Interstitial Cystitis

[4info]

Hello! I have been experiencing an extremely uncomfortable, tight, kind of spasm or cramp feeling in my bladder for months now, that makes me feel like I want to come out of my skin! It wakes me during the night (but not every night) & I usually don't notice it during the day. At my physical today my Dr. mentioned it could be IC After researching it on the web this afternoon I do meet a lot of the criteria but I don't have urgency, frequency or burning although I do get up and go urinate to try to get the feeling to go away, sometimes it slightly helps. Can you have IC without urgency, frequency or burning? I do have Lupus and noticed IC can be autoimmune. Thanks for any info!

[Peggy K]

I had IC for two years. The symptoms were changing. Sometimes there was urgency, frequency and there were times when that went away and I had bladder spasms. After urinating, my bladder went to spasm and the pains were excruciating. The pain on urination lasted the whole time until I cured my bacteria. I would suggest the Broth urine culture to test for bacteria. I know only of one lab that does it and it is the Virginia lab. I posted the link to them on my link below yours. This could be the confirmation if you have the IC. Good luck and don't give up looking. It is dreadful, but if your problem is caused by bacteria, don't forget, it can be cured. In most cases of IC the Agar urine culture test, commonly done in all labs, doesn't show negative.

[Peggy K]

I still have to add to my previous post that your doctor should order tests to eliminated other possible medical problems. They should order abdominal/pelvic Ultrasound or MRI, Cystoscopy or possibly Laparoscopy and complete blood work. Just because you have Lupus/autoimune disease, it doesn't mean that there couldn't be something else wrong with you. You need to eliminate everything. You should visit Urologist and Gynecologist too. Some doctors believe that IC is an autoimmune disease and it is not curable. How come then there are so many of us cured with antibiotics?