My Side Pains Are Back

[Yumeko-chan]

Back in January I thought I was having a gallbladder attack (my mom and grandma have them), only it turned out to be an ulcer :wall: PTSD-related stress seems to cause all sorts of problems for me, eh?

 

[Yumeko-chan]

A lady from the doctor's office called me this morning and told me that the radiologist had called them and let them know my ultrasound was normal -- just like I figured. She also said the doctor wants me to go back to her office and pee in a cup yet again. Only problem is I can't/shouldn't do that till Friday, since I'm on my period =P

Methinks she has some ideas of her own as to what's wrong. Which is a good thing?

Speaking of the IC thing yet again, when I did the pee test a year and a half ago, that came back normal except for a titch of blood. Reading up on IC, I'm learning that they commonly find traces of blood in urine in IC patients. So that's starting to make sense now. I wonder if she's starting to think IC too (even though I haven't brought it up with her yet)?

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

If she is thinking IC - your GP needs a gold star!!! I still have to explain it to my GP on a regular basis. However, some in more populated areas are learning more and more. Unfortunately, they won't be able to come up with a diagnosis by a urine sample - but they can rule other things out.

Yep, traces of blood are normal (unfortunately) - especially if in a flare.

Meanwhile, are you feeling any better today?

 

[Yumeko-chan]

I have a little pain, but then again I haven't really been up and about yet. I'm at the tail end of my flare, it would seem.

If I were to ask her for a KCl test, would she be able to do that, or would she have to refer me to a urologist?

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

Not sure to be honest, my daughter's KCI test was done by a uro/gyn doc. Your regular GP may not have the supplies for the test - so you may need to go to a urologist but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask. Just in case - you can have the test in-office make sure to wear something comfortable around your pelvic area (stretchy pants etc.) because you will be uncomfortable afterwards (they inject lidocaine afterwards which does help some).

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Eeeyargh. Was I ever sore as I went through my shift at work last night. Felt like everything below the waist hurt. My sides, my back, my legs. Even part of my groin hurt ("Oh, this is a new pain," I thought). Couldn't wait to get home and take my Robaxin. Even so, this morning I'm still a bit sore. Luckily I have my appointment in an hour. Definitely gonna ask about the KCl test.

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Mmm. She must be thinking something. She's sending my urine out to another facility to get tested, and I won't have those results till Tuesday or Wednesday. Didn't send it out before.

I didn't actually see the doctor per se, just a tech, as all I had to do was pee in a cup and leave, but I did leave a note with her to ask the doc about doing a KCl test. Haven't heard back yet.

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Goodness, so much to add, but the forum's been down so I haven't been able to =P

The other urine test didn't show anything either. She told me she couldn't do the KCl test but was able to refer me to a urologist, who I saw this afternoon. His name was Dr. Coons and he was very nice and understanding, and upon asking him about the test he said he didn't like doing that test, as it was inaccurate (from what I've read, it's only 60% accurate, so he's not wrong there), and said he really did not want to stick me with a diagnosis of IC (from his tone, I'm guessing it's because IC really sucks to have, and not him thinking that's not it). I had peed in a cup (yet again) before seeing him (which, again, showed nothing), but he stuck a catheter in me to see how much urine I was still retaining (and to see if there was anything physical, like a blockage, causing my symptoms, which there wasn't), and he managed to get out about 120 cc, "which is more than I like to see," he admitted. He said retaining that much puts me at risk for repeated UTIs, and he still didn't quite have a good idea of what could be causing my pain and burning and assorted stuff down there. In the meantime, he gave me a prescription for Prosed DS and is hoping that will help relieve those. He said he'd like to see me back in three months and if things haven't resolved by then, he would like to put a scope up there (a cystoscopy; no mention of hydrodistention).

So yeah, all I know for sure is that I have urinary retention, which, well, gee, I could've told him that =P And speaking of the catheter...as bad as it felt going in, it was even worse getting pulled out, LOL! Everything I learned from watching ER is true! And it was strange...shortly after he pulled it out, I had the urge to pee, even though my bladder was most certainly empty at that point!

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

They can rule out other causes with a cystoscopy but not diagnose you with IC. It can certainly be ruled out by excluded other causes (which is never a bad idea).

Urinary retention - ah yes...........all I can tell you is try not to push - you'll end up with pelvic floor dysfunction (I learned that one the hard way).

I haven't ever tried Prosed DS - let us know if it helps.

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Alrighty then. I've been taking the pill for two days, and my pee is Windex blue, LOL. I've had a bit of crampy pain since I started taking it, which is unusual because my pain doesn't usually feel like that. Also, FWIW, I normally pee three or four times a day. Yesterday, I went six or seven times! Maybe the pill's helping me to not retain urine, I dunno. I just found it weird that I had to pee all the time ^_^ It's 11:18 AM as of this typing and I've already gone twice today, so it looks like it'll play out the same today as well.

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Well, I was doing good with the pills until yesterday, when I decided to have a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza as an early dinner. Pain flared up slightly less than an hour after finishing it, and I'm still kinda feeling it today. Bah. And I love Pizza Hut. I guess it's gonna have to go on my no-no list now ;_;

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

oh I'm so sorry. Yeah I haven't seen pizza for years - I can do white pizza though (with no red sauce) - but truthfully it's not the same (but it's not bad by any means).

I hope you feel better soon.