My doc thinks not IC just pain from foods that bother IC patients???

[Darcyj]

Does this sound right?
She hasn't done a hydrodistention for diagnosis and is going merely on the fact that when she did the cystoscopy it was clear and that I don't wake more than once to urinate overnight. I was asymptomatic at the time of the scope from avoiding offending foods/drinks. So, my question for her was if I do indeed have IC and I cheat and have some of these foods from time to time, am I doing any permanent damage? She said, "not as far as we know." I'm not sure I believe this and I'm not sure I don't have IC. What are your thoughts?

[MommaWuzzi]

How do you score on a PUF questionnaire?

I've read about "painful bladder syndrome" vs. IC, and whether or not they are the same illness.

If right now diet changes are managing most of your symptoms, I'd be relieved that it was that easy, and keep an eye on it, if it were me...

[Darcyj]

I don't think I know what a PUF questionnaire is unless I filled it out and didn't realized that's what it was called.

I am relieved, just want to know if having some "forbidden" foods every now and then and then using Pyrdium/Pyridium Plus to deal with discomfort could be doing irreversible damage.

[Sally939]

Most docs I know say that eating "bad" foods will not cause long term damage. On the other hand, most of the ladies here would say it is like pouring acid on an open wound and why would you do that. I am not sure what I think. I know that the pain is not worth it but sometimes I just need to cheat and eat! I think the idea is to find a happy ground for you. Now I do take meds that makes cheating not painful. I also followed every rule to the T for about a year which I think allowed my bladder to heal a bit.

The real answer is no one really knows yet.

[Darcyj]

Right, I just wonder if I could be creating scar tissue--if it would cause scarring with just minor exposures. Because I know chronic muscle inflammation causes scar tissue, but I don't know about minor flares. Thanks for the reply.

[MissGlass]

i got a 30 on the PUF questionairre.... ........ :(

[MommaWuzzi]

Take it back to that doctor... or maybe find a different one?

Perhaps you were not clear enough about your symptoms, or the doctor was feeling hurried (who knows, maybe the doctor was in denial - I was diagnosed with IC and the doctor minimized it a LOT to me - when I got the post-operative report I was TICKED).

If you read about IC diagnosis you will find that a lot of people end up trying several doctors and going for years until the get a diagnosis. I kind of had that happen, but only because I have had high frequency since adolescence, and was raised to mostly ignore pain and just try to cope. When I started developing PFD and THOSE symptoms became insistent, I sought diagnosis other places, because I never realized the symptoms were brought on by bladder problems - so I've seen a regular doctor, a gastroenterologist and TWO gynecologists before diagnosis. Since diagnosis I've also seen one urologist.

Doctors makes mistakes, too. They're still human. If this doctor is unwilling to consider an IC diagnosis, set your mind at ease and get a second opinion.