my main question about IC

[redfaced]

Okay, I just got back from yet another doctor's appointment, seeing a new GP, and she said that it doesn't sound to her like I have IC, even though my gyn is the one who diagnosed it just Monday! She said my story doesn't sound like a typical person's with IC. My story is that I've never in my life had a single UTI or any bladder conditions, and then last month it all hit like a ton of bricks. Had the urine cultures, which came back negative. I was on bactrim and cipro for 9 days total in spite of that. No help. Went off Cipro and thought I was fine the next day, but then the day after, spasms and urgency again. Went back in for another urine culture, negative again. At that point, my doctor didn't know what to do with me and suggested I see a uro, which I'll see next month. Anyway, here's my main question:...

**Do people with IC have the urgency, pain, frequency, and burning EVERY DAY, or just when you have a flare? **And does having a flare just mean that you are worse than the "bad" you have every day, or is a flare bad compared to a day where you feel good? Because either I've had a month-long flare, or this is what "normal" is for me now. (I wish there were a "cry" icon because I'd use it here!).

I have had constant symptoms since the day this started a month ago, so it's not a come-and-go thing for me. It's constant. I've been on the diet and things have mellowed a bit, but it's still very "there". Is that what IC is? I think I could handle the remittent issues a lot better than this constant feeling of having to pee, burning when I do, and having spasms in my bladder. I've given up exercise completely because my vagina feels like it's on fire, never mind the bladder issues. "m assuming I have vulvadynia now, too. I'm in physical therapy for pelvic floor muscles, but I don't think that's the problem.

Anyone have any ideas or encouragement, or answers to the questions? Thank you so much!!!

[redfaced]

I should add to this that I do not have pelvic pain, unless you count the bladder spasms as pelvic pain (well, the burning when I pee is also pain). I guess I'm struggling with some of the definitions that people are using, to see if I'm relating to them or not. So, are the bladder spasms and tightness the same as the "pelvic pain" that everyone is referring to?

Thanks!!

[tigger_gal]

what you have may or may not be IC. there are other things that mimic IC. Your best bet is to see the urologist and discuss what is going on with him. What you are describing dose sound IC related. pelvic pain and bladder spasms are 2 different issues.. The only true test to find out if you have ic is a hydro/cysto done at a hospital under antistetic.

[dg2901]

Like you, my symptoms showed up totally out of the blue one day; I'd never had a bladder infection or any other bladder issues. I went to bed one night in February 2003 and woke up the next morning thinking I had a simple UTI. Went round and round with the GP, who sent me to a URO, who sent me to my GYN who performed a hyst thinking that uterine, bladder and rectal prolapse was the problem. Four days post-op my symptoms returned so back to the URO I went and had a cysto/hydro/biopsy. Fast forward to this past May to URO number 5 who finally listened to what I was saying, performed the PST and gave me a diagnosis. I was started on Elmiron (3 pills 2x/day) and Elavil (50mgs/night), and am happy to report that I've seen a bit of improvement--more likely from the Elavil since I havent been on Elmiron long enough to see its full effects.

Re: a flare--I think since everyone is different, a "flare" is going to be discribed differently from person to person. However, it usually involves symptoms getting alot worse than what one would consider "normal".

Hopefully you'll start feeling a bit better soon. We all know how frustrating it is to live with this issue day in day out.

Take care, dear
diana

[redfaced]

Thank you both for responding! Okay, well, I guess I'll wait until I see the uro in October, but I don't have high hopes that IC isn't what I'm dealing with. It's hard to go from being so healthy one day, to totally incapacitated the next. I can still get around, but it's uncomfortable to go anywhere, and I dread my trips to the bathroom because I know it will BURN. My only consolation is that I don't have pelvic pain. What other issues mimic IC? The only thing I can think of is a uti.

Thanks again, ladies!

Sadie

[L. Thomas]

My urogyn said just the opposite...IC can mimic all sorts of other problems.
Even unresponsive treatment for yeast infection
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