Interstitial cystitis/ Urethral syndrome

[pepperquip]

I'm hoping for a bit of advice or a few tips from anyone suffering from either of the above please.

I went to see a consultant urologist earlier this week and he believes that my current bladder problems (urgency day and night) are most probably due to one of the above and not recurrent UTIs as I had thought. I have a procedure lined up for in a few weeks - I think it's for him to get a closer look with the camera.

I've been prescribed Vesicare but had a really bad night with it. It felt like my pelvic floor was stuck on the top floor of a pelvic floor exercise!

Does anyone have any tips they could share? I'm just about going out of my mind with the constant, day and night, need to wee. Thanks

There is a school of thought that these things are caused by having a tight spasmed pelvic floor. That is what caused my bladder problems. Can be sorted by a physio trained in manual therapy and there is a fab book by Amy Stein called "Heal Pelvic Pain" all about gentle stretches and other natural things to do - can't hurt while you wait for your further tests and might really help ?
Mx

What fluids do you drink?

Minnie - Thanks for the tips. I'll look into that book as I'm prepared to try anything at the moment. Are your bladder problems on going or do you get flare ups?
Hiddenhome - I'm just drinking water at the moment. I've cut out everything else. It was boring at first but I'm a few weeks in now and it doesn't bother me too much

Okay, water is good. I found that my problems were being caused by drinking tea, filter coffee, juice and alcohol. I can't drink any of those now or I end up with a uti.

I'm sorry you're having problems, I hope they manage to help you, I know how miserable it is.

Hi @pepperquip I know this was so long ago but I’m hoping you’re still out there? I am suffering from this just now and have been for a few months. Feel I am getting nowhere with GP/consultants/nurse/physio. Did you ever get to the bottom of it or find anything that helped?

@ecg15

Hi *@pepperquip* I know this was so long ago but I’m hoping you’re still out there? I am suffering from this just now and have been for a few months. Feel I am getting nowhere with GP/consultants/nurse/physio. Did you ever get to the bottom of it or find anything that helped?

Hello ecg15. I'm not sure if you're still following the thread but I was the original poster (Pepperquip) now going under a different name. Have you recovered? Just checking in before I write a long and detailed reply!

Hi! I’m still here. Hope you’re doing ok?
Ach not really. Sometimes I think I feel better but I’m wondering if I’m just learning to live with it. How are you doing?

It's awful isn't it.
It's so hard when you can't see a way out to think that it's forever - it isn't. I posted here too and there was some really helpful advice:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1813120-Bladder-problems
In my case, things calmed down when I stopped stressing about it, made a few changes (packed in a stressful job) and did holistic things to help like carving time out to rest and recharge. None of it easy when you're on the toilet every 20 minutes and not sleeping properly.
I did go on a medication called Vesicare but I'm not sure how successful that was. The other thing I did was to go on a low dose antidepressant for a while and I'm pretty sure that when I started to feel better. I had got myself into such a state over it and was thinking (after 5 months) that it would never stop. I'd also read too much online and convinced myself it was some awful bladder condition. The consultant diagnosed OAB.
Where are you up to with things?
Don't give up! In my case, it just went back to normal all of a sudden. Very weird. Sending hugs - it's a horrible thing to struggle with x