I have had bladder problems for a long time and they thought I was having recurrent infections (or it was in my head). Sometimes pain and no bacteria. Sometimes blood in the urine and no pain. At last a cystoscopy revealed the possible problem---my bowel is abnormally long and a piece of it pushes into my bladder as the waste matter moves through. The urologist said it looked like a "golf ball" from the inside of my bladder--it nestled (and presumably bounced around and caused the major irritation he saw) in the mouth of my bladder and then floated up when fluid was introduced. Has anyone heard of this?

Chelsea,
I'm really sorry about your problem!

I have been reading and posting messages on this board since 8/99--- about 3 1/2 years and I have have not heard or read about this type of problem.

Does the Doctor give you any hope for a solution???

God BLess---Harry

Thanks for your concern, Harry. The gastroenterologist suggested surgery (remove several feet of intestines) as the cure. The general surgeon sent me for more tests (already had CT scans and ultra sounds)---a barium enema and a contrast cystoscopy. They did not make him feel comfortable that surgery would cure the problem as they didn't confirm what the urologist and his partner saw. (My theory is that when the did the barium enema the barium filled the intestines too uniformally and prevented the segmentation that may be necessary for the phenomeman to occur.) The surgeon wants me to go back to the urologist (who had passed me over to the gastro) and have him do another cystoscope (look in my bladder with a camera for the uninitiated) while he observes. Problem is the urologist just left the practice he was in which was in the same building as the surgeon, so now it all gets more complicated! At least I am doing well most of the time. The burning pain is worse when I am on my feet a long time, but not always. It is not totally predictable when the irritation will occur. I can function with it, just get tired and a little worn down sometimes. Just knowing what it is makes me feel better though! Any other insights or recommendations for specialists will be appreciated. Thanks.

I meant a "contrast cystogram" I think. (They injected die into the bladder and watched it on a screen and took films.)