His and Her Health

I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH INTERSISTITAL CYSTITIS -IC- AFTER 5 YEARS OF SEVERE BALDDER PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. ACCORDING TO MY UROLOGIST, ON A SCALE OF 1-10, THE DAMAGE TO MY BLADDER WALL IS A 8.5.... I ALSO HAVE A BICORNUATE UTERUS WITH ONE CERVIX. THE BLADDER PAIN IS SO INTENSE AFTER SEX, I SOMETIMES CRY FOR HOURS, AND CAN FEEL MY PULSE IN MY BLADDER. MY OB AND UROLOGIST'S ONLY ANSWER HAVE BEEN TO URINATE BEFORE AND AFTER SEX, WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS TO NO AVAIL. I OFTEN PASS BLOOD IN MY URINE AFTER SEX, AND THE PAIN ALWAYS FOLLOWS INTERCOURSE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE?

Hi Tempest:<BR>IC is a tough problem, but I hope someone has told you that at least, it's not dangerous. It certainly can lead to a lot of pain though.<BR>Your Urologist and /or Gynecologist should be instructing you on the proper diet- many foods make IC much worse- and prescribing specific medications to help control the pain. If they are not familiar with these treatments, you might need to seek another opinion.<BR>BTW, many women go several years without being diagnosed with this condition- it's not an easy diagnosis to make. New treatments are being developed, and a lot more interest is being paid to this condition now than in years past. There's reason to be hopeful about your future.<P>------------------<BR>Supportive Guy

Tempest:<P>One last thought about your condition: women who have pain from inflammatory conditions after sex (like IC) may benefit from taking a non-steroidal anti inflammatory like Aleve or Motrin an hour or so before sex.<P>Good luck!<P>------------------<BR>Supportive Guy

I also have IC. Have you tried using a heating pad or ice pack? Some people put a warm washcloth between their legs after sex and spray the area with a water bottle. The Motrin is another good idea, but alot of people "flare" after sex and pain is very common with sex when you have IC. <p>[Note: This message has been edited by NEWSHE Moderator]

Thanks for the advise! I have found that a heating pad actually does help. Since my diagnosis I have found another uroligist that is more willing to medicate for this disease. I have been using Oxytrol, an anti-spasmodic patch and have gotten some relief from that. I am also now taking Elmiron and I take ibuprofin and Urised about an hour before sex, and that seems to be helping too a bit. The pain is still bad, but not incapacitating so much anymore.

Dr. Bruce. The condition of IC is dangerous for many reasons, it incapacitates many women and men from leading normal lives. The suicide rate of IC sufferers is tremendous. I have been following a board at the IC-network.com and have found wealths of information that helps IC'ers to cope. I am not trying to tell you how to be a doctor,but any pain in the bladder, and peri area and conditions that lead to it are dangerous, many people try to cath themselves for relief and have become so ill, and yes die. That is how badly relief is needed.The bladder can become sloughed, it has lesions on it, many people have their bladders leak outside the bladder itself,it can bleed due to scarring, and many women opt for bladder removal. A sad but true condition. Thank you for your attention.

Ok, while on the subject... Doctor, is it normal to swell after sexual contact? I'd imagine it's the female version of an erection, but... I tend to get swollen to 10x the size (labia, etc.), and sometimes it lasts well over 12 hours. Is this normal?