I've just seen another recent thread on here from someone who's daughter seems to have the same problem as me.
I have suffered on and off for the last six or seven years with what I'm presuming is IC or something similar.
Mine began with a particularly bad UTI where I was in dreadful pain and urinating bright red blood. I was given ABs which got rid of the pain and the blood and subsequent urine tests were clear for infection, but I was left with a near constant feeling of needing to wee. This went on for several weeks after the infection and my GP said that my bladder must have been badly irritated or damaged. It eventually calmed down on its own.
Since then I've had episodes of the same thing. Sometimes it starts with a low level infection which is treated with ABs but the frequency symptom remains long after. Other times I test negative for bacteria but still have the same symptom.
I saw a urologist a couple of years ago, had a bladder scan which was normal and was offered a cystoscopy which I declined because I was symptom free at that point and didn't want to trigger anything.
I had a long spell with no problems (about 18 months) which ended mid December last year. I was out with my family and had this sudden feeling of needing a wee, but had only been a few minutes before. It's been like that for the last 8 or 9 weeks! The urine dipstick showed a trace of white blood cells and I was prescribed a short course of ABs, but they made no difference. My urine tests are clear now. During the past weeks, I've had the odd days where I've felt okay, but mostly it's been bad.
I don't have the pain which seems to be a feature of IC, just the frequency/discomfort.
I'm getting really worn down by it and wondering if I should ask to be referred back to the uro.
I'm going to read the other thread about IC, but would love any new advice or support.
Thanks for listening.