need advice.. going to uro

[stargal34]

Hi, well today i went the regular doc (my 2nd visit for all my symtoms) I mentioned that i think i have IC and she said she was thinking the same exact thing. yay, i might get to the bottom of this. :)
i have a appoitment with a urologist next week and i just dont know what to expect for my first visit... i have gotten many tests done (pap, urine culture, abdomine, bladder, and kidney culture) that have all come back normal. So i dont know if he will put me on some treatment plan or send me for more tests to actually test for IC. Althoguh i am almost 100% positive i have it. Do most doc. do test for IC or do they start treating you right away? Also this may be a stupid question, but what do ppl mena when they say they have a flare up? Thanks everyone for all your help:)

[GriffsMommy]

I think every uro handles IC differently. Some uro's from what I hear diagnois just based on symptoms and ruling out other things. Some do a Potasium Sensitivity Test where they put a solution in your bladder and see how you responsd. Some do a cystoscopy which is where they look in your bladder with a little camera. My first uro appointment was pretty boring. He just went over all of my symptoms and took a lot of notes and then he decided what he wanted to do next.

[hdb1982]

A flare up is when you may have a lot more frequency burning pressure urgency and pain. Maybe one or all of the above. Your bladder can even have severe spasms also. It is when your symptoms get worse. When I have a flare pain is my biggest issue. I had a LEEP in May and since then my frequency ahs almost doubled and my pain is almost unbearable. So, I say I have been in a flare since May.Some IC'ers go into remission and others do not. I have not experienced remission since my dx last September. My pain is 24/7 365. Hope this helps.

[born2swim]

My doctor treated me with OAB meds (as urgency/frequency were my only symptoms). After 4 months of no help, he did a cystoscope and found nothing. He started me on Elmiron and sent me to the best IC specialist in town. They saw me a week later (they had a month long wait list but my symptoms were so severe) and they did the potassium sensitivity test and a urodynamics test. They said no wonder OAB meds didn't help and the KCl test was a very strong positive. They felt that was enough to dx me with IC... except nothing helps and my history with periods made them surgically explore (and he felt that a hydro might help me considering pain isn't my complaint and my capacity is very small). That is where I am at... surgery was 3 days ago.

I don't know if this helped, but I hope it did a bit at least!

[DDB322]

Hi! I am new to this site, but I have been reading these posts for weeks as my symptoms of IC have evolved. I am in the process of being diagnosed, although I am pretty sure I have it (mostly thanks to all of the wonderful information that can be found on this website!)

My problems started in March or April with lots of frequency and going in the middle of the night and later turned into frequency, urgency, and pain. I have been to two URO's. The first gave me OAB meds (which are helping, but I worry that I am retaining because I don't go very much when I try) to take until my cysto in 4 weeks, and the other URO suggested Pelvic Floor Treatments, which I think I could definitely use since I have major symptoms of PFD (slow/poor stream, stopping, difficulty starting urination and spasms).

But, I have to say that the information about the diet that I found on this website has been the most helpful (along with information about prelief). I was in EXTREME pain and I had no idea that food could be such a problem. I have been following the IC diet very closely and have been feeling SO MUCH BETTER (although I miss fruit and wine desperately, and am scared that reintroducing them will cause a flare)..thanks for everyone's suggestions and detailed explanations! I'm not sure what will happen when I stop taking the OAB meds, but for the time being, diet + detrol + possible PFD therapy may do the trick (I hope!). Thanks for all the great tips, stories, and comfort!