Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Support Group
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a urinary bladder disease of unknown cause characterised by pelvic and intense bladder pain, urinary frequency (as often as every 10 minutes), and pain with urination. It is not unusual for patients to experience nocturia and pain with sexual intercourse. IC is also known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS), particularly outside of the USA.
After years of thinking I just had an overactive bladder I was finally diagnosed with IC last year after seeing a urologist. While researching IC, I kept reading about flare ups and pain and everything, and thought that it was odd that I did not experience any of this - my only problem was pretty much peeing every 2 hours. Yesterday however, I started getting this really intense pain down there, and now I realize that maybe I have had many minor flare ups over the years and just never thought much about them. Ever since I was like 10 or so there would be random days when I would get this weird pain down there, but after a few hours it would go away, and so I have never thought much about it. It was excruciating yesterday though, and it still hasn't gone away. It feels like a twig has been stuffed up me, and I have this constant urge to pee. The more I go pee, the more it aches. When I woke up this morning I was happy to feel like it had improved since yesterday, but as soon as I went to the bathroom, bam, it was back. I also, unfortunately, have my period right now, and as soon as a put a tampon in yesterday I felt a lot or pressure against my bladder, so I had to take it out.
Is this what a flare up feels like? Like something has been jammed up you? or do I have some kind of infection? I am on a bloodthinner so I can't take ibuprofen, and since I have blood clots I can't take a hot bath or anything, so what exactly can I do to help this?
Is this what a flare up feels like? Like something has been jammed up you? or do I have some kind of infection? I am on a bloodthinner so I can't take ibuprofen, and since I have blood clots I can't take a hot bath or anything, so what exactly can I do to help this?
1 ~ Happens on your period ~ yep! Hormone fluctuations have a strong influence on the symptoms. It is almost always worse for me during that week and right before.
2 ~ Having pain when the bladder empties. Yep! The lining of the bladder is inflammed -- therefore, when it empties, and collapses a bit (kind of like a water balloon that empties) then the sides can bump together and the tenderness hurts! Drink water, and the filling back up can help ease the bumping of sides...but it also flushes out the bladder and so drinking, and releasing the urine, is like rinse and repeat! Keep doing it :)
The baking soda helps a lot of people. Watching to keep acidic foods and drinks out of your diet. and see the urologist again - or call - in case they want to test for infection. But the timing - definitely sounds like a flare to me.