I'm new,too - Help, my urethra hurts!

[MichelleM]

Hi All! I was just diagnosed in June - right after I got married! I'm on Elmiron and Atarax, and I'm still getting used to being groggy all day. Yeah, my bladder bugs me, but even worse is my urethra! I've started getting Elmiron instilled into my bladder w/ a catheter, and it feels like there are shards of glass in my urethra when they do it! Also, I can no longer have "relations" with my hubby and I'm feeling guilty and unattractive. I guess he married right into a pretty bad deal. I'll do anything to fix my urethritis. Today I started an antibiotic that I'm supposed to take for a week. Have antibiotics helped anyone else with this problem? Is it something that most women with IC deal with?

MichelleM

[Katrina]

Hi Michelle and Welcome to the ICN!!!! :hi: :welcome:
I got diagnosed with IC shortly after I got married too....and had the same feelings ....what a deal for my husband....but on the brighter side I made it untill than .....and things do get better. I feel antibiotics helps my IC (when they work)! A lot of women have urethra pain at some point....I do when things get real bad but not always..... :grouphug: :grouphug:

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/ this link is a great resourse for all people with IC

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7562 This is post with ideas on helping IC pain.....on the second page there are 4 attachments ....the fourth one has a long list of ideas....the others give help to some of those ideas....It may help you.

Let me know if I can help you anymore.
:kiss:

[Sarojini]

:welcome: to the ICN!

I started with severe IC symptoms about 6 months after getting married, so I can definitely understand how it feels. My husband has been wonderful throughout though, and I bet yours will too. He loves you :)

As for the urethral pain, yes, I think most ICers get it at some point... I take Pyridium when mine is burning, and I have pain pills for bladder pain in general. Both of these help. I also find that when my urethra really burns after sex, an ice pack on the crotch can help a lot.

I've never had much luck with antibiotics for any of my IC symptoms, but there are others on the boards who seem to find their symptoms improve when they are on antibiotics.

Good luck, and again, welcome :) Feel free to post with any questions you might have :) :grouphug:

[Dixiefireball]

:hi: and :welcome: to the icn family please check out www.ic-network.com/handbook i believe you will find it very useful.
have you tried any numbing medicine for your burning? when i use to do my dmso and cocktail treatments they would use some type of numbing cream before they put in the cath. which helped a lot the RN also gave me a tube to bring home to use in those cases but i havent had to use it in so long i don't remember the name
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[tigger_gal]

hi and welcome to the icn.. I too get burning and spasms pretty bad :( hugs to you... Don't ever feel guilty or unattractive, this is not your fault... you will find a wealth of info thru-out these boards.
hugs
Brat

[jeanniebug]

Hi Michelle! :hi: You are not alone..I had a hysterectomy 1 year after getting married then dx with IC the year after that. I told my husband he got a bad apple. But he says he disagrees. :D And, he has been very supportive. I used to have horrible vaginal pain and pain in my urethra..for me a very low dose of Elavil did the trick. I had to try several things until I found that this worked for me. But I mean the very next day my vaginal and urethra pain was gone..still have the bladder pain and frequency though. I could not have sex at that time at all. Dh husband was great about it but I know what you mean, I felt guilty and unatractive as well. My hubby kept assuring me he didn't want me to do anything that would cause excrutiating pain. Ice is soothing when the urethra pain gets bad. I had my first DMSO instillation today and the ladies here suggested I ask for lidocaine to numb the area before the treatment begins, because my urethra is only sensitive now if there's a catheter going into it. Then it feels like needles. :yikes: My nurse did use the lidocaine first and it helped tremendously, I highly recommend it for catheter pain! I haven't tried antibiotic treatments but I'm sure others will come along who have. If I have a bad flare up I'll have the urethra pain and have pain pills for those times. Take care-

[kelly McC]

Hello and welcome.
I aslo have burning and spasms. I take pyridium plus and it sometimes help. I also use heat patches and alternate it with ice packs. My first uro did have try a 6 month course of antibiotic after 2 years of being off and on different antibiotics. Mostly my doctors were trying to treat uti's and kidney infections.
Kelly

[MichelleM]

Thanks for all the help! Today my Dr. told me I probably have scarring in my urethra which makes it more narrow - she hits a spot of resistance when trying to put in the catheter! Ow... Anyway, the antibiotic is only for one week but it seems to be helping. I haven't seen my husband in a month (we're military and stationed apart), but I guess I'll find out next week when I see him if we can have sex now or not...
If not, I'll definitely look into Elavil - is it an antidepressant?
Thanks!
MichelleM

[jeanniebug]

Hey Michelle! My dh's in the Army and stationed in Korea for the next year, so I know how it is to be apart! Here's some info about Elavil..taken out of the book "The IC Survival Guide" which I ordered on this site. It says:

**Amitriptyline (Elavil) 's initial use was in the treatment of depression. Chemically, it belongs to a group of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs, when administered in relatively low doses, serve an important role in the management of IC. They are also used extensively in pain management centers for the treatment of other diseases. Although other medications in this group can improve the symptoms of IC, amitriptyline (Elavil) has been studied in the greatest detail.**

It's my undertanding that Elavil can help a patient sleep better, help block transmission of pain, promote bladder relaxation and has a antihistamine effect which can decrease inflammation. It works for some and for others it doesn't work at all and they can't tolerate the side effects. Everyone is unique in what works for them. I had horrible luck with many different meds that others did great on..but a low dose of Elavil turned out to be the trick for me regarding vaginal and urethra pain, and I have almost no side effects from it. I sure hope you find some relief soon. :)

[windwalker]

Hi Michelle, I too have a lot of urethral burning. I have bladder spasms also, but those tend to subside here n there. I drink water w/SMALL amounts of bakingsoda in it to alkalize the urine which helps. I also take pyridium for the urethral burning, also about an hour before sex so its in my system and usually helps for after. I also use icepacks after, lol I've fallen asleep w/the icepack there. Dont feel guilty or unattractive, at the beginning some ppl have a hard time w/IC. Do some research and learn but dont let it get the best of you. As for being married w/this, I started w/urethral burning 18 yrs ago. My hubby and I started dating 17 yrs ago and will be married 10 yrs this Sept. (I tell ppl he sneaks stupid pills in my food to keep me married to em lol.) Hes getting more supportive the more he learns, although he does have his moments. I can't blame him its frustrating on all ends here. But we talk things out, I tell him how it actually feels for me and hes getting it. Stick w/these boards, everyone here is supportive and will do what they can to give you suggestions or just lend an ear (or eye to read your posts) :)
Take care!!
Dawn

[blondiecat]

:hi: Michelle welcome to ICN. I am very sorry that you have IC but very glad that you found these wonderful people here. I have only been diagonsed with IC about 10 days ago after 8 years of no answers with some saying I needed to see a shrink.

These wonderful people here have help me a lot since then. It's is nice to know that you aren't alone in your pain or at least it was for me. There are some great people here with a vast knowledge to help us newbies:) Hope you are feeling better soon. Sending you lots of "feel Better"vibes.

[sweettabby]

For me urethral burning and aching are my most frequent symptoms. I get the DMSO cocktail which does help alot about once a month now. I feel really good most of the time, but when I flare it always pretty much urethral burning and aching.