I am a very odd case...have a read

[dizzyrascal]

Hi there

It would appear I am in some sort of 'flare' at the moment.

I am a male, 24 years old which makes me an exception to the rule of it being mainly women who get this.

Also strange is I have recovered twice from it.fully. I had it from April 12th 2005-July 26th 2005. My symptoms were mainly constant urge and very irritated/sore feeling in bladder.I was prescribed oxybutynin by a urlogist and the whole thing went in 5 days.This is also weird, as these meds are not meant to be a cure.

A year later, in 2006, I had it for a month- again it dissapeared.Now 17 months later it has reappeared and I have been symptomatic for a month now and it doesnt seem to be going.

When I dont have symptoms I dont follow an IC diet and nothing irritates it- which is great.

My ex girlfriend always used to have bladder infections in 2005, and I thought I might have had one, but I have never had a UTI come back from any urine I have given. It is the same this time round- no infection.Great!

So I have no idea why I ever got this (never had an infection) and why it seems to keep coming back on a yearly basis out of the blue.

Would you call me an IC patient or one with an overactive bladder?

I really hope it dissapears again as I here this thing is not curable.

What do you think my chances are? Is this reoccurence common with any of you guys and then it goes?

Back in 2005 I had x-rays, blood and capacity test and all seemed normal- and even with a flare I can hold it if need be- when Im not in a flare my capacity is pretty good and I only go 4 times a day max.

Any answers guys? I'm really confused and its starting to get me down feeling like a need to pee the whole time- sometimes i have to get up in the night too to pee.


p.s been taking oxybutynin for a month and not seen much improvement- although some days better than others.

[tigger_gal]

First off :welcome: to our boards.
Have you been dx'ed with IC? The most likley test to determine IC is a hydro/cysto in the hospital under sedation. There are many different things that can mimic IC. My best suggestion to you is to make an appointment with a urologist and discuss what is going on with youir body. To me it wiould not seem that you have IC with your sympthoms, however we all are very diffferent with symptoms. I can't hold it, when have to go I have to go now! no if ands or buts, just got to go now.

[dizzyrascal]

Thanks for your response

I have never had a diagnosis of IC.

Back in 2005 I saw a Urlogist and he said I had an irritated bladder.

I havent had a cystoscopy, as my x-rays and urine capacity tests came back normal and oxybutynin seemed to resolve the problem in 2005.

I have had my prostate checked recently for another problem (IBS) and all seems ok (a week before my flare up), I had a urine test done on thursday and there appears to be no infection.

If things havent cleared up in another month I will go and see a urologist and asked about a cystoscopy- although being a man I have heard this very painful so I will leave this to a last resort and hope things clear up.

My main symptom is urgency, pressure and sometimes a soar feeling.

Thanks for your help.

[traceann]

Hi! I too would like to add my :welcome: to the boards!

When you were being tested and whatnot, did you or your doctor ever mention IC? Usually it's a diagnosis by process of elimination - if everything else is ruled out it, "could" be IC, lol. I would definitely hotfoot it back to my doc (or find a good uro) and try to find out what's going on. Like Tig said, there are so many things that could be the culprit, it's hard to say without a doc's help etc.

I know for me when I was on Ditropan (oxybutynin) it did nothing for my frequency. That was the first med I was put on before we (my doc and I) settled on IC. I had gone to my doc with complaints of urethral spasms/pain on urination in the urethra etc. So, he thought "ok, an OAB med should help". Well, it did - with the spasms. But when I went back for my follow-up and told him it wasn't touching the frequency at all and a bit of an uncomfortable feeling in the bladder (eventually, thanks to a real UTI, my bladder kicked in full time for a bit, lol), he was puzzled. That's about the time when I started researching IC etc and brought it up to my doctor as a possibility. For me, the Ditropan alone wasn't enough, it took the combo of my 2 others (Elmiron and Vistaril) to bring it all together, they all played their roles.

So all in all, I'd say it's definitely time to get back to doc's since the oxybutynin isn't really doing the trick, so you can get to the bottom of what's going on and get on the treatment that will help you to feel better! We all know how annoying and draining that feeling of constantly needing to go can bring, it's downright maddening sometimes. I know when I was at my worst, it affected everything I did :rant: - made it hard to concentrate, sleep etc.

Well, once again welcome to the gang and I look forward to seeing you around the boards!!!! :smile tee

[traceann]

Out of the cystoscopy categories, like Tig said, the most conclusive one is the Cysto w/Hydro - where you are under general anesthesia, the fill your bladder with saline and then have a look at the lining of your bladder. I know I have read around here that sometimes, the in-office procedure doesn't always give an accurate portrayal of the lining of your bladder etc., you get a better "view" with the Cysto w/Hydro.

With the Cysto w/Hydro since you'd be under general, it's not as uncomforable as the in-office procedure etc. Granted, afterwards everyone has some discomfort (male and female ;) ), but it will subside etc. :)

[dizzyrascal]

Hi!

Thanks for all your advice.

I will give the oxybuytnin another week and then go and see the Urologist again.

What do you think the chances are off this going away on its again - given I have got ridden of it before (twice) after a few months?

[traceann]

LOL, wish I had a concrete answer for you on that one, but unfortunately your guess is a good as mine ;) Stranger things have happened and I have learned never to rule out any possibilities!!!! :)

[dancemomof2]

Just wanted to throw in a :welcome: to the ICN!