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Urology (Expert Forum)
constant pain/urethritis
Questions in the Urology forum are answered by Dr. Stephen Liroff, affiliated with the Henry Ford Hospital. Topics covered include benign prostate disease, penis curvature, cystisis, kidney stones, pediatric urology, prostate, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections (UTI), and urological cancers.
constant pain/urethritis
by kristina riley, Jan 04, 2000 12:00AM
Please help! I am a 29 year old female and always in pain.
As a child I had cronic UTIs due to a small urethra and back splashing of urine. Two years ago I started having constant pain in my lower abdomen, just above the public bone. It feels like a bladdar infection but I do not have urgency or frequency to urinate and urine tests aleays indicate it is not a UTI.
In the past two years I have been to two gynocologists, a urologist and even a homeopathic doctor. The gynogologysts have diagnosed me with eveything from colon and bladdar spasms, to bateria infections. Finally during a laparoscopy it was decided that it was a urology problem because she found nothing wrong gynocologically.
The urologist has done 2 cystoscopes and has found urethritis both times. The first time he dialated the urethra apparently to no avail. I have been on rounds of antibiotics countless times, as has my fiance. I still get the pain constantly. Sometimes I get the pain for what seems like no reason and sometimes it is related to intercourse. (causing it or iritating it?) I have pain during intercourse and then afterwards until I take antibiotics. I usually take dioxycyline and the pain doesn't go away for 4-5 days. Basically it is not possible to have sex at this point. I have tried taking an antibiotic after intercourse and one the next day. This does not work. Because it is soemtimes related to sex, the urologist told me I need to see the gynocologist. As aforementioned, she is telling me to see a urologist. Last week my urologist told me that he couldn't do anything else for me because he doesn't know why I'm having the pain.
I have tried pyridium, pyridium-plus, belladonna,and ditropan for the pain when I have it, and nothing works.
I am very frustrated with constantly having the pain. What is this pain? Could it be urethritis everytime? I so, how can I prevent it other than cranberry pills and advil? What can I do for the pain when I have it? Could the doctors be missing something? Is it related to my childhood problems? What kind of doctor should I be going to?
Please help.
As a child I had cronic UTIs due to a small urethra and back splashing of urine. Two years ago I started having constant pain in my lower abdomen, just above the public bone. It feels like a bladdar infection but I do not have urgency or frequency to urinate and urine tests aleays indicate it is not a UTI.
In the past two years I have been to two gynocologists, a urologist and even a homeopathic doctor. The gynogologysts have diagnosed me with eveything from colon and bladdar spasms, to bateria infections. Finally during a laparoscopy it was decided that it was a urology problem because she found nothing wrong gynocologically.
The urologist has done 2 cystoscopes and has found urethritis both times. The first time he dialated the urethra apparently to no avail. I have been on rounds of antibiotics countless times, as has my fiance. I still get the pain constantly. Sometimes I get the pain for what seems like no reason and sometimes it is related to intercourse. (causing it or iritating it?) I have pain during intercourse and then afterwards until I take antibiotics. I usually take dioxycyline and the pain doesn't go away for 4-5 days. Basically it is not possible to have sex at this point. I have tried taking an antibiotic after intercourse and one the next day. This does not work. Because it is soemtimes related to sex, the urologist told me I need to see the gynocologist. As aforementioned, she is telling me to see a urologist. Last week my urologist told me that he couldn't do anything else for me because he doesn't know why I'm having the pain.
I have tried pyridium, pyridium-plus, belladonna,and ditropan for the pain when I have it, and nothing works.
I am very frustrated with constantly having the pain. What is this pain? Could it be urethritis everytime? I so, how can I prevent it other than cranberry pills and advil? What can I do for the pain when I have it? Could the doctors be missing something? Is it related to my childhood problems? What kind of doctor should I be going to?
Please help.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-TP, Jan 10, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Kristina Riley
Your symptoms sound like you may have interstitial cystitis (IC).
IC is a chronic condition that is diagnosed only after exhaustive work ups have been performed to rule out other medical conditions. The etiology of IC is unclear. However, multiple factors such as neurologic, inflammatory, diet, and autoimmune causes can contribute to IC. Typically, symptoms include suprapubic pain, urgency, and frequency. The principle method to diagnose IC is to perform a cystoscopy with bladder hydrodistention (distending the bladder with saline). Hydrodistention can also be a form of therapy for IC. In severe cases, a pharmacological agent called DMSO can be added to the hydrodistention to help control the symptoms. Sometimes, IC symptoms can be alleviated with stress reduction, exercise, warm tub baths, and avoidance of spicy food. Medical therapy such as Elmiron, hydroxyzine, and amitryptiline may help in keeping the symptoms down.
There are support groups for IC that can be easily found on the Internet. They may help you better cope with this difficult and chronic problem (if IC is what you have). In addition, these support groups may have information regarding investigational trial for treatment of IC.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653 6568).
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-TP
*Keyword:
Your symptoms sound like you may have interstitial cystitis (IC).
IC is a chronic condition that is diagnosed only after exhaustive work ups have been performed to rule out other medical conditions. The etiology of IC is unclear. However, multiple factors such as neurologic, inflammatory, diet, and autoimmune causes can contribute to IC. Typically, symptoms include suprapubic pain, urgency, and frequency. The principle method to diagnose IC is to perform a cystoscopy with bladder hydrodistention (distending the bladder with saline). Hydrodistention can also be a form of therapy for IC. In severe cases, a pharmacological agent called DMSO can be added to the hydrodistention to help control the symptoms. Sometimes, IC symptoms can be alleviated with stress reduction, exercise, warm tub baths, and avoidance of spicy food. Medical therapy such as Elmiron, hydroxyzine, and amitryptiline may help in keeping the symptoms down.
There are support groups for IC that can be easily found on the Internet. They may help you better cope with this difficult and chronic problem (if IC is what you have). In addition, these support groups may have information regarding investigational trial for treatment of IC.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653 6568).
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-TP
*Keyword:
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