It's official

[zipher]

I had a biopsy, CT Scan and hydrodistention on Thursday, June 21. My doc told us that day that he was pretty sure I had IC. Had my follow-up this last Thursday, and he confirmed IC. I explained the pain that I have been having since the hydro to the NP and she put me on Elmiron and wanted to give me medicine through a catheter, directly into my bladder.

When they tried to place the catheter, they were unable to do so, as it wouldn't pass any more than 1-2 inches. As you can imagine, this left me in extreme pain. I was sent home with the Elmiron and Vicodin.

The doc put me on Atarax and an antibiotic after my hydro as well. Which means, I would be taking 6 pills every day. And I am just not comfortable with this. I have stopped taking the Atarax and antibiotic and never started the Elmiron. I want to try and manage this through diet and homeopathic remedies before I resort to meds. What are your opinions on this decision?

Secondly, I never had any real pain in my urethra. My main pain was in my bladder (deep throbbing, sharp pain) and my kidney area. However, since the unsuccessful catheterization last Thursday, my urethra area is extremely painful. The NP advised that I take a Vicodin as a "loading dose", then follow up with Motrin. She did not want me taking the Vicodin every time. But, the Motrin does absolutely nothing for me, and I have to take a Vicodin (sometimes I only take 1/2). Therefore, I'm almost out of the pain medicine that was supposed to last me until the 5th when I return for another check-up since the last one didn't go so well.

My main issue is that this pain is entirely new and I'm wondering if something happened when they were trying to catheterize me? What do you all think?

Thanks so much, guys!

[Ginny]

I think you are still hurting from the hydro. It should get better. It has not been that long.
As far as not wanting to take the meds, it is totally up to you. It's your body. Diet should be your first step. That should make a hugh difference.
Urologists are not into giving much pain medication. If you want to have pain meds on hand I would see a Pain Specialist. You might also try your Primary Care doctor.
I'm sorry it's IC. It's not easy.

Ginny

[jackiew75]

They did the cath on me this morning to empty my bladder and to do the elmiron.... Although they were successful, I am now suffering as my urethra hurts even more than it did and I have this nagging feeling that something is not right.

I think your making a great choice on trying the diet route first.... I am second guessing my procedure today.

Good luck

[GoldSeals]

Hi zipher,
You may want to try pyridium.You may want to call your doctor to see if this will work for you.Its a bladder aspirin and its designed to reach the bladder.Your doctor probably wants you to take the antibiotic, so you wont get an infection from all the catheters, and procedures.Thats so you wont end up with a severe infection.My doctor gave me antibiotics even when they werent successfull putting a catheter in for a urodynamics test.I couldnt stand the pain, so they quit trying to do the procedure.

[SandyRN]

Sometimes when inserting a cath the urethra will literally spasm and make it impossible to pass the cath. The pain and buring from this will go away, but if it continues you need to call your doctor's office.

Atarax was a very big help to me. It's medically proven to reduce the amount of mast cells in your bladder, thus reducing the inflammation. Also, the Elmiron is usually prescribed in the way that the NP wrote the RX, this is not uncommon. The antibiotics are only temporary, I assume.

A word of caution about herbs, supplements, etc. First, they are not regulated by the FDA. I know that the FDA is not totally on top of things, but they do have rules and regulations...the herb/supplement manufacturers do not have to abide by these rules.

If you do take these supplements, try starting them one at a time, waiting at least a week before starting another one so that you can see if it causes you any side effects.

I'm not ANTI-supplement....but I'm leery. I used to take Melatonin for sleep years ago, until I found out that the doses on those bottles were literally **100** times more than the recommended theraputic dose. You just have to be careful as you would with any medication.

I understand not wanting to take so many meds. I'm on more than I can count, literally....but without many of these meds I would be bedridden, completely, and I can't do that to my kids or my fiance.