Dear Dr. Stoll,
Over the past couple of months, I have become very aware of my symptoms. I have noticed that the sensation of "having to go" doesn't really come from the bladder, but more from the penis. This is part of the way I am able to tell whather or not I really have to go or if my symptoms are just flaring up. The bladder itself feels relatively normal. Maybe I just worry too much, but I wanted to check with you if this also falls along the lines of pelvic muscle tension. I have been tested for all different kinds of infections which are always negative and my symptoms started well before I ever started having sex.
Also, I don't recall if I mentioned this before, but about two years ago when this had all just started, I had a cystoscopy and went to Hawaii for the Summer a few days later. During the time I was there I ate all the foods that now always make me feel worse (spaghetti sauce, cheese etc. but didn't drink alcohol) Within a week of the cystoscopy, all my symptoms were gone completely, but returned about three months later (about a month upon returning from Hawaii). I always assumed something about Hawaii made all my symptoms go away, but because I'm leaving the country soon my urologist has scheduled me for another cystoscopy, hoping that somehow the procedure will have the same effect as it did two years ago. Does it make any sense to you that my symptoms dissapeared within a week of having this done? Does it lead you to any assumptions as to what's going on with me? Thank you for your help.
Follow Ups:
Re: IC
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 04, 1998 at 12:26:56:
In Reply to: IC posted by NV on November 03, 1998 at 18:22:00:
Dear NV,
Until you told me about the cystoscopy, I was suspecting a small diverticulum of the urethra. It still might be the problem and, though it should have been seen during the cystoscopy, they are easy to miss. Have you had a urethrogram????
Once you told about the cystoscopy it made me think more about actual IC (you know it is rare in men). Dilation of the urethra is a standard temporary treatment for females with true IC----some have had as many as 50 dilations. Dilation does force the spastic muscle to be stretched so short-term symptomatic relief is common enough to make it be a treatment.
One cannot have a cystoscopy without the cystoscope dilating the urethra.
This would probably help even if there were a small diverticulum of the urethra. At least, you need to be sure by getting the urethrogram.
I have no doubt that there might have been something about the environment in Hawaii. Diet, stressors, even chemical pollutants or electromagnetic smog could easily have been very different. Since all of these things cause more stress-effect, it should not be a surprise. In the end, figuring out what the specific difference was, this approach (alone) would not resolve the problem for long. There simply is no way (right now) out of the skilled relaxation IF the diagnosis is IC.
IF there is no diverticulum (which would have to be surgically removed) your only real option is skilled relaxation in the long run. A good dilation would give you some relief for a few months again while you were getting your relaxation accumulation.
Let us know what happens.
Walt