General IC Symptom Question

[glassd18]

Why is it when I have full bowels (before BM) (sorry for the topic) my IC symtpoms completely dissappear? Then once I go my bladder is irritated all over again. This sounds like nerve problems in some way. Like the colon is pressing on a nerve that blocks the bladder pain. What does this mean in regards to a possible IC treatment? I have had such terrible lower right back pain since all this started which I know a lot of us have due to inflammed pelvic nerves. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Thanks
Di

[Claredale]

I haven't heard it that way. Most of the time, me included, as long as I stay "regular" my IC symptoms are much better. Hopefully someone else can offer some advice.

Tracey

[Want2BPainFree]

I don't know. I tend to have the opposite problem. Full bowel equals pressure in my pelvis and hurts me, and going often gives relief.

[glassd18]

I've heard that before. That some people's bladders feel better, but mine is the opposite, and I still think that this has something to do with a nerve problem.

[leelee88]

That is very odd. I also have the opposite problem. When my bowels are full it puts pressure on the bladder causing all kinds of pain.

[lisabar36]

Hi, I also have the opposite, after I have a bowel movement I feel so much better.

[momtoSM]

Di,
I think I have the same problem as you. I guess I never really payed attention to my IC right before I have to go, but I will be paying more attention now. However, sometimes after having a BM, especially a lose one, my bladder is more irritated. It gets more irriated when I walk afterwords and feels as though I have to pee more frequently.

Also, most people say their pain and frequency get worse during their period. I don't have pain with my IC, but when I get my period and use tampons, it sometimes actually feels as though my IC gets better. As if the pressure of something there next to my bladder helps. ??? Weird, I know. Even before my IC though, I did have to pee more during my period so I kind of still have this once in a while, but more often when I have my period it feels a little better.

Erika :)

[bjcov]

Glass,
I'm w/ you when I have to have a BM I do not feel any "gotta go pee feeling" I just assumed it was your brain concentrating on something else. But I have thought about the nerve thing. I find myself wanting to have the urge for a BM to get rid of the awful urge to pee symptoms.

[sami4]

The same nerves that supply the bladder, bowel,lower back, pelvic floor all run through the same tiny holes in the pelvic floor. What you are describing is the pressure and triggering of the nerves in the pelvic floor by a bulky stool in the lower intestines that stimulate the bladder and bowel. In some the nerves over fire and they go more often, in others the pressure on the nerves has the opposite effect.
Sammi

[bjcov]

So Sami, we should be seeking treatment for PFD then?

[sami4]

Yes, seek treatment and evaluation if you want to find the root of your pain and want relief. The best person to dianosis this is a vulvar specialist, some Gyno's understand it, but most do not. There are books written on this subject which you can read and order from this site.
I have had physical therapy for 6 months for PFD and I used to think that the stinging, burning urethral pain I had was bladder related. My uro thought it was too. However, I learned it was pelvic floor referred pain. Now, I can detect it, I have learned what will cause a spasm. Believe it or not I was at the movies yesterday and put my legs up on a railing and got a terrible pelvic cramp and spasm which caused frequency, and urethral stinging. When I got up to go and pee, the shift in position, and walking engaged a different set of pelvic floor muscles and it went away.
Remember if you have a hammer everything looks like a nail. I love my Uro, but to him everything is IC, they dont bother to look anymore.
Sammi

[windchaser]

I also have the oposite thats strange my pain gets 10x worse with bm

[notmybestday]

sami4: You are so right about uros. I'm certain I suffer from some nerve damage or pelvic floor dysfunction in addition to IC, but my uro just calls my symptoms typical and kicks me out of the room.

Oh, me, too!

In the mornings, before I have a BM, I have very few urinary symptoms and only minor urethral irritation. Sometimes, I think I even have retention because I drink a good amount of fluids but nothing comes out. Right after a BM though, my urethra "burns" I guess you could call it and seems to trigger frequency.

And at night, when I feel gassy (sorry, I have IBS, too), I feel like my frequency and urethral irritation fades and, again, even a little retention along with it.

But then, sometimes I get some stomach bloating that seems to trigger major frequency. But maybe the bloating's from the IC....

Like I know anything.

[sami4]

Again, all the bowel problems are due to nerve pressure and impingement. Even overactive bowels such as in IBS are really overactive nerves that get stuck in a loop and contract constantly. A lot of people with these syndromes complain of rapid heartbeats, overactive bladder, IBS, Fibromyalgia, all of this stuff is related to an overactive autonomic nervous system. Brought on by what?
Here it gets individual. Could have started with chronic stress-loss of job, financial hardships, bad marital realtionship or famiy relationship, traumatic event,nasty boss and job where you have to suck it up to get along. It could start from surgery, hormone problems and changes from childbirth, menopause, PMS, chemotherapy--many different causes that threaten the homostasis of the body systems, that eventually cause chronic pain and nerve damage.
Stress and trauma trigger hormones, which trigger a stimulation of nerves which eventually become an irritation to an organ system, and then a loop occurs and the nerves fire without the stimulus.
Relief or pain on bowel movement depends on which nerves in pelvic floor are impinged as the stool either stays or moves through the lower intestine.
Sammi