Interstitial Cystitis

[livingwith]

Ok, so Ive had these same symptoms since I was about 15 years old..urgency and frequency, lower back pain, lower abdominal pain, constant pressure, severe and uncomfortable pain during and after intercourse, a pinching feeling on my bladder, and i was diagnosed at 20 years old after a laproscopy [laparoscopy] and hyperdistention when they fill your bladder ,,,…………after multiple visits (AND I MEAN EVERY WEEK) to the Dr. for recurrent utis and bacteria vaginosis, and yeast ...Read the full article

[precious]

Hi my name is Ana..I live in California an Im currently unemployed ... after reading your story ..I have to seriously inform you that I can relate to your story ...like 95%..I have the exact same feeling,symptoms that you are experiencing ...since I was 15. am now 24 ..and after many,many vists to the doctor ...I have been told 3 mos ago I have Interstitial Cystitis ....I can really understand how you are felling ..I live the same way. I feel the same way you do ...Also, when I do go to the doctors or the emergency room I can feel as if they dont fully understand the pain because Ive been told before a few times before that there is no medicine I can take to get rid of the pain and that I will have to live with this for the rest of my life ...that was after visiting the emergency room...what a sad lonely desperate feeling I felt to have someone tell you this>its as if they are telling me you will always feel like ...razor cuts in your urethra everytime you pee for the rest of your life as long as you live, what kind of hope can a doctor give you when I get told something as horrible as this .I have used many home remedies since I was young when doctors diagnosed my pain as a UTI ..and medicine like cypro, azo, cranberry juice ,baking soda, tons of water thinking it was an UTI...after visiting my urologist 3 mos ago she gave me a few medicines which turned out to give me an allergic reaction like headache rash, nausea tiredness etc..etc ...now I feel there is no hope I also spend alot of my day in the bathroom.....IC can really can intefere with close relationships alot of the time I feel pain discomfort urgency, through out the day as if my bladder is constantly bloated making me feel cranky and sad not wanting to be around others because I feel I can bring them down as well emotionally since I feel soo sick ...and when it come to intercourse ...it really can hurt. I have been given anti depressants by my urologist to stop the pain but I have decided to refuse these pills I am not depressed nor am I interested in any way in taking psychiatric drugsI do not agree with taking psychiatric drugs for any type of pain .I do believe a healthy diet will help lesses the pain ..and I strongly believe that stress can be a major cause to why inflamtions like IC can occur > I am a Scientologist and have learned that all psychosomatic illnesses stem from the mind and stress has a big part in why I am feeling very, very sick.I have finally decided to go to a Scientilogist doctor who can help me understand IC better in hopes that he or she will help me get rid of these bad symptoms through understanding ones mind.

[UroDoc]

You might want to look into a device called Interstim. You can check with the company, Medtronic to see who has experience with the devices in the Tampa area.

[hoosiersuz]

I am not in the Tampa area, but my suggestion is DON'T GIVE UP! There are doctors out there who will believe you and recommend things to try. Call all urologists in your area and ask if they treat IC before you make an appointment. Or ask your general doc to recommend one. I have been thru all you mentioned with limited relief over the years. Today a new doctor diagnosed a problem with my urethra (in addition to IC). Look into a medication called pyridum. You can only take it for a short time, but the relief is a miracle. I take it when I travel. Hang in there!

[jlt5487]

Hello. I was diagnosed with IC in May of 2006 and I currently reside in the Tampa Bay area. I am certainly not an expert on this condition. I have, however, visited a number of doctors locally and have some additional resources that may help you. If you would like to write me, please let me know and I can send you my contact information.

[Slaintemolly]

There are several very good doctors in the Tampa area. Dr. Hart, urogynecologist at USF medical clinic. Urologist Dr. Michael Binder. Dr. Perez (in Trinity, not really tampa). Dr. Parveen Vahora (gynecologist in New Port Richey, but she is fantastic), and probably a few more.

Don't give up, Tampa is developing some very good resources. The Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) has an active local support group, and the Interstitial Cystitis Network (ICN) has a free physician and allied health referral list.