Help! Have I got interstital cystits?

[hellsbelles]

I'm driving myself crazy over this one. I have a constant urge to urinate...no pain but a feeling that I have to go all the time (and a sort of pressure).

This has been going on for 4 weeks now...dr has given me 4 types of antibiotics despite all urine tests coming back clear. He has also done an ultrasound to check my kidneys and ovaries...all fine. He couldn't check my bladder as it wasn't full enough.

He's said that if this dose of AB's doesn't work then he will do a bladder distention under general anaesthetic...which sounds horrific. Has anyone any experience of IC? I have no stabbing pains or problems with sleep which makes me hope it might just be the curable oversensitive bladder. This has just started from nothing and I'm really worried.

kitsilano - hope the prelief has arrived in time for your trip! Have a wonderful time (do you leave t/m or Sat?)

Cabbages - how are you? I'll let you know if I find that Deborah is covered...I know osteopathy is so it's possible this is.

Thanks for asking HB- okay-ish. trying to be good with my diet and treating myself "down below" for thrush!

oh dear the dreaded thrush - poor you Cabbages.

I just had my appointment with Deborah ...encouragingly good. I have bacteria in my gut but my yeast levels are pretty good. I suspect this is because I was on the Dukan Diet (low carb) for ages and have since been pretty careful - however it's not normal so still needs balancing. So she wants me to go gluten free and diary free, while also taking the herbs she prescribes...but she seems very positive we can get me sorted quite quickly.

My bladder is actually feeling bad for the first time in ages but I suspect that is entirely down to major stress (we are supposed to be exchanging on a property today)

Interestingly she does seem to think gluten/diary is the route of all evils and I suspect will be recommending I stick to it forever and a day...but I will do it as she asks and see how I get on...but I do believe in balance with everything so as things improve I hope to be able to introduce things back.

Hope you are all having good days...L&S are you feeling any better?

L&S - are you about? I'm a bit confused about the diet stuff.

blimey - it's quiet. A good sign.

I've just got back from a wonderful acupuncture session and the lady feels quite strongly my issues are back related (combined with a sensitive bladder)...and she seems confident we can sort it out. Hurrah. I feel very chilled out after such a fab treatment.

hi everyone.

Antibiotics are now finished. Cystitis and frequency have returned and my urine smells funny again

Feeling sick, headachy and tired which is what happened last time it went onto my kidneys

Dunno what to do. I think I have some kind of nasty, resistant infection which just comes back whenever I finish the antibiotics. Unless they can find something in my MSU, which they never seem to, I'm sunk, because they're not going to be able to identify it and prescribe the right antibiotics

I'm just taking paracetamol.

I'm scared, I don't want shitey kidneys again as it was horrible and painful.

Hey all, just popping in as have to put DS to bed. Sorry I haven't been around - RL intervened! ILMH, SO sorry the symptoms are back. Maybe really worth thinking about getting a broth culture?

Hells, delighted you saw Toni. Do you share my devotion?!

Back soon, have to bathe DS. Hairwash night - pray for me

L&S - hurrah so glad you are back...I was worried as last time we heard from you, you were not feeling so great. Goodluck with hairwash! We just did hairwash and nit check which is my least favourite task of the week.

Yes - I truly am a Toni disciple(!) but she's left me with a slight dilemma...I hope you don't mind but I will bore you with it via PM.

Ilove...I can understand you must be feeling so worried and frustrated. I didn't realise that kidney infections could be missed in cultures...could they try ultrasound? If it is a kidney problem then your GP really does need to get this sorted. Are you planning to go in on Monday? There is quite a lot of info here webmd about different diagnositics.

ilove - did you manage to get to the drs? Are you feeling any better.

L&S - hope hairwash went well!

I've had a pretty good day today...feel like the acupuncture may be working.

Hey Hells - great you've had a good day. Me too! Even with lots of travelling.

ILMH - how are you feeling today? xx

Hi everyone. Hope you are all feeling well.

The symptoms rapidly settled down on Sunday night and I felt okay yesterday . No burning or urgency at all. I can't really feel that my bladder is sore anymore either. Perhaps the antibiotics have worked after all.

I'm taking some herbal bladder products to try and make sure everything stays settled.

I'll just have to wait and see.

ilove - that's great. Which herbal things are you trying? I am sure the d'mannose is very good...have you got that?

I'm having a pretty good day today. Still frequent but not too badly so (nothing I would have noticed before I'd heard of IC - if that makes sense!)

Hope everyone else is having good days.

Beta - if you get time can you report back on whether the prelief is still working for you? Deborah gave me an anti irritant for taking before meals...I bet it's a similar thing.

Hi guys

Back from Florence where I indulged in wine, coffee and chocolate with no apparent ill effects all weekend!

Go back last night and woke this morning feeling a bit uncomfortable - how weird is that? So back to the sensible diet for a few days!

The Prerelief seems to be working well and very noticeable difference both to stomach acid and bladder.

I did test it to destruction at the weekend with serious eating and drinking.

I conclude that Prerelief does not mean I can eat and drink what I want when I want. It does mean though I feel a heck of a lot better and if I moderate my eating and drinking with an occasisonal indulgence then life will be a lot more enjoyable and manageable.

I had a chilli con carne for lunch and can feel it twinging now but will be OK later.

Sory to hear you poor ladies suffering from interstital cystitis must be awful to feel like you need the toilet all the time.

I saw a small article in the Daily Telegraph on Monday in Dr James la Fanu column about a lady who had been suffering with interstital cystitis which did not respond to anti biotics and had several investigations but no improvement. She got no better until her husband remarked that at her age she should really not be drinking soya milk because it was not good for her bones. She switched to cow's milk and her symptoms have vanished.

Hey mowbray, that's really interesting. Apparently soy can be a NIGHTMARE for IC sufferers. Who knows why?!

Beta, so good that it's helping you! I'm really delighted. One of the triumphs of this thread! sorry to hear you overtaxed its strengths at the weekend though but glad it mitigated the indulgences!

Kits, glad you had a wonderful time in Florence! Rats to this mornings niggles though.

I've had a good day again, despite slightly jarring row with DP (based on a fundamental difference of approach to times of stress - s, easily resolvable then ). PLanning a bath, book, food and bed for tonight.

It's now been nearly SIX MONTHS since I had a drink . I could nail a big glass of red wine tonight

kitsilano -sounds like you had an amazing time and it's wonderful you didn't suffer while you were there...let's hope the niggles are short lived.

Beta - it's great to hear that it's still helping, and from what I'd read about prelief, the approach you are planning to take (excluding Chilli con Carne binges ) seemed to be what others were doing successfully.

Mowbray - that's very interesting to hear...I reckon each individual probably has their own triggers...and how amazing for it to be just one thing in this ladies case (and such an easy to cut out thing at that!).

L&S - - soon I hope. Has Deborah given you any clue when you can try it again? It's such a ritual thing isn't it? I used to drink at least a glass a night...I'm actually not missing that so much as the glass or few at the weekend and also going out for meals. I love drinking it

Hey all! How is everyone? less good day for me, itching bladder (SO weird) and a bit sore. But went to see the divine Toni today and she says the itching is a healing pain - all the nerves kicking back in in my bladder. Hope she's right!

ILMH - are you around? How are you?

xx

Oh my goodness - the very definition of an 'itch that can't be scratched'...how nasty for you. I've had an off day too. Again - nothing I would have thought anything of before I became 'aware' of my bladder..but a nuisance none the less.

Just generally tired as well so hoping it's just that.

Did the treatment with Toni go well? Do you get a chance to discuss stuff with her?

Lovely treatment with Toni! i generally feel the effects the following day, so hoping for a good day tomorrow! We didn't have a chance to at length as I was late annoyingly! But she is just so lovely I always feel much better. Wonderful woman.

Sorry you're having an off day too. Tiredness definitely makes a difference I think. I prescribe a night on the sofa with some good tv!

Sudden thought: I've been moaning a bit on here and would like to reiterate for any concerned lurkers that I really am SO much better than I was when this started. frequency now normal - I've been to the loo four times since getting up - and have days without much in the way of any symptoms. So hopefully that's encouraging!! Will post something more positive soon!

4 times is amazing - wow. I've been 8 times today...but it's not a big issue as I'm not at work...and for some reason it was better in the afternoon when I had to do a long walk (school run).

Toni has left a message saying she can't do Saturdays for a bit...not quite sure what to do as my childcare ends after next Monday, as my nanny is off for open heart surgery! (and I can't ask DH to babysit so I can have a treatment!)....I will have to try and get an appointment for this Monday and then see if she can do the following saturday!

I can't wait till we move house. At the moment our bathroom is next to DS's room - so having a bath late at night keeps him awake - in the new house it's next to our room so I'll be able to bathe in peace at any hour!

Hey all, checking in. I've had a really good day after acupuncture, hurrah. No pain or itching - a very faint awareness, but that's all. WOnderful! How's everyone else?

Great new L&S!

I on the other hand have had a pretty bad day. Almost feels like cystitis. I don't know why I am being good diet wise.

DD2 has vomiting bug and is v poorly so I've been up in the night changing beds, running around in the daytime stripping sofas and running baths - maybe my bladder just doesn't like the stress!