Diagnosed with IC

[k2farhat]

Hello,

I have been dealing with IC symptoms since age 21. I was diagnosed a year ago at age 25 with IC. My symptoms include urinary frequency and incontinence. My doctor has me on Elmerion which I do not believe is helping like it should be. I also take despromession at night to limit the amount of urine my kidney's produce. I wake up about 6 to 8 times a night. My doctor has given me a few treatments within the bladder which helped the frequency and incontinence for a weeks time, but I do not have time to go to the doctor every week. I anxious for relief. I read that antibiotics have aided many IC patients when taking them long term. Is this true, and is research being done about the relationship between bacteria and IC. I have noticed when having UTI's that antibiotics did bring minimal relief for my IC. I also noticed that Dr. B lives in my area if you have any suggested doctors or treatments in the detroit/oakland county area. I plan to go back to my doctor in the next few weeks, are there any suggestions for treatments that I can bring up to him?

Thank you. I am sure this website has been a huge help for many patients!

Kim Farhat

[mering]

Please look up www.pelvicpainrehab.com  to learn about the neuromuscular aspects of IC.  Also join the yahoo health group happypelvis if only for the excellent articles on IC, pudendal neuralgia, and  pelvic pain in General.  I was diagnosed with IC and went to 23 doctors, some of whom specialized in IC, to no avail.  It wasn't until I went to San Francisco (from Colorado) to see Dr. Jerome Weiss - Pacific Center for Pelvic Pain and Stephanie Prendergast - Pelvic Pain Rehabilitation Center, that I began to get well.  Stephanie and her partners regularly work with other PTs and physicians to train them to do proper neuromuscular exams and evaluations.  I had at least fifty pelvic exams before going to California and I assure you, no pelvic exam was anything like the ones I received from Dr. Weiss and Stephanie.  

I hope you'll at least contact her for the sake of your patients.

thanks,
Molly

[David A Burks, MD]

Hi,  The hallmark of IC is pain, pressure or discomfort in the bladder, usually related to bladder filling.  You complained ot frequency and incontinence (I assume incontinence with the sudden urge to void).  If you don't have a pain component then it's unclear whether you have IC or overactive bladder.  There can be a lot of overlap between the two conditions.  Most patients who have IC find that a low dose of amitriptyline 25-50mg will help reduce the night voiding. Step one is to get a correct diagnosis.  Step 2 is to eliminate treatments that are not working.  IF the Desmopressin is not working, then it should be discontinued.  Same for the Elmiron if you've been on it for at least 6 months.  If the amitriptyline doesn't work, or you have tolerance problems, bladder instillations of a medication to directly affect the symptoms is an option.  You live in Oakland county--- Dr. Ken Peters at William Beaumont Hospital is the closest Dr. with national expertice in IC and has a complete program to handle IC.  I would be happy to see you as well, as a second opinion with recommendations sent back to you local Urologist to try.  Good Luck  

[pro2675]

A related discussion, please help Dr. Burkes was started.