I have what they call Interstitial Cystitis for 9 yrs now also. I tried the diet...didnt seem to change my situation. Although im not sure that artificial sweeteners are not playing a role in my problems?? I havent had much pain for the past 2 years up until recently when i once again started a diet & added aspertame to the list of things i ingested. I have mixed emotions. Im like is the urethra pain due to menstrual issues with Endometriosis...is it aspertame poisoning of sorts or is it legitimately Interstitial Cystitis. This has ruined my life once again. I live on AZO pills to numb bladder & have taken Elmiron but didnt keep taking the elmiron once my hair started falling out & i thought i was getting better. Most doctors dont seem to know whats going on... Im interested in possibly using the Tea Tree Oil topically, but it scares the hell out of me thinking that might burn & make it worse? HELP!! I feel like my life is over once again :-(
Sir, your completly bumming me out! I was diagnoses with IC about 8 yrs ago and had constant pain for like 3-4 yrs straight. Then ended up pregnant...had the baby & got on birth control pills. My symptoms (urethral burning) miraculously disappeard over the next year although i still have the need to urinate rather frequently. My bladder has not been the same as prior to this disease. I had read that it could go into remission but once it did, i was skeptical if i had IC at all because i felst sooo much better. Unfortunately, about a week ago, my sypmtoms of burning urethra have revealed themselves once again. Im absolutely HORRIFIED!! I realize i do have IC & i dont know what to do about it. I was never offered anything but Elmiron b4 which never worked & only made my hair fall out. I want to try tea tree oil but im so scared it will burn even worse! HELP, im so depressed & in tears. Life seems almost unbearable at times. I have a 4 yr old son & i want him to have a good life with his mommy. Anyone have any adivice on the tea tree oil? Do i need to dilute it? The lady at the health food stoor said not to dilute it...she actually said: Only dilute it if your a whimp! Not exactly the answer i wanted to hear from her. But she's also never heard of IC.
Hey Lori, I hope your doing good and that the surgery has taken care of all the pain. I'm waiting for a ultrasound, I think i've got a cyst growing on my right ovary, it's putting presure on my bladder and causing constent pain. my last cyst that was on my left ovary was 4lbs. and it also was laying over my bladder which caused lots of pain. I think the weight of that cyst may have moved or pushed my bladder and thats why I can't use my core mussles without causing tons of pain. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF US!!!
Did you try taking Calcium Citrate? It helped me a lot. Make sure you buy Calcium Citrate not plan Calcium.
No one but a fellow sufferer truly understands how awful IC (or whatever it is) is - it's always there, always burning, it's terrible. When I was pain free, I swear I didn't know how to act - I got so used to the burning. I've been pain free for about three years now but I will never forget how awful it was living with that pain day after day. Good luck to you all.
No one but a fellow sufferer truly understands how awful IC (or whatever it is) is - it's always there, always burning, it's terrible. When I was pain free, I swear I didn't know how to act - I got so used to the burning. I've been pain free for about three years now but I will never forget how awful it was living with that pain day after day. Good luck to you all.
Hi jpp: It's Lori from IT HURTS DOWN THERE. The system won't let me back in for some reason, but it is me. I am 3 weeks past my stenting procedure and had a follow up today with the vascular surgeon. I feel ok, not great, but the doc assured me that within the next 2 weeks I should be feeling pretty good - I can't wait. My back pain has gone away - yeah - but I still have the pelvic pain and pressure, not all the time though. Doc says i still have a nutcracked vein in my left leg that may need a stent if my pelvic pain doesn't subside. I'm waiting it out though - we'll see what the next 2 weeks bring.
Good Luck All,
Lori
Good Luck All,
Lori
I think I'm back in the system, now as just HURTS DOWN THERE. Hope I don't get booted out again. I'll let you know how the next 2 weeks go and where I go from here.
Have a great night all,
Lori
Have a great night all,
Lori
i never had urinary problems growing up until i had a uti when i was 15 or 16 and after i went to the doctor and took antibiotics it went away, temporarily. After this first episode, it seemed to keep comming back. at 17 i had a kidney infection after ignoring my bladder infection, only because i got one once a month or so (or what felt like a uti) and i would just try and drink more water and it would help a little. i am 23 now and always have problems with feeling like i need to urinate, sometimes urgently. i have been to planned parenthood probably 7 times in the last 4 months (because they treat UTIs) and they have tested me for a UTI and BV every time and found nothing. They have also tested me for STDs several times and have also found nothing. even though the test comes back negative they still give me antibiotics which do not help at all. i have had this problem for years but recently it has gotten way out of hand and it feels like it is ruining my life, it is all i think about or research on the internet because it is a constant bother. i have cried alot over being frustrated that no one can help me and that doctors have no idea what is wrong with me. i feel the pain in my urethra constantly, and it hurts most in the morning after i pee and my bladder is empty. the pain seems to be most bearable when i drink ALOT of water and my bladder is full. I want to go to the doctor, but i have a feeling that they are just going to throw pills at me with no answers like they did to all of you. I cant sleep at night sometimes when it hurts, and it feels like i need to pee even though my bladder is empty, and i know if i go it will be 10 times more painful, so i just have to hold it in until my bladder fills up and the pain stops. and it is nice to read that i am not alone, however i wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy.
Hi,
I looked at this thread when i'd been suffering from simular symptoms for 2 years (pain without infection). Anyway I wanted to pop back and add my thoughts because i recently started seeing a new doctor, who also diagnosed me with IBS, anyway he started treating me for overactive bladder even though urethra pain isnt generally a symptom and I've got to say its helped tonnes i still have the odd bad day but my symptoms have improved hugely. I just wanted to say dont rule it out because its not a symptom, maybe mention it to your doctor it cant hurt to try, and good luck!
I looked at this thread when i'd been suffering from simular symptoms for 2 years (pain without infection). Anyway I wanted to pop back and add my thoughts because i recently started seeing a new doctor, who also diagnosed me with IBS, anyway he started treating me for overactive bladder even though urethra pain isnt generally a symptom and I've got to say its helped tonnes i still have the odd bad day but my symptoms have improved hugely. I just wanted to say dont rule it out because its not a symptom, maybe mention it to your doctor it cant hurt to try, and good luck!
Hello,
I am female, 24 and live in South Korea, though I am an American. I am having the exact same problems for the last 6 months. I will get UTIs but the pain never goes away. Before it was just after urination last about 30min or so. Now it is during and after urination. I have been to may urologist which is hard because most don't speak English. Most of them said it was just due to "stress" and sent me packing when it I came up negative for a UTI. The urologist I go to now was educated at Stanford University and is a little more willing to work with me. Now he is treating me for IC. However, the pain is not in my bladder, its only in my urethra. I don't have the frequency to pee. I think the medication I am on now it helping a little, or it could be that this week I just having a little less pain then last week. The pain definately gets worse at night and really early in the morning. The pain also changes in degrees. I had 3 weeks where it almost went away completely, only to come back with the worse UTI I have ever had in my life. Now my pain is pretty much a constant low burn. I don't drink caffine at all. However, pretty much all Korean food is made with chili peppers.
My other problem is that I can't get the doctors to actually examine me. Like I haven't had a pelvic exam from my urologist. That haven't "looked" up there. They haven't look for strictures. I have had an ultrasound of my kidneys and bladder. I don't have kidney stones. I just want this to go away. Its ruinning my life!! I want a doctor to listen to me!! I am in pain, this is not normal, this is not caused by stress, and I want someone to take me seriously!!!!!
I am female, 24 and live in South Korea, though I am an American. I am having the exact same problems for the last 6 months. I will get UTIs but the pain never goes away. Before it was just after urination last about 30min or so. Now it is during and after urination. I have been to may urologist which is hard because most don't speak English. Most of them said it was just due to "stress" and sent me packing when it I came up negative for a UTI. The urologist I go to now was educated at Stanford University and is a little more willing to work with me. Now he is treating me for IC. However, the pain is not in my bladder, its only in my urethra. I don't have the frequency to pee. I think the medication I am on now it helping a little, or it could be that this week I just having a little less pain then last week. The pain definately gets worse at night and really early in the morning. The pain also changes in degrees. I had 3 weeks where it almost went away completely, only to come back with the worse UTI I have ever had in my life. Now my pain is pretty much a constant low burn. I don't drink caffine at all. However, pretty much all Korean food is made with chili peppers.
My other problem is that I can't get the doctors to actually examine me. Like I haven't had a pelvic exam from my urologist. That haven't "looked" up there. They haven't look for strictures. I have had an ultrasound of my kidneys and bladder. I don't have kidney stones. I just want this to go away. Its ruinning my life!! I want a doctor to listen to me!! I am in pain, this is not normal, this is not caused by stress, and I want someone to take me seriously!!!!!
*note* Adding to my last post ((still the girl from South Korea)) My pain started 2 days after I got implanon birthcontrol. It is a progensterone only birthcontrol. I have been talking to the doctor and asking him, could it be my birthcontrol? That is the only thing that has changed in my life. Looking at the side effects to see if it is listed. It is not listen in the side effects. My doctor keeps telling my that its not my birthcontrol. Its not related to my birthcontrol. etc. ... Looking at some of the other peoples post now... maybe I have too much progesterone in my body and that is causing my pain! Implanon is a great birthcontrol. I am not worried at all about pregnacy, and it last for three years. However, it is mad expensive. I am already super sensitive to hormones. Regular oral birthcontrol gives me migraines. I am going to go today and get this removed. I guess if it doesn't work I can always get it put back in.. right? Ugh that is another 400$. But yeah, if it makes this pain go away I think its definately worth 400$.
This sounds very similar to the issue that I'm having. Many searches for this show female urethra problems but here are the facts...
1) I am male
2) There is no physical pain except when feeling around the shaft of my penis, to which it feels like there is a lump along the urethra track.
3) This issue has made it nearly impossible to have a normal erection. I have not spoken to my doctor yet, but it's seeming pretty obvious.
I had a pretty normal penis, decent size and prior to this pain it was A OK. But since the pain came, it literally looks like my penis is crooked now. I do not have extreme sex or anything like that, and I am still able to have intercourse but if I move it the wrong way, there is pain and it causes my semi-erect penis to pretty much shrivel away.
This is killing my sex life with my wife, and honestly, a bit humiliating.
1) I am male
2) There is no physical pain except when feeling around the shaft of my penis, to which it feels like there is a lump along the urethra track.
3) This issue has made it nearly impossible to have a normal erection. I have not spoken to my doctor yet, but it's seeming pretty obvious.
I had a pretty normal penis, decent size and prior to this pain it was A OK. But since the pain came, it literally looks like my penis is crooked now. I do not have extreme sex or anything like that, and I am still able to have intercourse but if I move it the wrong way, there is pain and it causes my semi-erect penis to pretty much shrivel away.
This is killing my sex life with my wife, and honestly, a bit humiliating.
Dear Guest on 1-20-11:
I hope you have made an appointment with your doc to have that "lump" checked out. Anything that's not normal certainly needs a looking at - you know your body best (as does your wife I imagine) - ask the docs to look into it (literally) and see what it is. Maybe something easy that just needs to pass (tissue possibly - not like kleenex, but body tissue - like scarred tissue that may be shedding). Have you ever had kidney stones?
I know what it feels like to have your sex life feel like it's in ruins, but hang in there; I'm sure your wife gets it and is probably really supportive. I know through this past year with the pain, it has been horrible, never knowing when my husband and I can "get" together - haha- but he has been great (not always happy about it, but very understanding and helpful, especially trying to deal with our 4 kids and all of their activities when I'm not feeling well).
Hope you get some answers and good news,
Lori D.
I hope you have made an appointment with your doc to have that "lump" checked out. Anything that's not normal certainly needs a looking at - you know your body best (as does your wife I imagine) - ask the docs to look into it (literally) and see what it is. Maybe something easy that just needs to pass (tissue possibly - not like kleenex, but body tissue - like scarred tissue that may be shedding). Have you ever had kidney stones?
I know what it feels like to have your sex life feel like it's in ruins, but hang in there; I'm sure your wife gets it and is probably really supportive. I know through this past year with the pain, it has been horrible, never knowing when my husband and I can "get" together - haha- but he has been great (not always happy about it, but very understanding and helpful, especially trying to deal with our 4 kids and all of their activities when I'm not feeling well).
Hope you get some answers and good news,
Lori D.
To EVERY woman on here...no matter the age! Check out Suzanne Sommer's book on bioidentical hormone replacement. It is not something to be afraid of...it is not the same as synthetic hormone replacement. I have had constant UTI's, urethral pain, bladder cramps, painful urination...kidney pain...you name it! Every doctor says I need more estrogen, and has tried to put me on synthetic hormones. I have fought this due to the high incidence of cancers related to it. Bioidentical hormone replacement is identical to what your body produces. I have an appt. with an endrocrinologist March 8th. There is a reason Suzanne, Robin McGraw {Dr. Phil's wife} Oprah etc. take these! Women are not producing as much estrogen in many cases these days due to an overload of stress...at any age. Check it out for yourself. I have read extensively on the subject, and am convinced it is the answer to many of our prayers! If you are as desperate to get help as I am...give it a shot. BUT...many doctors claim to know about bioidentical hormones & do not. Endocrinologists specialize in this & do your homework! I never had urinary infections until these last few yrs & I am tired of the antibiotic trail. Nothing works for long...and the damage being done to our internal organs is being ignored by physicians, or worse yet-they think it's either in our heads...or we are drug seeking! I will let you know how things work out for me. You can also check Suzanne Sommers out on Youtube about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. GOOD LUCK!
I got my birth control removed about three weeks ago as you can see above. Let me tell you the pain is pretty much completely gone. I had my birth control for 6months so I guess it did a lot of damage. I could feel myself healing though. It still hurt but the pain changed and I just knew I was getting better. Slowly the pain started to fade. Now I only have slight pain that last maybe 10mins after I urinate only when I am very dehydrated, or my bladder is less then half full. But then again, I feel like I am still healing. But let me tell you the difference it made. I feel about 95% better then before! If you are on birth control and having pain, get off of it!! See how you feel after a few weeks.
If infections and the like have been ruled out this is very highly likely due to irritated nerves and muscle spasms. Have you tried pelvic physical therapy and / or valium suppositories? Gabapentin may also help with nerve pain.