Hormones Related to IC?

[JenAZ07]

I have been reading a lot of articles on-line about a potential correlation between hormones and IC and was wondering if anyone's doctor had tested their hormone levels and/or if anyone had been treated for hormone imbalances that helped their IC.

Although I had urgency/frequency for as long as I can remember, my severe pain issues didn't start until after I lost my son this past summer (fatal chromosome abnormality-- baby died soon after delivery at 22 weeks). Did anyone else's IC start after pregnancy? I am only 29 so I don't think I am close to menopause, but wonder if my hormones are out of whack from the pregnancy. I am seeing my OB/GYN tomorrow and intend to ask her to check my hormone levels, but just curious as to other people's experiences.

Thanks for the responses,
Jen

[SharonA]

It really is a good idea to have your hormone levels checked.

[mom_in_ma]

I'm so sorry that you lost your son. That said, I was in remission for two or three years before I got pregnant accidentally (I had a IUD). I was pretty much in remission most of the pregnancy but we lost the baby at 16 weeks. I stayed in remission until three months later when my hormones crashed. It was dealable for the first three months and then at 6 mo. post partum ic hit me like a brick wall. I'm also 38 and about that time started perimenopause. I think hormones, grief, stress, all play together to make us more suceptible (sp?) to this disease. That said, I've talked with numerous docs over the past year and none have been willing to test my hormones so I finally just paid to have them tested myself through a company called zrtlabs.com. I'm still waiting for the results, but I figured it was worth it to ME.

[ICNDonna]

I'm very sorry about your son. :grouphug:

Many ICers feel that the normal fluctuations in hormone levels during the month definitely effect symptoms. That said, I think it's a good idea to be checked.

Donna

[Silverfox]

Jen, so sorry about your loss. Do ask to include your thyroid hormones. Thyroid problems sometimes develop after a pregnancy. Or sometimes, might have been a slow ongoing problem not caught earlier. When the thyroid is not working correctly then it can affect the other glands like the ovaries and adreanals.

My painful bladder/ic began when I was a child and I was over 35 when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and this was because of so many confusing symptoms. My true final diagnosis is called distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy caused by my hypothyroid disease that went untreated for so many years, resulting in much nerve damage throughout my entire body.
Early treatment for a thyroid problem will give the best result.

Silverfox

[JenAZ07]

Thanks all. My Ob/Gyn wouldn’t test my hormones yet. She said that IC is thought of more as an autoimmune disorder versus hormone problem, so…..no blood work. Also, with how my period has been lately, she said that the test would likely come back abnormal, but that it would have nothing to do with the IC. She doesn’t think I am ovulating, hence abnormal hormone levels, but thinks the lack of ovulation is due more to stress (sole income provider for my family, loss of my son, worrying about losing job from all the dr’s appts.), and the severe pain which she says increases stress. But, I am scheduled to see the IC specialist in my area at the end of Feb. and I will bring it up to him as well so maybe he will order the tests. Good news though—is that this Ob/Gyn believes that my IC will go into remission once I get pregnant….so instead of waiting for a remission to get pregnant, she thinks I should just go for it as soon as the IC specialist says it is okay. :woohoo:

Sharon/Donna—Thanks. I think I have fluctuations in pain level through out the month—being worse right around when I would think I was ovulating until about the second day of my period. Ob/Gyn thinks that is due to inflammation increasing in that area…not hormones. Who really knows though….guess if they knew for sure they would be that much closer to a cure.

Mom_in_Ma—I am sorry for your loss as well. My major IC symptoms (pain) started about a month after I delivered my son—although I had what I thought was a bladder infection a week after delivery which turned out to be nothing. I have had frequency/urgency for years I just didn’t know it wasn’t normal for people to go to the bathroom 20 times during the day and 3 times in the five minutes before bed. :smile tee

Silverfox—Thanks for the info re: thyroid. I will definitely have them check that. Haven’t had it checked in a couple of years, so it is about time.

Jen

[GriffsMommy]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't think that hormones are the cause for my IC but I think it def aggrevates it. I can't move for the first couple of days of my period without having extreme bladder pain. It also hurts like crazy to pee. I have endo as well though and my dr thinks my period is making my endo flare and then the endo is flaring my IC. I hope you get some answers and start to feel better soon.