thinks you take medicine and get better. I have told him that's not the case if it turns out this is what I have.

I am also curious about something..when I had my urine tested last week at the ER I was still taking antibiotics. Would this explain why my urine came back negative for bacteria?? I am grasping at anything at this point..do not want this dreadful disease