Possible IC DX, just playing a waiting game...

[AuntieKit]

Hi everyone, my name is Kathryn & I'm 25. I've been having recurring UTIs since July of 2010. I've been hospitalized 5 times this year because of them. I went to my family physician last week when my Azo UTI test strips indicated white blood cells YET AGAIN & I was having the same symptoms- low grade fever, flank pain, urgency, frequency, strong odor... The only thing different now is that I didn't have nitrites in my urine. My physician cultured my urine and not a single strain of bacteria grew from it. He now believes that after the countless rounds of antibiotics that I've been on is that the REAL culprit is IC. I'm scheduled to have a cystoscopy at the end of December. It's been a week and things had settled down until today- lo & behold, I'm having flank pain, lower abdominal pain (always on the left), extreme fatigue, urgency, & frequency (I feel like I have to go after I just went 10 minutes ago!) I'm going back to my physician tomorrow morning since my Azo test strips showed more white blood cells. Is this what a life with IC is like? I'm so frustrated & confused!

[mommyof5]

SOrry to hear about your problems with uti's and pain. I also suffer from recurrent UTI's. I was also diagnosed with IC about a year and a half ago. Sometimes i go in and test negative then as pain gets worse I will go back and have a really bad uti. I think we start feeling the pain before the test detects the infection because of our sensitive bladders. I have been using d mannose to help with uti's but ran out so just reordered. It seems to help because my uti's have always been caused by ecoli. I wish the supplements were as cheap as my prescriptions because then I wouldn't have to take so many antibiotics. (which also give me a yeast infection. . Some people take a low dose of antibiotics daily to ward off uti's. That is my last alternative if all else fails. Good luck to you.

[Katrina]

to the forum!

You did describe well what the beginning of IC is like. Although it is a different story for everyone....life doesn't have to mean that you will always have these symptoms. Azo makes a pyridium to lesson bladder dyscomfort as well have you tried it?

There is a lot of discussion about the connection with UTI's and IC. Which comes first?

I myself found that some of the worse times with my own IC journey was during diagnosis process and before meds started to work. So that being said...I highly suggest learning about the IC diet. It can be a diagnostic tool if you can tell that the top IC trigger foods bother you or if they make no difference at all. Following the IC diet is often one of the most common bennificial treatments so if you suspect IC it is good to learn ASAP.

I too went through chronic UTI as my diagnosis before we diagnosed IC. Some of those UTI's I know were uti's but others I did not. Anyway, when the pain came it was a big big change in how my IC was so I am thrilled you found us so that you can get help on following the best path to relief for you.

Good luck and Best wishes. I hope your path to relief is short and easy!

[AuntieKit]

Thank you Mommyof5 & Katrina for telling me about your history, your advice, and for the support. I honestly feel like I could cry- it's nice to know there is a place that I can turn to for support & inspiration. I look forward to talking to you ladies in the future.

Kathryn

[Briza]

Auntiekit
Hi! Welcome to the board. Of course it will be for your doctor to determine your diagnosis, but what you are describing is very common for the onset of IC--UTI-like symptoms that don't show bacteria on culture, or show only wbc or only nitrates. Many of us spend a year or so before diagnosis going on and off antibiotics and downing cranberry juice, mistakenly thinking we have an infection.

It''s a good idea to start on the IC diet right away, as cranberry juice and a whole lot of other things are major bladder irritants. There's a link on to the diet on the homepage, as well as forums for it below here.

As Katrina mentioned, there's another OTC product called AZO Standard that helps a lot with the pain, burning, etc. However, it turns your pee orange so may interfere with dipstick test results, so if you one of those coming up, best not to take it the day of.

Glad you found us. Please keep us posted.

[AuntieKit]

Thank you, Briza, for the information you have given me. I'm so glad that I'm able to find advice from individuals that not only know about IC but are very well familiar with it. The thing that is so puzzling to me is that I'm not h ing any burning like you would have with a bladder infection. My doctor said it's not "set in stone" that you have to have dysuria to have IC. Have any of you heard of this?

[Briza]

Symptoms vary from patient to patient so even though burning is a common IC symptom, not everyone has that. Additionally, it can be difficult for IC patients to self-determine what's a UTI and what is IC, as many of the symptoms overlap. It may get easier with time to determine what is what, but it's always best to get these things checked out to be sure. Hopefully you'll be getting some additional treatment, and relief, soon.

[passion4life]

I truly understand how you feel. The beginning of this journey was definitely difficult. You will find support, love, and understanding through this forum. Many, many words of wisdom have been received from many, many caring members.

As many before have stated, the diet is so important to our recovery.

Please keep us posted! Have the best day you possibly can.

You are in my prayers!

[AuntieKit]

Thank you everyone for your kind words of encouragement & your advice! I KNOW I made a wise decision when I joined ICN. I'm so thankful that I won't be going through this (learning about & experiencing IC) alone and that I have a great group of intelligent, supportive, encouraging, & loving individuals.