Bladder Instillation by Cathater

Well, so far my UTI thing seems to have subsided. Thank God! It's been going on for months and months! I've been trying to decide for quite some time now what other treatment I want to try. I really feel like I am much more open to doing whatever I need to do to feel better. Although I desperately wanted to feel better before, I would never even consider the possibility of medication, maybe some sort of phobia or something of mine. Anyway, I came across a recent forum where a girl had developed IC at the age of 16. She stated that after some careful "thought and prayer" amongst her and her family, they decided that doing the bladder instillations would be the appropriate course of treatment for her. She is now 21 years old and doing quite well. Once I read her article, it was as if I too felt like I could prayerfully consider the idea of the bladder instillations. I decided that this also would be the right course of treatment for me to take. I had my first instillation by cathater last Tuesday, the 18th. The cocktail that I am currently using is a blend of heparin, lidocaine, saline and sodium bicarbonate. It is said that heparin has a similar composition as the mucosal lining of the bladder. The idea is that by putting heparin directly into the bladder, it encourages the formation of a new mucosal lining which is thought to be missing or damaged in IC patients. The formation of a new mucosal lining in the bladder reduces the amount of irritants That come in contact with it, thereby reducing pain. Sodium Bicarbonate (fancy term for sterile baking soda) is added to alkalize the mixture increasing it's permeability into the bladder wall. Finally, Lidocaine is a numbing agent decreasing sensitivity within the bladder. Treatments are given 1 a week for 6 weeks, then 1 a week for a period of time and eventually going into a maintance phase. I will not know if this has helped me or not until about week 10. I am really hoping it does. I would really like to take a vacation somewhere this summer. It's been a long time since I've been able to go anywhere so I am really wishing there will be some break through for me soon.

My New Plan of Attack

So I am finally at my wits end with these UTI-like symtoms I have been experiencing for several months now. It comes on strong (most of the time out of nowhere), improves with antibiotics and then comes back again. Lately, I've been doing ALOT of research on UTI's and I have found some good info on the use of probiotics for both treatment and prevention of infections. I am using probiotics from a company called "Custom Probiotics" in California. It comes in a powder form and does not have any additives. It has taken many months to find something my bladder could tolerate. Since IC patients are not able to drink the normally recommended cranberry juice, I am using blueberry juice also. So far, it is not bothering my bladder. Recommendations on other health websites are to drink two 8-ounce glasses of blueberry juice daily to prevent the adherence of bacteria to the bladder wall as well as taking the probiotics twice daily. I feel like a broken record always writing about this never-ending infection, but that's the real life struggles of someone living with IC. Let's hope this helps...

The Chronic Nature of IC

The biggest "beef" I have with IC is this...one day I feel not too bad. The sun is shining and I feel hopeful. I may even feel like a day will come soon when this will all be over. Then, out of nowhere, comes weeks and weeks of inexplicable pain and burning inside. I can't relate it to diet, hormones, nothing! That is what is so frustrating with this condition. The bladder seems to have a mind of it's own and there's not much that can be done about it. What is this mysterious conditions that attacks the bladder and takes on a life of it's own? Hopefully, someday there will be some answers. I have begun to see a new doctor. The way I look at it, I am the one interviewing the doctors for the job of treating me. If I am not happy, I am going to find another one. Patient's with IC and other pelvic pain disorders MUST find a doctor they can build some sort of relationship with. Otherwise, they will constantly end up frustrated and feeling like they have no where to turn. Take it from me, even though I am in the health profession I often times feel like I am not being heard by my doctor.
Maybe the new doctor I am seeing will be helpful. If not, it's on to the next. Continued thanks to the friends and family who actually read this blog to check up on me! I pray some better days are ahead.