I just recently went to a gyn/bladder specialist who, after taking down my health history made a clinical diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis and wants me to return for an unsavory bladder scope. I have had pelvic pain for some time now, and a cyst that has been monitored, but he didn't seem to think the cyst was the source of the problem. He also suggested possible endometriosis, but didn't think it was necessary to investigate at this time.
I am wondering if anyone else is dealing with IC or has been diagnosed. To me, my symptoms seem to coincide more with endo than IC, and I am nervous about going through yet another painful procedure. It seems that over time, being chronically ill is causing my body to fall apart! I am having a hard enough time trying to treat the lyme, let alone all these other satellite issues.
I don't know. Perhaps I am just fed up with illness and frustrated...and perhaps a bit wary of yet another doctor putting in his two cents.
Does is sound like I should get a second opinion? This doc said that if finances weren't an issue (uninsured/unemployed) that I should have had a laproscopy by now. I believe this would not only investigate the cyst, but also possible endo. Not sure how to pursue this.
Any suggestions? Thanks for your response! Posts: 38 | From behind the definitions | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
up
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
I sympathize with you Cat. I had IC, it was the worst. Elmiron was very helpful and it went away after a few months of treatment.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Two of us in our Lyme neighborhood have been diagnosed with IC. The bladder scope is a piece of cake compared to some stuff! My friend had more painful symptoms, while mine simply felt like a neverending bladder infection. I was, in fact, on Macrobid for about a year.
In my case I also have endometriosis. Or had, I should say -- I had a hysterectomy in 2002. Interestingly my gyn symptoms weren't from the endo -- which was severe!! -- but from benign ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids. The endo was found only because of the surgery.
I don't believe the cystoscopy is an invasive test and laproscopy minimally invasive, so you should be fine. Good to rule out what's Lyme and what isn't. Even though what isn't was probably caused by the Lyme for all we know. Good luck.
Posts: 459 | From Connecticut - just across the river from the Lymes (Old Lyme, Hadlyme, East Lyme, South Lyme & Lyme) | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
An "ordinary" cystoscopy will not make a definitive diagnosis of IC. You would need a bladder distension for that and that is done under anesthesia. THAT is very painful. It's one of those things where you'd want the anesthesia to last a few DAYS to cover the aftermath.
The cystoscope done in the dr's office is like Laurie said, "a piece of cake."
I had years of severe pain from IC. Then I found out I had Lyme disease, got treated, and things are much better in all regards. I actually was put on disability for the IC. [Try teaching with that stuff!]
Anyway, I don't know how long you've been treated for Lyme, but there's a good chance the treatment for it will take care of the IC too.
I had endometriosis and fibroid tumors as well and the hysterectomy took care of most of those problems.
Hope this helps in some way.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks so much for the responses. I'm unsure about the procedure,other than the doctor telling me that water would be put into my bladder and then he would use a scope to investigate. He made no mention of anesthesia...just to take 4 advil prior to the appointment. Ugh. Obviously I need to verify what will happen...but still wary and perhaps in denial.
Although I have a history of UTIs and do tend to go a lot, most of my symptoms are tenderness and pain. When he palpated the cyst area I was practically screaming. I don't doubt that he knows what he's doing, but I am so wary of undergoing a procedure that may not address the pain I feel.
I have been treated for about a year for lyme. Brief history...lived in Ridgefield, CT. Mono in 1987. Remained seriously ill for months and was diagnosed with "chronic mono", which was then changed to "cfs". Had periods of wellness, but as of 1998, I've been in a spiral downward and have become sicker and sicker. Was tested in July 2005 for lyme and the western blot came back positive. Went through various antibiotic therapies and had a wicked allergic reaction to zithromax. We laid off all antibiotics.
So right now, all treatment is symptomatic, not curative. I understand that all body systems should be addressed, but I'm feeling frustrated that yet another organ has been affected. No, I am not a doctor, but wouldn't it make sense to address the cyst first, rather than make a new bladder diagnosis? Or am I just being a wimp?
Sigh. It's just another diagnosis of something that has no cure. I just get tired of feeling like a walking pharmacy.
Posts: 38 | From behind the definitions | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[shake]](graemlins/shake.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic