Can IC come on suddenly?

[rian90]

I have been a sufferer of IBS for many years. Recently, I had a mild urinary tract infection..or I thought so. It was the typical UTI...having to urinate every 15 minutes, slight burning, etc. I drank tons of cranberry juice, took Uristat, ate nuts and asparagus...The next day it was gone but I went in for a urine dip and they found nothing. So the doctor figured I chased the UTI away.

However, the weird diet brought back my GERD and caused my IBS symptons to go wild. A month later and I am still not back to normal.

Last week, I suddenly noticed a swollen spot just above my pubic bone. It is sometimes just a little tender when I push on it but if I drink a lot of fluids it seems to become more painful..of course, that could be my IBS symptoms causing the pain in my colon.

Anyway, can IC come on that suddenly? I am going to see the doctor this week but of course in the meantime, I worry about all sorts of things.

[kadi]

My IC came on suddenly, but it sounds like yours is worth running some tests on to make sure it's not something else...

[ICNDonna]

Cranberry juice is an irritant for most people with interstitial cystitis. If you felt better after drinking it, there definitely a possibility you have something else going on.

I hope you get some answers soon.

Donna

P.S. Yes, IC symptoms can begin suddenly.

[SharonA]

To me, it sounds like there is something else causing your symptoms. It really does not sound like IC. Most of us can not drink Cranberry Juice without it causing lots of pain in the bladder. Of course, as always with IC, there are those who can. Check with your doctor.

[rian90]

Oddly, I didn't feel sick with the UTI, I just had to pee often. The cranberry juice actually made my system a mess..whether it was the IBS or whatever. I felt much worse after the cranberry juice other than suddenly not having to to the bathroom every 15 minutes.

The pelvic pain and swollen area above my pubic bone just started last week. So not sure if it had anything to do with the cranberry juice or if the juice just set it off and it took that long to feel the pain.

I also wonder if I just strained something inside with the constipation. I am going to see the doctor in the morning and this time, I am not going to walk out with some medicine.

I certainly hope its not IC..living with IBS has been bad enough and I can't imagine another chronic pain.

[Briza]

Mine came on suddenly...ok one day, IC and VV symptoms the next. I did have just one time that seemed like a UTI...blood in urine and all the other symptoms but when dipsticked and cultured no bacteria was found.
Of course this had to happen before I was dxd w/ IC and as happens w/ so many of us I drowned myself w/ cranberry juice:rolleyes:not knowing what I was doing to my bladder!
I second the others on seeing your doctor...I'm glad you already have an appt. Try not to worry in the meantime, it just wears you down more, you know? And keep us posted on what your doctor says. Best wishes...I do hope that it is not IC!:)

[jen74]

I agree, I think you should see your doctor. My IC came on pretty suddenly. I felt like I had a UTI and it stayed for about two months and went away. Then 6 months later it came back full force and have had pain since then, that was almost two years ago. I still deep down think IC may be caused by some type of bacterial infection or even a viral type infection possibly. They really need to do more research on this. I am praying they will find a reason and some help one day for this disease.
Jen

[rian90]

I saw the doctor yesterday and he did a urine check. Turns out I have a 'whopper of a bladder infection' in his words. He gave me Cipro.

However, he doesn't know what the 'bump' is above my pubic bone. He did a pregnany test...thankfully that was negative!

He did say something about weakening of my pelvic muscles so I wonder if it could be the pelvic floor problem. All those years of constipation and straining may have had an affect. He is going to do an ultra-sound if the 'bump' is still there after three days of Cipro. Oddly, I woke this morning with lots of lower back pain.

Thanks for all your help. I guess with the bacteria in my bladder it can't be IC.