Trying to get Pregnant: HELP in tears / bad flare

[bunni29]

Hi friends:

I need your help as I'm in an awful flare.

For the past 7 years I have had IC... pretty mild, but still have some bad flare ups off and on.

Hubby and I want to begin a family.

SO on December 1st I quit my bladder medicine "Vistaril" and did the "do"

Well ever since we had sex "two" times since December 1st I have had the worse flare in the last 7 years I've ever had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
probably b/c i quit my bladder medicine.......and sex

I have extreme & severe pressure / frequency
and every time I go to the bathroom, I feel like I have to go right again....and then only a dribble comes out.
and my vaginal area inside just feels "swollen"
and I'm not sleeping

Please please help. What can I do for this horrible flare?
There is NO WAY I can live like this "if" I get pregnant..........

I went to see urologist and I have no infection... just said that my bladder is probably going into spasm due to sex and me being off my bladder medicine....
He suggested pelvic floor therapy..

Tomorrow I go see my ob/gyn...........
Is there any "safe" medicines to help with the pressure and frequency..that do not cause retention?

What did some of you others take when pregnant for the pressure and frequency?

I'm so scared and I don't want to take medicine... while pregnant but there is no way I can live like this.........I can't sleep and barely walk b/c of the pressure and frequency.

It's so unfair that we all have this problem.
Pregnancy is suppose to happy, but I'm not and I'm scared and so flared up.

Please help me with advice so I can tell my ob/gyn tomorrow.

thanks so much for your help,
Bunni
Texas

[GriffsMommy]

I'm sorry you're having such bad flares. My flares are so bad from sex my new dr told me I couldn't have sex for at least 6 weeks while he tries to get everything calmed down.

I personally was not being treated for IC while I was pregnant. My dr believes I have had IC my whole life but had no idea I had it 4 years ago while I was pregnant. From some of the other posts I have read there are people that are on meds while pregnant. I know there are some meds that are safe and some that are out of the question. When you go to your ob/gyn I would see if you can get a referral to a high risk ob/gyn. From what I have read they are much more familiar with a woman taking meds while pregnant than a normal ob/gyn. Hopefully your uro and ob/gyn can come up with a plan of safe meds to take during pregnancy so you're not so miserable. You want to keep in mind that some women go into remission while pregnant so you might be just fine. Good luck. :grouphug:

[Krisi]

Bunni,

I hope you are feeling better today. I know flares can be so awful. I was wondering if your doctor ever checked you for vulvodynia and PFD? I have both plus the IC but my uro and gyn never found it until I went to a Pelvic Pain Specialist. Also, try to use ice or heat on the area. Ice may actually be better. I like heat myself, but I've used both for flares. Some people will tell you though that heat is bad for a baby but my PPS who used to do OB said it is fine as long as it isn't too hot, but I would check with your OB/GYN first to make sure. I wish you the best and hope the flare goes away soon! Good luck on getting pregnant!

Krisi

[DEU]

Hi Bunni,

I am sorry to hear you are not doing well. My husband and I have decided to try to get pregnant this year and I will be facing the same issues. I have been a sufferer for 7 years and I am considered a "severe" case, but 50mg of Evail a day has allowed me to live a some what normal life.

I noticed you live in Austin as do I. I am planning on visiting my OBGYN in two weeks to discuss options. I will also ask her for a recommendation for a high risk pregnancy Dr in the area. In addition, I will make an appt for my Urologist to discuss his perspective. If you would like I can share their feedback with you after my appts.

Hope you are feeling better,
Diana

[ltlmiss]

I was prescribed visterel and lortab when I was pregnant. Did your doctor tell you to go off of it? It seems that there are many posts here where women are worried about their meds while pregnant and it turns out that they are able to still take a lot of them. The best advice I could give you is to talk to your doctor.

[DEU]

Hi ltlmiss,

Thanks for sharing your success. I will ask my Dr for their opinion regarding these two meds. May I ask how well did these control the pain and were you able to funtion normally throughout your day? I only ask b/c I would like to continue to work while I am pregant.

Thanks,
Diana

[Charisse]

Hey ladies please share what your drs tell you as I'm TTC as well. My OB told me that Atarax aka Vistaril is okay to take while pregnant. I think it's category B or C -it's similar to Benadryl. He also said it was okay to stay on the Elmiron although I completely respect every woman's decision not to take meds while pregnant. I think Vistaril has been around a long time and I would feel pretty safe about taking that one. My OB said that some of the category C drugs are safer than the Bs simply because they've been prescribing them for pregnant women for so long and haven't seen any bad side effects.

[Kara29]

Bunni,

What your Doctor prescribes for you while you are pregnant is up to you and that particular Doctor. Every OBGYN has a different take on what is safe or not. It's so individual. If you are not happy with the treatment you are getting prenatal, I would suggest to keep looking for new Doctors. After all it's the health of you and your baby should you concieve and you deserve the best treatment possible.

Kara

[Jessica9379]

I'm an idiot. I had no idea Vistaral and Atarax were the same thing.

Your doctor said Atarax was okay to take during pregnancy?

I've been able to decrease my Elmiron down to 100mg/day without any problems. Any little variation with the Atarax though - I'm in a major flare.

Being able to stay on Atarax would probably save my sanity - but the majority of info says its not okay right?

[Charisse]

You're not an idiot! :) I just googled "Atarax and Pregnancy Category" and it appears that Atarax is Category C. I would make a list of all your medications and schedule a preconception appointment with your OB before stopping anything. If you can't get in within the next couple of days then ask to talk to the nurse and tell her you want a phone call back today about the medications you are on. They are usually very good about getting back to you the same day if you tell them you might already be pregnant. Most drs will say it's okay to take most medications up until you get a positive test. I'm not an expert on Atarax but I imagine it would be totally out of your body within a day or two of stopping . . .and if it takes you several months to conceive then you will be torturing yourself for nothing. All this being said -you really should clear everything through your dr first.. I think we all know that but I still find it helpful to hear from other women and find out what their OBs are saying about meds. I've read posts from women here whose drs said they should not take Elmiron and then posts from other women whose drs said Elmiron is absolutely fine. My dr had a book that lists all the different drugs and their pregnancy classifications but he told me that he is more comfortable with some of the meds that he's seen used in pregnant patients for years despite their rating. Does that make sense? Best of luck to you!

[humpieumpumkin]

I beleive Pyridium or Uristat are category B and considered safe to use. Ask you doctor first, for me Pyridium is a lifesaver!

Erika:hi:

[LeeAnn]

Before I met my OB I was completely freaked out to read on the internet that Atarax was a big pregnancy no-no, especially in the first trimester. He assured me that it is OKAY and has been used in pregnancy for over 30 years. He told me it's the first thing doctors turn to for women who have skin rashes. It's all the first thing they turn to for anxiety----and when pregnant women are prescribed Atarax for anxiety the dose is usually 200-300 mg THREE TIMES A DAY. He said that stuff I read about it being harmful in the first trimester was not true. He's been an OB for 30 years working w/ high risk pregnancies.

I take 150-200mg at night and could not survive this pregnancy without it.

I respect people's decision not to take meds while pregnant but that really was not an option for me. My doctor said the best thing I could do for the baby and for the pregnancy was to get my pain under control.

So, other people may judge me for taking three meds while pregnant, but I feel okay about it.......