Cystoscopy found no irritation. DMSO instillations

[Love]

I am losing my mind with this disease! I havent been able to sleep for weeks and I am losing all my hope.

I've had a lot of pressure in the uretra, bladder pain (for 17 years) and now a lot of frequency also. I went to have a cystoscopy today and the uro did not find any irritation but a tight bladder neck. He said I have IC, which I told him I might have in the first place. Now he is suggesting I go through dilatation and DMSO plus other drugs installations. My question is: Should I be doing DMSO instillations if I dont have apparent signs of bladder irritation/ulcers? Thank you for any help! I need to decide if I want to to these instillations soon since they are schedule to start next week.

[VickiB]

If there ever was a disorder to cause a person to lose one's mind IC is definitely in the running for a top prize!

Should I be doing DMSO instillations if I dont have apparent signs of bladder irritation/ulcers?

I have heard that a cystoscopy isn't necessarily a useful tool for diagnosing IC. My uro said it wouldn't show the signs of IC, but was useful to rule out other possibilities like cancer & such. My bladder looked perfectly fine,...not even irritated when I had my cystos done.

I can't really speak to what treatment plan to go a head with or not. It seems like some find relief with certain ones, including DSMO, and others not. It's one of those questions we don't get the answer to except in hindsight.

Vicki

[ICNDonna]

Vicki is right; an office cysto does not usually diagnose IC.

Whether you try DMSO is your decision. The treatments can be painful, but some find them helpful. I had this treatment for several years, beginning with eight weekly instills then going to once a month. If you do opt to try DMSO, I suggest you be sure the solution used is no more than 25% DMSO --- stronger solutions can cause problems if used long term.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[Love]

I think he did not want to diagnose IC, but to check for other issues like cancer. He believed I have IC just from my symptoms. On this cystoscopy he found a tight bladder neck and I am going for dilatation next week.