Treating a Bladder Infection

I was wondering if anyone here has been diagnosed
with interstitial cystitis. I’m 19 years old, and have been having what was
diagnosed as recurrent urinary tract infections (I’d get at least one a month
for the past 1 1/2 years). They’d give me an antibiotic, but then when the
urine culture would come back, they’d say there’s no bacteria- so I was paying
for antibiotics for nothing. I get pain in my pelvis (in the center, right
above pubic bone), and in my urethra (sorry if this is TMI) lately when I have a
flare up, it’s too painful to have sex. I have to rush to the bathroom as soon
as I get the urge to go, or I risk wetting my pants (I did once at our
apartment, and cried my eyes out outta sheer embarassment). I finally went to
the urologist yesterday, he’s supposed to be the best in the DC area. He told
me I have overactive bladder. Why the hell would a 19 year old have overactive
bladder? And why would it only happen in "flare ups"? He gave me this new
medication, a gel you put on the skin, called "gelnique" to treat the OAB.
I’m a nurse, but I don’t know it all, but I’m pretty sure that my symptoms add
up to more than OAB (really sounds like the interstitial cystitis to me).

Anywayyy, long story short, if anyone here knows more about the urinary stuff
than I do, I’d appreciate the help, or if anyone has been diagnosed with IC.
Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll take all the help I can get. I’ll
even take the response that I’m a crazy person and there’s nothing wrong with me
haha.

Thank y’all in advance for the help

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