Med. Questions?

[MissGlass]

I was officially diagnoised today w/ IC. It's a good thing i finally have something to call this and bad at the same time. Also i spoke w/ my doc about some meds for frequency, she is having me try detrol LA, vesicare, and enablex . All for a week at a time to see which works best. My question is sometimes i have alot of retention is it bad to take those with that? And does anyone have any experience with them? Also, i finally got her on board with the pain med situation. Currently on loratab 5/500. 6 a day. Been on them off and on for 3 years now. It used to be only 1-2 a day but i must be building a tolerance. I've read about opiate rotation. How would i bring up that subject? Esp since i just got her on board you know? But they are not working as well as b4.Plus i believe that is alot of tylenol.:loco:

[rgreen]

Well I'm glad you've officially been given a diagnosis...it sucks but it's comforting altogether you know? As for those medications, those medications all relax your bladder so yes, there is risk of retention. I know for me they did not cause retention, (they also didn't help me) but my husband, it relaxed his bladder muscles so much he went into retention, so just be careful.

As for bringing up the pain management thing...that's really tough. I honestly do not know how to bring that up. I always feel weird bringing it up because I do not want them thinking I'm dying for some pain meds you know? I work in a hospital and pharmacy and as far as your dosing goes for the Vicodin...it is a lot of Tylenol but your doctor has to look at it like this...is the risk of giving her the medication greater than the risk it will be on her liver? You could talk to your MD and let her know you're concerned with such a high dose of Tylenol and see if maybe she'll change you to something else. She may or may not, but it never hurts to ask. I see patient's on much more though of that daily. I am fortunate when it comes to pain medication only because I work right in the doctor's office, I actually work for my PCP so he monitors and controls my pain managing as well as my urologist. My urologist isn't big on wanting to prescribe pain meds, but he will do it when he knows the flares are bad/extreme. I would talk to your MD and just bring up your concern about the tolerance you could be building but also the toxicity to your liver.

[Briza]

Miss G
I am sorry for your dx but w/ dx there usually comes the option of many different types of treatments available for IC, and meds that can relieve the pain of IC, and not all of them are necessarily narcotic pain meds. Tho I am aware of and have experience with pain meds that can be very helpful in controlling IC pain and and other symptoms, I also have experience with other types of meds that have been very helpful for me. As you probably know, for most IC patients, it may take a combo of meds to relieve all symptoms most effectively.
Is your prescribing dr your uro? You mention that this dr is on board now with your pain meds, but from my experience and from being on this board for some years now, not all uros are really all that into managing pain longterm. With 6 5/500 lortabs a day, you ARE getting close to the max rec dose of tyenol a day, which is 4000 mg for a person w/ a HEALTHY liver...With the 6 lortabs/day you are at now makes 3000 mg, so that is getting up there esp when taking it longterm.

Some drs are not willing or are not ABLE to Rx other pain meds, pain meds that may work very well but do not contain tylenol. For this you may have to see a pain specialist, which for many with IC turns out to be a very good option.
You say you have concerns about speaking to your drs about pain managment. THere is an old post here that I will search for that may be helpful to you and others who are seeking the most effective and appropriate pain management, regardless the dr who is in charge of your pain management. WHen I read this post some years ago, was a huge help in getting my and MANY others courage up to speak to their drs about pain management.

[Briza]

Hi
If you are seeking good, reliable, longterm pain management, please click on the link below and read post #5 in the thread:
http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26980&highlight=jill