Roxie, I use to take elmiron orally but it caused some bad side effects so I instill it directly into my bladder along with marcaine and sodium bicarb. I try to do these treatments daily and they do help. However, I've gotten several bladder infections as a result of the instills and I wonder if the levaquin I've taken for the infections could have caused the neuropathy. I read on the levaquin site where neuropathy can be a rare side effect. I'm so glad the elmiron is helping you! I wish you the best of luck also!

Elsie,
That's great that you can do the instills......I've never had the guts to try that.
I'd never heard that about Levaquin......but I don't doubt it. So many things we take cause so many side effects.....and then we start mixing drugs.....and who knows what all that does to the body.....it can't be a good thing!
I know I'm lucky to be able to take Elmiron without all the side effects... and never did loose my hair and am SO thankful about that!
I do wish I knew what caused my Neuropathy......but guess I'll never know :(

Susan I just love those slippers they don't hurt,and these Drs.
in the hospital all they do is repeat same questions .Put it in the
puter and read it..Roxie I wish I knew,we could all get rich and get
out of this place. Wait a min. did I just sing a song...:confused
Hugs Sue

Okay, I'll bite.

What is an Instill???

Melody

Mel,
An Instill is medication put into the bladder thru a catherater.......and you do that at home yourself......OUCH!!

You do it at home??? with a catheter??

you mean like where you place a tampon??

Oh, I think I get it. I once had bladder problems and I had to get a cystoscope, and he put a tube inside me (using water), it didn't hurt, but when he was finished, and I had to go pee, my god, the burning...

Some people do this to themselves??????

I'm confused.

Melody

You put the cath in your urethra to put the medicine in the instillation into your bladder. Yep they do it themselves, at home......but I never had the nerve! LOL

Nope in the little hole you pee out of,that's brave and tricky. Could
do it years ago not now,but the Dr. just did...Hope this didn't
offend oh the h-ll with it. Elsie your a strong person,but we all are
in our own way..Hugs Sue

LOL! I got a chuckle out of this thread. It's really not that bad and its not painful. I think I could do it with my eyes closed!

Well as a nurse i could do it with my eyes wide open,now there to dry
you wouldn't call me lol..:confused: I might get the wrong spot,that's
a ouch...Hugs to all Sue