i'm on ciprofloxacin...

[StayingStrong]

Hi everyone, I’m Sarah. I’ve recently been diagnosed with I.C. and had bladder distention surgery under G.A. about 11 days ago.

My history - about 5/6 years ago I had a bad UTI which was treated with antibiotics. I have had 3-6 UTIs each year since then - in between these bouts of pain I was ok, leading a normal life (sometimes hectic with work & socialising) and was fine apart from slight pain in my bladder each evening at bedtime. However, in October this year I had a UTI which really didn’t appear to get any better with the antibiotics. Following the 10 day course of medication I was left with a dull ache in my bladder area which got severe as the days went on. I also felt zapped of energy and sickly. Fed up of it all, I pushed my doctor to refer me to a private specialist. I had various tests and scans - they thought I had endometriosis or an ovarian cyst. All scans were clear. After many other tests and examinations, my consultant decided to undertake a laparoscopy and cystoscopy - this was 11 days ago. They found adhesions on my bowel and bladder - no know cause - which is fixed now, all fine.

Today I had my follow-up consultation and was diagnosed with I.C.
to hear you have it for life and there is no cure is really hard to take isn’t it? I usually have a busy lifestyle and desperately want to get back to that.
I have been put on ciprofloxacin antibiotics once a day for the rest of my life. Does the herbal remedy of acidophilus help at all? I have read that this sorts the flora levels out in your tummy which is disturbed by antibiotics.

[NancyB]

Hi - Whenever I take antibiotics I take one Flora Jen 3. It has three different kinds of good bacterial that will help your stomach, intestines, and vagina. I get it at one of our local health food stores. You won't find it on the shelves, it is in the refrigerator in the same area. Hope this is helpful.:)

[StayingStrong]

thank you for your help :-)

[Krisi]

You might want to see another specialist for a second opinion or talk to him about other treatments besides antibiotics if you have IC. They don't really know what causes IC. Plus, a lot of bacteria are being resistant to Cipro and other antibiotics because they are used so much. Also, was the UTI in October really a UTI ? Did they send it off for culture? Because if it wasn't the antiB won't help. I have been there; I have IC, vulvodynia, PFD, and UTIs here recently. I would try getting on the IC diet first and if that doesn't help there are medications they can try that work for some people and not for others. Hope you start feeling better!

[karen10]

Your story sounds very similar to mine. But please take heart! I had the same reaction hearing that, but IC can be very manageable for most people. There are many different ways of doing that!! It took some time for me to wrap my head around that concept, but with the right diet especially, there are many, many different things to help your IC symptoms. Keep doing your research, including both traditional and alternative therapies. Check on this site for a variety of resources. It's very encouraging! :smile tee

[StayingStrong]

thanks for your help and words of encouragement!
i spoke to my doctor today who explained that i needed to be on cipro for a month or so as i am at the moment as the operations i had involved removing adhesions of the bowel, bladder and appendix - therefore the antibiotics will help keep all infections in all areas at bay, post operation

i am seeing my specialist on 7th jan to talk about how i've been with the antibiotics and what further medication i should take - i will defo mention that i'm uncomfortable being on cipro for life as he suggested, and question the fact that IC isnt bacteria.

in terms of the diet - where do i start!??!

also, just to add - i have been IC pain free since the op yet yesterday and today have a heavy bowling ball feeling where my bladder is. i drove for an hour and came home to a cold house - sounds odd, but does anxiety/tension and/or the cold aggrevate the condition? i feel like all i need is something to relax that muscle! :help:

[karen10]

StayingStrong,
One thing I would recommend with being on that powerful of an antibiotic is to look into some good probiotics (yogurt is good, but it won't cut it for that med for that long). After 6 weeks of antibiotics for endocarditis, I think I pretty much wiped out my good bacteria and had terrible unrelated symptoms for about 6 months after that--fatigue, severe anxiety, bloating, stomach problems, etc. I finally learned that it was candida which overpopulated as a result of the antibiotics I was on for so long. And good heavens, cipro for life!?! Isn't that one way to become resistant to it and others? I would get another opinion on that one!

Check out the diet on this site, it's very helpful. I started with the elimination diet myself just to get a better understanding of what foods bothered me.

Stress definitely aggravates IC--according to the research and my personal experience! Cold does for me as well. That's why a heating pad is so wonderful! Good luck! :smile tee