Kidney stone causes IC?

[Hoofs]

I saw a urologist who thought based on my inital symptoms, and also when I showed him where my pain originated that I had probably passed a kidney stone. About 10 hours after this event took place, I felt like I had a UTI. I had frequency, urgency and shooting pains. It's been a year now, and I still have those symptoms although the shooting pains have disappeared. Also, I don't experience burning or nocturnia. My urine culture always comes back negative. I had a cystoscopy several months after passing a kidney stone if that's what actually happened and the urologist said my bladder looks fine. I also had hydrodistention (I hope I'm using the correct term) in which the urologist stretched my bladder under general anethesia and instilled an IC cocktail (I have no idea what was in the cocktail). Anyway, the urologist said that my bladder looked fine. The urologist thinks that I have sensory urgency. I've only had sex twice after the initial onset of symptoms started and each time after sex my symptoms have become worse, so I avoid sex at all costs. Could this possibly be IC?

[mandyk01]

A related discussion, Kindey stone or IC was started.

[cdewkoz]

A related discussion, kidney stone cause Cystitis? was started.

[David A Burks, MD]

Hi,  
Your husband needs to be seen by a Urologist who specializes in voiding disorders.  Assuming this is not an infection or other structural problem like a kidney stone in the ureter, he needs a urodynamic evaluation.  This is a test of bladder function where a catheter is placed in the bladder, it is filled up with water and pressures during bladder filling and emptying are done. You said he gets up 20-30X per night. Is this his sleep apnea?  I assume he urinates frequently during the day as well (20-30X per 24 hrs). If so, he more than likely has one of three things: (1) an obstruction where the bladder meets the prostate, called a vesical neck contracture. Its common in young men and cause the bladder to be very unstable.  (2) a neurological problem causing irriation of the bladder nerves and extreme frequency.  I agree with the MRI of the spine looking for a herniated disc or other spine  abnormality.  (3) Interstitial Cystitis, an inflammatory problem of the bladder wall which can cause this extreme frequency/urgency, no UTI and no response to detrol or flomax.  A Urologist who specializes in voiding disorders can do the tests to figure what the problem is and get him started on the right treatment.    Good Luck



  

[Cosmo35]

My husband is suffering from severe nocturnia, having to get up to use the bathroom at least 20-30X a night.  Like the lady above, he has been cleared by the urologist after having a negative urine culture, a cystoscopy and several standard bladder/prostate exams.  He was initially placed on antibiotics which did not help and eventually was given several bladder medications like detrol and flomax.  The medication did not help, which shocked even the urologist.  He was sent to a neurologist who concluded that my husband does not have obvious signs of neurological issues.  He is waiting to have an MRI of his mid back to fully rule out the neurological cause.  My husband is over weight and has sleep apnea that cannot be treated until his urgency issues has resolved-that is what the doctor tells us.  My husband is breaking down, he is only 35 years old and cannot function on 30 to 45 minutes of sleep at a time.  What can we do?

[David A Burks, MD]

Hi,
Yes you could have IC.  Frequency, urgency and pain with a negative urine culture and no other problems seen on a physical examination means you probably have IC.  Up to 20% of patients with the classic symptoms of IC havd a normal cystoscopy and hydrodistention. Although the shooting pains have resolved you still have vaginal pain with intercourse frequently seen in IC patients as well.  Interstitial Cystitis and overactive bladder are both sensory urgency problem, and sometimes difficult to distinguish.  We also know that many patients have both problems.  I would start by treating you with an overactive bladder medication like ditropan or vesicare and see what happens to your symptoms.  If they no not respond, then treating you IC may be the ultimate solution.  Good Luck.