Getting concerned about my bladder

[SinkGirl]

For a couple of months now I’ve needed to urinate frequently and feel I’m not emptying my bladder properly as I have to go again quickly. Have been trying double voiding.

About a month ago I dropped off a urine sample at the doctors which was completely clear of everything - no protein, blood or infection.

Today I’ve started having shooting pains up my urethra up to my pelvis (about level with my c section scar). Just had about 10 jolts of pain lasting a few seconds in a couple of minutes and now have a dull ache on my lower left hand side about where my ovary is.

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis so any time I have any pelvic, bladder or bowel symptoms, doctors just say it’s because of that. I know interstitial cystitis is common in endo sufferers so may be that.

I don’t have any pain passing urine. I did wake up one morning a week or so ago with a painfully full bladder and it was very painful to empty it (felt like my urethra was somehow narrowed).

Have just filled in the online consultation with my GP so they should get back to me by the end of tomorrow. Obviously if I get any emergency symptoms I’ll contact someone sooner.

Has anyone had anything like this? I don’t think it’s a UTI as they usually cause me a lot of pain when passing urine and I have none. It’s the shooting pain today that has me a bit worried.

Sounds very much like IC.
GP should refer you to Urology for a cystoscopy (I'm not sure whether referrals are still being actioned or how long they're taking at present.)
IC doesn't show up on urine dip tests.

Speaking from (painful) experience.

Balls. Thank you - is yours any better now?

Okay. As u can’t get to someone at the moment. You can do a few things to help.
Yes I have had a bad bladder for years. I have tried everything.

1. Look at the IC website at the foods to eat or not eat. Stick with that. Food and drink has a huge impact on my bladder and learning what I can or cannot eat gave me my life back.
2. Try your hardest to not let you bladder rule your life. Don’t go to the loo everytime. Bladders learn things. The more you go the more your bladder will feel the need to go. Start bladder training before it gets worse. Every time u feel the need to go hold on for as long as you can. Try this every time.

Got a response from the GP (or rather a particular GP who has been very hostile to me in the past) which has massively pissed me off. Rather than blaming it on my endometriosis as I expected, they’re blaming it on my usage of painkillers and that if I continue to reduce them “all these pains should slowly improve” and if I’m having problems reducing it I should arrange a phone appointment. It’s a new symptom, and “all these pains” are caused by an illness for which I take the sodding painkillers, not the other way round.

Worse, a few months ago they asked me to come in for a 40 minute review appointment with an external GP who specialises in chronic pain. He agreed my painkillers didn’t need to be changed, but since then one of them decided to change my prescription anyway, without telling me, which has been a nightmare to sort out with all this going on. So I’m not actually supposed to be reducing them anyway, although I take as little as I can.

This woman has treated me like absolute crap in the past and when this is done I am never seeing her ever again.

Apparently being on painkillers and having existing conditions means I can’t possibly have any other problem that’s causing new symptoms.

I am just giving up with doctors at this point.

Don’t have any tea or alcohol for a week and see if it helps.