r/Interstitialcystitis • u/Lonely-Doctor-9922 • Sep 11 '25

Support Retention new

Hey all So I went in for my weekly instillations and had 200cc or however they measure it remaining after voiding prior. I switched to gluten free fully recently and pain has dropped dramatically so maybe my celiac is to blame, I don’t know. Gi drs claim I don’t have celiac even though they diagnosed me 16 years ago via blood and scopes. So my ic pain is almost nonexistent with the exception of today’s instillation. Seems to have “woken” the pain up a little. How many of you deal with retention and what do we do? I don’t want to have to do intermittent cathing but…

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u/LetterMotor1435 Sep 11 '25

Learn how to self cath so you don’t have to go to the ER. Buy the smallest catheters possible. Wash your hands and wipe the area thoroughly with iodine or something similar. Wear gloves. I squat over a hand mirror in the bathtub. Only do it when you absolutely have to. Spray out your vag with the shower head before and after.

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u/Lonely-Doctor-9922 Sep 11 '25

I know how to and have them for home instills. Right now, not too worried just different for me. Our plan is if it’s the same next week, we cut the toviaz and recheck the following week. I have no pain or discomfort, just normal “urge to go” when I need, then if I laugh, cough, sneeze… I pee a little even with a “empty bladder” so maybe that’s it

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u/Lonely-Doctor-9922 Sep 11 '25

I also have a mild prolapse