I need advice for recurring bladder infections, possibly interstitial cystitis?

[caroline76]

have been suffering from UTI's for a few years, and everytime they have gone away with antibiotics and no other problems. A year ago to this month, I had a severe kidney infection, with no complications after a round of antibiotics. Recently though, about 2 months ago, I started having to urinate constantly, with no pain or any other symptoms. I've had a pelvic exam, urinalysis, a transvaginal ultrasound, and blood work done in the past 3 months now, and they still do not know what is wrong. my symptoms come and go, but when they do appear it is the urge to urinate, sometimes a tingling feeling in my groin area like i cant sit still, alot of pressure in my pelvic area, and the past week i have expirienced pain in my lower back that moves to where my kidney is; it almost feels like cramps. But the blood work was tested for kidney problems and diabetes also, but everything was ok. I am also on certain meds for depression etc., and have issues with stress, so I am concerned it has to do with stress but i'm not sure, and I dont know if i should go to a urologist as my next move, or just wait till it happens again?

[David A Burks, MD]

HI,  You have the classic symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis.  Your history is typical-- a women that has recurrent urinary tract infections, treated easily with antibiotics. She then gets a real bad infection, now has symptoms when the urine is not infected.  The classic symptoms of IC are pain, frequency and urgency.  The pain component could be felt as pain, pressure or discomfort.  You describe a pressure sensation in the pelvis which is classic. Your cramping sensation and low back pain are also common complaints.  IC symptoms are often intermittent in the early stages and hard to disgnose.  I recommend you go to the website of the InterstitiaalCystitis Asssociation:  ichelp.org, learn the basics about the disorder and avoid the foods and beverages that can promote a flare up. if you get another flare up you should see a Urologist who specializes in female urology and IC or a Urogynecologist.  Either would be most helpful in geting the correct diagnosis, ruling out other possible problems and getting you on effective treatment.   Good Luck

[caroline76]

I have also been on cipro, levaquin, metronidozale, and bactrin the past month. yeah they keep throwing antibiotics at me.

[wordh]

It is my understanding IC has 3 prominent symptoms: frequency, urgency and PAIN.The pain with IC is horrible. If you think you have IC,  I would suggest to you, adhear to the strict IC diet and see if you start feeling better.

[caroline76]

thankyou for responding. The only problem is I dont have pain; but I will definately look into the diet thing just in case. I just wish they could tell me if its IC, or not. I know I should she a urologist I guess.

[wordh]

I am not a medical doctor however, I can guess; if you do not have PAIN in your bladder, you do not have IC. The strick IC diet maintains a low acid level as not to cause more pain to the bladder. Giving up coffee and iced tea helped me a great deal. Oh how I miss chocolate and tomatoes just to name a few foods I used to enjoy. But giving them up it is worth it not to be "married" to the heating pad.

[caroline76]

haha yes I agree. Well I think my step be will to get in with a urologist to do further tests.