Problem after problem

[Kirs10]

I am in aflare tht has lasted for about 3 weeks. I called my dr was seen and given a rescue instillation. I then was told that i was too start doing them myself. The last time I was to do that my hasband did them for me. so 2weeks later and I still haven't had a nother instillation. The last time i had to do them my husband graciously did them for me, the problem was we couldn't afford the meds for the first 5 days then we tried and the cath's they gave me were too big and flexible and he couldn't do it, and then he tried witht he new cath's and he still couldn't do it. I am in so much pain now from the the flare and then from 2 days of him trying for 45 minutes each to get the cath in that i am just at wit's end. My pcp won't give me any more pain meds because my ic doctor thinks that ibuprofen is enough for pain. I am just the end of my rope. I have an appointment tomorrow so i can be taught how to do it, but ai now it iwill be a while for themed's to kick in.
Just crazy.....
Thank you listening.

[mela414]

Could the ibuprophen be causing you more pain? I definatley cannot take it. It makes the IC pain sooooooooooooooooooooo much worse.
Good luck tomorrow with learning how to self cath. Once you get the hang of it and relax you will be so much better off. I find that when I do it myself it hurts less and I relax more (although I don't think I'll be doing anymore instillations because they seem to be irritating me too now!). Maybe you are tensing up when hubby is doing it.
I would take a break form the ibuprophen and see how you feel after a few days. It may be the culprit.

[ICNDonna]

Mel is right. It's not unusual for an IC patient to not be able to take ibuprofen. I know I can't take it.

Donna

[Kirs10]

I had no idea that Ibuprofen could be worse for IC patients. So any ideas about what i could take instead because my pcp will not give me anymore pain killers. I have been in this flare for 3 weeks and can't get any relief. I did an instillation today and i was in so much pain, all i could do was cry. I am just at the end of my rope with this whole disease.
Kirsten

[ihurttoo]

Kirsten- So sorry to hear you are in so much pain!! I have to self cath on occasion due to retention issues. I find that when I do it myself, it doesnt hurt nearly as much as it does when someone else caths me. I use a prescription of 2% topical Lidocaine jelly to numb me up down there first. Then I wait about 15 min, for it to work, and then I use more to lube the cath. Sometimes I also apply an ice pack after the Lidocaine to give the numbing an extra boost. This would be particularly helpful if you are swollen down there and irritated and red from trying to force the cath. I can do it without a mirror, but several ladies here use a hand mirror that they squat over to find the urethra. To each his own! Hopefully, by tomorrow, you will have it figured out and it wont be as bad.

One other thing, ask your Dr. if he will let you use a 5 French cath. It is the smallest one made. They are the size of those straws on juice boxes for children, and are also used as feeding tubes for infants. Belive me SIZE MATTERS!!!!

Regarding your pain, if you like your Dr otherwise, but he will not treat the pain, then you need to ask him to refer you to a pain clinic. It is very important to treat pain! In fact, it is so important, that it is often referred to as "the 5th vital sign!" No one should have to live with this kind of pain!


I hope that this info will help you.

Hugs,
Amy

[kadi]

You might ask your doctor for samples of several different types of catheters. I experimented quite a bit to find the size that works best for me. I had thought the smallest would be best, but found the 12 French easiest... I also found that cathing myself is easier than having someone else do it, because I know exactly what's happening & can breathe out when the catheter crosses into the bladder. That really makes a difference for some reason.

I can't take ibuprofen either. When I need pain medicine, I take one or two Darvocets. That's the only thing I've found that relieves the IC pain & doesn't just make it worse.

[Dixiefireball]

ibuprofen???? OMG that very well could be the reason for your problems most icer don't do well with Ibuprofen at all. I hate to say this, but hon you need to find yourself another Dr. who knows better.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[Kimchi]

Kristen, just curious, when he tries to cath you, do you "open" yourself up for him? I use a 5 french, it's itty bitty and very flexible. I lay on my back w/ my legs pulled up and then I open my vagina with my hands. It sort of pulls the urethra open so he can see it. It's such a small hole. My 14 yr old daughter has even been taught so I have an emergency back up. She is so mature and has been bugging me forever to learn how. I just have never been able to master self cathing.

[Kirs10]

I have been given the instruction for doing the instillations at home. I can now find my urethra, and I did my first instillation myself yesterday. I guess i put the catheter in too far and it caused my bladder to spasm. I had the worst pain when i finallly peed all the solution out. It lasted most of the night and some of today. I did you see my psp and he gave me darvaocet and we are going to try that. I guess I am all the road to recovery and I really want to thank you all for all the great info.

Kirst10

[Kimchi]

Good luck to you Kirsten. I hope it all goes well.

[KendoSam]

I didn't know about the ibuprofin thing either. I also agree that it is less painfull to self cath once you get it figured out. I guess i put the catheter in too far and it caused my bladder to spasm.I did the same thing the first time. Do you have lidocane jelly to numb the area? That helps some. Also, sometimes I take a hot bath and take prydium before I do an instill. The bath helps relax me so I spasm less and the prydium helps with the burning. Good luck and don't worry, it just takes a little while to get the hang of it. :hi:
Sam