So, the good news is that my bladder symptoms do not seem to be from anything serious.
My first doctor that I saw this morning said that I have no bladder infection, std, or urethral or kidney infection. YAY.
She simply suggested that I am aging and so this is something I will just have to get used to.
By all means I am not hoping for anything serious to be wrong, but I don't think the pain I am experiencing is a simple product of aging.
I was relieved when I saw my specialist, because he took the time to do a quick ultrasound to make sure my bladder is working normally and actually emptying properly. He also did an internal exam. I was very grateful for this.
He is convinced that my bladder is experiencing some inflammation, especially since it coincided with a bad IBD flare. It is likely a delayed reaction from surgery - from being handled and moved and what not. Hopefully it is a one-time thing, but if it does end up being a new chronic inflammatory condition, we now have a plan.
For now, I will take an analgesic to help me get through the pain of the next little while, and then I may not have to deal with it again. Fingers crossed.
Time to go singing!!!!