Interstitial Cystitis

[Susan C]

Hello. I'm new here. I've been experiencing something weird for the past few days. Very frequent urination, but not much urine coming out. I don't have pain or burning when I urinate so it doesn't seem like a UTI, but I do have a feeling of pressure around the bladder, even right after I've gone. A few minutes later I'll feel like I have to go again, but I don't really have to. I've had symptoms like this in the past and taken either Azo Standard or Uristat and the problem has gone away, but this time Azo hasn't helped. I don't have a problem during the night - it's mostly during the day. I'm not sure whether to see a urologist or a gynocologist I also don't have any big urgency problem or leakage - just a feeling like I have to pee all the time. Has anybody experienced these symptoms?

Thanks for any feedback you can give me.

[Theresakemp]

This is the exact same problem I am having but I have soreness in my bladder where sometimes it's so uncomfortable to sit down.

[Susan C]

Hi Theresa. I'm not sure whether to describe what I'm feeling as pain or pressure - it seemed more like pressure. I don't seem to have a problem at night, just during the day. Today I'm drinking a lot of water (which I hate!) and I am putting out more urine and the pressure is much less. Only problem is I'm going and going and going - like every 45 minutes to an hour.

[sakshi28]

Hi Susan,

I was reading your post and found your situation very similar to mine. I have been suffering from frequent urination for the last 5 mos and pressure around my bladder/ urethra. I have had my cystoscopy done a couple of mos back with negative results. Every time the urine sample shows no infection. I have not yet had a culture done on my urine sample. I have had antibiotics - macrobid etc.. along with with prosed but nothing seems to be working for me.

Have you felt better ? What does your doctor recommend now. Has he confirmed of interstitial cystisis ? On what basis ?

Thanks and hope you feel better.

[Susan C]

Thanks ladies. The Azo helped and then I decided to see my husband's urologist. He took a urine sample and it was negative for any infection. He ordered a spiral pelvic CT scan which came back normal except for a very small ovarian cyst. The pressure isn't where my ovaries are though - it's right in the bladder area. The bladder looked fine in the CT scan according to the doctor. He gave me Prosed and that helped, but now it's starting up again. When I take the Azo or the Prosed I'm fine, but two days later it begins again. I have increased my water intake (I never used to drink water, EVER) and now I'm drinking 64 ounces a day. That's good, but the urinating every 45 minutes isn't. Again, I don't have much pain, just pressure right in the bladder area. Today it seems to be worse and I'm wondering if a Super Vitamin B complex could aggravate this. I took my vitamins today and added a Super B and have had some pain, pressure and frequent urination ever since.

[Susan C]

Hi Sakshi. Yes, your symptoms do sound similar to mine. My urine culture was negative so the doctor never gave me any antibiotics - just the Prosed. The Prosed helped with the pressure, but made me very constipated. He ordered a renal ultrasound and a pelvic ultrasound and cystoscopy, but since my insurance is really what you'd call catastrophic insurance it doesn't cover any of these tests and I'm not sure that he'd be able to diagnose IC. What I'd really like to find is a good urogynecologist here in the Tampa Bay area because I may have either pelvic floor dysfunction or IC or a combination of both.

I've learned to stay away from the multivitamin and my main concern these days is making sure that I don't get constipated - that makes the bladder pressure and frequent urination worse. I've been on a high fiber diet and I'm drinking 64 ounces of water a day, but I'm still having a hard time. I picked up a product called Natural Calm from the vitamin store and it's a magnesium supplement. It seems to help with constipation. There's another product called H2GO which is supposed to be very good also.

The one thing that does help me is a dose of 2 mg. Valium - it seems to relax the bladder a bit and take some of the pressure off of the bladder and urethra. If I can keep my bowels clear, then I find that the urination urgency is less.

I'm having a really hard time balancing the "soluble" fiber and the "insoluable" fiber and trying not to get too much or too little. Of course, drinking 64 ounces of water a day keeps me running to the bathroom as well.

If anybody can tell me whether I should be seeing a urologist, a gynecologist or a urogynecologist I'd appreciate it.

[sakshi28]

Hi Susan,

Just read your post. Seems you have been bothered by constipation off late. Hope you feel better. I have been taking an antibiotic (doxycycline) for the past 2 weeks and have been having diarrhea as a symptom.

I have cut down on the vitamins as well.

I have had good and bad days since taking this medicine. I know a urogynaecologist can help but I do not think there is one in the city I live in.

Hope both of us feel better with days to come.
All the best. I will keep you posted if I find any new developments.

Sakshi

[sakshi28]

Susan,

One more thing. I have never got a urine culture done. I am planning to get that done. Have you ever got a swab done from your urethra and vulva area. I was wondering if that would help when I meet my doc. The reason is I keep on taking antibiotics and there is no infection yet shown through a regular urine test in the doc's lab.

Sakshi