nicolebyrd
04-08-2004, 03:39 AM
Hi. I want to share my story in hopes that someone may have some insight for me.
At age 16, which was 15 years ago, I began having feelings of incredible urgency, frequency and burning upon urination. At times I could not control my bladder and was incontinent of urine even at work. How humiliating!! I saw my family doctor who tested my urine and told me I had a UTI. I was treated with antibiotics - back then with the standard 10 day course- but my symptoms did not resolve completely and after the course of
antibiotics they came back as severely as before I started the meds. I went back and the doc prescribed a stronger dose of antibiotics. We went this route for six months or so. Unfortunately I did not have an incredible support system in terms of my family, so at 16 I basically had to take charge myself. About every time I went to the doc (a general practitioner, by the way) he would have me give a urine sample and then would do a pelvic exam. This was puzzling and a little annoying because he saw the same thing every time - NOTHING. Finally, I called his office and requested that he refer me to a urologist. Unbelievably they refused (I really don't know why) but I was very persistent and finally they agreed. I saw the urologist who immediately ordered an IVP and a couple of other tests where they injected dye to look at my urinary tract anatomy, instilled dye into my bladder, and also a voiding study where they watched my urinate fluoroscopically to observe any problems there. I cannot recall what was observed during these tests but my urologist immediately ordered a cystoscopy. I had the cystoscopy and he told me I had chronic interstitial cystitis. I was started on meds for an 18 month course, which finally stopped the urgency, burning and frequency. During and after this time, my bladder was very sensitive and if I did not drink enough water I would get the symptoms back.
For years I have had UTIs - or what we have called UTIs - and have been treated with Macrobid.
There was one episode where I was in between family doctors and got a UTI. I called my previous doctor's office and they gave me a prescription due to my previous history of these symptoms. I began the medication, like always, and I felt a bit better but then my symptoms came back before I had completed the course of antibiotics. I tried making an appointment with a new family doctor but being a new patient, I could not get an appointment for a month or so. This was incredibly frustrating. Finally I resorted to the emergency room. What a joke. I was told that there was no sign of infection in my urine and that it could not be an infection. I was incredibly frustrated because at this time I was feeling pain in my back as well. I started to cry and asked what I was to do. He said "I can do a pelvic exam and see what I find". I agreed because I just had to get rid of these symptoms. He told me that I looked a bit irritated internally and that must be the cause of my discomfort. Probably a yeast infection - which I NEVER get. I was unsure what to do but I said okay. I did not agree with him but he was pretty persistent about his diagnosis. He took some cultures and gave me a treatment in pill form for the yeast infection.
Of course, this pain and symptoms persisted and I did not know what to do. I started calling doctor's offices again, convinced that I just needed stronger antibiotics. FINALLY, I found an office that would get me in that day. I saw the doc and he told me that the ER fiasco was ridiculous. Of course my urine did not show any infection because I was being treated with antibiotics already but the presence of my symptoms warranted stronger antibiotics which he readily gave. My infection cleared up and I was extremely happy.
I found a general practitioner in my area and went in for a check up etc to start a history at the office so if there was another emergency, I could get some meds. This doctor recommended that I take Macrobid prophylactically when I had intercourse with my husband. This has decreased the amount of symptoms that I get thankfully.
My husband informed me last week that during oral sex - please excuse the directness - that he noticed the smell and taste of urine even after I had just showered. This was terribly humiliating but my husband is wonderful and I realize that I needed to know about this. I started being more conscious of my bladder and its goings on.
I had a hysterectomy in 1999 for carcinoma in situ of the cervix. He says this problem started after my surgery. I began to wonder whether something happened during surgery to make my bladder leak, but quickly ruled that out because I never have wetness that would lead me to believe there was leakage. Then I thought about my diagnosis of chronic interstitial cystitis and began reading about it online. I found this website - which is incredibly fascinating - and have discovered through reading the message boards that I have many of these same symptoms as other people with IC.
I am always aware of my bladder. I urinate more than anyone I know. If I do not drink enough, I get pressure and strange sensations in my bladder. After a BM I often feel symptoms. I have low back pain frequently - previously not relating this to IC. I feel a sensation in my bladder frequently which is hard to explain but can best be described as a feeling associated with sexual arousal - but different at the same time. There are times when I have urgency and definately frequency. Sometimes burning. All of these unassociated with bladder infections although at those times I do normally take a Macrobid "just in case".
I guess I am wondering if I should go see a urologist again. Maybe to request a cystoscopy to see if the diagnosis years ago was correct and to see if I still have this disorder. I do not like the problems it is causing in my sex life nor the way it affects my daily life. When I do get what I call a bladder infection, I cannot function productively. I cannot be more than 10 steps away from the bathroom because when I feel the urgency, I mean it is urgent. I don't know how many times I have been incontinent because a doctor has requested that I come to the office. What a nightmare. The burning is soooooo painful and I get chills and pain all through my body.
If anyone can offer any advice, I am very willing to listen.
Thanks!
Nicole
At age 16, which was 15 years ago, I began having feelings of incredible urgency, frequency and burning upon urination. At times I could not control my bladder and was incontinent of urine even at work. How humiliating!! I saw my family doctor who tested my urine and told me I had a UTI. I was treated with antibiotics - back then with the standard 10 day course- but my symptoms did not resolve completely and after the course of
antibiotics they came back as severely as before I started the meds. I went back and the doc prescribed a stronger dose of antibiotics. We went this route for six months or so. Unfortunately I did not have an incredible support system in terms of my family, so at 16 I basically had to take charge myself. About every time I went to the doc (a general practitioner, by the way) he would have me give a urine sample and then would do a pelvic exam. This was puzzling and a little annoying because he saw the same thing every time - NOTHING. Finally, I called his office and requested that he refer me to a urologist. Unbelievably they refused (I really don't know why) but I was very persistent and finally they agreed. I saw the urologist who immediately ordered an IVP and a couple of other tests where they injected dye to look at my urinary tract anatomy, instilled dye into my bladder, and also a voiding study where they watched my urinate fluoroscopically to observe any problems there. I cannot recall what was observed during these tests but my urologist immediately ordered a cystoscopy. I had the cystoscopy and he told me I had chronic interstitial cystitis. I was started on meds for an 18 month course, which finally stopped the urgency, burning and frequency. During and after this time, my bladder was very sensitive and if I did not drink enough water I would get the symptoms back.
For years I have had UTIs - or what we have called UTIs - and have been treated with Macrobid.
There was one episode where I was in between family doctors and got a UTI. I called my previous doctor's office and they gave me a prescription due to my previous history of these symptoms. I began the medication, like always, and I felt a bit better but then my symptoms came back before I had completed the course of antibiotics. I tried making an appointment with a new family doctor but being a new patient, I could not get an appointment for a month or so. This was incredibly frustrating. Finally I resorted to the emergency room. What a joke. I was told that there was no sign of infection in my urine and that it could not be an infection. I was incredibly frustrated because at this time I was feeling pain in my back as well. I started to cry and asked what I was to do. He said "I can do a pelvic exam and see what I find". I agreed because I just had to get rid of these symptoms. He told me that I looked a bit irritated internally and that must be the cause of my discomfort. Probably a yeast infection - which I NEVER get. I was unsure what to do but I said okay. I did not agree with him but he was pretty persistent about his diagnosis. He took some cultures and gave me a treatment in pill form for the yeast infection.
Of course, this pain and symptoms persisted and I did not know what to do. I started calling doctor's offices again, convinced that I just needed stronger antibiotics. FINALLY, I found an office that would get me in that day. I saw the doc and he told me that the ER fiasco was ridiculous. Of course my urine did not show any infection because I was being treated with antibiotics already but the presence of my symptoms warranted stronger antibiotics which he readily gave. My infection cleared up and I was extremely happy.
I found a general practitioner in my area and went in for a check up etc to start a history at the office so if there was another emergency, I could get some meds. This doctor recommended that I take Macrobid prophylactically when I had intercourse with my husband. This has decreased the amount of symptoms that I get thankfully.
My husband informed me last week that during oral sex - please excuse the directness - that he noticed the smell and taste of urine even after I had just showered. This was terribly humiliating but my husband is wonderful and I realize that I needed to know about this. I started being more conscious of my bladder and its goings on.
I had a hysterectomy in 1999 for carcinoma in situ of the cervix. He says this problem started after my surgery. I began to wonder whether something happened during surgery to make my bladder leak, but quickly ruled that out because I never have wetness that would lead me to believe there was leakage. Then I thought about my diagnosis of chronic interstitial cystitis and began reading about it online. I found this website - which is incredibly fascinating - and have discovered through reading the message boards that I have many of these same symptoms as other people with IC.
I am always aware of my bladder. I urinate more than anyone I know. If I do not drink enough, I get pressure and strange sensations in my bladder. After a BM I often feel symptoms. I have low back pain frequently - previously not relating this to IC. I feel a sensation in my bladder frequently which is hard to explain but can best be described as a feeling associated with sexual arousal - but different at the same time. There are times when I have urgency and definately frequency. Sometimes burning. All of these unassociated with bladder infections although at those times I do normally take a Macrobid "just in case".
I guess I am wondering if I should go see a urologist again. Maybe to request a cystoscopy to see if the diagnosis years ago was correct and to see if I still have this disorder. I do not like the problems it is causing in my sex life nor the way it affects my daily life. When I do get what I call a bladder infection, I cannot function productively. I cannot be more than 10 steps away from the bathroom because when I feel the urgency, I mean it is urgent. I don't know how many times I have been incontinent because a doctor has requested that I come to the office. What a nightmare. The burning is soooooo painful and I get chills and pain all through my body.
If anyone can offer any advice, I am very willing to listen.
Thanks!
Nicole