Overactive bladder or IC?

[starrygirl]

What's the difference? My doctor thinks I have an overactive bladder, but I think I might have IC.

My symptoms include:

severe urge to urinate constantly (almost painful)
bladder spasms
irritated urethra (even sometimes "itchy")
normal urine culture
no yeast infection (I went to my GYN searching for answers)

These symptoms have been severe for the past couple of weeks, and it's really starting to wear me down. It feels like I have a severe UTI, but my urine culture is totally normal.

I've had stress incontinence since giving birth to my 11 year old son. I can never sneeze or cough without first crossing my legs.

Would someone please explain to me the difference between an overactive bladder and IC? Are they really the same thing?

[Sarojini]

Overactive bladder is different than IC. It sounds like you have IC to me too, because you are describing bladder and urethral pain --- to my knowledge, overactive bladder is not painful. You simply have strong, sudden urges to pee (and sometimes are incontinent because of them-- called "urge incontinence").

However, many docs always want to rule out OAB first... this is best discussed with your doc (a urologist could be useful here).

Anyway, I can totally relate to your comment about the itchy urethra... I get that too sometimes and it is annoying as all heck!!!

You may want to read the IC Patient Handbook on this site. Also, have you tried the IC Diet? I find that itchy urethra thing is caused by eating certain foods... perhaps yours will improve if you try the diet too!!

Welcome to the ICN, btw ;)

[jaime15]

Jen explained it well...I hope you get the answers you need and start to feel better soon!
I hope to see you around the boards!:kiss: :hi:

[kelly McC]

Hi AND WELCOME,
Just wanted to say I also started my problems after my youngest son was born . He will be 10 in July. I also have alot of the same symptoms you described burning.pain and itching. Hope you can get some answers soon. It did take a while for me to get diagnose while doctors ruled out other things. The diet has helped me alot. Best wishes,
Kelly

[poetgirl]

It's possible you could have IC or IC and OAB (I have both.) Definitely have a doctor run some diagnostic tests to find out what is causing your symptoms. OAB usually does not involve any pain or burning -- either you have urge incontinence (where you have to go very suddenly and either you have to very consciously hold the urine in or you're unable to because of the muscle spasms) or stress incontinence which is where you leak as a result of certain activities (sneezing, coughing, running, etc.)

[QueenJutea]

If your are using bladder control pads STOP! They are toxic! Only use unscented sanitary napkins for bladder leakage.
That is how my IC symptoms started by using bladder control pads. They have a chemical in them. They will dry out your tissues. Use only unscented soaps to wash like Dove. Do not use any chemicals in or around your genitals or bladder. Look at any medications that have a drying effect on your body.

My IC symptoms have almost completely gone away since stopping the bladder control pads. I was lucky to figure out what was causing my IC after about 6 weeks of symptoms. I had pain, spasms, burning, urgency, blood in my urine etc.

I probably will have some residual damage done to my bladder for quit some time but I'm hoping that I will heal completely. Plus I am doing Kegels to strenghten my bladder muscles.

If any of you ladies have bladder control pads in the house open one up and smell one. You will notice a chemical smell. The last thing you want to do is sit on a toxic chemical.

Good Luck
I hope this helps

[Christa]

Hi-

I don't agree that pain is not a symptom of overactive bladder. OAB is often a nerve problem and left untreated can progress to pain, even radiating pain.

Christa

[yvette]

which can make it extremely difficult to separate the 2 conditions into separate catagories.

I think of OAB as an involuntary muscle spasm....but couple that with overlapping IC symptoms and it turns into a whole different ball game.

Now you mention having a "normal" culture.... you must have some sort of colony count in there???...if you are already suffering with IC it could be that even the littlest bit of bacteria sends you over the edge with oddles of discomfort -- this happens to me a A LOT! I don't have enough of a colony count to be considered a *true* infection by medical terms, but the little bit of bacteria that is there is enough to drive me nuts. If I didn't have IC I prolly wouldn't even feel any discomfort. The IC just makes me super sensitive to any bacteria counts....

Does that totally confuse you even more? :dizzy: :D