designermillion
09-14-2007, 07:58 AM
Hi everyone,
I was diagnosed with IC on Wednesday, after dealing with issues on and off for the last 10 years (I'm 35). I have been to numerous physicians thinking I had a UTI. Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn't. The cultures would come back no growth and some grew bacteria. No one ever mentioned IC, and just prescribed me antibiotics. I even saw a Urologist and other than talking to me and doing a Renal Ultrasound, he basically treated me like it was all in my head. I don't think he even saw female patients regularly, because he seemed uncomfortable, so I just went back to my Primary Care Physician (PCP) for treatment when I thought I had a UTI. I did have some success taking 100 mg of Macrobid after intercourse (thinking that a UTI was my problem), and reduced the number of them down to 1 or 2 a year. However, in July I started developing what I can only describe as being bladder pressure. I felt like I had to urinate even after I'd just gone. I complained to my OBGYN at an appointment the same month, and told her about my UTI troubles. She just told me to take some Pyridium and see if that helped. She didn't even attempt to take urine or anything else. Another few weeks went by and it finally got so bad I went to my PCP and she did a culture which came back positive for bacteria. I was prescribed Cipro. After 2 weeks of taking that, I was still feeling urgency so I went back and she did another culture. This one came back negative, so she didn't do anything further for me. Two more weeks went by and the urgency not only got worse, but also started developing bladder burning, so I went back to see her again. She did another culture and switched me to a new antibiotic. She also gave me Urispas for the pain. She called a 2 days later and told me the culture was negative. I told her the Urispas was not working for the pain, and she said I'd need to see a Urologist, because the culture showed I had nothing wrong. I suffered through several more days of pain until I could get an appt with a Urologist this past Wed. I was pleasantly surprised when i arrived to see all women in the waiting room. When I was taken back to see the doctor, I was told he was not only a Uro but also a GYN. I was a bit shocked though, when I was told to get undressed for an "exam". After some poking a prodding and the doctor asking me where the pain was triggered, he told the nurse to prepare me for an instillation. I had no idea what that was, but soon found out. It was pretty painful for me, since I have never had a catheter. I found a little bit of relief when it was over, but it didn't last long. I was right back in pain yesterday morning and had to come home from work and stay in bed all day. The doctor prescribed me an antihistamine to start taking twice a day. My first dose was Wed night. I see that is a common treatment here. He also prescribed me 100 mg of Macrodantin to take before bed each night for 30 days, and also prescribed Vesicare. He told me to take the Vesicare only if I had not felt an improvement in 2 weeks. So right now I'm just taking the Hydroxyzine + Macrodantin. Today is Friday and I am feeling better (I think). I had a tad big of urgency, and almost no pain. Should everything be working this quickly (I'm not complaining!)? I guess I am just being cautious, because I have been in pain for so many months, I am just waiting for it to come back any second. I did alot of reading yesterday, and saw that they think there is a correlation between women who have IC and severe allergies and/or irritable bowel. I happen to have both! I did notice that I can also breath better today. It's funny how you start re-thinking everything you've been through, and all of a sudden it all makes sense. I adopted a new cat around the time all this started happening and my allergies went WILD. I am wondering if this has anything to do with it? I have also suffered for years with days when my urine felt hot or I just didn't feel right, so i would pop an antibiotic and pray I wasn't getting a UTI. I guess this was it all along. Oh a couple more questions...what is everyone being prescribed for pain killers? I don't know what to ask for? Vicoden? Also, what is this Elmiron all about and I am wondering why my doc didn't offer me any? Many many thanks in advance!
Cheryl
Jacksonville, Florida
I was diagnosed with IC on Wednesday, after dealing with issues on and off for the last 10 years (I'm 35). I have been to numerous physicians thinking I had a UTI. Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn't. The cultures would come back no growth and some grew bacteria. No one ever mentioned IC, and just prescribed me antibiotics. I even saw a Urologist and other than talking to me and doing a Renal Ultrasound, he basically treated me like it was all in my head. I don't think he even saw female patients regularly, because he seemed uncomfortable, so I just went back to my Primary Care Physician (PCP) for treatment when I thought I had a UTI. I did have some success taking 100 mg of Macrobid after intercourse (thinking that a UTI was my problem), and reduced the number of them down to 1 or 2 a year. However, in July I started developing what I can only describe as being bladder pressure. I felt like I had to urinate even after I'd just gone. I complained to my OBGYN at an appointment the same month, and told her about my UTI troubles. She just told me to take some Pyridium and see if that helped. She didn't even attempt to take urine or anything else. Another few weeks went by and it finally got so bad I went to my PCP and she did a culture which came back positive for bacteria. I was prescribed Cipro. After 2 weeks of taking that, I was still feeling urgency so I went back and she did another culture. This one came back negative, so she didn't do anything further for me. Two more weeks went by and the urgency not only got worse, but also started developing bladder burning, so I went back to see her again. She did another culture and switched me to a new antibiotic. She also gave me Urispas for the pain. She called a 2 days later and told me the culture was negative. I told her the Urispas was not working for the pain, and she said I'd need to see a Urologist, because the culture showed I had nothing wrong. I suffered through several more days of pain until I could get an appt with a Urologist this past Wed. I was pleasantly surprised when i arrived to see all women in the waiting room. When I was taken back to see the doctor, I was told he was not only a Uro but also a GYN. I was a bit shocked though, when I was told to get undressed for an "exam". After some poking a prodding and the doctor asking me where the pain was triggered, he told the nurse to prepare me for an instillation. I had no idea what that was, but soon found out. It was pretty painful for me, since I have never had a catheter. I found a little bit of relief when it was over, but it didn't last long. I was right back in pain yesterday morning and had to come home from work and stay in bed all day. The doctor prescribed me an antihistamine to start taking twice a day. My first dose was Wed night. I see that is a common treatment here. He also prescribed me 100 mg of Macrodantin to take before bed each night for 30 days, and also prescribed Vesicare. He told me to take the Vesicare only if I had not felt an improvement in 2 weeks. So right now I'm just taking the Hydroxyzine + Macrodantin. Today is Friday and I am feeling better (I think). I had a tad big of urgency, and almost no pain. Should everything be working this quickly (I'm not complaining!)? I guess I am just being cautious, because I have been in pain for so many months, I am just waiting for it to come back any second. I did alot of reading yesterday, and saw that they think there is a correlation between women who have IC and severe allergies and/or irritable bowel. I happen to have both! I did notice that I can also breath better today. It's funny how you start re-thinking everything you've been through, and all of a sudden it all makes sense. I adopted a new cat around the time all this started happening and my allergies went WILD. I am wondering if this has anything to do with it? I have also suffered for years with days when my urine felt hot or I just didn't feel right, so i would pop an antibiotic and pray I wasn't getting a UTI. I guess this was it all along. Oh a couple more questions...what is everyone being prescribed for pain killers? I don't know what to ask for? Vicoden? Also, what is this Elmiron all about and I am wondering why my doc didn't offer me any? Many many thanks in advance!
Cheryl
Jacksonville, Florida