Community Forum

Does anyone have bladder problems?

I've had 3 UTI infections in the last 2 months and was wondering if it was related to the medication or Crohns?

Anyone else having these problems too?

 Reply posted for 1mom.

I was just diagnosed with Crohn's today, after 3 years of symptoms and various diagnoses, but have also had Interstitial Cystitis for several years. A flare up in one always seems to cause a flare up in the other, yet my docs are reluctant to say there's a connection.

First, for anyone with IC--don't hesitate to seek treatment, because it can get SO bad SO fast. Within a few months time I went from mild symptoms to considering leaving my job and going on disability. After surgery to close up three ulcers in my bladder, I started on the Heparin installations (directly into the bladder) and was almost symptom free within a week. I continued the installations for quite a while and also take Elmiron. Now I just add the installations a few times when I have a flare up--about every 6 to 9 months. The Elmiron doesn't seem to make the diarrhea worse.

Now I'm on Prednisone for the Crohn's and am starting Lialda tomorrow. Geez! I'm very interested in how these inflammatory diseases go hand in hand.

 Reply posted for Plain Jane.

Check into Interstitial Cystitis! you sound like me a year ago!

 Reply posted for kaedensmom.

Check into Interstitial Cystitis!

 Reply posted for upsidedown.

Not sure if it will help you but I was just diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis which in an inflammation in the lining of the bladder wall, this is also an autoimmune disease! Around the time of my first flare up I noticed problems with frequency  and retention, then as time went by it increased more and more and started to become painfull in my pelvic region. My tail bone would not stop burning and my left side started to hurt more and more. I thought I had lots of bladder infection which is also very common with this. Down side is the treatment, since there is no cure, you have to have this stuff injected into your baldder twice a week for 4 week then once a week for 2-4 weeks and then you have to take elmiron which is a mild blood thinner! yep thats right if you have bloody stools it will get worse! But as IC gets worse your bladder will hold less and less eventually you could end up urinating up to 60 times a day and be in more pain!! Oh and things like cranberry pills will make it worse not better!

 Reply posted for kaedensmom.

Thank you everyone for all the replies it nice to know I am not the only, but at the same time I fear it is just one more item to add to our list :(

All I drink is water so I did start taking cranberry pills and that has seemed to help, so I will see how that goes...I will talk with my doctor too, thank you for all the advice.

If anyone else has heard of any other connection, please share.

All the best

 Reply posted for kaedensmom.

Thank you everyone for all the replies it nice to know I am not the only, but at the same time I fear it is just one more item to add to our list :(

All I drink is water so I did start taking cranberry pills and that has seemed to help, so I will see how that goes...I will talk with my doctor too, thank you for all the advice.

If anyone else has heard of any other connection, please share.

All the best

 Reply posted for kaedensmom.

hey.  i always wondered if uti's had something to do with crohns.  i seem to get them all the time at least everymonth.  the only thing that works for me to get rid of it is as soon as i no it is starting i take cipro.  it will be gone in at leat 3 hours.  glad to know that i am not the only one with this problem and mayb there is a connection with the crohns

 Reply posted for upsidedown.

i get them all the time but just assumed it was due to other medical problems that i have. if others with crohn's are having the same issue though then maybe it is related. my only advice is to drink lots of water and talk to your doctor about a low-dose antibiotic that you can take if you feel like you are getting one, i have tried that in the past. good luck!

 Reply posted for upsidedown.

I haven't had bladder infections yet, but I definitely notice that my bladder can't hold the amount it used to. I awake between 1-3am to relieve my bladder, and during the daytime, I can't hold it for very long. This is new for me, since my first flare up in mid Aug.
At first I figured that since the colon was so inflamed, there was less room, ie: the bladder couldn't hold what it used to without feeling squashed.
Now that there is minimal inflammation, the lack of space problem should be gone? However, it doesn't seem to be getting back to the old bladder.

 Reply posted for upsidedown.

I definitely do! I have been getting UTI/Bladder infections almost constantly, and I always feel like I have them! Maybe it could be related, I am not sure. But if it was, it would definitely give us some answers.