Anyone with a bladder issue??

If you are 40 or older and have had kids-even if you have not- your pelvic wall muscles weaken and can fall onto your bladder. It can be fixed surgicaly by suspensions. I have had increased problems since chemo and also because I am obese. It can make a burning sensation you can see blood if the bladder tissues rub together and a whole host of other wonderful signs and symptoms. Good luck and keep us posted.

Anacortesgirl, google "interstitial cystitis". It will give you some info on what to ask the urologist.

Best of luck.

Leah

What Leah said.....

I have this issue from chemo.  I had a procedure 4 weeks ago where they filled up my bladder with saline, scoped it, took pictures, etc.  Ends up I have pinpoint bleeding on my bladder wall - glomurulations is what they call it.  I was prescribed a med that I need to pick up at Target - my urologist first had me get CystoProtek from Amazon - it is a supplement type medication.

That didn't work so I am going to start this new med that she generally does not prescribe because it is $1,075 for 3 months but luckily I have good insurance.

The only SE I had was sex was extremely painful and I do mean like a knife sticking inside of me and so my gyno sent me to the urologist.  I had been complaining about this issue ever since I finished up with chemo.

I would definately go see a urologist if you can.

I wish everybody here would learn about interstitial cystitis, which is common after chemo. Especially if you have repeated bouts of something you think is a bladder infection and your urine does not culture for bacteria. This is a classic symptom of interstitial cystitis. And IC can be controlled and cured but it takes a lot of dedication. You must be careful to avoid acidic foods, and for goodness sake, don't drink cranberry juice thinking it will make you feel better.There are good medications which coat the lining of your bladder so it can heal. And Barb, interstitial cystitis can affect the urethra too. Another price we pay for chemo!  So thanks, Leah, for mentioning IC.

There is a great over the counter supplement called Prelief available in most drug stores, that when taken with meals neutralizes your urine so it is gentler on a raw sore bladder. That is how I finally diagnosed myself--after taking repeated antibiotics for so-called bladder infections and not getting better, I tried Prelief  and avoided acidic foods like tomatoes, soft drinks and started seeing improvement after a couple of weeks. Then I went to a urologist. Don't expect to turn your bladder around quickly--they heal slowly, but they do heal.

Most chemos are excreted thru urine. I remember getting up during an infusion of Adriamycin to pee and my bladder was already full of the stuff.  Not peeing enough during chemo and not drinking enough water just burns the crap out of the mucosa lining in your bladder, just like it does your mouth and your intestines.

I didn't get chemo and I have IC. I take Vesicare and it is HORRIBLY expensive so I'm sure it's the one mentioned above. I don't know why such a little pill can cost so much?? I'm buying someone elses BMW and summer home!

I had the same feeling that I had an infection all the time, and was having some trouble with leakage at times after I finished treatment. I saw the urologist after about a year and they went in and looked at my bladder, I thought for sure going in the I had all the symptoms of interstitial cystitis. Turned out my bladder was just beautiful inside, probably the only part left on me that is . The urologist said that it was most likely the hormonal changes due to aging and all the havoc that treatments created. I was slammed into menopause with chemo at age 45 and stayed that way a year, then I came back out of it like a teenager again, then went back into menopause pause for awhile and then back out again. After a while my body seemed to adjust, and as long as I can get my key in the door fast enough, and don't do any cartwheels I am doing much better now and that infection feeling went away for the most part. (I must of had 4 different UAs before I finally gave up being convinced that I had infections at the time). The doctor said it will continue to fluctuate with my hormone levels, and I am assuming that when I go back into menopause for real, I am 50 now, that it will come back again to some extent. The doctor said there was some meds or creams of something that could help, but I decided to wait on that. Hope that you find some relief from what ever is the problem for you too!