IC or Change of Life

[KimFowler]

Hi,

I've been diagnosed with IC but I am beginning to wonder if it's hormonal. I am going throught the change of life, I'm 48 and it started for me about 5 years ago. I have really bad vaginal dryness, intercourse is agonizing, my periods are all over the place and I have dry eyes, dry skin, hot flashes, and night sweats. Anybody else question their IC? Any suggestions?

[systitis]

You are definitely on the right track & will find a great deal of info on ic, hormones & hormone-related symptoms in this forum. Both of these links will take you to very informative posts. Also search "Elizabeth Vliet"--she's a doctor whose work on hormones highlights the connection between estrogen and ic or ic-like symptoms. In addition, a search for "Estrace" (it's an estrogen cream to be applied topically) will offer even more information.

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=186

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=87

[Tuckersmom]

Ask your doctor for a script for Estrace Cream. It is used vaginally. I was suffering just as you are, and this stuff worked wonders.

[KimFowler]

Hi, will the estrogen cream put the IC into remission

[NancyB]

Dear Kim -

Go and find the thread I posted a few years ago about Estrogen as an IC Treatment. Click on My Name, then click on Statistics, scroll down and click on Threads Posted by NancyB. You will find it there.

Hope this information is helpful to you. PM me if you have any questions.

NancyB:)

[ChrisNes]

I want to post about my doctor appointment and Interstim implant.

I have been put on a 3 month waiting list for a trial Interstim. The specialist I saw tells me that not only will it help with my IC pain, he said it would help with my chronic pelvic pain, my back pain and help my bowels. He said i am a good candidate for the device. He said it wold also help with my bladder leaking : )

The doctor at the Pelvic Floor Center in Minneapolis tells me basically I have nerves that are miss-firing and they are sending messages of pain to my brain. He says that these nerves some how start sending the wrong message.

I have PFD and CPP, my exam hurt but went fine.

I do not want to wait the 3 months if it will help me with all of these areas of pain.

The doctor tells me my Burch or what he called 'a bladder vault suspension' is still intact, he believes my bladder tack is also holding.. He doesnt want to go in and operate or remove the scar tissue. He says i am at the age where i should start menopause so when that happens the endometrosis will stop growing.

I had POP in 2002.

This doctor is going to try to set up some PFD pelvic floor PT : ) I live in Rural ND so this part may be difficult to get a PT with pelvic floor experience to come here. Diagnosed with PFD on 5/25/12.

I also had a bladder scope and the Dr. gave me some peridium s.p. to numb the bladder and an Rx of Tramadol...it seems to help some.