How To Tell The Difference Between a UTI and an IC Flare - Revised (Interstitial Cystitis Network)

What makes having interstitial cystitis frustrating is that it does often feel like a bladder infection, especially those episodic flares. Many patients mistakenly assume that they are having repeated bladder infections for years, often treating them with antibiotics. Yet, with IC, no infection is found. ICN President Jill Osborne discusses the difference between the two and some good resources that you can use at home to help figure it out.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• interstitial cystitis
• IC
• ICN
• bladder
• pelvic
• pain
• infection
• UTI
• antibiotic
• frequency
• urgency
• pressure
• Jill Osborne
• Chronic pelvic pain

[sierrajean]

Both times I've used these strips it has come out positive for an infection but then when I went to the doctor, his test came out negative for infection, which panned out to be true as I didn't get worse and worse or ever test positive for infection. Weird, can you explain this for me?

[icnjill]

@sierrajean Yes, it's called a "false positive" and can occur due to chemical reactions with the strips, age of the strips, etc. etc. It's weird but it does happen... and UTI test strips can also give a false negative which is why I said that if you had any doubts, requesting a urine culture from your doc is the way to go!

[sierrajean]

what is a caffeine test strip? what does it test for? caffeine in our pee?

[icnjill]

@sierrajean IT's for testing caffeine in food or drinks.. NOT in our urine.

[Jennirulestheworld]

Thank-you for your support and information. After years of being called a drug seeker for several negative urine cultures, my Dr. started doing the methylprednisone bladder washed. Much better, until I had a chocolate craving, and I am in excruciating pain! Being able to have my suspicions confirmed about chocolate, and of the trouble with drinking water has gone a long way in reducing my anxiety over this painful condition.

[TheArtistNinja]

I have a question- I am 14 and I have a extra tube to my kidney, well it turns out....juices(Not cranberry tho) do not like me at all. I will drink TONs of water and the burning (Which does not hurt usually) and it goes off and on I take everything for it. But it does not fully go away, I take tests and everything, but nothing. But I thank you for the info you gave me!!! One more thing- is cystitis a UTI? I am a bit confused....

[mdpianist]

The feeling I have when I have an infection, is my bladder sort of feels harder or tighter than normal. I have serious trouble even walking because of the vibrations and movement, and have a horrible time trying to sit down or stand up. My bladder feels like a tight and painful ball inside my abdomen. This is all of course, in ADDITION to the normal every day IC pain. I have the test strips and they have been great to have around!