Unsure if I have IC

[jillspeedy]

I'm not quite for sure if I'm posting this in the right section or not.

I've seen a urologist for the last several few years with the diagnosis of overactive bladder but I'm wondering now if I should seek another opinion. I think I have mild IC. My back hurts from time to time (which stops after I go to the bathroom) and from the reading that I did last night the pain in the back is one of the signs for IC (which happens to not be listed for someone who has overactive bladder).

The urologist that diagnosed me moved away about a year ago and the the urologist that I saw in his place just said that it was overactive bladder continue my Ditropan and I don't have to come back and see him.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

[petrie86]

I'm not sure if you have Ic. I would try to see a specialist in Ic just to make sure. It wont hurt you to get a 2nd opinion... ya know?? Do you have any frequency issue, pressure or buring?? Those are some syptoms of IC. Although everyone is different so try to see a specialist!!! Wishing you Luck

Rachel

[soccermom32]

Hi!
I don't know if you have IC either, only a specilist could determine. If you are just going by having a sore lower back, I wouldn't think that is IC. IC comes with frequency/urgency/burning/pelvic pain -pressure in bladder etc...

Good luck! I hope you DON'T have IC.......you don't want this one :toilet:

[Berkshire Road]

Sorry, we can't diagnose you, we aren't doctors! :) But if I were just guessing, I'd say no, bc. as everyone else has said, the hallmarks of IC are frequency/urgency and severe pain. But if it's worrying you, absolutely try to get another opinion. I hope you don't have it, IC is the pits. So, I don't think you should get too worked up over the possibility, but see someone else if you're not confident in your doctor's judgment.

Believe me, it's not that we don't want to welcome you to the group, but I'm sure everyone here is rooting for you NOT to have it! Good luck.

[humpieumpumkin]

Please get a second opinion, im sorry you are suffering like this. I truly hope you don't have IC it is a terrible disease. We are here for you no matter what, IC or not. Bladder problems are all welcomed here!

Erika:bunny:

[Briza]

I'm not sure if you have Ic. I would try to see a specialist in Ic just to make sure. It wont hurt you to get a 2nd opinion... ya know?? Do you have any frequency issue, pressure or buring?? Those are some syptoms of IC. Although everyone is different so try to see a specialist!!! Wishing you Luck
Rachel
:hi:
Rachel is right on target...we can't dx you here but if you let us know if you have any of the symptoms she mentioned, that would be helpful in steering you in the right direction.

Is Ditropan working for you? I know some IC patients take it, but not as many as you would think, based on what I've read from these boards. If not, whether it is IC or not, there are other meds that can help with frequency and urgency AND help you sleep at night, and also help with pain if you have that, too.

Actually, not all IC patients have pain and those who do have pain, levels can be from mild to severe and the severity can change throughout the month, week, day,hour...I didn't have bladder pain for the first 5 months, but I did have a lot of the other symptoms, and Ditropan was the 1st med I was Rxd and it didn't work for my frequency/urgency/gotta go right now symptoms. Even with my treatment plan worked out pretty well right now, I can have days of no pain, but still have other symptoms like frequency. I take ELavil for that and it works really well for me. It wouldn't hurt to get a 2nd opinion, but if this new uro you're seeing now is open to trying some of the IC protocol meds, like ELavil or Atarax, or a muscle relaxer, it wouldn't hurt to see what his ideas on that are. If you're not comfortable with him and/or he doesn't want to try another avenue, then yeah, definitely get a 2nd opinion.

Best wishes. I think that it's great that you're exploring other conditions, since IC is pretty much a diagnosis of exclusion.

PS Have you tried the IC diet? Many IC patients, are helped with it, and especially those with mild symptoms can often control their IC using the diet alone..with fewer or no meds! :)

[L. Thomas]

I was prescribed Detrol for urge/frequency. It reduced my stream to basically a dribble. I quit taking it and my stream retuned to normal. I don’t know if you have IC or not but pain was not my presenting symptom. I never did have unbearable pain but I did have a combination of symptoms that affected the quality of my life. I did have a pain that I call a backward UTI pain. It didn’t hurt when I started going to the bathroom but as I finished it hurt.

If the quality of your life is being affected I would keeping trying to find help.