Fill the prescription? - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

walton54 · 03-06-2005, 04:05 PM

Hello! Quick question, seeking some advice: I got a new type of insurance recently so I went to visit my new general practice doctor for a check up and to ask for advice about finding a new urologist (mine was very unhelpful and difficult to work with -- she would not take the time to explain things or listen to my concerns). I told him about my IC and after testing my urine (no infection) he decided to put me on one antibiotic pill (CIPRO), once a day for one month. He asked me to come in after taking it for a month to see if that helped my symptoms.

I've been on antibiotics for two weeks just to see if they'd help, and they didn't, which I expressed to him. He thought a whole month would be better to gauge whether or not they help my symptoms. Also, he suggested that I do that first before seeing a new urologist. I am aware of the dangers of gaining resistance to antibiotics, bacteria, etc. and am also weary of being on an antibiotic for this somewhat long-term period of time, as I sometimes get side effects.

Does anyone have experience with this? Do antibiotics help some people? Any ideas or opinions? Thank you!!!

***ICNDonna*** · 03-06-2005, 06:24 PM

Have you been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis? If so, there shouldn't be any problem getting the referral.

Are you following an IC diet? Did you tell your doctor about your concern about taking antibiotics without a specific infection diagnosis? If not, a call to his office might be a good idea.

Donna

walton54 · 03-06-2005, 07:03 PM

Thank you for your quick reply! I expressed my concern to the doctor, who stated that I shouldn't worry about it and that he really wants to see if being on the antibiotics for more than a couple of weeks will help my symptoms. Honestly, I think that because I am young (20-years-old), he didn't take my concerns seriously. Same goes for the urologist...

I don't have a problem getting an apointment with a new urologist with my new insurance but I wanted to check in with the new family doctor to let him know my status and get his advice.

I'm wondering whether I should fill the prescription and see how it goes, or just move on to a new urologist and skip the general practice doctor's advice? It seems as though that'd be the best route at this point! Thanks again for the reply.

kelly McC · 03-07-2005, 03:10 AM

If your doctors dont take your concerns seriously than a second opinion is probably best. Have you been diagnosed with IC ?
Good luck let us know how your doing.
Kelly

hoping4acure · 03-07-2005, 03:45 AM

Hi. Have you been diagnosed with IC? I can tell you the first uroligist I went to (ended up dumping him) put me on cipro after I was diagnosed with IC, and after he gave me the DMSO treatment. It was about a 3 months after all that and the symptoms starting coming back, so he put me on the cirpo and told me to come back in 2 weeks, I was in the worse pain so, I took myself off of them and went for another opinion, and to no surprise....I didn't have a UTI or an infection, my IC came back 3 fold!

If you have been diagnosed with IC, I would question this. Don't hesitate to make that appointment with the uroligist. Good luck. Let us know.

***Katrina*** · 03-07-2005, 08:05 AM

I have been on Cipro over a month myself...I did find it helped my IC some. T does have some risks of side effects but for Cipro has not been to bad to me. None the less I do think that having a urologist you trust, believe in, and can work well with is vital!!! My reason for being on Cipro is Crohns so I felt the risk is worth it....but if you don't feel that way...there are a lot of treatments for IC!!!

I don't think the general doctors advise was very good for IC. When doing antibiotic treatment for IC it is best to do so with a urologist and one that has some knowledge of antibiotic treatment with IC.

Good luck!
http://www.remedyfind.com/hc-Interstitial-Cystitis.asp

hoping4acure · 03-07-2005, 08:08 AM

I agree with you Katrina. I think you should see a uroligist. MOST GP's are not full of information for IC.

teelag · 03-09-2005, 07:59 AM

My IC symptoms came on after a true bladder infection (which went away with antibiotics). A couple months later I was having the same symptoms, yet no bacteria showed up, but did antibiotics again and they seemed to help. After many rounds of this and getting referred to the urologist who diagnosed IC, he told me that many people get initial relief with antibiotics with IC because they have an anti-inflammatory effect, but those with IC will not be helped long term with them. He put me on the usual IC drugs and things have gotten a lot better. Just wanted to pass this along, I know there are many differing opinions among IC people and urologists regarding antibiotics.