IC/Endo/Fevers... I have questions! :)

[mish36]

Hi everyone! :hi:

I already introduced myself and told my story in the Not Yet Diagnosed With IC board (which you can read here, so I don't have to reiterate everything: http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54906) but I have a few new questions to ask and a few concerns that I did not mention in my original post.

I have searched the forum and found a few topics on fevers relating to IC, but I just have to ask again, to the people who mentioned having them before: does anyone have a history of fevers in relation to IC? If so, has it ever been resolved - was it ever determined as IC or something else or just inexplicable? Since last April I have noticed that I have an off and on low-grade fever (around 99-100) (that is, if my thermometer is accurate and it was when I bought it, but I'm getting it tested tomorrow.) It is beginning to worry me. I have mentioned it to my GYN and she did not seem too concerned.

Are there any IC sufferers with endometriosis or who are on birth control pills who can shed some light on another issue for me? And that issue is: I am high risk for endo (my mother and sister have it) and my GYN suggested endo last week when I was diagnosed with IC. However, because I am already on birth control, she figured that if I do have endo, it is not causing me any symptoms right now. However, all of my symptoms (IC and endo and otherwise) only started after I started birth control pills in August 2007! Doesn't that seem like a strange coincidence? Does anyone have any insight or advice? I keep suggesting to my doctor that I really think my issue is combination of mild IC plus bladder endometriosis, but she doesn't seem to think endo is the cause because I am on birth control. (And I worry about sounding like I am self-diagnosing here, but she does believe I have endometriosis, but she's convinced it is not causing any of my symptoms right now - while my abdominal and lower back pain tells me otherwise.)

Also, I have not noticed any of my symptoms getting better since I started treatment. Granted, it's only been a week since my diagnosis. I am on an acid-reduction diet and taking Prelief three times a day to reduce the acid in my urine. However, I have still noticed a lot of frequency (although, reduced urgency) and I still sometimes have pelvic pressure. Any advice on that? How long does it normally take diet to help at all? And the same with prelief?

Ah! I have so many questions and concerns and confusing ideas. I don't know if any of this made sense, but hopefully, someone can discern some information from it and just tell me to stop worrying.

Thank you all for reading this very long winded and rambling post... :lmao:
Mish

[Kara Isabel]

Well, I know my endo acted up back when I was on the pill, so I don't think the pill is necessarily a cure all for endo, it may help, yes, but to what degree is variant amongst us. I am not on the pill now and I refuse to put myself into early menopause, so my endo is acting up baddddly, but I just wanted to live with my god given hormones for awhile. lol

I think the only way you'll know for sure is if they do a lap on you. I also have the adhesions which are probably the worst of it all because if I have a bladder spasm it is excruciatingly painful to the point I can't move, I'm babbling, but my basic point is that you can have endo and IC at the same time...and they can cause their own pain, since my uterus is tilted back I do feel the pain towards my back and I can feel the cysts that so lovingly grace my ovaries with. lol :( ugh. I think I can tell the pain apart, but who knows for sure? *sigh*

[ICNDonna]

Some people will have slight temperature variations and be totally healthy. We don't usually think about taking our temps unless we don't feel good. Mine runs a little low most of the time, but my doctor said that's not a problem.

Donna

[momw/ic]

I have had endo since I was 19 - I'm 38 now and have had IC since 2002. I will say that I have the random fever thing and my endo specialist says that women with endo can do that because it is the body trying somehow to get rid of the invader. But it could just be something that is normal for you. I, too continued to have my endo act up while on the pill. It made the pill not work right and the endo got worse so I just gave up on that.

For me, I have had the endo for so long that I can isolate that pain a little better. It is more in the low back and entire pelvic area. The IC pain is severe directly over my bladder and then radiates over to both sides - usually worse on the left. I figure that is due to endo related adhesions.

Hang in there and I hope you find some relief soon!

[SharonA]

It might take several weeks before you notice that your bladder has calmed down due to the IC Diet. Prelief is used to take the acid out of food and drinks when you consume them. Are you taking it with meals and snacks or are you taking it like you would a medication even though you do not eat or drink anything?