Test with urologist

[Ward14]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed with IC for maybe two years now and my urologist wants to do a in office exam next week to check for lesions. I have never had this done and not sure what to expect. I don't even know what they call the procedure. Can anyone help with this?

Thanks,
Tiffany

[mlzippy7]

How were you diagnosed with your IC? Did they do a cystoscopy with hydrodistention? I would call your doctor and ask what they plan on doing. If they are doing it in the office I would guess it would be a cystoscopy.
If you can find out what they will be doing we can help you with any questions you may have about the procedure!!

[Ward14]

I was diagnosed by cystoscopy and was put under for the procedure. The Urologist told me that it should hurt and it's done in the office, but I can't remember what he called it. I just remember him saying to look in the uretha (?) for lesions. Not sure if this is enough information for you?

[Ward14]

I mean't to say, the urologist said the office procedure wouldn't hurt me.

[ICNDonna]

I would call the office and ask about what is scheduled for you. We can answer your questions then.

Donna

[crazy_beautiful]

I agree with thle other ladies. If we don't know the name of it, it would be easier to share our own experience with you.

[Ward14]

Sure, I will call tomorrow and ask what the appt. is for. I'll let you know tomorrow evening.
Thanks,

[omarito]

i agree with the ladies, i would call & know what the procedure is , what to expect from it.

[GriffsMommy]

I would guess that they are probably talking about an in office cysto. They put some lidocaine in my urethra first to numb it and then inserted a camera to look at my bladder. It was uncomfortable but wasn't too bad. I would def want to know what they are doing for sure though so if you don't know the name of the procedure and what will be done.
If it is an in office cysto that they are doing I would make sure that you have some pyridium or something similar to take afterwards because I did have a lot of burning when peeing afterwards.

[Ward14]

Okay, so I called the Urologist Office today and they said I'm scheduled for an in office cystoscopy. I had that done in the operating room when I was diagnosed, but they also did the distension of the bladder too. I hope this isn't going to hurt too bad. I don't have pyridium and have never been prescribed this before. I only have Elmiron. Can you tell me what the difference between those two medicines are? It looks like Elmiron is for pain and pyridium is for burning in the Urethra. I wonder why they never prescribed my pyridium before now b/c I have experienced burning when urinating too.

[Ward14]

Another question, since now I know they are doing a cystoscopy in the office. I guess he is doing this to look for lesions. Is this a normal procedure to look for lesions?

[SharonA]

Pyridium is an analgesic for the bladder which numbs the bladder and helps with pain. I find it especially useful when I have bladder infections to reduce the burn I get from urine in my bladder. You can find OTC (over the counter) under the brand name Azo. You can also find OTC pyridium in generic form. The type that a doctor prescribes is generally stronger.

Elmiron is a medication that doctors prescribe that is the only FDA approved medication for IC. Over time, it coats the GAG layer of the bladder wall and help relieves the pain. Here is a better discription of what it is and what it does. Just remember that it can take 3-12 months for you to get the full effect.

Bladder Coatings: Elmiron

ELMIRON® was the first oral drug developed and approved specifically for the treatment of IC and is now being distributed in the USA by OrthoUrology. It has been extensively discussed, studied and tested but much is still unknown about it. Dr. Lowell Parsons believes that it works by providing a protective coating to the bladder wall that prevents urine, bacteria and other irritating substances from penetrating an otherwise "leaky" bladder lining and causing inflammation in the muscle tissue.

In a very large physician use study in multiple centers across the USA, 2,810 patients were studied over a ten year period. The data reveals thatpatients showed a significant improvement during their course of treatment. The trial demonstrated that 42% of patients who had been treated for up to six months, and 60-62% of those treated for 24 months, had reported total, great or moderate relief of bladder pain. Of patients treated for six months, 55% had experienced a reduction in nocturia and 44% had reductions in frequency. Among patients who had no response to DMSO, more than 50% experienced moderate or better improvement (8).

Unfortunately, this therapy can provoke side effects such as gastrointestinal upset or some hair loss. In some cases, your doctor may want to monitor your liver function through periodic blood tests.

I hope you and your doctor can find the right meds/treatments that will help you get back to you life very soon. It is possible. There is help and there is hope. :)