Wellness

[Mominohio]

On 2/7/2015 shoekitty said:

On 2/7/2015 mominohio said:

I don't at all assume you haven't received or considered proper medical care, but my mom was told by several specialists that she had overactive bladder, but when she finally got the right urologist, he confirmed a very serious condition, that all the OA meds will do nothing for.

If you are having any pressure, or pain (they even thought she had UTI infections, and she didn't), please find a good urologist, and have them scope your bladder. My mom was found to have intersticial cystitis (which is very painful as it progresses, and the lining of the bladder is breaking down, and highly inflamed), and it requires much different treatment.

Hope you get some relief.

MOm

It is horrible! The closest I can describe it is like torture that never ends. There is pressure like always having to go. A twitching spasm in the bladder, like you can feel it moving in spasms. At nights I would get up maybe 25 times to go. I fell asleep on the john once and nearly went through the shower. At it's peak (during an attack) the pain is like a bladder infection at it's worst.

The triggers can be acids, like lemon, oranges, berries, some tea, even lemon meringue pie would set me off. And those sour candies! I can only think maybe some of those triggers for IC would help those with OAB?

You describe exactly the symptoms my mom was dealing with. Elmeron was the drug of choice from her doctor, and while it took years, she was completely "healed". They took her off the medication, after reducing it for a time, (against my better judgement) and lo and behold, after about a year and a half of being off the meds, the symptoms are starting again. She has an appointment later this month, and I'm hoping it is just the IC flaring, and if they put her back on the meds, will let her stay on them. A number of years ago, they also did a biopsy for bladder cancer, just to rule that out. I was in the exam rooms when they would scope her, and it was awful how inflamed and red her bladder lining was. I can't imagine what those of you who deal with this, are feeling.

And the kicker is they don't know what causes it. If it was simply avoiding certain foods in excess or something like that, it would be somewhat easy to prevent/manage. I know my mom was a big coffee drinker, and lots of Diet Coke for decades. I don't think either helped, and those are definitely things she has to avoid now.

The diet for IC is so complicated, because while acidity, artificial sweeteners and preservatives are triggers for most people, the sometimes considered 'safe' foods, vary person by person. It isn't one of those things you can give a blanket statement to everyone about. Quite a lot of trial and error with exactly what one can and cannot eat. And I have to admit, my mom, once feeling better, did not stick with a 'safe' diet, but kept, little by little, adding back in her trigger foods. I personally think that for her, even the strictest of diets would require some medication for maintenance, and hope that the doc will put her back on. She is almost 80, and some things (excessive diet restrictions) are almost not worth the battle with her. She will "behave" to an extent, but not 110% like some folks would.

It certainly would be worth a try for folks dealing with OAB to take a look at an IC diet plan and consider giving it a try and see if there is any relief.

[Mominohio]

On 2/7/2015 northernlights said:

Mominohio, I have heard that "over-active bladder" is actually interstitial cystitis, in some cases. I have IC, too. I saw a Urologist and had my bladder scoped too, years ago.

It is much better now, but when I first had symptoms, I was so uncomfortable and was really miserable from it.

I feel your pain, indirectly of course. It was, for my mom, a very slow healing process, and as she is finding out after about a year and a half off meds, it will resurface.

The best advice I would give anyone with symptoms of this is to keep hammering for testing as early as possible. My mom waited probably a year while the destruction continued and the pain and discomfort increased (she is one who hates to go to doctors, but I think I have her embracing the mantra 'it is what it is" now because not knowing doesn't make it go away or anything less than what it really is).

She saw a several specialists, and they didn't even consider IC, even though she presented with all the symptoms. Fine institutions like the Cleveland Clinic, even had a urologist that she saw for a second opinion, that confirmed a OA bladder diagnosis, and never even had her undress or give a physical exam of any type.

Doctors, pain/illness, diagnosis, and treatment for any condition can be so incredibly frustrating and exhausting. Sometimes you have to just keep moving from one to the other doctor to get someone who is listening, who has experience in the condition, who will think beyond pushing the first pill that comes to mind.

We finally found the right doctor, and it was such a blessing. A hard fought battle, but in the end, it gave her back her life (quality of life with this is so bad when it is flaring).

Best wishes to all who battle this.

[Toppers]

You're right, Mom, where it is best to get on top of this right away, and to try and get treated for it, as soon as possible.

That is what I did. I started out with seeing my primary care doctor, at the time. He then referred me to a Gyne, who checked for urinary/gyne issues.

He then sent a report back to my primary doctor and was thinking that I didn't have any kind of bladder infection, but rather some type of bladder issue, so my primary doctor then referred me to a Urologist.

I am so sorry for the suffering that your Mom has had to endure.

Sometimes it is hard to know what kinds of foods or drinks are going to trigger off a flare-up, too. Sometimes we don't find out until we eat or drink something by "trial or error."

I remember that one time I ate a type of spicy tomato-based soup that really sent me into a flare-up. It literally felt like my bladder was "on fire." Luckily it passed once the soup digested, if you will.

I had heard of that happening to others before, but it had never happened to me until then. Usually if something was irritating to me, it would just cause more feelings of bladder urgency for me. No burning, but just a sense of having to use the bathroom more often. That is very annoying, in and of itself, because usually when that happens, you feel like you really have to use the bathroom, but often, your bladder is just irritated.

I hope that your Mom gets some relief soon, and that she feels better soon. My heart goes out to her. I wish you both, all of the best.