Had this for 2 months now

[kc1216]

Hi everyone, I posted as new on the other board.

I've had this for two months now and I'm not in any pain - just constant "pressure" down in the pubic bone region and I constantly have the urge to go. I urinate alot in the morning but not at night but the Urge is still there - I'll go to pee and not much comes out although it feels like it "wants to.

I'm on Xanax now (different dr. from the anxiety I am having over this IC)- it's running out and it's the only thing that helps and the doc won't give me anymore. I take a half of one a day - that's it! I also took Pyridium Plus which helped but can you stay on that for a long amount of time? I got a bottle from another doctor - urologist and there's 30 of them and 3 more refills. Is this a good thing? Think I need to find another Uro?

Also, is water good to drink - if I drink alot, will it wash it all away?

The anxiety doctor gave me the xanax and wants to put me on Paxil - yuck. I would rather take WEllbutrin - so I will have a sex drive left and maybe it will help me quit smoking. The paxil is just sitting on the counter - I'm too scared to take it.

Anyone on Wellbutrin. Think I should see another doctor?

Thanks,
KC

[Katrina]

:welcome: I don't have the answer to all your questions. Hopefully someone here can. Have you tried the IC diet? Have you tried prelief? Has your doc mentioned trying elmiron?

We will help you get the best treatment you can.

We are here for you.

Best Wishes,

[kc1216]

I'm at my wits end today. It's good Friday, nobody is in the office and I'm going out of my mind. I took a pyridium plus which helps the frequency to go but I get totally wound up w/ it - not sure why but it feels like a panic attack. I will not take anymore and just use the uristat.

I'm headed out to lunch soon - where can I buy this Prelief?

Is it like coffee tamer or can I just take the pill without food?

Thanks,
KC

[liznazz]

Hi KC,

You can buy prelief at Brooks Drug stores (in the antacid section). I have had similar symptoms to yours, and I get great relief from a prescription anti-inflammatory. ( like celebrex or vioxx). If you don't have a prescription try advil. Prelief reduces the acid found in certain foods and allows you to eat them at times. I am newly diagnosed also, and am following the IC diet very carefully. It has eased some of my symptoms.

[kc1216]

Hi Liz! Thanks, I'll leave work early and get some. I don't like being on the Pyridium Plus because it's got a barbituate compound in it (unlike plain Pyridium) and that is what give me the "freaks" when I take it. You would think it would do the opposite with me.

I'm desperate so I'll try anything right now.

I wrote to you on the Locations board - I'm in CT too - in Shelton.

My doctor wants me to take the Paxil that he gave me but I'm going to stay off everything prescribed until I see him on Tuesday. I'd rather take the wellbutrin since I'm afraid to gain weight and lose any sex drive I may have (can't remember that since I've been sick for so long and I don't want my husband to come near me).

As for diet - I just printed the IC foods pages and so far today no coffee (real bummer), no chocolate - right about now is my trip to the vending machine for a snack, and no spicey things - I feel a little better but it could still be the Pyridium in my system.

Anyway, thanks for telling me about brooks!

KC

[Sarojini]

Hi there... you may want to look into taking a different med. Pyridium Plus has butabarbital, phenazopyridine (the orange stuff), and hyoscyamine in it. In addition to the butabarbital making you "freaky", sometimes phenazopyridine can cause a feeling of chest tightness (often this happens if you're asthmatic, but it can happen even if you're not). This can add to the sensation that you're having a panic attack. And the hyoscyamine is an anticholinergic and is probably the part that is giving you dry mouth.... because they work on the autonomic nervous system (the part of your nervous system that controls the bodily functions that happen automatically, without you thinking about them, like digestion), anticholinergics can reduce saliva production in addition to calming bladder spasms.

You could try Urimax or Urised instead... but be aware that Urised has atropine in it, which can make some people "freaky." Urimax is the same as Urised, but without the atropine. They both turn your urine a pretty cool blue-green color, and both have hyoscyamine, so the dry mouth is pretty common with all of these meds.

:)

:grouphug:

Jen

[ICchell]

KC,
Hi there.As for the Wellbutrin,I am on it...just started it this week...so its too early to tell yet if its working...switched from celexa.
Good Luck,
Michelle

[ICchell]

What is atropine??
I am on Flomax which is helping alot with the frequency!!!!
Do you know if this has atropine(whatever that is)??
Happy Easter:bunny:
Michelle

[Sarojini]

Hi ICchell,

Atropine is an alkaloid that comes from the belladonna plant... it's also an anticholinergic, but it works on different types of receptors than hyoscyamine. It's used to premedicate people before general anesthesia because it reduces muscle spasms...and also, interestingly, it's used in treatment of drug overdoses (like those occuring from heroin and the like) because it reverses the nervous system and cardiac slowdowns that occur when these drugs are taken.

It can make some people "freaky" because it can cause increases in heart rate (tachycardia)... again, it can feel like a panic attack.

Flomax doesn't have any atropine in it. It's supposed to relax your bladder neck and urethra to make emptying your bladder easier. Check out

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/tamsul.htm

for lots of info on Flomax.

:)

How did your uroflow go????

Jen

[kc1216]

Wow, I had no idea that the hydro - whatever it's called, in the pyridium plus could give me the freaks. I didn't take any today and no symptoms whatsoever of a panic attack. I took the regular drug store brand of Uristat and have been watching my food. I feel good today - well I did at first but then Hubby invited some people over and I just don't feel up for company. They are having pizza - I'm cooking something else for myself. Plus the coffee maker will be on - I can't have that either. Guess I'm just on my pity pot right now.

A few years back I had a drinking problem. I don't drink anymore - it took two years of trying and I am sober. So the pizza, coffee, ect is like putting me back into the "barscene" - I don't like not being able to not have what I want but have it in front of me - I am not well and I have to be teased. I just want to get back to my old self a little more so I can handle it.

I should be grateful I wasn't in the bathroom all day so I'll try to end this with that happy note in mind. Grrrrrr!

[amethyst79]

Took Wellbutrin for a few months, made me feel somewhat strange :loco:. Was on Paxil at first, but asked for something with less side effects... Celexa was next, but I had an allergy... onto Wellbutrin, then back to Paxil. Weening off Paxil now do to weight gain of 25 pounds which can only be attribued to the drugs at this point. Anyone know of any others? lol

The joys of feeling like a medicine cabinet!

Happy Easter!! :bunny:

[ICchell]

Jen,
Thanks for that info,that is interesting!Thanks again for the link on Flomax.
Hope you have a great Easter!:bunny: Michelle




Amythyst,I have been on those same anti depressants too...about the weight gain ...I have gained approx 25 lbs too:rant: :shake: due to elavil!!!!! ARGH!!!!Now I am on wellbutrin...i have tried this in the past...long time ago ...and it seemed to help,tho it made me feel a lil racy....How did it make you feel weird??? I am just curious.It does say on the info papers from the pharmacy that it can cause mania.
Happy Easter!michelle

[amethyst79]

Ok now you can all think I'm a little :loco: That's ok, hubby's thought it for a while!

My dr thought wellbutrin would be ideal for me as I needed to quit smoking and they say the wellb. helps curb the nicotine craving, plus the depression, we're thinking... GREAT!

The first few days i felt a little queesy, but dr said it was normal, and I remember feeling that way starting new Rxs before. But after a month... goodness. I remember when my drs tried prozac when I was a teen (I have a history, and family history of depression) I could FEEL that I was changing, it's a weird feeling and hard to describe, but I can say that I noticed myself doing, saying, and thinking things I wouldn't normally. That's kind of how the wellbutrin felt, but in a different way. I felt myself become almost paranoid.

The best example... I am definately an overprotective mommy. At this time my younger son was 2 1/2 and going to a special needs preschool for his autism. At the time I was being treated for nerve problems and pain (beginning to wonder fibromyalgia) and had a hard time getting up and doing things in the morning (numbness an pain) so I allowed my son to take a mini-bus equipt with car seats and all that fun stuff, driven by a mother with a son in the same program. After a few weeks on the Wellb. I just kept feeling like it wasn't safe for him to take the bus, this overwhelming urge something bad would happen. I put my pain inside and spent the next few weeks driving him back and forth to/from school.

You just get this feeling of "I would NEVER act like this" and know it's weird. When I went back on the Wellb. my son was back on the bus and the fears subsided...

On the weight gain/paxil side... I started counseling a few weeks ago, a wonderful decision especially with all the medical stuff going on. My therapist is the one who brought up the weight gain issue and also contributes my stange dreams/nightmares to the Paxil. She has had me go from 40 mgs down to 20 for now, I have already lost 5 lbs. She's hoping that over the next year, I can get off the paxil, maybe be put on something else, and find an adequete exercise program. I am diabetic and have already been following a pretty healthy diet.

Hopefully all that rambling helped. Helped me as I woke up again in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep! :headbang:

Happy Easter

Chelle :bunny:

[ICchell]

Thanks Chelle,for sharing that ,I too have depression.The paxil did help me for a while then it suddenlt stopped working after being on it for so long.Paxil never made me gain weight...then again when I took it I was in great shape spent years on a daily basis at the gym...now Ive put on about 25 lbs...been depressed sinse my Daddied3.5 months ago April 13 was his birthday(in 2 more days) I will put Flowers on his grave tomorrow.I miss my daddy so much!!!
Happy Easter:bunny: Michelle

[sleepyangel30]

amethyst79, I have a family history of depression too, Half of my family take medicine for depression. Anyway have a good and happy easter.

Originally posted by amethyst79
Ok now you can all think I'm a little :loco: That's ok, hubby's thought it for a while!

My dr thought wellbutrin would be ideal for me as I needed to quit smoking and they say the wellb. helps curb the nicotine craving, plus the depression, we're thinking... GREAT!

The first few days i felt a little queesy, but dr said it was normal, and I remember feeling that way starting new Rxs before. But after a month... goodness. I remember when my drs tried prozac when I was a teen (I have a history, and family history of depression) I could FEEL that I was changing, it's a weird feeling and hard to describe, but I can say that I noticed myself doing, saying, and thinking things I wouldn't normally. That's kind of how the wellbutrin felt, but in a different way. I felt myself become almost paranoid.

The best example... I am definately an overprotective mommy. At this time my younger son was 2 1/2 and going to a special needs preschool for his autism. At the time I was being treated for nerve problems and pain (beginning to wonder fibromyalgia) and had a hard time getting up and doing things in the morning (numbness an pain) so I allowed my son to take a mini-bus equipt with car seats and all that fun stuff, driven by a mother with a son in the same program. After a few weeks on the Wellb. I just kept feeling like it wasn't safe for him to take the bus, this overwhelming urge something bad would happen. I put my pain inside and spent the next few weeks driving him back and forth to/from school.

You just get this feeling of "I would NEVER act like this" and know it's weird. When I went back on the Wellb. my son was back on the bus and the fears subsided...

On the weight gain/paxil side... I started counseling a few weeks ago, a wonderful decision especially with all the medical stuff going on. My therapist is the one who brought up the weight gain issue and also contributes my stange dreams/nightmares to the Paxil. She has had me go from 40 mgs down to 20 for now, I have already lost 5 lbs. She's hoping that over the next year, I can get off the paxil, maybe be put on something else, and find an adequete exercise program. I am diabetic and have already been following a pretty healthy diet.

Hopefully all that rambling helped. Helped me as I woke up again in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep! :headbang:

Happy Easter

Chelle :bunny:

[kc1216]

Hi ladies,

Happy Easter! Now I get to really try to follow this IC diet - out of all days when all my favorite foods will be right in front of me!

I'm hoping I don't have to take a Uristat today - I don't want to take anything today.

The paxil is still sitting in the kitchen cabinet - untouched - I am SO AFRAID. I went to some paxil message board and people are talking about "electric zaps" and all sorts of things. As for Wellbutrin - I haven't really seen anyone post with major changes so I'm wondering if it will work at all for me. It's so sad to have to take a xanax when I feel panicked. I notice the panic comes on after the IC feeling.

For two years now I have never taken any kind of drug except for tylenol and I don't drink anymore. I just feel bummed that I am now pouring medication into my body - although it's for a reason. A while back it wasn't - I ate every kind of pain killer, tranq just to get high. That obsession has been removed but it still hurts knowing this is going to go back into my system again.

I've heard that Paxil can make you a zombie and maybe it's what I need right now. I went into full blown IC/panic attack last night when we had some guests over for dinner and a movie. I was upset I couldn't eat with everyone (they had pizza) and was also uneasy because the kids were very bored and we were trying to watch the movie. Any little thing gets on my nerves now.

Very hard. But I know the Man upstairs can't give me anymore crap than I can handle and I just have to keep thinking that way.

Anyway, hope you all have a great holiday!

KC

[amethyst79]

Hi KC,

First of all, Happy Easter :bunny:

I have been on the paxil 5 years with only short periods of drug switching. The main reasons I have switched and am working to switch again are the weight gain and if I'd forget to take them for even a day, my blood pressure would drop and I'd get really dizzy.

Other than that I can't say I've ever felt like a zombie, on the flipside, I am always more energetic with it, wanting to clean and do things.

Everyone is different, which is why there are so many options out there. Don't shun one away because a few people gave bad opinions, it's best to give it a shot based on your needs and see how it goes... otherwise you could be passing up the drug that makes you truly feel great again!

Hugs

Chelle :cat: