Good news!!!

[Stella1609]

I promised in the other thread I wouldn't whine today, lol. My visit with the new urologist today went *GREAT*! They had to cath me to get a urine sample *yuck*, but that was the only bad part (I'm even getting used to all of these pelvic exams, lol). The office staff was super nice and the doctor must have spent 30 minutes just talking to me (and LISTENING too ). They also let my husband stay with me for the entire exam (the other urologist kicked him out :-/). Hubby said it was "like night and day" between the two.

The urologist is leaning towards a diagnosis of IC, but he is giving me DetrolLA just to rule out overactive bladder. I'm going back in two weeks, and at that point if the Detrol hasn't helped he's going to make a presumptive diagnosis of IC and start trying treatments right away. The best part is I won't have to repeat any of the painful diagnostics. He also made most of the same recommendations that you guys have as far as the IC diet and lots of fluids, and he actually recommended reading online over any of their handouts because the information is more up to date, which I thought was pretty enlightened for a doctor!

Anyways, thanks for all of the positive thoughts! I'm definitely on my way to getting some help.

{{{{{HUGS************

Laura

[vm]

Hey, that sounds really, really good. What a difference that will make to be working with a doc you have so much confidence in --- and one who
has confidence in you! Awesome!

[Annie2]

Laura,

So glad to hear all went so well! :woohoo: Finding a competent and compassionate uro is essential! Now you are on your way to healing and feeling so much better.

As with the diet, our responses to meds and treatments are very individual. What works for one may not work for someone else. It may take a bit of time, trial and error to find just the right combo that does the job for you. Do keep in mind that the vast majority of ICers DO get there and can go on to live normal, productive lives. Detrol helps some of us but doesn't work for others. It was the first thing RXed for me, too, and it did help my frequency so I am still taking it (cut my frequency from every 20 minutes to once every couple of hours). It didn't help with flares or pain, however, so I slowly began adding other meds and treatments. I certainly hope it will give you some relief, too. Do keep in mind, however, there are LOTS of different meds and treatments available.

You and your hubby will probably want to spend some time now reading about possible meds and treatments so you will be informed and can, along with your physician, decide what is best for you.

We'll be here,too, to support you and, to the best of our abilities, answer questions you may have.



Annie

[tigger_gal]

:woohoo: Stella, I told the 2nd time around is usually better :woohoo: I sure hope he takes better care of you.. I sure sounds like it... I have never had a gyn kick my hubby out.. if it was a man gyn and he did that.. it would really make me uncomfortable.... keep us posted...
Brat

[Sarojini]

Congrats!!! Sounds like this uro is a keeper!!!!!