Help! What is a flare?

[Stl]

When you talk about a flare - what exactly is that? I have a burning sensation and I'm sick to my stomach from my breast bone down to my stomach - I feel like I'm going to throw up and my vagina is on fire. Is this a flare? It's always like this. What can I do to stop this feeling? Should I go to the hospital? The pain is almost unbearable. But what could they do there? Anyone, please help.
Sue

[GriffsMommy]

A flare is what we consider an increase in symptoms. Usually an increase in pain and in frequency and urgency. For some who have not found the correct treatment yet then it feels like a constant flare. I do have burning when I'm flaring and my bladder feels really sore. Some people go to the ER if the flare is bad enough but depending on what the dr's know about IC they might not be willing to do anything for you anyway. If you're seeing a dr that you think would help you I would call and ask for some pain meds and maybe some pyridium called in to a pharmacy. I hope you feel better soon. :grouphug:

[dreamcatcher425]

i myself have wanted to know what a flare was,ive had cystitiis over 2yrs. now, and have had interstem thearpy but didnt know what that meant when i would read about it on the cite,thanks for asking and thank you u so much griffssmommy for the answer.i can tell u a quick story 2 the burning yous talked about and how doctors can treat or not treat, i had the burning so bad before i knew what it was and went to my family doctor and obgyn and they were trying to tell me i must have some type of std and gave me antibiotics,its funny though i hadnt had a sexual partner in over a year. lol thanks guys!GODBLESS

[Cricketmk3]

A flare is different for everyone. Like Christine said, it's an increase in symptoms whatever your particular symptoms are for IC.

[leelee88]

A flare to me is when I have severe symptoms that mimic a UTI, or just a more intense feeling of burning or pain in the bladder area.

[lisabar36]

A flare to me is like having a bad UTI with bladder pressure and pain, I do get sick to my stomach with a flare because the pain gets intense. I am not sure what meds you are on but mine sure do help me! I hope you start to feel better.

[Claredale]

Flares are the same with me with the higher degree of pain and pressure. Sometimes my freq/urg is worse, but not as much of an issue since I had the interstim, it's not the every few minutes like it was for years. My main issue is the pain and pressure, so I spent the majority of my time in bed with my heating pad and lots of HOT baths.

Sue, I know what you mean about feeling sick to your stomach and being sore from your breastbone down. Going to the hospital (ER) mainly depends on if they know how to treat IC. I have had IC for a many years and have been to the ER only 2 times since my diagnosis. I was lucky to have doctors that fit me in for an appt asap and if necessary to just get me through the weekend, or even a horrible night, they would call in some pain meds as well as something to help with my bladder spasms.

My prior doctor and the doctor I see now are so adament of me only using the ER as a last resort due to the cost the time it takes especially in intense pain and the fact that if they can treat, it's only for a couple of days worth of meds. I am also so sensitive to certain treatments, especially caths, that when I am hurting, I have a hard time explaining what works and what doesn't. I had to educate the doctor at the ER the first time I went to the point of telling him to pulll up the ICA website. That was before I knew about the ICN.

[Stl]

Hi,
Thanks everybody for the info on flares. I guess I'm just always flaring because I'm always feeling like this. What kind of pain meds are good? I'm going to a nurse practioner tomorrow. I hope she can help. Is there anything I should suggest to her? And again, if anyone knows a good doctor in St. Louis, please let me know.

Sue

[leelee88]

Sue,
You can look at peoples signature and see what most are taking..
For IC I am on Tofranil, Atarax, Topamax, Elmiron I have been almost painfree now for a couple of months. But everyday I seem to be doing better.

[Stl]

Ronda,
Thanks for the info. I just didn't know if some was for pain only or if some were for the IC symptoms (which I guess is pain). This is all too new for me - sorry. I'm just glad you are pain free! Maybe oneday....
Sue

[Claredale]

I was in pain 24/7 for many years even on the med that I am currently on, but with the combo of other meds, my pain decreased dramatically. I also had the interstim, but that was more for my freq/urg which led to a decrease in my pain, but again, we are all so different. I can take a med for months and it work great, then all the sudden, my body conquers it.

That's always a hard question to answer. It depend on your pain level, how your body reacts to meds, etc. That is the million dollar question. I went through several before I found one that works for me. That doesn't mean it will work for you. I would just explain what you main focus that you want this med to do. If you work, you want to be able to continue (that was my main critieria). I didn't want to feel loopy, tired, forgetful, etc. The same med I am on can make other people just that way.

I kept (and still keep) a journal on all my meds, pain level through the day, stress, and if I ate something unusual, just to keep a record so that I could follow what worked and what didn't and why (side effects).

Good luck tomorrrow!

[Katrina]

http://icandme.9.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=22 flare triggers
understandings of what a flare is. To me the best way to put it is that a flare is anytime your symptoms are worse than your normal symptoms. Some people have no symptoms at times and a flare is anytime they have symptoms. For others a flare is anytime their symptoms are worse than normal symptoms. Symptoms of a flare can include frequency, urgency, burning, retention, and/or pain. A flare can dissipate in a day or it may continue on for months at a time