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annabel
04-23-2009, 12:36 AM
Hi... i'm not really sure where to start, but really glad I found this place! So good to know i'm not alone with this horrible pain!

My symptoms began in October 2008, when i started having pain on sexual intercourse (with the same partner.) I went to the doctor and underwent a variety of tests for STI's etc which all came back negative. I was put on an antibiotic just in case something had been missed, and during the week I was on it I had severe pelvic pain which caused a couple of fainting attacks. I also had increased pain on urination and always felt the urgent need to go. I went back to the doctor, who said I had cystitus who put me on antibiotics. She also did the STI tests again, just in case.

When the symptoms still hadn't gone a couple of weeks after being on the antibiotics, I went back to the doctor who said I had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - even though tests i'd had less than 2 weeks ago came back clear for it. I was put on yet another dose of antibioitcs... but the next day I felt terrible. I had so much pain around my pelvis, which gave me a terrible headache that I fainted. The paramedics were called, and by this time i'd come round and all they advised was to sleep it off and take paracetomol. I went back to my GP the next day, who admitted me to hospital. They did an ultrasound and blood test, and said that there was a chance I had a slight kidney infection. This was all at the end of November.

For the next few months my symptoms had subsided a bit - I still got cystitus weekly, had slight twangs of pelvic pain every so often and sex was still quite painful. I tried not to let it bother me.

In January, I bled quite a bit after sex so went back to the doctor. She examined me and my pelvic area was very tender... she said that she something about my bowel sounding unhealthy, so referred me to a colo-rectal surgeon for March.

A few weeks before this appointment, I had intense pain around my pelvic area again. It felt almost like I had thousands of tiny needles inside my tummy and they were pricking me, it was a horrible feeling. My GP admitted me to hospital again who didn't really do much apart from give me strong painkillers and advised me to wait for the Endoscopy.

During and after the endoscopy, I was in loads of pain - again it felt like someone was pricking me with thousands of needles inside me. The endoscopy found no abnormalities in my bowel.

I keep getting episodes of cystis like symptoms, an 'ache' in my pelvis and the pain that feels like needles or glass inside me. I have also bled a few times and sex is still really painful.

I spoke to the doctor yesterday and she suggested interstital cystitus - it was a huge relief to know it could be an actual condition, and not all in my mind as I suspected people around me had started to think. I am having a cystoscopy soon.

I was wondering if anyone who actually suffers from it (who has actually managed to read my rambling essay!) could tell me if this does sound like IC? I'm 21, i'm not sure whether there is a specific age range or anything where people are most likely to have it. What to expect from the cystoscopy?

Thanks! :) Sorry about the length of this!!
Anna

ICNDonna
04-23-2009, 02:01 AM
It does sound like interstitial cystitis is a possibility. I suggest you begin an IC diet while you're waiting for testing to get a diagnosis for you.

Warm healing thoughts headed your way,
Donna

Preacher-Girl
04-23-2009, 03:37 AM
Welcome. I agree with Donna. Start the diet and be very vigilant. If you start feeling better you may have a good clue that it could be IC. However, I am concerned about the bleeding and where it is coming from. Do you have a gynecologist or a urologist?

Angela

katie87
04-23-2009, 03:38 AM
It could be PID as they suggested,or it could be IC. I am also 21 with IC and sex is always painful, and i have the pains you described .

annabel
04-23-2009, 03:40 AM
My GP thinks that the bleeding is a symptom of the IC... i'm awaiting the appointment with the urologist. Do you think that the bleeding could b caused by something else?

I've looked online at IC diets on different websites but a lot of the things I have found seem to be conflicting. Also is it true that cranberry juice actually can make it worse? What type of diet do you find helps you?

Thanks :)
Annabel

annabel
04-23-2009, 03:43 AM
Hey Katie... I had about 4 or 5 tests after the doctor told me I had PID which came back negative so I don't think it's that. Also it's supposed to be contracted as an STI, but my partner and I have always used extra protection, mainly to be precautious because of all the symptoms i've beeng getting it just felt safter that way. I've changed GP's since i saw the doc who said I had PID, and they've ruled it out... i seem to have been told so much that didn't fit, but reading about IC is like reading about myself!

:)

Goldfinch
04-23-2009, 05:41 AM
My GP thinks that the bleeding is a symptom of the IC... i'm awaiting the appointment with the urologist. Do you think that the bleeding could b caused by something else?

I've looked online at IC diets on different websites but a lot of the things I have found seem to be conflicting. Also is it true that cranberry juice actually can make it worse? What type of diet do you find helps you?

Thanks :)
Annabel

The bladder-friendly IC diet is low acid and bland. Cranberry juice is VERY irritating to the bladder. Check out the diet on these boards. In a nutshell, most offending foods are acidic and/or fermented. So...that would mean eliminating coffee (incl. decaf!) and all black teas or citrusy/berry teas, alcohol (esp red wine), chocolate, all citrus or tart fruits, tomatoes, anything with vinegar in it, soy sauce or other fermented products, strong cheeses, etc.

And in addition, bladders often dislike additives and preservatives, so the less processed your foods the better.

SharonA
04-23-2009, 07:24 AM
annabel...You can find the link to the IC Diet in my signature below this post.

:welcome: to the IC Network...:):):)

Preacher-Girl
04-23-2009, 10:26 AM
The diet here is the best diet there is for IC. It really works. As for your bleeding...I really think a GP wouldn't quite know what to do with that. A urologist or gynecologist would be the best docs to start with given where you're bleeding from. It could be absolutely nothing but I would want the right specialist to tell me it's nothing to worry about.:)

Hope it all gets worked out soon!

annabel
04-23-2009, 10:30 AM
thankyou! when I bled in November, i was told it was because of the kidney infection and that it's quite a common symptom of it. now i've had it again once the doctor said bleeding is a symptom of cystitus, and can be a symptom of IC. Am i the only one whos had bleeding? Oh no... well i hope the urologist can give me some answers ! :)

GinaGV
04-23-2009, 07:00 PM
I think alot of the IC'rs here have blood in the urine to some degree. For most its microscopic, but I had alot of blood in my urine (along with a really odd foul odor,sorry) was my first big clue that something was not right. Coupled with the urethral pain I was having, IC was the first thing my uro thought of. Had a couple of cysto's.. she finally said you have IC.. here is your prescription for Elmiron.. bye bye. :confused: Honestly if it was not for all the wonderful people here at the ICN I would be totally clueless and still bleeding and in pain. I was a diet coke junkie.. several cans a day... lots of fresh tomato sauces.. It would have never occurred to me to check diet... the other treatments there are...

Now, I too have microscopic blood and some other junk in the urine, but no, you are not the only one with blood.

Gina