Urgency/Frequency/Burning Post-Sex -- What meds will help?

[MamaZ]

Hey all,
I've been in a pretty bad flare since Christmas time after being in remission for years (while pregnant/breastfeeding). Most of my discomfort is in my urethra, except when my IBS flares and then it's also in my bladder. Anyway, I get what feels like a UTI about 24-48 hours after my husband and I have sex. Very localized pain/itching/burning in the urethra. I have retention first and then it turns into urgency and frequency which makes me even more irritated. I have zero pain or discomfort during sex.

I just tried Uribel and while it did prevent the burning at first (hallelujah) after sex it also made my stomach KILL and gave me diarrhea. That made my whole pelvic area scream out in pain. No good. I'm guessing it was the analgesic that hurt my stomach.

Going to a new urogyn next week and assume he's going to recommend something for me to try. I've been researching all the commonly used meds here and elsewhere on the interweb and I'm skerrrrrred. So many side effects. I feel like I'm about to venture into some science experiment with me as the guinea pig.

I'm already not happy with the weight I've been unable to lose after baby #2 so I'd love not to gain any weight from a drug but I don't even know....is there such a drug that I could successfully take that wouldn't make me gain weight?

Fwiw, I spent many years doing the diet and natural things (herbs, supplements, etc) and while I still would prefer to go that direction, I'm afraid I have little confidence in those sorts of remedies for IC. Maybe in conjunction with meds. It pains me to say that since I'm usually so anti-medication.

Ok, so I'm rambling. Sorry everyone. I just feel so frustrated and not sure which way to turn. Thanks for listening!

[Linda May]

AZO helps some you can get it over the counter.

[vanilla]

Elavil and Lidocaine ointment have helped me. I take 10 mg at night and haven't gained a single pound. I weigh myself everyday to make sure though. I'm flaring right now and increased the Elavil to 20 mg, a few days ago. It really makes a difference.

[cmclien]

Sometimes I take azo if the burning is bad afterwards and I drink TONS of water, I don't know why but it helps to keep things flushed out. I also take a macrobid (preventative) everytime we have sex. I think antibiotics are also kind of an anti-inflammatory.

[MamaZ]

Thanks everyone!

I used to take Macrobid before sex many years ago and while it did prevent UTIs, I still felt a very "full" feeling in my vagina. Like a mini UTI. Probably the IC.

I'm in the midst of a bad flare now and am taking the AZO. Did one of those home test strips and it was positive for WBC but not bacteria. This seems to happen quite a bit.

I think I'm feeling so lousy this time especially because the Uribel gave me retention and I was trying to push pee out after sex. I know, stupid. I was half asleep while doing it (my son woke me up so I had the urge, but nothing was coming out!) and it probably just made things worse.

I used to make it a rule that we could only have sex during the day so I'd have ample time to flush out my bladder before going to sleep. But with two kids and busy lives that's just not practical.

Great to hear about the Elavil not making you gain weight! Has it affecting your libido? I have IBS so I worry about how it might be for my stomach.

How does Lidocaine cream work? Can it actually reach the urethra? One urologist's office I visited in Philly a few years back told me lidocaine doesn't work so well because it just slides right off the urethra...

[cmclien]

I'm in the midst of a bad flare now and am taking the AZO. Did one of those home test strips and it was positive for WBC but not bacteria. This seems to happen quite a bit.

Great to hear about the Elavil not making you gain weight! Has it affecting your libido? I have IBS so I worry about how it might be for my stomach. ...

You might want to go to the doctor with the WBC showing. I find anytime that happens my symptoms are MUCH worse and my UG said could be a uti forming. My GP will always put me on antibiotics when it shows that because its a sign that something is going on or they wouldn't be there. I usually have a pretty big supply at home and will take 3 days worth. Invariably it gets rid of the WBC and I feel better. Just a thought. I also find when the WBC is there it makes it harder to pee too, kinda like what you said.

I don't know about elavil-amitriptyline but I take nortriptyline and it hasn't effected my IBS at all at this low dose. Though I'm mostly IBS-C these days.