new meds- again

**theoutlaw77** · 07-06-2005, 02:12 PM

I had another dr appt today. I told the dr I am about to rip my bladder out of my body! He wanted me to try a different bladder spasm med. I have tried 3 in the past and none have helped. He feels that maybe I may now have more luck since I am on Elmiron, and have had some bladder instills. He gave me the Oxytrol patch. Anyone know anything about it? I guess you are only supposed to change it 2 times a week. But, it has only been on a few hours, and it is driving me nuts. It makes this crinkly sound, and is already getting wrinkled up and stuff. I do not think it is going to last 3-4 days. Maybe I have to try a different spot to put it.

Also, he wants me to talk to my pain mgt dr about Neurotin or Elival to stop some of the nerve pain that I am having. I think (and he agreed) that my pudendal nerve is very irritated. He said everything down there is connected, and that is why. I heard that Elival makes you gain weight. Does Neurotin too? Which is better for helping you get to sleep? Which works better with pain meds?

Thanks for any input! Jonee

**K9wife** · 07-06-2005, 02:18 PM

Hey Outlaw!!! I have used "the patch" and it works fair...it makes your mouth very dry, which makes you drink more, which makes IC'ers....you get the picture! But I think it may have helped a tiny bit. I wasn't great @ remembering to change it twice weekly, and if you're at all sensitive to adhesive, it may be bothersome. I think Drs just grasp @ straws to either try to help us or to get us out of their office so they can get someone with an easier problem to solve in there. What little amount of weight you gain with Elavil is minor after all of the "downs" you've had lately. I say go for whatever makes the IC better- then the rest falls into place. Sleep...now THAT'S a wishful thought, huh???? I'll be watching for you on the night boards...if I don't see you I'll assume the meds are helping! Take care!

***Julie B*** · 07-06-2005, 04:09 PM

HI Jonee.........I take hydroxyzine (Atarax) and one-half or one Vicodin at night.....that way I sleep...............if I can get sleep the daytimes are much more manageable.................hang hang in there...........gentle hugs.........Julie

**Dixiefireball** · 07-06-2005, 06:34 PM

i also used it it worked great for me as far as my IC goes but i had awful sick headaches from the medicine that was in it. Plus had a reaction to the tape it helped my bladder spasm my retaining a bit it also helped urg. freg. which was most important to me. Only if i could had gotten around the bad headaches and the tape reaction i would had it made.

**Kiyoka** · 07-06-2005, 07:16 PM

Jonee, I had the same problem as you, switching all these meds, oh my word. it's gets so old soo fast. I just wanted to warn you that that patch, can cause you not to be able to pee. so if that happens..call your doctor and ask if you can take it off if it last long enough. where are you placing the patch? how does it make you feel, does it help this far? I hope you have better luck with the patch then me.

**emilyrose197377** · 07-06-2005, 11:09 PM

Jonee, elavil and neurontin works great for nerve pain. elavil helps me sleep all night otherwise I would be up all night in pain. Good luck on your new meds.

Take Care
Kim

**Hangin' Tough** · 07-07-2005, 07:48 AM

Outlaw,
I am currently on Neurontin 400mg 3X per day. We started that at a lower dose and worked up to the 1200mg. My pain mgmnt doc says that there are some people with seizure disorders that take up to 3600mg per day. He has given me Dantrolene; brand name Dantrium 25mg 3X per day, it is a muscle relaxant and I have found that it helps greatly with the spasms. If I don't take it as scheduled, I feel like I am carrying a hot bowling ball in my bladder. I tried the Elavil and just cannot take it, I am spaced out and groggy for many hours (up to 15 hours) after even a small dose, so that was out, but some people have had excellent results with it. I hope you find a combination that works for you. I wish you relief.

Steve

**windwalker** · 07-07-2005, 09:34 AM

I used the patches, only places they'd stick on me were my sides and stomach. They were fine w/me but yea the other place suggested in the info made the same crinkle sound and wouldn't stick. Ya know, its the same meds as ditropan, maybe check w/your doc on that?

***Sarojini*** · 07-07-2005, 01:30 PM

I tried the Oxytrol patch way back when but ended up with an allergy to the adhesive, so I couldn't wear it. All of those anticholinergic meds--Detrol, Ditropan, Oxytrol (which is just Ditropan in patch form)-- make me retain urine badly anyway, so I no longer use any of them. I do take Levsin (hyoscyamine) when I am having spasms, and Pyridium Plus. Those, plus my normal pain management regimen, helps. I've never taken Neurontin, nor Elavil -- I can't take most antidepressants right now.

**theoutlaw77** · 07-07-2005, 01:37 PM

What is Levsin?

**realitygirl** · 07-07-2005, 04:07 PM

Hi Outlaw! I am in the same boat. . . . I beginning to think that it would be easier to remove the bladder! (Not really, but geez, . . . .

)

Levsin is a antispasmatic, I believe the generic is Hyoscyamine. You can chew it or swallow it. I have been using it since my diagnosis. I usually chew it up and it helps sometimes. Believe it or not, it helps with IBS and sinus problems! Not a bad med to keep in the purse. I hope this helps.

Realitygirl