Flippy - I Rant, You Read
Friday, December 29, 2006
Plop, Plop…Oh, What a Prelief It Is (well, not yet)
I’ve been doing more research into my weird bladder problem, which I thought was related to my herniated disc. Since I wasn’t magically cured after my surgery, I’m starting to realize that it’s unrelated to my back. Sure, it started before my herniated disc problems, but I still thought it was related. Because, why would I have these stupid problems? Of course, I also have them intermittently. They’re worse when I drink caffeine, worse when I sit (fine when I stand for some odd reason) and much much worse when I’m under a lot of stress. Right now, they’re so bad that I can hardly do anything. I had planned to spend long hours working at the computer today, but my bladder has been so bad that I can’t get involved in anything without having to get up and go to the bathroom. It’s beyond annoying, it’s life altering. It seems so stupid. I’ve now had two things in the past year that have made everyday things almost impossible, yet I wasn’t in an accident, didn’t fall, and didn’t come down with some serious illness. Yet, nonetheless, I’ve had two things that keep me almost housebound. Yesterday, we had wanted to go see the conservatory at the Bellagio to see their holiday display. We seem to always miss it each year, so even though my bladder has been horrible for the past month or so, we decided to see how far I could get. Oh, and the freeway makes things worse - the combination of sitting and the vibration of the car at high speeds = bladder danger. Anyway, it was also going to be a test to see if we could get to our ex-neighbors’ new house on the other side of town on Friday. So, how far did I get? The Bellagio is 16 miles away, and Matt & Amy’s is 32. I barely made it to Target, 2.3 miles away. So that meant that going to see the pretty holiday flowers at Bellagio was out of the question, as was going 32 miles to Matt & Amy’s new house.
Leigh-Ann and I have done some research, and so far the only thing that seems likely is Interstitial Cystitis. However, if that’s what it is, I would be the rare person who didn’t have the pain associated with IC. For that, I’m grateful, as I think a herniated disc and fibromyalgia are plenty for me to handle. Also, for some reason, which no one understands, IC is related to other chronic pain syndromes, of which I thankfully only have fibromyalgia. Even though it’s no fun, it’s way better than irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, or endometriosis. I have moderately bad cramps each month, but prescription pain meds make them tolerable.
After reading up on Interstitial Cystitis online, it appears that every single food or beverage I like exacerbates the symptoms. Coffee, tea, chocolate, spicy foods, etc. Seriously, check out this list and see how well you’d fare giving all these things up. But, now that I’ve discovered that all the things that I love to eat or drink (I checked the list tonight, after I chose what was apparently a deadly combination of things - a turkey sandwich, with blackcurrant dijon mustard, stuffing w/ cranberries and half a cup of caffeinated coffee) are what might be making me miserable, I’ll try taking Prelief (it’s much cheaper on eBay) regularly. The testimonials on the Prelief site, in addition to discussions about it on the IC boards, make me believe that it can help. Of course, I’m also going back to the urologist I saw seven years ago when the problem first started. I only saw him once, and everything checked out okay. I started to get slowly better after that, so I thought I’d just had a really bad bladder infection. One that had me getting up from my Williams-Sonoma training class 60+ times to go to the bathroom. Talk about torture. Anyway, this guy is a specialist and hopefully I can get started on Elmiron, although I just went back to read up on it at the link I put up earlier. Ugh, it can take 2-4 months to get relief from pain (which I don’t have), and up to six months to see a decrease in frequency. And during that time, one of the side effects I have to look forward to is possible hair loss. Oh, joy.
I have one other weird symptom, other than lack of pain, I’m fine when I’m standing up or laying down. What kind of freaky bladder is that? I know that my bladder didn’t fall or whatever happens to women who have given birth, because the urologist gave me a physical and pronounced my internal parts as all in their proper location. So, no pain…and if I could stand while driving, I could get us across town just fine. We need a Segway built for two that’s enclosed, safe, and goes at least 65 mph.
Next entry: Could it be Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and not IC? Previous entry: Some Interviews That'll Make You Laugh - Promise!
-
I’d go back to the doc and insist on more tests. Like an MRI or a voiding cystourethrogram. Try to get imaging seated and standing, to see what’s different about the positions. It sounds like sitting moves things around to put pressure where pressure isn’t supposed to be, giving you the urge, more than any disease process. My gram had an 8-pound tumor removed from the area that really helped with her frequency issues.
Insert caveats here about being just a medical transcriptionist and not a doc, etc.
Georg on 12/29 at 09:41 AM -
I’m so sorry this is happening to you. It does sound like more tests are in order. Hope you get answers -and a solution, soon.
laurie on 12/30 at 11:13 AM -
My problem was pain from a herniated neck disk. Among my different aspects of my life it was a severe problem during a vacation at the beach while lying on my stomach in the sun with my head turned to the side to breathe. I ultimately invented and patented the XXXXXFace and XXXXXRest pillows to relieve my pain. These pillows enable me to lie facedown comfortably and breathe without turning my head to the side. Unexpected benefits of these pillows are snoring relief; Neck, shoulder and back muscle tension relief; sinus, migraine, ear pain, snoring and more. Stomach sleepers are finding their backs feel better after using these pillows. Many of the benefits are on my website. http://www.censored.com
Bob "The Spammer" Cuddy on 12/30 at 01:44 PM -
But Bob, what did you invent to deal with product spam that has nothing to do with what you post? You know, those people who randomly cruise through your site and see one or two words, say “herniated disk” and feel that spamming their product is a way to make money? I generally either delete them or fill their comment with Xs. Sometimes, I’ll do both - first leave the post with Xs, then delete it later.
Flippy on 12/30 at 05:57 PM -
I hope you find relief soon…
Kristine on 12/30 at 09:52 PM -
It’s my first time here…had I known that BOB would be here, I’d have come sooner!! He’s responsible for 90% of my mail!
Flippy, I have IC. The good news for me was that it went away. I’d go back and insist on more tests. I also had a prolapsed uterus/bladder, and all your symptoms sound like mine. My doctor “checked me out” while I was sitting and standing, and that’s how he figured it out.
Hopefully you find a solution soon!Tamara Falkenberg on 12/31 at 12:10 AM -
Yeah, Bob is great. All bow down to the mighty B-O-B.
When I was tested I didn’t have anything out of place (no childbirth helps), so I don’t think it’s a prolapsed anything. I do plan on going to the urologist. I already have a referral from my orthopedic surgeon. I think whatever sitting/standing test can be done would be telling. I’ve spent way more time standing along weird side roads than I care to because I’ve had to get off the freeway and stand up.
Please read my latest blog entry about Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and see if any of that sounds familiar to you.
By the way, how did your problem go away? Did you have surgery? Take medication? Or did it just leave you like the unwelcome visitor it was?
Flippy on 12/31 at 03:49 AM
