Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Hi
Pls don't think I am crazy but this issue always made me wonder.
My pain began with urinary issues in 2006. I was mistakenly diagnosed by a local doc that I had IC...Interstitial Cystitis.
I then got a second opinion from a better and kinder doctor.
I again underwent uro-dynamics. This doc diagnosed me with PFD ---pelvic floor dysfunction.
But I've done so much reseach on IC that I scared myself silly over the years..
Also a noted IC/ PFD doctor on the East Coast examined me and also felt I had PFD..... not IC.
Nowadays my savvy PT also confirms this.

Anyhow, back in 2005, we got our first dog.. I'd never owned before.. About 6 months later my urinary problems began,. urinary urge,frequency and burning. I had an in-office cystoscopy, (big mistake!) and that set off my pain condition.
A couple days later I had the constant feeling of needing to pee.
I wondered if my rare ailment was some kind of weird allergic reaction to my dog, as I'd heard some brief news commercial on TV, that seemed to mention something about women with bladder problems and allergies to dogs. I was running out the door at the time, and may have heard it wrong..
My extensive research and my hubby's found absolutely nothing to support this.. My doc at the time, didn't look into it, tho she listened when I asked this question. Her only comment was "Interesting".

BTW about 61% of American homes have dogs. I knew that allergic reactions to dogs, cats etc are usually upper respitory, itchy eyes, runny nose, rash etc. Plus if it were a reaction to the dog it shouldn't take 5-6 months to appear. Their dander is in the house right away... that's what causes allerges.
We kept the dog until her death in June.
My bladder symptoms ebbed and flowed over the years, but were not as bad as the sitting pain that began in 2009 and anal pain in 2010.
I think however my bladder symptoms improved a lot this year ... esp this spring and summer due to my PT s work, not because we no longer had a dog.
I was able to eat some foods and some beverages I'd given up for years, and thankfully gained back 15 much needed lbs.
My urinary urge frequencyissues faded into the background, altho each night at bedtime it still takes me forever to feel empty enough to be comfortable..lots of gentle pushing which of course messes up the peri-anal muscles.

But,... for the past few weeks the urinary urge/frequency and burning came back at times. esp this past week.
My PT found several trigger pts at this week's session , and I have self Pt homework in this area. It scares me that it's back, but my PT says pelvic floor issues are unpredictable, and slower to heal, if one is middle-aged like me! (in my 50s)... (Gee Thanks!!)

So after my PT session this week, my kids wanted a to visit a dog rescue center, "just to look"
Everyone felt it was time as 4 months had gone by since our dog's passing.
So, we found a great dog this weekend..more work ,but more playful and friendly.. well behaved; Everyone loves him so far.

Well today my bladder is on fire..urge, frequency, some burning etc...
As I said, this has been going on - (intermittently) for a few weeks at least. I even saw my urologist 2 weeks ago who said he would prescribe Uribel for it. He forgot to call it in to the Pharmacy ( as he is quite swamped --according to my PT--- who works in his office) . I keep calling to remind him, and am still waiting for this med.
The urine cultures he took 2 weeks ago (prior to this new dog) came back negative... so my PT relates my issue to the above unpredictability of PFD and my fear, etc.

In summary does anyone feel there is ANY reason I should suspect my dogs presence as causal for these symptoms, esp today's symptoms?
(As I mentioned many American homes have dogs, and most ladies don't have my affliction,)

Our new dog climbs on everything! and is a very affectionate dog who loves to be near us, unlike our other dog ,who stayed to herself and preferred the outside .
I sure hope it's not from the dog as I know my hubby and family wouldn't believe it, and would resent me if we had to get rid of this loveable dog!

Bottom line.... has anyone ever heard of urinary symptoms in women who have dogs?
Didn't know who else to ask,,, (will run it by urologist too, but I would prbly have to drive over for yet another appmt if I want to talk to him.
Thx in advance.. I know this a somewhat off the wall question.

Hi Kathy

This article might be of interest to you http://www.news-medical.net/news/200906 ... titis.aspx As the article indicates that seasonal allergies can cause IC, then to my thinking it's not beyond the realms that an allergy to an animal could too, e.g. an allergy to dog dander and/or dog saliva.

Although I understand that they can show false negatives, you might in the end want to consider getting a skin prick allergy test done. (When I was in my 20s I had a skin prick test done and was found to be allergic to feathers, tree pollen and house dust mite poo, but not cat dander; was retested again when I was in my late 40s and was no longer allergic to tree pollen but was very positive for cat dander, my having lived with my husband's two cats, at that time, for about 2 years.)

Kathy,

I think your theory is interesting and certainly possible. Can you spend a couple days away from home (and the dander) and see if that helps your bladder? If your bladder pain flares up does it affect the rectal and sitting pain too? Does an antihistamine help with your pain?

Stephanies

Thanks Dusty and Stephanie for your response and good suggestions!
I will check out the website.
Dusty, when you tested positive for allergy to cat dander, did you experience the typical itchy runny eyes,etc?
That's what friends or relatives of mine have gotten from their seasonal or slight allergies to their pets.
None had bladder reactions, to being around dogs or cats.
It does seem awfully odd to react bladder wise. My husband thought I was nuts, the first time I mentioned it when all this started in 2006.

Since early childhood Ive always had to "pee" more often than most people, From age 17, Ive had to push on my belly to get that last drop of pee out. It's my theory that all that gentle pushing, put my pelvic floor in spasm, and my worry, research, and many unnecessary treatments possibly caused the rest of my pain.

I re-read my post and realized I made it sound a bit like I'd gotten better urinary wise.... until we got the new dog.. Sorry if I mislead you.
Since my bladder issues are muscular (due to clenching of the PF) my issues never completely went away, Ive always had good days and bad even since I began work with my current PT. The PT has helped some tho,she says the condition ebbs and flows for awhile.

What helped is that she finally got it through my head that I didn't have IC and/ or PN, based on her years of experience treating these ailments, and also on my examination and my "Personality type" (ie worrier!) Clenching the pelvic floor--- and "type A" family background
-being causal
This helped me be brave enough to add many "no no" foods back into my diet and even have wine when I got out for the evening..I got healthier over all with her help, tho I we are still working on the anal pain. My husband says I look and act much better. But those ('peeing) issues always ebb and flo - for whatever reason. (they did also throughout the 4 months without a dog.

Im not truly an animal person; tho I thinks dogs are adorable , Id rather see them in someone else's home!
But the kids love them and and hubby grew up with several dogs. So my dilemma is: I would be the bad guy if we sent him back to the shelter!
I think mind- body is playing a part as well. If I hadn't heard that dang commercial (which I may have misunderstood) ,this whole idea,would never have gotten stuck in my head!

For ex; if I have a glass of wine when we are out to dinner my urinary symptoms may bother me a bit, but less than if I have one at home!
This tells me that its the "getting out", Relaxing and leaving my home (my place of "suffering ")- that help me to feel better, and how much the mind is involved, in my case...
Also I went away over the years on various vacations (without the dog) and still had the symptoms.. So who knows?
Per usual the symptoms ebbed and flowed..

Stephanie,, I could go live with my Mom for a day or so, but tho I love her dearly, she can be hard to live with, as she has no filter in the things she says!
That may exacerbate things, as sometimes she upsets me.
I would love to do a girl's weekend away, but all are so busy esp, with the holidays approaching.

To answer your question Stephanie, it would affect the rectal pain, as the pushing to urinate messes up the PF muscles, causing anal pain and
defecation issues.. I believe a tight pelvic floor is my root of all my pain...long story.
I haven't taken anti-histimines -- will have to to check if they are "anti-cholinergic " drugs ...the latter have caused urinary hesitancy in the past for me.
Thanks for listening ladies .
My heart of hearts says the dog has nothing to with things, but the words of that news report commercial I heard years ago, got stuck in my brain..I may have even mis-heard it as I was rushing out the door. Maybe they meant bladder infections in female dogs! That's all we have found online.
Also I have had only a few UTI infections in my entire life... So Jeez I am clueless here!
Anyhow the kids and hubby love the dog, my middle boy is coming home from college to visit so he can see him.
If we sent her back, they would resent me, esp. since our research showed nothing... and hubby has given him several baths as well.
Maybe I'm trying to talk myself out of my fears, but just wanted to give you all the facts.
Thx again for your patience if Ive repeated myself.
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Dusty, when you tested positive for allergy to cat dander, did you experience the typical itchy runny eyes,etc?

No, I didn't have those symptoms when we had cats - During the time we had two pet cats I did sneeze, but that was due to my dust mite poo allergy; I know this because since we've not had cats I sneeze about the same amount as I did when we had them and, for that matter, before we had them. (I know I've had a dust mite poo allergy since my early 20s and I'm in my late 50s now.)

If it were me, even though I like dogs, I wouldn't keep it....I'm gathering that you don't want to be the 'bad guy' and upset your family, but if your children want contact with animals they could, for example, always offer to walk a friend or neighbour's dog or, if old enough, volunteer at an animal sanctuary or something - if they're that keen...but then I guess some might say that I'm just a hard woman! - It's just that imo your health/welfare should come first. Leastways, I'd try to prove or disprove whether or not the dog is the culprit, e.g. by seeing if anti-histamines help (if you can take them) and/or by getting a skin prick allergy test done. As you'll have the dog for many years to come - if you are allergic to it - that would be an awfully long time to be suffering!

Best,

Dusty