urethra feels swollen?

[mich2604]

Does anyone get this feeling?

Everytime i get this feeling, it feels very raw and when i stand up from sitting, just getting up and the rubbing of my clothes against the urethra feels like rubbing salt on an open wound.

Ive looked a few times with a mirror(sorry for TMI) and each time i get this feeling.....the inner labia is spread wide open.

I just dont know what to make of this.........my guess is that the urethra swells and the inner labia opens and for some reason i feel this.

I also dont know if maybe it is the bladder swelling?

thanks

[izazen]

I had that too!! Baking soda has helped it tremendously. I usually had the burning with it, too.

[mich2604]

did you drink the baking soda or did you soak in it?

thanks

[KathrynPInk]

When I am in a flare, a bad flare, I definitely feel like my urethra is swollen and hurt. That has always been one of the most common issues for me along with the terrible pain and frequency, pressure. I have always felt that my urethra was a separate* organ almost at times (I know it is not really) but.....not being able to distinquish what was bothering me more.
I take tums and drugs that reduce inflammation..(it helps a bit). I also drink more, and more water and the swelling is not as noticable.
Sorry you have that too. it sucks.

[smcclafferty]

I have that symptom right now. I never had it before, but I developed it after my cysto/hydro/biopsy done 7 weeks ago. They also had to dilate my urethra because the first cystoscope wouldn't fit through, because my operative report says they had to go from a 22 French rigid cystoscope to a 26 French cystoscope. I hope this gets better soon, I cannot stand it anymore. It's hard to drive and sit in a normal position. Did anybody else get this symtom after their cysto/hydro AND/OR urethral dilation?

[Roxie2007]

HI! I've had that terrible pain for almost 2 yrs........IC for almost 30. I've tried everything my IC dr. was willing to try to calm the pain. Then my husband read about MSM gel here on this website and sent away for it for me. That was 2 weeks ago. I used it 11 days ago now and I now have no urethra pain! It's amazing! It works as an anti inflammatory and heals. Amazing stuff! Maybe you should give it a try. Good luck! Roxie

[smcclafferty]

do you use the dmso 70% gel? Sorry, I'm new to this, and I just looked up the gel on jacoblab.com, but I don't know which one to order. I want to try it, I hope it is safe. Thank you.

[mich2604]

SMC- YES my urethra felt 5 times it size atleast after the hydro/cysto.

I bled a lot afterwards and had to stay overnite while they irigated my bladder...i was cathed with a 3 way foley catheter....and I had to take percocets because it kept pinching the urethra......i was so afraid to even move!!!

I swore i was damaged for life but that very bad swelling went away for me....eventually. It took me atleast 3 months before i was feeling semi normal, but i have to say I never had bladder spasms or pain until AFTER the hydro/cysto.

I also was told i had swelling in the trigone area of the bladder where it meets the urethra.

The MSM gel sounds promising, i will have to look into that.

[smcclafferty]

So, did you eventually get rid of the irritation/pain in your urethra after about 3 months? Or do you think it damaged you permanently? I am so scared right now that this will never get better...

[mich2604]

It did get much better. Soaking in baking soda sitz baths helped me somewhat. The pain I have now is much different , its not as swollen and isnt everyday like it was after my hydro.

My theory was it takes awhile for the tissue to heal since we use it everyday.

hang in there!

[siriuspsyclist]

Oh, the urethral pain is my number one IC symptom!. I too get that weird swelling where the end of the urethra actually pokes out of the pedundal area and teh inner labia are all turned outwards. Beieve it or not sometimes is really helps me to put an iceblock between my legs and really SIT on in to kind of PUSH my urethra back up into my body. SOmetimes I feel like it has detached from my bladder and is going to fall out of my body. I stand up and I can feel it woosh downward and HURT! AAAH.

no pain meds touch it. I feel like someone has put a pinecone in there and once I get comfy I can sit for as long as I like so long as I don't MOVE at all. (smiles) I really notice it as the WORST during my period.

hope you feel better today

[KathrynPInk]

The imflammation does subside in my case. I would not use anything that said DMSO for a million dollars and I lterally mean it. That stuff made me more inflammed after the distention and this is when I was going to an EARLIER uro who was not as smart as the one I have seeing for 12 yrs. I think DMSO is awful.
Maybe some dissagree about this stuff, but DMSO made me worse and more swollen....I now have different treatments that work after a bit for me. But during a flare SOME of us are gonna feel that swollen feeling! Hang in there..it will get better. Stay on strict diet an drink lots of water. Atarax has helped wiht the inflammation for me. Dr. Evans in NC has the right attitude and works with you intil you get better. he also respects you and the feelings you have about certain treatments. Excuse my French, but DMSO sucks! It hurt me.

Lots of love,
Katheryn

[Sarojini]

I also would never use any DMSO product again after having a terrible experience with these instillations way back when. I ESPECIALLY DO NOT CONDONE USING ANY DMSO PRODUCT WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S SUPERVISION. The material is quite caustic and you could really hurt yourself -- I work in a lab and DMSO is used there as an organic solvent for things that do not dissolve in water; it is a nasty product of the wood pulp industry and in the lab, must be used with precautions like chemical hoods and gloves.

[smcclafferty]

Thanks for that info on DSMO. I was actually going to try it by myself, even though I see my doctor on Tuesday. I wouldn't have gotten it in the mail by then anyway, but thanks. I will not order it for now, I will wait and see.

[KathrynPInk]

Mich,
Your "raw" symptoms sound as if it is vulvudynia related ...possibly? Of course, I am not a physician, but the tender rawness just sounds very close to it. I know i have had some problems with rawness and sensitivity; I actually chalk some of the "outside" symptoms as having very light, thin skin, with many reactions to chemicals that touch my skin! Who knows? I am still wondering why so many of us are so sensitive to chemicals, drugs and foods.
I sometimes feel that I am a mess----- but to a stranger, I look so normal and not health challenged! Ha! If they only knew.
Love to all,
Katheryn

[mich2604]

Thanks Katheryn,

Ive been thinking it just might be vulvudynia , yet I do get this discharge sometimes....i just dunno. Im going to try taking the neurontin twice a day and see if that gives me some relief during the day. it just doesnt seem to be helping like it did when i first started it.

Its just amazing how i went 29.5 years with NO problems and then whamo i was struck down with this crap.

[smcclafferty]

Mich...hello. did your bladder spasms/pain that occurred AFTER your hydro/cysto ever go away? (I know I already asked you about your urethral pain, but I am worse both in the urethra and bladder after my cysto/hydro). Also, is neurontin doing anything for you? I just got put on the same dose...

Thank you very much.
SMC- YES my urethra felt 5 times it size atleast after the hydro/cysto.

I bled a lot afterwards and had to stay overnite while they irigated my bladder...i was cathed with a 3 way foley catheter....and I had to take percocets because it kept pinching the urethra......i was so afraid to even move!!!

I swore i was damaged for life but that very bad swelling went away for me....eventually. It took me atleast 3 months before i was feeling semi normal, but i have to say I never had bladder spasms or pain until AFTER the hydro/cysto.

I also was told i had swelling in the trigone area of the bladder where it meets the urethra.

The MSM gel sounds promising, i will have to look into that.

[scriv]

mich, could it be the estradiol cream you are using? I have been having similar problems and decded to give the area a complete break from creams etc. - and after 3 weeks, it has settled down!!! I feel sure that the Ovestin cream I had been using for 5 months for dryness had become an irritant to the bladder/urethra/vulva area.

I am 53 and 14 years post menopausal and as I have severe dryness problems, I have had to accept I will need some vaginal oestrogen, but will be trying a different preparation soon. I am about to try Vagifem, as it does not have a cream base.:hi:

[tuazmom]

Hi, could someone tell me where you order this product?

Thanks.

Marsha

[mich2604]

Scriv- I too took a break from the creams for 3 months until I got the yeast under control - it helped a LOT! This iritation could be from the creams, i will have to see....it doesnt happen every day though.......its strange cause its up near the urethra.


SMC- my bladder spasms happen ocassionally usually in the AM when i first urinate for the day, and sometimes i get this horrible pain like the urine is being dragged across my bladder, its a cold feeling..........never had this before the procedure.


I was one of the ones that at first had horrible flare from the hydro......but the pain i had in the vaginal opening went away after it.

Im only on 100mg of the neurontin...probably going to try 200mg it seems to help a little bit, especially after I take it. But for me it doesnt last into the next day. I dont think it stays in your body all that long.

[Christina1972]

I also have the urethra swelling & bad burning. I take Tums & baking soda. Would Ibuprofen help with the swelling? I am in a flare right now.

[tuazmom]

I don't know if it would help or not. Any anti-inflammatory may help, unless it's nerve pain. It's part of the bigger picture of a swollen bladder and tissue. Eat really bland, drink only water. Depends too on what you are taking.

I hope you feel better soon.