Urethral Pain

[glassd18]

Hello Everyone,

It is freezing here!! Anyhow I went to see my uro today, and I was put on a drug for hesitancy, which is mostly caused by urethral spasms and pain I think, but anyhow sometimes I have a hard time starting my stream. The name of the drug is called Uroxatral, and it is a alpha blocker. What freaked me out is that it is for men, and clearly marked that woman should not take it. My uro said that she has a few IC patients on this. Anyone know anything about this drug for IC? I'm not so sure about my uro anymore. As I'm trying to talk to her about questions I have she's inching closer and closer to the door to leave. Does any doctor have time anymore? She explained my urethral polyps at least a little better this time than the last appointment. She says that the polyps at the opening of the bladder and urethra are usually a sign of bladder inflammation, and they are treated with antibiotics to help reduce them. Anyhow I do not feel any wiser after this appointment, and wonder if it's time to search for another uro. Any opinions?

[ICNDonna]

Some women with IC who have retention problems take the meds usually prescribed for men. What they do is to help relax those muscles so you can urinate easier. There are several available. The ones I'm most familiar with are Flomax, Hytrin, and Cardura. In my opinion, they are worth a try.

Donna

[glassd18]

Thank you Donna. I figured it was something like that, but still when you see on the packaging that woman should not take it, it kind of freaks you out!!!lolololo

[stop-n-go]

I take Flomax and it has helped me tremendously!

[glassd18]

How has it helped stop-n-go?

[stop-n-go]

I have had symptoms for about 3 years. My main symptoms are, a constant feeling in my urethra that I have to go, burning in my urethra, slow weak urine stream, and blood in my urine and frequency. My uro did an ulrasound of my bladder after I thought I had emptied it. I really pushed and strained (it hurt) and I thought my bladder was empty, but It wasn't. I still had about 3 oz left!

Now with the flowmax, when I sit down, I can start urinating immediately, and my urine stream is much stronger. I also take Sancura at night for nocturcia and try to really follow the IC diet. Most of the time, that constant urge is gone now, and so is the burning. It might return every 4 or 3 days for an hour or 2, but my frequency is less and I am able to urinate a larger amount each time. I still have some bladder pain, but I feel better today than I have in 3 years. Maybe because I am able to empty my bladder when I go.

[pingpong]

Could that be one of the drugs that can cause genital defects in male fetuses? If that's the case, as long as you aren't pregnant or let a pregnant woman handle them, you should be OK.

[glassd18]

Thanks Stop-n-go,

My symtpoms are not as severe as yours I believe. Mine are burning in the urethra, trouble starting my stream sometimes, the feeling to go after I go, worse after BM, pain on bladder filling, cold and hot burning around the genital area, but I do think I empty pretty completely. What I'm worried about most is if I can afford another med right now. Amazingly enough I'm actually feeling pretty good these last few days. My symptoms are really down, but I keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for the details.

Pingpong I don't know the answer to that question. I'm prematurely menopausal so I don't have that worry unless God performs a miracle!!!!