Similar symptoms to IC, but results are negative?

[DMan2112]

Hello Dr. Burks, firstly, thank you for your time.  I am a 20 year old female, no children or pregnancy.  I do have a history of scoliosis, yeast infections, constipation, bladder infections.  I experience significant pain from my back on a daily basis and receive adjustment from a chiro. weekly.  I've been to lots of doctors and currently see a urologist for this condition.  She seems to know her stuff about IC but still cannot provide me with a possible cause or explanation for my condition.  Ive had a cystoscopy and the results were negative for IC.  The doctor did not see the hemorrhaging associated with IC.  She did mention 2 tubes connecting the kidney instead of the normal 1.      The first symptoms started with a presence of bacteria in my urine, prescribed antibiotics but the painful urination continued.  I experience pain in my stomach around my ovary areas, when I eat certain foods (spicy, milk, etc.)  I experience hurting and cramping similar to sharp pulsing pain and pressure, similar to glass cutting in my lower belly.  I experience urgency and more than frequent urination, I urinate from 15 to 20 times a day on a bad day.  A good day is maybe 6 times or close to normal.  I often feel nauseous. Sex for my husband and I used to be normal and pain free, but now it is terrible.  Sometimes it feels like its on fire and raw, other times it feels like someone punching and stabbing on my bladder wall. After we have had sex I always have "flare" ups and experience discomfort with my bladder.  I always urinate right after sex.            If you have any insight for my symptoms or anything you think I could bring to my urologist I would be more than grateful.  Ive been living with this for over 6 months and it feels like there will never be an end.  thank you

[David A Burks, MD]

Hi, it sounds like you have the classic symptoms of IC with pain, freqquency and urgency. Voiding 20 times a day is classic during flare ups.  The symptoms are usually made worse with certain foods and intercourse is always painful.  About 20% of patients who have the classic symptoms of IC with a negative urine for infection have a normal cystoscopy and hydrodistention, ie they don't show the classic findings.  Its also common for patients to have a documented UTI with symptoms prior to having symptoms with clear urines.  We don't know the etiology of IC.  I usually start patients out on the diet avoidance program and a low dose of Elavil 10 increassing up to 75mg at night.  This combination has proven successful in research studies and in clinical use.  Go to ichelp.org for further treatment options.  good Luck.      

[Amyray]

A related discussion, Is it normal to test postive for WBC (leucocyte esterase) in your urine when you have IC? was started.

[Cakedecr8r]

Have you ever been tested for celiac disease? When patients with celiac eat foods that contain wheat....they often complain of pain that feels like glass in their abdomen. Although you do not need to test positive to celiac to just have a simple wheat allergy. Allergies can also produce painful side effects. I hope this tip helps you.

[DMan2112]

Thanks for the tip, I'll look into that promptly.

[Totie]

Long shot here, but what about your gallbladder?