Possibly mild IC...opinions needed

[NJAmanda]

Hi everyone! I just found this forum and am in need of some opinions. I'll tell you my whole story (short version of course!)

I've always been someone who has to urinate a bit more than most people, but nothing that ever truly affected my life. I remember a few times in my teenage years when I had to get up about 10 times before going to bed to go to the bathroom, but then nothing like that for years. Fast forward to a little over a month ago.

I'm a 25 year old female and in early April there was one specific day where I would have bet money on having a UTI. I was peeing every 20 minutes, although I had no burning sensation. That was on a Friday and I couldn't get to my doctor until the Monday. He did a urinalysis and it came back normal. I was not put on any antibiotics as I felt a lot better. However, I still felt like I was urinating more than usual. Currently, I go about once every hour and a half and go at least twice before I go to bed, and then right away when I get up. Some days are better than others. And when I go, there's always a lot of fluid that comes out. It's not that I feel like I have to go and don't.

Anyway, to accompany this frequent urination, I had a bit of discomfort in my left pelvic region. I asked my doctor to send me for a pelvic ultrasound because I thought it could have been a cyst causing these problems. Had my results faxed to my GP and my gynecologist. Both said it looked normal with just a tiny, functional cyst on my right ovary. I asked my GP if this cyst would be contributing to frequent urination. He said no and referred me to a urologist.

I went to the urologist yesterday and after some poking around and talking to me about my symptoms, he said that I might have a very mild case of IC and gave me some samples and a prescription of Prosed/DS. I have another appointment with him in a month to check in and see if it worked. He said if not, then he has to look inside my bladder. I don't even know what that entails but am hoping this prescription will do the trick.

I'm just wondering if, to you knowledgeable people, this sounds like IC. I don't know what other culprit it could be. Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated!

[Julie B]

:welcome:

Hi Amanda! It definitely sounds like you could possibly have IC. What happens when you drink cranberry juice? If your bladder gets worse that is another hint that you might have IC. Note: I am not suggesting that you drink a glass just to see what happens! But if you have experienced this, you may have another clue.

You should be able to find a lot of information about various diagnostic procedures on the website here. Take some time and poke around the website. If you have IC, the best thing you can do is learn as much as you can.

I hope you feel better soon....

[KristyKay]

I just wanted to chime in...I was diagnosed with a mild case of IC last year and I also have a strong flow and usually only go about 7-8x a day. I always sleep through the night. It is my understanding that you can still have a mild case of IC, even though you might not fit all of the "classic" symptoms of IC like nocturia and many small voids throughout the day.

I recently have begun to explore the possibility of PFD (Pelvic Floor Dysfunction) as the souce of my problem. I also don't have any pain, just an uncomfortable tenison in my pelvic floor that seems to get slightly more tense after sex. Learning to "relax". I also have no history of UTI's or health issues in general.

Hope that helps...

-Kristy :)

[bluegoo06]

Wow this sounds me! I am 24 , and got diagnosed with IC in March. A couple questions for ya regarding your frequency lately, just to give you some more ideas on what might have caused the sudden change .

have you recently started taking any new prescriptions? When I changed birth control pills, I had a huge issue with frequent urination, felt like someone was on my bladder constantly. I swapped to a new kinda, and had no issues at all.

Have you recently changed anything else in your life? That might have caused these changes, (Ie new relationship etc)? The reason i bring this up is because for me, when I have intercourse, almost always get some type of frequency. Always thought it was UTIs, but pretty sure it is my IC, because it goes away if i abstain for a few days.

As far as the diagnose goes, typically it seems as though the urologist with have to a cystoscopy (use a camera to look inside the bladder, they look for certain cells, redness, etc) to look inside under general anesthesia. It is like a 5 minute procedure, but very painful (thus the anesthesia). They give you a few pain pills ( kinda painful after) and anti botics to prevent infection (the procedure can cause a UTI). It is an outpatient thing, I had mine on a Friday, and was the next day, rested up and ready to return to life on Monday to return to normal life.

IC does seem to pop up out of no where, it seems when i eat certian foods now that my bladder seems to be bothered (frequency, some bladder / pelvic pain) but a year ago i could eat anything. This board is a great resource for questions and advice if you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

[NJAmanda]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

Julie, I have not noticed any increase in problems upon drinking cranberry juice, but drinking it doesn't seem to help any.

Kristy, I am going to estimate that my trips to the bathroom range about 10-15 times a day. But I also do tend to drink a lot which may also play a role. I usually feel like I probably could void some more as soon as I finish using the bathroom, but I wait until I feel like I really do have to go, so that may be a reason why when I do go, the flow is pretty heavy.

Blue, I have not been taking any prescriptions...the only prescription I have is for Differin cream which is a topical acne medicine I started a few months ago. The last time I had intercourse (sigh) was in January. And yes I usually do see a slight increase in frequency after intercourse but nothing major.
I guess a cystoscopy was what my doctor was referring to when he said he'd look inside my bladder.

Thanks for the input! I'm just worried that this medication won't work...and then my mind starts to think about the fact that it may just turn out to be nothing. But I don't want to go on feeling this way for nothing!!

[ICNDonna]

:welcome: to the IC Network.

It sounds like you have found a urologist who is familiar with IC. You can read in the Patient Handbook on this site about cystoscopy and other tests.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[Jinny Jean]

Hi! I just wanted to bring this post back, even though I know it is old.. this sounds exactly like me as well... although I have never been diagnosed, the IC diet and the anti candida diet that Im on help the most. I would say on average I pee maby 7-9 times a day. On a bad day it can get up to 15 or 20. I would classify this as mild IC... I have no pain hardly any burning (especially when I dont eat bread and drink alkaline water I notice I have NONE).. and some pressure at times... I notice it gets worse 2 weeks before my period, but ON my period I almost feel normal, unless I am stressed out or eat something very bad. Anyone else currently only have these symptoms too? I am on Elmiron and think it is helping some, but I have only been on it three months, so not quite sure yet.

Jenn :)

[bri1121]

Wow this sounds me! I am 24 , and got diagnosed with IC in March. A couple questions for ya regarding your frequency lately, just to give you some more ideas on what might have caused the sudden change .

have you recently started taking any new prescriptions? When I changed birth control pills, I had a huge issue with frequent urination, felt like someone was on my bladder constantly. I swapped to a new kinda, and had no issues at all.

Have you recently changed anything else in your life? That might have caused these changes, (Ie new relationship etc)? The reason i bring this up is because for me, when I have intercourse, almost always get some type of frequency. Always thought it was UTIs, but pretty sure it is my IC, because it goes away if i abstain for a few days.

As far as the diagnose goes, typically it seems as though the urologist with have to a cystoscopy (use a camera to look inside the bladder, they look for certain cells, redness, etc) to look inside under general anesthesia. It is like a 5 minute procedure, but very painful (thus the anesthesia). They give you a few pain pills ( kinda painful after) and anti botics to prevent infection (the procedure can cause a UTI). It is an outpatient thing, I had mine on a Friday, and was the next day, rested up and ready to return to life on Monday to return to normal life.

IC does seem to pop up out of no where, it seems when i eat certian foods now that my bladder seems to be bothered (frequency, some bladder / pelvic pain) but a year ago i could eat anything. This board is a great resource for questions and advice if you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

So you are saying your IC got worse? I keep reading about the IC diet and think I should try it but don't ever remember putting any food together with bad pain or whatever. I can drink coffee, OJ, spicy food etc and not get worse? I thought maybe I was lucky but obviously it got worse for you?!