Terrible Flare, Help!

[ussmcfaul]

The past couple days I have been in complete utter misery. I am flaring terribly. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've taken hot baths, used a heating pad, and used a vibrating massager. I'm going absolutely out of my mind. I've slept 8 hours in 4 days! I was outright sobbing last night. I'm seeing a new doctor next thursday. I can't wait. I can't call up my old doctor to prescribe me something for the time being. I could try anyway even though they will say no I'm sure. I'm going to do that tomorrow. It can't hurt right? Any suggestions on what I can do? I'm sorry to complain so much, this is just utterly terrible. I'm so worried my new doctor isn't going to believe me either how bad this can be sometimes.

[ussmcfaul]

I forgot to mention that yesterday I tried to relieve the pain by drinking tons of water. I drank almost a gallon (100 ounces) in a little over an hour. I peed every ten minutes, and once I peed it all out my bladder had lightened up a LITTLE for about and hour and a half. I'm trying it again right now. It took 3 hours to pee it all out yesterday, going every 10 minutes. I'm starting to regret starting to drink the water again though because the pain of having to urinate so badly is almost as bad as the flare itself.

[TexasHoney]

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so lousy.It might be a good idea for you to get checked for a uti. Also, have you tried ice for the pain. Ice often works better for me. I put it right over my bladder. I hope you get some relief real soon.

Take Care

[ussmcfaul]

I am in fact wondering if I have a UTI as this is the worst its ever been. We'll see at my appointment next thursday. In a way, I'm worried that it's currently a UTI because I've had a lot of pain even when I'm sure I didnt have a UTI, so I'm worried that if its a UTI that the doctor is going to brush me off when I'll still need to be treated for my IC. (I didnt schedule the appointment because of the "flare" but because I need a new doctor to treat my IC.) On the other hand, if its a UTI I know that the antibiotics will help with the severe pain I am going through. Its just that once the UTI is gone, I'll still be in my "normal every day pain" which is still bad. I guess I could just tell the doctor that huh? I'll say, ok I'm relieved that I can be treated for the UTI, but I still suffer greatly from IC even when I dont have a UTI, so I want to discuss treatment options. I guess thats simple enough lol. I've been worrying about that for nothing.

[motherof4]

Have your tried uristat?If it is a UTI maybe it will help until you get to the doctor...

[ICNDonna]

I think it would be a good idea to go to either your primary care doc or an urgent care center to check for infection. You don't want to let an infection go for the days until your appointment.

Donna

[SharonA]

I am agreeing with Donna on this one. Don't wait until your appointment to have your urine checked for an infection. Go to some type of walk-in clinic and ask for them to test your urine. They are usually open 7-day a week.

[lissad]

I am sorry you are suffering . Do not apologize for complaining , it helps to vent and say how you feel:rant: . And one time or another we all cry our eyes out !: Believe me I do it all the time . You are not alone . I was driving to the URO yesterday in busy traffic crying part of the way until i finally changed the radio station to something funny . What are you taking for pain medication ? Does the old DR. know you are leaving and seeing a new one ? If not call and get some pain meds asap . What about using a TENS unit ?When I am flaring I try everything :toilet:. I hope you get better soon and get your pain under control . Keep in touch:help:

The past couple days I have been in complete utter misery. I am flaring terribly. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've taken hot baths, used a heating pad, and used a vibrating massager. I'm going absolutely out of my mind. I've slept 8 hours in 4 days! I was outright sobbing last night. I'm seeing a new doctor next thursday. I can't wait. I can't call up my old doctor to prescribe me something for the time being. I could try anyway even though they will say no I'm sure. I'm going to do that tomorrow. It can't hurt right? Any suggestions on what I can do? I'm sorry to complain so much, this is just utterly terrible. I'm so worried my new doctor isn't going to believe me either how bad this can be sometimes.

[leelee88]

I think it would be best if you could get to a clinic to rule out an infection. And please never feel bad for coming here and ranting..(((hugs)))

[VickiB]

Agree with the others,...please don't leave a possible infection to brew until Thursday!

I understand what you mean about being concerned if it is a UTI your doctor might brush off the seriousness of living with IC. But I wonder, if they would do that, it's probably because they're the type to brush off IC, -UTI or not! Hmm, I hope that makes sense?

One thing you might try is to add some baking soda to your water if your diet isn't sodium restricted. I know when my bladder acts up I have found some relief from drinking lots & lots & lots of water. (I call it IC/water torture!) My brother-in-law mentioned I should be careful with this practice as too much water can throw off your electrolyte balance with dangerous results. He didn't say how much is too much though!(?)

Vicki

[ussmcfaul]

Thank you everybody for your replies. I will try baking soda in my water. I will also go get some uristat at walgreens. Thank you for those suggestions. I don't know what I would do without all of you. I was going to go to a pain clinic today if I was still in terrible pain in hopes of temporary pain treatment until my appointment. I was finally able to fall asleep at 8am this morning. I awoke every hour or so to urinate, but slept til 4pm. Its the most sleep I've gotten in 5 days combined. I really started to feel like I was going out of my mind, not just from the pain, but from the lack of sleep. I start to go a little bit crazy when I can't sleep for days. Its so frustrating because people in my life don't understand the affects of night after night of no sleep. The other day (I had only slept a few hours in 3 days) I was suppossed to go pick up a job application, but I was feeling terrible. It was noon, I hadnt slept the night before, or the night before that, and my boyfriend knew this but said to me, "when are you going to get that job application, you've been up, you should have done it 2 hours ago." Of course it made me angry, but it also made me feel so bad that my boyfriend thought I was just being lazy. I kind of snapped at him. I said "you try being in miserable pain and go three days without sleep, and then we'll see how much you get done." That was the first un-understanding thing he's said in a while. For the most part he's been pretty great with supporting me. On top of all this pain, insomnia, and resulting anxiety, I had a lab practical (exam) yesterday for my anatomy and physiology class, and I have an exam Monday. I simply don't have the energy to study, nor the ability to concentrate. Anyways, I'm not going to the pain clinic because so far (I've only been awake 2 hours) the pain isnt AS bad as the last few days. We'll see, I may still have to go. I don't have insurance, and I don't have a primary care doctor. Someone asked me what I take for pain. Other than elavil, no doctor has ever been willing to prescribe me anything for pain. I took 4 ibuprofen last night because I was desperate. Of course it did nothing.

[VickiB]

Wow, that lack of sleep is rough! And having to take an exam on top of it!

I'm not sure, but I believe I've read others say here that Ibuprofen can be a problem for IC. (Please someone correct me if this is wrong!)

My doctor won't give pain meds either. I don't think they're aware of how very painful a flare can be!

Vicki

[ksr727580]

Sometimes when my flares come at night I take some Tylenol PM to help me sleep. Sitting on a pillow with an ice pack on the area it hurts the worst helps. Also I try to finding something to distract me like a computer game. You can usually try them for free on sites like yahoo or msn. I hope you feel better soon. Good luck.