Cost of rescue instillations?

[PirateIsabelle]

Hi,

What is the usual cost for having a rescue instillation done by the doctor? Also, how often are they usually done? Can they be used as a "maintenance" treatment or are they only used during a bad flare? I'm interested in this because I don't like taking oral medication because of the systemic effects. Had too much bad luck in the past.

Thanks very much,

Liz

[jen74]

WHen I was having the instills done at the Dr's office, I had to pay like 35 dollars each time, plus 10 dollars for parking. That was $45 bucks a week. I stopped doing them in the office and do them at home now. It is way cheaper for me in the long run. I am like you and I cannot take oral meds at all due to all the bad side effects. I do the instills once a week. I use heperin, lidocaine, and saline solution. It does help take the pain down and I have not had any side effects so far except for getting UTI's. I do notice I am getting more UTI's since doing the instills, not matter how neat I am. My doctor said that whenever you catheterize, you open that door for possible infections. I have to talk with my doctor about some kind of prevenative for keeping these UTI's away. I have one now. I also cannot take many antibiotics as I am allergic or have awful reactions. I know how you feel.
Jen
Jen

[PirateIsabelle]

Jen,

Do the instillations help with the frequency as much as the pain? My pain is tolerable most of the time...what I'm looking for is mostly relief from frequency. Also I have a lot of pain during sex so any relief of that would be amazing.

[L. Thomas]

The MD's office billed the insurance for $113. After the insruance adjustment my co-pay was $13.
I started home instill because I live 90 miles from the MD's office.

I started with 3 a week and had to increase to every day for a while. Now I would say I do 2 a week but during my allergy season I have to do one about every day. I have been doing home instills for a few years. My IC is totally controlled with instills.

I have never had a lot of pain but instills take care of all my symptoms just about immediately. I have never had an UTI.

How many you are allowed to do depends on your MD and the instill ingredients.

My instill is:
8cc lidocaine
2cc sodium bicarbonate
10,000 units heparin

These ingredients a standard for home instills. There are other ingredients that can be added and the amounts can be vastly different.

Just PM me if you have any questions you think I can answer.

[woman9469]

I agree with everyone that it is definitely is easier to do at home once you get used to it. I do them every day like some. I do get more UTI's and I know right away when they come. So, when I get too many in a row, my doc puts me on prophylactic antibiotics for a month. I know, no matter how sterile you are it just happens -- guess putting something INTO the bladder just isn't supposed to be! But, they take away my pain and urgency that I still have even with my implants!

I felt lucky to have a doc that would let me do them on my own.....cheaper, less hassle and...........getting back some of the independence we lost from this disease.

[bunnykinb]

I am still learning how to do instills. My mix is 8cc lidocaine, 8cc heparin, and 3cc sodium bicarbonate 8.4%. I do them every two weeks, but think when I eventually can do the instills on my own, I'll need to do it every week. I notice after a week, my symptoms return. I believe the instills have helped with my burning which is my main complaint. I am still a pee pee body so it hasn't helped with frequency.

[L. Thomas]

I I am still a pee pee body so it hasn't helped with frequency.

You may find once you start doing them more frequently it will help. I used to go every 30-45 mins but now after an instill I don't need to go for several hours. Sometimes I even sleep all night without needing to get up and go to the bathroom.

[jen74]

They do help with pain and frequency as well for me. In fact it is the only thing that does give me some relief. The only down fall is the risk of getting UTI's which I do get more often due to the instills. I have one right now YUK!
I guess you have to take the good with the bad. I have no other choice since I cannot take any of the oral meds they use to treat IC.
Jen

[bunnykinb]

I am in the restroom every hour. However, at night when sleeping, I generally get up once.