Interstitial Cystitis

[Katarina8349]

Hello. For 6 months now I have been putting off the recommended CYSTOSCOPY with Biopsy and the thought of it lingers over me like a menace. I have been advised to have it because of my history of uro-gynecological problems. They started 8 years ago, with a bout of acute cystitis (after having sex). I was treated with antibiotics, developed rush, was given medicines for that as well, and even though tests showed at the end of the treatment that the problem had cleared, my peening has never been the same again. What followed were 5-6 years of recurrent infections of both the urinary tract and vagina. Different bacteria were found at different times: anything from Strep. Agalactia, E-Coli, Staphylococcus, Candida Albicans, Enteroccocus, Strep B and once also Ureplasma Urealyticum. I got treated with antibiotics, candida medicines, over and over again. With or without infections, the symptoms of discomfort were ALWAYS there - burning upon peeing, burning after sex, sometimes frequent peeing. I ended up in the Immunology Dept, where they prepared vaccines from my own bacteria. WIth this treatment over, i also underwent a new treatment with Gammaglobulin and other Immunity boosters. IN all this time, sonography and urodynamics (peeing and having the peeing monitored) showed nothing out of ordinary, and the same goes for gynecological examinations. I tried healers, alternative medicines, paid money here and there in my search for solution. Now, for the last 2 years, both urine and vaginal swabs come back with negative results, all clear, but .. the symptoms are still there. Sometimes, I have periods of frequent urination, even with nothing in my bladder. I can go even 4- 5 times to the toilet at night, and have a few drops to pee out. The bladder can give me constant pressure, and can even feel "burning". This can clear in a month, and be followed by 2-3 months of normal peeing intervals, full stream, full volume (500 ml), after 4 - 5 hours. Sometimes it can burn, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, the whole genital area burns, sometimes just the pee/uretra. I can live fine with it like that, except for the dread of the "bad time" returning and giving me a hard time during holidays/work engagements/social events. IT therefore interferes with my enjoyment of life both when the problems are severe, and when they are not and I fear them coming.

As for sex, I am currently not having any - and have not had any for 6 months. The last time I did, it burnt inside big time.

Now, they tell me that the Cystoscopy is needed to 1. exclude cancer 2. to confirm suspicion of IC. My thing is that 1. if it is IC I am dealing with it already. I take Cystoprotek and Aloe VEra, and they seem to be helping. I want to continue on the natural path, before I take any chemical medicines. 2. If it is cancer, surely I'd have blood in my urine, and the symptoms would be there all the time and worsening, rather than flaring up as they are. If I am right, then I do not need a Cystoscopy and would be thrilled with a doctor confirming this for me (the doctors here do not have much time to discuss things like this).

If I am not, I want to be explained why the cystoscopy is need and why i need to go through it, despite my panic in its regard. I react over-sensitively to anything being shoved up my uretra, and the last time doctor did that to take a clean sample of urine via a catherer, it hurt so much, i screamed my head off. And the pain that came after, upon peeing, was just excruciating and lasted a day at least .. It is summer, and I want to keep things as pain-free as possible, but not if I am to fear that I am neglecting something potentially very very dangerous (cancer) or avoiding something that could INSTANTLY help me (removal of urine stone for example).

I'd very much appreciate help.

Katarina