Anyone else get a "pinch" at the end of peeing?

[Roandro]

I think it must be a urethral sphincter thing as I have been having a mini flare this week due to my (stupid) cutting back on my vaginal Estrace amount.

I have "upped" my dosage to almost the prescribed level (I'm trying to do this on a gradual basis) and now my only symptoms are when I have to "go" it is somewhat urgent and a slightly painful ache at the end of urinating with a "pinching" feeling at the end - all inside the urethra.

I've been doing the baking soda water in addition to the Estrace to reduce the inflammation but I was wondering if anyone has any other advice.

Thanks for any help
P.S. I should add that I have Painful Bladder syndrome and not IC and was prescribed Estrace to help my bladder and urethral areas as I am post menopausal and the tissue down there tends to be extremely dry and very fragile, inflamed and easily irritated. I wanted to reduce the amount as the directions say to take the "smallest amount for the shortest time possible"

[kadi]

Whenever I get a pinching burning sensation at the end of urination, it has always meant a bladder infection. If it's a new symptom, I'd get it checked out, especially since it's Thursday night & the weekend is coming (and ER visits are expensive & stressful). If you call your doctor in the morning, maybe he can call a lab slip for you or you can be worked in tomorrow.

Maybe someone else will have a different idea, but that's what's coming to mind right now... Hope you are feeling better soon!

[Briza]

I don't get UTIs (knock on wood), but sometimes during flares have burning that feels like it is in the urethra, though I also have VV so the urethral-type burning is probably due to that... whataver the cause still I have had that pinched or sharp feeling in the urethra or lower bladder area upon emptying, often when I'm experiency urgency or when I have not been drinking enough water, or have "held it" too long, or when the VV or PFD is flaring.
But you can certainly drop by your uro, GP, or gyn's office, even without an appt, and submit a urine sample to be tested in office and then also sent off for culture just to be sure you don't have infection, especially if you are prone or have a history of UTIs.
I am not menopausal, 40 right now, but I have ALWAYS had the symptoms you describe and have described them the same....dry, fragile, easily irritated and inflamed...I attribute them to Vulvodynia and VV, but hormones haven't been ruled out.
As far as I know IC and Painful Bladder Syndrome are one and the same...there is a link here to the issue surrounding the name. If I can find it I will post the link, or hopefully someone else who knows exactly where the link is will post it.
Best wishes, Bri:)

[Roandro]

Thanks, Briza, for your helpful comments. My urogyne said that PBS is a mild form of IC.
I may have to drop off a urine sample if it persists. I just got over a UTI about 2 months ago and was so happy I knocked it out in a day or two with the help of some Macrobid.

The Estrace really helps that dried out, super delicate gyne and bladder tissue and my PFD therapist, who is a real pro, tells me its very mild indeed, as compared to other synthetic hormones.

My tissue used to be so shiny and dry (I think they call it friable) that it wouid break open and bleed if I wore tight jeans or had a gyne checkup.

[Briza]

Here is the link to the explanation of the non-difference between IC and PBS...regardless what our doctors decide to call it, the importance lies mainly in getting a diagnosis and appropriate treatment that works well for you!:)
http://www.ic-network.com/whatisinterstitialcystitis/
I hope you feel better soon...I did try Estrace for a short time, using it sparingly as recommended, had no reaction to it one way or the other but know that it has helped other and I hope that it continues to help you!
Best wishes:)

[Claredale]

Prior to a couple weeks ago I had only had one UTI in my life and that was after being diagnosed with IC. I was actually in the severe stage then, so I was in pain 24/7, so I didn't realize I even had it. But almost 3 weeks ago I went for a dip in a hotel pool that had way too much chlorine in it and by the middle of the week, I had that pinching feeling it hated it when I voided because I felt like screaming when I was finishing. I was on Prosed which I am told can mess with the testing, so I quit taking the Prosed and went by my doctor's office the next Monday. I had a horrible weekend in bed. The nurse said it was negative, but she would send it to be cultured. Later that week, my doctor called in some stronger meds for me since I was taking more than usual and my pharmacist could tell I was in alot of pain. She suggested the at home tests which I actually used in the bathroom at Target. It turned purple immediately. I went back to the doctor on Tuesday and again my test was negative. I had gone back on the Prosed plus was taking an OTC med that was red cystistat or something like that. I can't take the AZO stuff because it's just like pyridium for me and makes me sick.

I believe I did have a UTI because I can't think of anything I did different except for the few minutes in the pool. I haven't swam in a public pool in years and I know they always have too much chlorine in them.

I just wanted you to know that I just went through that pinching feeling. That was also the first time that it hurt for me to walk. I felt as if my bladder was ready to just fall out. Even though I have severe IC and have definitely experienced high level pain through the years, that was the first time I ever complained about walking. I don't have VV or PFD, which I am so thankful!

I hope you feel better soon!

Tracey

[Roandro]

Thanks for your help.
It comes and goes but today it was bad so I popped a Urelle.

I am so mad at the staff in my uro's office as I called up about 11:30 this morning to advise them I was going to come over for a urine test (you have to 'go' in their office - then they send it off) and the snippy front desk woman said "well, you better hurry as we are closing at noon." Yikes - there was no way I could make it over there in 30 minutes. So now I'll have to wait til Monday.
What is with these women who are so mean to other women?? THankfully, I'm not doing too bad but what if I was?

If I had been her and a woman (or man for that matter) had called me up about a possible bladder infection I would have told them I would stay behind and close up the office myself just to wait for them to leave their specimen.
Maybe I'm being too harsh, of course, it may be office policy that they have to lock up and leave together.
Anyway, she was way too unfeeling about the whole thing. Grrrrrrrrr.....

[kadi]

Wow. I'm sorry you were treated that way. Unfortunately, it's pretty common.
Could you maybe pick up a UTI test kit at the drugstore to see if it comes out positive for UTI? If so, you could call the doctor on call, explain what happened with the nurse, explain about the test kit & maybe he/she could call in an antibiotic for you. Waiting 3 days on a UTI sounds like a great way to wind up with the infection in the kidneys, which is pretty awful. And if the test comes out clear, then doing a "wait & see" isn't so scary.
I don't know if Urelle turns the urine an interesting color, but you might check with the pharmacist as to how long you'll have to wait before doing the test kit.

Hope you are feeling better very soon,

[Roandro]

Thanks for your advice. Why didn't I think of that?

That's the great thing about the ICN. I had my husband pick up a kit at CVS today but I'm "saving" it until after the Urelle passes through my system.

If I still feel yucky on Monday I'll go for a urine test. My only symptoms now are rather a narrow stream, urgency and that same old achy pinch at the end.