Interstitial Cystitis

[pitmen]

Hello members, I am new to the forum, but have been reading the posts since I googled IC some time ago.

I have an appointmnent with an urologist April 10th - my first in the hope of diagnosing severe bladder spasms that I have suffered on and off for the past seven years.

They would disappear sometimes for 18 months at a time, making me think I was free and clear of them forever, just before Christmas 2007 though, I had a flare up just before my period, and other than a few painfree days, I have had them ever since.

Been to the GP in January, she tested my urine said I had an infection (protein, blood, white cells), and gave me an anti-biotic. Then word came back from lab that there wasn't any infection. Spasms continued. I had a pelvic ultarsound, all came back clear - this was my second ultrasound in three years.

I would like to describe them, mainly to see if anyone else feels this same sort of pain.

I could be standing washing dishes and a sudden, severe, sharp pain, strikes my bladder area. It is always dead centre. The pain lasts from 1 - 2 seconds, but is enough to double me over or cry out. Usually it is followed be a wave of two or three more. It feels like an electric shock/stabbing/sharp glass. Part of the problem too is that my flight or fight fear factor rises, which now has me on anti anxiety meds and anti depressants. I sometimes do have the urgent need to urinate, mainly the week before my period. Also have night time urination at this time too. For me though, it's the bladder pain/spasms that are making me miserable.

I did have a urine cytoscope(right?) to rule out any cancer in 2004, after the ultarsound came back clear, that was ruled out.

Yesterday around 11:15am, I had the worst flare up ever. Instead of 5 0r 6 spasms a day, I had close to 100. Went to emergency at the hospital. They did a urine test and said my nitrates and white cells were up indicating infection (here I go again). I was given a three day series of anti-biotics ratio-ciproflox and sent home. Dcotor told me to hold out until I see a urologist as he thought like my GP it is IC related. Painful bladder spasms ontinued through the evening. I fell asleep and woke up to some more....

Anyone else relate to this type of pain, short, sudden but sharp and frequent?

Sometimes I think I'm losing my mind. It robs me of my joy in life.

Amanda