Bladder / Pelvic Pain

[lisajane82]

My symptoms are: Urethral feeling of needing to pee, a vague sense of bladder fullness even though not full.  Sometimes I catch and notice my lady parts pulsating/twitching bladder and clit etc.  I do not really have an appetite and am not able to eat a normal meal.  Like 1/2 a plate most of the time.  I am taking Vesicare, with a non standard dosing as I cannot tolerate it daily.  It helps moderately.  When the sensation is beyond able to bare I take Pyridium which is meant as a symptom killer for UTI's.  It helps quite a bit, calms down my bladder.  But long term use is not something it's intended for.  

I have about 1.5 weeks during the month where I'm practically symptomless, then about 10 days before my period starts it gets tighter/tense around my lower abdomen and pelvis.  During this time when it feels more pressure I start to get stabbing pains mostly on my left side, near my hip. Sometimes in my vag or beside it also.

I am worried I have Ovarian Cancer.  But I've had a TVA & Pelvic ultrasound done with nothing out of the ordinary found.  I've had blood tests for STDs (nothing).  Urine cultures (nothing).  Blood tests, but not CA-125.  Is there anything else I should do?

[J. Kyle Mathews, MD, DVM]

Sorry to read of your problem.  I would suggest you see a urogynecologist for a second opinion.  Urodynamic and cystoscopy would also be helpful if theses test have not been performed.  Patients who can not tolerated medications like Vesicare may find Myrbetriq a better choice for them. Other test such as CT scan may be appropriate depending on your exam.  J. Kyle Mathews, MD

[lisajane82]

Wow, your also a Vet that's neat.  If you do happen to read this and respond to this.  I do have a test for a Bladder Scan and also Cystoscopy, but it takes so long to see the specialist.  Basically until the end of Feb and I was waiting since October.  

I'm assuming then CT scan would not be pushed forward unless there was something revealed in the sonograms.  Or if they were to find something suspicious during cystoscopy and the urodynamic testing.  Would not an MRI be better, or do they just do CT scan cause it's cheaper?

I will look into this Myrbetriq.  Never heard of it being suggested to me.  Thanks.

[lisajane82]

When I go BM, the sensation is worse and can linger for a day and lightens up.  My bms are solid / lumpy but not constipated, I tend to go every 2 days, then sometimes 3 times in one day.  I get watery at least once every 2 weeks.

[lisajane82]

The pains in my hips are sometimes mirrored on my upper legs.  When I say mirrored I mean same area in a vertical line, like just to the inside of my upper thighs.  I've been on Elmiron now for about 1 month with no improvement so far, and taking it three times a day away from food is so difficult as I'm a grazer and NOT a meal eater, especially since I have trouble eating full meals.  

I asked my doctor to give me an MRI or a Pelvic CT.  But they will not budge.  I have an appt for urologist for Cystoscopy and Bladder Scan.  But I have a feeling this could be both uro/gyno and we don't have a single one anywhere near me.