How many instills until it lessons the frequency?

[CathyKi]

I had my first instill Friday and they only gave me a half portion. It felt good for an hour, kind of cool, by evening it was gone. I hope it lasts longer than this on the second try and I also wonder if it takes several times to get it going. If it doesn't help maybe I have something else.

[Elle]

What kind of instills are you having?

[lisabar36]

I was going to ask the same question, what are they using for your instills? Everyone is different but on what I am using, when I had one a week for 6 weeks I felt better after the first one and even more so after the 2nd, after the 6 weeks was over, about 2 weeks later I started to have spasms again. Now that I am doing them 2 times a week, I don't have the spasms near as bad. I always noticed some relief after the first one, but we are all so different! And we all use different meds for instills also.

[ICNDonna]

The time needed for instillations to help can vary with the medications used, as well as with each individual.

I hope they will help you.

Donna

[GriffsMommy]

I like Lisa am doing my instills twice a week. Right now I have the most relief while the meds are in my bladder. I actually go to sleep with them in so I can hold it as long as possible. I am not feeling much relief afterwards yet but my dr thinks that my bladder is a real mess so I guess it might take longer for me than some.

[bunnykinb]

I switched back to my first urologist. I am going to learn how to do instills at home to see if more frequent instills with heparin will help better than DMSO. He also gave me Urojet. Has anyone used that? Also, can a burning feeling in the clitoris be a symptom of IC?

thanks

[CathyKi]

lidocaine and marcaine

[L. Thomas]

Also, can a burning feeling in the clitoris be a symptom of IC?

thanks

Yes
My urogyne also told me that IC can mimic yeast infection. I have found that for me it does mimic a yeast infection. Since I have started doing instills if I have vaginal itching after I do an instill I alow the remainder of the instill in the catheter to drain over that area that is causing my problems and the symptoms disappear. I haven't had a yeast infections since I started instills but I do have the vaginal irritation occasionally. DON'T think that you are not having a yeast infection. Talk with your MD and see what he thinks.

[bunnykinb]

:confused:I recently saw the gyno and he checked and did a pelvic exam. I had some burning then but no yeast infection. I have also been checked by another gyno in June and asked her if I could have vulvodynia. She said I had no irritation or swollenness. I had thought my main burning was coming from the urethra but it is the clitoris. I see the gyno after I get my probe ultrasound next Monday.:confused:

[CathyKi]

I had a full Lidocain, heparin, sodium bicarb instill yesterday. The frequency was a little less for four hours. It doesn't seem worth it. I have one scheduled for next week. Do I keep doing this? It doesn't seem to help with the frequency which is my main complaint.

[bunnykinb]

After an instill, I don't have to use the restroom for hours, then I am back to my ole frequent trips.

[sphinx]

I had a full Lidocain, heparin, sodium bicarb instill yesterday. The frequency was a little less for four hours. It doesn't seem worth it. I have one scheduled for next week. Do I keep doing this? It doesn't seem to help with the frequency which is my main complaint.

When I first started, I too was getting them once a week, for 4 weeks. Like you, the frequency was slightly decreased for a few hours after the instill, but then back to normal. (Frequency is my main problem too). I kept going and decided to go ahead and learn the home catheterization and now do daily instillations (occasionally skip a day if I feel ok). Within a couple of weeks I was feeling loads better. It's been 2 months and with the exception of a UTI I just got over, I feel almost like a "normal person" when it comes to how many times I pee a day. It's liberating! I can sit through a movie, I can go to work and wait until *lunch time* to pee, I can get through the night only getting up once.....etc. So I say, keep trying. If possible, try the self instillation at home and more frequently if your doc agrees. Believe me, I never thought I'd be able to do that, and now it is like old hat. You just have to be very careful......I got sloppy and got an infection. But I am way more careful now.

Good luck.

[cfulton]

My 23 year old son has IC and we are in the middle of switching Dr.'s. He has been on Elmiron for 5 months with no improvement and also had the surgery that fills the bladder several times and flushes out infection. It gave him two days relief. The Dr is talking DSMO but I don't like what I am reading about them.
Can anyone tell me the differences between DMSO and instills?