I am suspecting that I have Interstitial Cystitis

I can tell you anything you need to know about this! I have been dealing with it for the last 4 years before I even knew what it was. I used to have lots and lots of bladder infections until they just stopped being infectious. I had surgery to widen my urethra because I had a lot of scar tissue build up in my bladder. It even got to the point where I couldn't urinate. I take a medicine called Elmiron now.. my urologist prescribed it for me. The symptoms you described sound like that may be what it is. They have over the counter medicines you can take like Azo, even the generics work the same. Only problem is they aren't long term meds. Also,what I found to work were anti-biotics even though my test always showed no infection.. the best anti-biotic for me was Cipro... Lots of water and a healthy diet works too. They have a list of foods that irritate your bladder, you may want to check that out, eating less of those foods will help too. I hope that helps, any more specific questions you have I will be sure to answer If I can. 

I do not do well with antibiotics especially cipro and many others.  When it comes to antibiotics especially constant use it would not be good as it would cause a huge overgrown on candida and for me that causes a host of other problems.  I am hoping to find some natural approaches and also watche what I eat.

Eva

Thanks Ian for your advice.  I am currently reading "Along the Healing Path" by Catherine M. Simone and it paints my present situation so clearly.  I have taken out all sugar most fruits except a very small amount of blueberries and watermelon.  I am drinking lots of water and trying the different teas that are suggested in the above book.  Do you have IC?  If so how have you dealt with it and how are you today?

Yes I have had IC for almost two years, been off work for 15 months and I have had all the medical treatments currently available including Elmiron but none of them worked for me. I am currently on weekly acupuncture which has helped me a lot but I reached a bit of a plateau so went to see a Doctor in LA who has a worldwide reputation in treating IC with Chinese medicine.  I had previously consulted a medical herbalist in London who put me on a very restricted diet back in April, but at a subsequent consultation I lost confidence in her ability to treat IC so I changed to the ICAMA diet in May and I haven't had a major flare-up since 5th June. I take a probiotic in water three times daily before meals along with other herbal medicines. Last year I was hardly able to go out and 5 days out of seven I had to go back to bed I was in so much pain. Since the beginning of the year I have been able to drive myself to/from treatments and I get out regularly. For the last few months I probably had flare ups on two days out of 7, but as I say none since 5th June. You should also read the "Better Bladder Book" by Wendy Cohen, a nurse who wrote it after suffering IC herself. It is very comprehensive about the various treatments. Good luck, Ian.

Did you ever get officially diagnosed? I had a surgical procedure and prescribed a very intense antibiotic. The first time i had sex, I got a UTI. I dealt with the symptoms for a week (I have only had four UTI's in my life and all have been treated with water and cranberry juice). So I went to a doctor and he prescribed cipro, which helped a little and then went to another and they prescribed bactrim, which feels as though it's working better but my symptoms are not completely gone. I was always under the impression you either have one or you don't. So the fact the symptoms keep coming and going makes me feel there is something more serious going on. OR, the stress and anxiety of hoping every day it's gone is keeping it from clearing up completely. Now I have a new symptom, which is a tingling sensation. Just wondering if you were ever fully relieved of your symptoms and if you have any suggestions for me. I don't have any symptoms other than the urge to urinate often and a burning sensation at the end of the stream. No pain, no fatigue, just classic symptoms of UTI.

How do I know that my problem is interstitial cystitis and not something else? I have been to the doctor. He says I don't have an infection, and I am emptying my bladder. But yet I have frequent burning after urinating and sometimes before urinating.