Endometriosis and I.C

Hello, My name s Nicola and i'm 26.
I was Diagnosed with having I.C - Interstitial Cystits 5 years ago, since then i have had a number of treatments including long term antibiotics, bladder instilations, and a catheter all to no avail. I have pain in my pelvis, swelling of my stomach, i feel sick and tired and i'd say at my worst the pain level is about 8. Every so often i have blood from underneith along with the pain and i have all the symptoms of a water infection too, this has happened many times leavin doctors confused to why theres soo much blood in my urine sample, when sending my sample off to the lab to be checked it always says, blood, white blood cells, and infection. i haven't had any answers to why this is happening and i'm thinking there shouldnt be so much blood in my water sample?
I was diagnosed with Endometriosis in April 09, i was told i have it on my bowl and pelvis, i also had a chocolate cyst and adheshions, this also gives me lots of pain, sickness and feeling faint and tired, at my worst i'd say my pains about a 9 or 10, my periods are terrible, they wont operate at the moment because its such abig operation and i want to have a baby to which i have been trying for about 4 years, i have an appointment for fertility help which is probably the only thing keeping me going through the pain at the moment, i know waiting for the operation is worth the wait to be a mum, something i've always wanted, i'll just be glad if it happens as soon as possible because all said and done i'd say i'm just about at the end of my tether.
My question is, is it possible that these two conditions are conected in any way? and also could the bleeding be coming from the endometriosis when its not my time of the month when i have an infection? as i'm really confused and scared as to what it could be.
Thank you for your time in reading my letter.

[David A Burks, MD]

Hi,
Unfortunately you can have endometriosis, interstitial cystitis., or both.  These disorders are not related but often have similar symptoms of pelvic pain, bladder frequency and urgency.  Ideally at the time of your laparoscopy for endometriosis, you have a cystoscopy and hydrodistention done by your gynecologist or urologist to rule in IC and rule out other causes of blood in the urine like a bladder stone, bladder tumor or deep seeded bladder infection. Endometriosis can involve the bladder lining and can cause bleeding-- the cystoscopy will see this as well if present.  You also need some type of kidney x-ray or ultrasound to rule out a kidney stone, tumor or other kidney problem as a possible cause of the blood in the urine. You clearly need to see your Urologist for a reevaluation.  Good LUck