I having been having chronic pelvic pain and problems with waterworks for over ten months now, gynae issues have been ruled out. I think it could be a possibility that I have interstitial cystitis, could u please explain your symptoms and how u go about getting tested for this?
Tia
Can you describe your symptoms a bit better? You suggest you have issues with urinating... is there a burning sensation present when urinating? Do you have urgency and pressure on the bladder constantly? Is there a pain or ache in the area where the bladder is located? Are these problems chronic and never decrease or go away? Any incontinence issues? When did you first notice your symptoms? Was there some sort of trigger? On a scale of 1-10 with pain, where would you place yours?
IC could be a potential cause for your issues, as it does typically affect women, and can present itself in a number of varied urinary symptoms. Usually there's a great deal of pain, and a great unyielding urge to urinate that never decreases similar to an ongoing UTI. The best way to discern if you have IC is to see a urologist for a cystoscopy so they can view the interior of your bladder and confirm a diagnosis.
What's your diet and lifestyle like? Are you mostly sedentary? Any food-related allergies? Did you change laundry detergent 10 months ago?
What ohHey said is right on. I actually was misdiagnosed for over 9 months in my 14 year journey( not a fun one). You need to get a cystoscopy!
Hello Charlotte, I was diagnosed with IC some years ago. It was determined while I was under anaesthsia (sp?). There is a very specific diet that I cannot have anything with acid in it, like coffee, dark colas, pineapple, chocolate, tomatoes etc., you can ask your doctor for the food list. Its all to do whatever you can to keep your bladder from flaring up by the foods and drinks you ingest. Also wearing only 100% cotton underwear and using gentle laundry detergents such as Ivory Soap. I hope this helps a little !
Charlotte,
It’s. Deb. I have Interstitial cystitis also. I was diagnosed with a cystoscope with hydrodilation and I also had 2 biopsies done from my bladder wall. You need to see a urogynecologist to get properly diagnosed. Yes all of those foods bring on flare ups or attacks and it’s not fun. You must stay away from those foods and drinks. Find out what flares you up. Like in my case. Orange juice. I can’t drink it at all because of the acid. Go to the interstitial cystitis association on line. Google them. You can learn everything about IC from there. Also you can speak with Jessica from that site. Very knowledgeable woman on IC. I hope that helps. call me. I tell you what happened to me the night of my wedding on Saturday. It wasn’t too pleasant. 😔. Hope to speak to you soon. Deb 🤗
I had no idea the pain I was in was coming from my bladder. My period would cause pain so terrible I would just cry and at times scream. I let a doctor remove my uterus only to wake from surgery in the worst pain I had ever known. At that moment a nurse said I likely had IC. To fight it like it's cancer and don't let it consume you. That was 2014 and as I write this I'm laying on a heating pad, just got out of a very hot bath, with a ice pack between my legs for pain. I truly hope you do not have IC. I wouldn't want this for anyone it also comes with a stigma of confusion from the medical community.
Have you been diagnosed by a Urologist as having IC? I was diagnosed by a urologist as having IC back in 1989. I followed directions religiously and never saw any change. Over the years, I have seen several urologists and about half of them said I had IC, the other half pooh-pooed the idea. One called it "diagnosis by omission". I hope you can find the right doctor who can tell you what's wrong. BTW, I haven't had IC symptoms for a very long time. Good luck!
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