tracking down cause of flare

[Dianne]

Does anyone have a clue if eye drops could cause a flare? I had been doing pretty well, as good as it gets for me anyway and suddenly I'm in some of the worst pain I've ever had. The only two things I can track it down to are I started some eye drops Fri. for itchy allergic eyes called Thera Tears. In reading the ingredients, it's certainly stuff I could never put in my mouth without bladder pain but it's such a small amount into the eyes, hard to think that could be it although the time frame corresponds. The other possibility was I tried to restart elmiron instills again on Sat. I previously bombed on it because of the urethritis it caused so I wanted to try it again by cathing it in and cathing it back out but that bombed too and caused me significant pain. Usually if a treatment exacerbates me it's gone in 24 hours and doesn't get worse in 48 which brings me back to the eye drops which I was using up through bedtime last night. Any experience appreciated.

[Sarojini]

Hi Dianne :hi:

I read in that book, "Patient to Patient: Managing IC and Related Disorders" that eye drops and contact lens solutions can bother some people's bladders. I was a bit skeptical of it, because, like you, I couldn't imagine just one drop of something in the eye could really make much difference... but there you go. Some people do indeed complain that stuff they put in their eyes (particularly boric acid) makes its way to the old bladder and causes problems, so maybe you are experiencing this.

Take care,

Jen

:grouphug:

[Katrina]

Well could be either. I just want to say sorry you are hurting.

:grouphug: Hope you are feeling better.

Best Wishes,