topic Re: IC or something else in Wellness

IC or something else

marip — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 02:05:11 GMT

About 7 months now I have urinary frequency during the day and during the night. I thought maybe it's IC but my neurologist says I don't have IC because I have no pain. Anyone here that has IC and has no pain? Can flares last for months?

Re: IC or something else

colliemom4 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 02:07:37 GMT

I'm thinking you may have overactive bladder.

Re: IC or something else

gizmogal — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 03:10:21 GMT

Why would you consult a neurologist for bladder symptoms?

I’m sure a urologist would have more insights. As least as much as a shopping channel forum can offer...

Re: IC or something else

Foxxee — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 03:28:58 GMT

Do you have any other symptoms? Were urine and blood sugar lab tests done on you?

Don't know how old you are, but some older women can have urinary tract infections without symptoms other than frequency.

7 months is a long time for a UTC without some sort of symptom other than frequency developing if you had one. I'm thinking a temperature.

There are other reasons for frequency, suggest you see your internist or a urologist who specializes in urinary tract conditions. Don't wait too long.

Re: IC or something else

Scooby Doo — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 03:30:47 GMT

Pelvic floor prolapse could be one reason. Diabetes could be another. Too much caffeine? You should make an appointment with your primary care physician to get a proper diagnosis.

Oddly enough, having to get up during the night was a symptom of my sleep apnea.

So, there could be many reasons.

Re: IC or something else

gabstoomuch — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 06:40:38 GMT

If it was IC you would know it. That is the most painful condition. It is like having a UTI constantly, but they can tell it is not a UTI because there is no bacteria in a urine culture.

You need a urologist not a neurologist.

They would probably do a cystoscopy, which is done in an office setting most times. It is uncomfortable but not painful. That way they can look right into the bladder to see the condition of it, look for inflammation and stuff.

I have IC, autoimmune caused, and it does flare and settle down, then flares. A lot of food can make it flare, acidic foods mostly. Fruits like oranges or strawberries, spicy food, even foods that have citric acid in it as an ingredient.

As @Scooby Doo said, there are so many reasons, you really need to have the right doctor look into it. Nothing more annoying than a bladder problem.

Re: IC or something else

marip — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 12:49:29 GMT

I mean't to say an urologist not a neurologist.

Re: IC or something else

marip — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 12:57:41 GMT

I've had a lot of testing done. No urinary infections, diabetes or kidney stones. I have no urgency. Years ago I had a urologist tell me I have IC but this urologist is telling me I can't have IC if I have no pain. I did go thru another flare a couple years ago but this time it's lasting longer time.

Re: IC or something else

colliemom4 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 12:59:37 GMT

@marip wrote:
I mean't to say an urologist not a neurologist.

@marip Did they mention you may have an overactive bladder? It's very common. I would definitely think you'd experience pain if you had IC because I know someone that has it.

Re: IC or something else

sydsgma1 — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 14:01:34 GMT

Maybe, I had interstitial cystitis for many years...pain was my presenting symptom. My cure was a cystectomy, which is rarely done.

A urologist would give you a definitive answer.

remember our posts on Bunny’s thread ?. I still hear from her.

(((Hugs))))

Re: IC or something else

SilleeMee — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 15:59:19 GMT

I don't have IC but in the past I was experiencing what I thought was an overactive bladder thing or an infection. So I went to my doctor and had things checked out and nothing turned up. So I decided to do my own investigating and it turned out that I was having these terrible urges to pee all the time because of a sensitively to the artificial sweeteners, for instance, Nutrasweet and Equal. Once I eliminated all of it from my diet then my urgencies totally went away! I was relieved it was that simple to solve. No serious medical problem but a diet problem that was easily taken care of and apparently many people have the same problem as me with aspartame sweetener.

Re: IC or something else

hckynut — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 01:07:16 GMT

@marip

A Male now, I had this problem several years ago. My Urologist first tried 2 different Prescription meds, which did nothing but dry me and my mouth out.

He then ordered a Uro Dynamics Test, along with a Cystoscopy. Those 2, different procedures, showed that I have a small and overactive bladder, and I still do. Not the most comfortable of procedures of the many I have had done, but far from the worst. Since prescriptions did/do not help, I just deal with it.

hckynut

Re: IC or something else

grandma r — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:21:12 GMT

I have had IC for decades. Not every urologist believes it is real!!!!! I had one tell me that my symptoms were all in my head!!! Anyway, it is an autoimmune disease. When it rages, you wish your bladder was removed. I don't have constant pain, however, the frequency never ends. I'm up at night at least once an hour. There are a few treatments and specific diets, but, no cure. DMSO can be effective, but, the side effects are hard to deal with. There are some doctors who recommend bladder washes. Yes, they are helpful for about a week or so; unfortunately, most insurances won't cover them. Medicare will not cover the medication or the instillation. In my case, the doc called in the rx, pharmacy had to order, I had to pay out of pocket then call for an appt with the nurse for the instillation. As I said, it helps for a week or so, and, to me, it's worth it.

I have suffered for a long time and sympathize with what you're feeling. I wish you the best of luck!

Re: IC or something else

LilacTree — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 20:47:03 GMT

@marip

I have the same thing and no matter how much water I drink, I never seem to have a normal evacuation. But I also have no pain. I’ve read about IC and I think that’s what I have, and you have too. Did you go to a urologist? I plan to.

Re: IC or something else

riley1 — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 21:32:43 GMT

Why would you see a neurologist instead of a urologist. Sounds like an overactive bladder.

Re: IC or something else

Toppers3 — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 04:18:58 GMT

@gabstoomuch wrote:
If it was IC you would know it. That is the most painful condition. It is like having a UTI constantly, but they can tell it is not a UTI because there is no bacteria in a urine culture.

You need a urologist not a neurologist.

They would probably do a cystoscopy, which is done in an office setting most times. It is uncomfortable but not painful. That way they can look right into the bladder to see the condition of it, look for inflammation and stuff.

I have IC, autoimmune caused, and it does flare and settle down, then flares. A lot of food can make it flare, acidic foods mostly. Fruits like oranges or strawberries, spicy food, even foods that have citric acid in it as an ingredient.

As @Scooby Doo said, there are so many reasons, you really need to have the right doctor look into it. Nothing more annoying than a bladder problem.

I also think that if someone had Interstitial Cystitis, that they would also be aware of it because of the pain, too.

I had a horrible bout of it many years ago, and had my bladder scoped that indicated that I was in a flare-up.

It's such a horribly miserable and painful condition. You definitely know that something is really wrong with your bladder.

My bladder finally calmed down when I started taking medications to help other health conditions that I had. The medications also started to inadvertently help my bladder, too.

I became allergic to some of the bladder medications that are out there, but when I started to see a Urologist for kidney stones, he helped to find another medication that I could take to help my bladder.

These days, it's much better but it's still not normal. I don't have the kind of pain and inflammation like I had.

The Urologist that I currently see is calling it an "Overactive Bladder."

I have the urgency and frequency associated with it, and also the "urge incontinence," too.

However, I don't have the kind of pain that I used to have, and when he has looked at my bladder by scope, he said that it looks pretty good.