Viewer Comments: Interstitial Cystitis - Describe Your Experience
Viewer Comments & ReviewsInterstitial Cystitis - Describe Your ExperienceThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:Please describe your experience with interstitial cystitis.
Comment from: IC PAIN, 45-54 Female (Patient)
Published: January 12
IC Disease is sooooo painful!!!! Doctors and People do not realize how this 24/7 pain takes over your life! I have been on Norco 10 mg 6-10 a day! IT is not working! Dr gave me fetanyl 25mg with oxycodone 5 mg. Had to take 6 oxycodone until fetanyl patch kicked in after 12 hours. Felt relief for 1 day then pain was worse than I could ever imagine! Screamed in agony! Going to Dr Tomorrow for Oxycotin 10mg and fetanyl patch 50mg. I had urethra sling surgery. Do not do this, it is very painful. Had it removed 1 year later. Afraid of any surgery. No cure for IC. HELP! Related Reading: oxycodone
Comment from: jodi, 19-24 Female (Patient)
Published: September 10
I am a 23 year old university student who has dealt with IC for over 4 years. I was desperate to try anything to help since I was usually up at night anywhere from 10-24 times (ended up with severe insomnia as a result) and often had to make up to 42 trips to the bathroom during the day. I had to drop out of university and could hardly work. I tried everything from distentions, oral medications, instillations, and even some experimental medications. I was on a strict diet and using acupuncture to alleviate the pain (which surprisingly helped). After 2 years of no relief in sight, I had the sacral nerve stimulator implanted (which wasn't easy or pleasant, but worth it) and have since been enjoying a more normal life since! I still have had to watch my diet and avoid things like alcohol, but life is much more enjoyable. Related Reading: insomnia Viewer Comments are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on eMedicineHealth. The opinions expressed in the comments section are of the author and the author alone. eMedicineHealth does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.
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Interstitial Cystitis
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Interstitial Cystitis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- Hunner's Ulcer
- IC
- Hunner's Patch
- Pelvic Pain Syndrome
- Trigonitis
- Urethral Syndrome
Disorder Subdivisions
- None
General Discussion
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic, painful inflammatory condition of the bladder wall characterized by pressure and pain above the pubic area along with increased frequency and urgency of urination. This occurs because of chronic inflammation of the lining of the bladder and swelling of the interior walls of the bladder. Affected individuals urinate frequently with pain even though there is no diagnosed bladder infection. In a small percentage of cases, people with interstitial cys...
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I began my experience with interstitial cystitis with awful and extreme pain in my lower pelvic area. The pain became so bad that I could not do any simple household chores or complete sentences. I was first sent to my urologist where a cystoscopy was performed. Then I was put on medications including, Hydroxyzine, Elmiron, Levsin SL and Flexeril. This slightly relieved my pain but not enough to make me feel I was still among the living. I then was sent to a pain specialist where they went over my test results and spoke to many of my doctors. I have had Crohn's disease, chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis and thyroid disease for many years. I was told that this interstitial cystitis was part of an auto-immune disease grouping that many people get. It's as if your body is attacking itself, thinking good cells and tissue are bad and trying to destroy them. But of course, there are no bad cells or tissues, and my good tissues are being destroyed in this process. I would greatly urge anyone with this to be seen by as many doctors as possible for the ultimate in medication coverage. Then one must see a pain specialist to be given the most amount of pain relief medication possible without making a zombie out of you. With these things being done you will not be cured, but you will be able to “live” a better, more enjoyable life.
Related Reading: interstitial cystitis | cystoscopy | Hydroxyzine