recently diagnosed with Urethral syndrome...want relief from burning!

**Kate82** · 01-14-2006, 11:14 AM

I have been diagnosed recently with urethral syndrome. Urogesic blue tablets were perscribed to me for burning (burning for around my clit/vagina area and urethra..not in the bladder), sensitivity/irritation, and frequency. It worked for almost 3 weeks. But then the urogesic blue just stopped working. Could something else have made my symptoms come back? I don't have an infection in my urine. Could I have a yeast infection that caused my symptoms to return? Is it normal for urogesic blue to lose its effect? What else can I try to help with sensitivity and burning down there? I've tried the kind that makes you pee orange and it didn't help at all..only the blue kind has worked for me.

I have been reading alot that drinking water helps symptoms..But sinse all this started I've drank nothing but water (6-8 cups a day) and I don't get any releif. Also I havn't noticed foods making my symptoms worse or better. The burning has pretty much has stayed the same sinse the symptoms came back about 2 weeks ago.

Kate

**MarthaF** · 01-14-2006, 02:03 PM

Kate,

You could check out an article on this site:
http://www.ic-network.com/newsroom/796.html

It may possibly be helpful is assessing the cause of your urethral syndrome. A thorough exam might help to determine whether this is applicable in your case.

Martha F

**Silverfern** · 01-14-2006, 06:03 PM

((Kate))

I'm sure you've thought of this, but are you being super cautious about what you allow to come into contact with the vulval area such as soaps, shampoos, toilet paper, the washing powder you use to wash your panties in etc. etc. I'm sure that's the first thing you thought of, but sometimes we can overlook the obvious. I hope you get some relief very soon.

Hugs

**Cheries** · 01-14-2006, 06:17 PM

Have you tried vaginal estrogen cream called "Estrace"? I haven't used it but when I got on estrogen the burning stopped. I haven't had it since.

**Kate82** · 01-15-2006, 07:37 AM

Thank you Martha, that is interesting I'll show it to my gyno.

Silver, I am using Dove moisturizing soap to shower with but I havn't tried a new milder detergent to wash my clothes with. I really need to do that. What detergent do yall recomend? I have just seen Ivory recomended but I can't find that at the grocery store. All my panties are 90% cotton and 10% spandex from Victoria Secrets. Can 100% white cotton panties really make a difference? The toilet paper we have is white and I am very gentle when using it. Im not sure about using a water bottle when using the bathroom but maybe I'll decide to try that eventually.

Cheries, that is awesome! I hope it is that simple for me. I have cysts on one of my ovaries and my gyno wanted me to go on birth control pills to help get rid of them. I've never been on birth control pills before though. Is that what he put you on or there is just an estrogen pill? How did he know you were low on estrogen?

Sorry for all the questions!

Kate

**Silverfern** · 01-15-2006, 02:40 PM

Try looking for some washing powder that doesn't contain perfume or dyes. (The perfume is the real killer)! I live in New Zealand and a company here makes a 'sensitive' washing powder which is hypoallergenic (no dyes or perfumes). I'm sure you can find something along those lines where you live. It might well be that the detergent you're using is just fine, but unless you try something different just to check it out then you won't know. You'll be really peeved if something like that is contributing, or maybe even causing, your problems when it can so easily be fixed. Another thought is to make sure your knickers are double or treble rinsed after you wash them as you can get a build up of detergent remaining in the fabric which is really bad. Your cotton knickers sound fine. Just be really really careful when you're showering to keep shampoos and soaps away from the vulval area as much as you can. I rely on using lots of water down there to keep clean and it works just fine. Mind you, some people are sensitive to the chlorine in the water so that's another thing to be aware of.

I'd definitely give the water bottle a go....I find that so soothing after I pee that I use it all the time when I'm really burning up. It's my number one friend then.

The estrogen cream can be really helpful if your uro-genital area is dry and irritated from lack of estrogen (generally after menopause or from having your ovaries removed). It would definitely be worth talking to your doctor about that.

Hope you find some answers very soon. Take care.

Hugs

**rosesitty** · 01-15-2006, 08:47 PM

I use Dreft to wash my clothes (it's made for babies), and Cetaphil bar soap to wash with all over and down below. Don't get the antibacterial kind. I also use Cetaphil lotion to wash my face. I only wear 100% cotton underwear too. Hope this helps!
Rose

**Kate82** · 01-16-2006, 07:53 PM

Silverfern~ I just bought no dye no perfume detergent and my clothes are being washed as I type! I guess I will find out if it helps tomorrow. And I got Dove for sensitive skin too. And I got Preleif..used it once so far..havn't noticed a change in symptoms (yet).
I am only 23 so I am not menopausal..but I do definately think I'm dry down there. Im going to the gyno tomorrow so I'll ask if I could have low estrogen...

Rose~I love cetaphil. I've used the anti bacterial cetephil (only for my face) for the past 4 yrs. I just might try the non-bacterial kind for my body.

Kate

**Silverfern** · 01-16-2006, 08:23 PM

((Kate))

If you are allergic to something that's coming into contact with your vulval area, then that could explain the feeling of dryness. At 23 I seriously doubt you're lacking in estrogen (well, I sincerely hope not!)

It'll be really interesting to see if any of the changes you're making helps.....I do hope so! All the best.

Hugs

**Kate82** · 01-17-2006, 03:14 PM

Well I'm still not feeling good down there...so it doesn't seem like the different detergent has helped. My gyno today was going to give me a steroid cream to put down there but then changed his mind and wants to try estrogen cream first. So I have the estrogen cream. I will be suprised if it helps but we'll see.

Kate

**momw/ic** · 01-17-2006, 05:43 PM

In addition to the things already mentioned I also use lidocaine gel. It is a numbing gel that I get by prescription from my uro. I can put a little dab in the area that is burning - especially in the urethra and it will numb it up and give me some relief. It is especially helpful at bedtime so I can get some sleep.

**Kate82** · 01-17-2006, 05:45 PM

Oh that is awesome! I will ask my uro for that at my next appt!

**Silverfern** · 01-17-2006, 06:07 PM

Kate, it may take a day or two of wearing the panties washed in the new washing powder before you can assume it's affecting you one way or the other. I doubt whether that's what is causing your problems, but you just never know! By the way, did you rinse the powder out of them really really well. Actually, when I was really sore and inflamed I didn't use any washing powder at all on my knickers.....just soaked them overnight in really hot water and then scrubbed them well next morning. They were perfectly clean and I knew for certain then that washing powder couldn't be the culprit. Might be worth doing that for a couple of days just to be sure. Good luck!

Hugs

**Kate82** · 01-18-2006, 10:22 AM

Lynne~ Yea, I doubt the detergent is the main reason for all of my symptoms down there but after changing it to the no dye no perfume detergent I wouldn't be suprised if it ends up making me a little less irritated down there. So far Im not sure it has helped though.

When I washed it with the new detergent I put it through the rinse cycle 3 times.