my 4 yr old was diagnosed this week

[taysmommy]

Hi, my 4 year old daughter was diagnosed on Thursday (9-23) with IC. I really don't know much about it. The doc says it is rare in children and from what I have found on the internet, I believe that is true. She was prescribed Imipramine at 10mg a day. This in an antidepressant and I am worried how it will affect her phychologically. She is a very happy, little girl and I don't want that to change.

[green_the_fish]

:welcome: to the ICN.
You're right, IC is rare in kids. The odds are 1 in 321 for the population in general, but only 1 in 4 of those are under the age of 30. I'm also one of the unlucky ones, I'm just 15 years old. I haven't gotten the official diagnosis yet, but all my docs think I have IC.
I wish I could give you some info on the antidepressant, but I don't know much about Imipramine.
Though I feel sorry for your little girl, I think you're lucky to have caught her IC early. Some people on here have had IC since early childhood, and have had to live with it for many years.
Well, best wishes to you and your little one :) I know many more people will chime in with great advice for you, this is a great place to be to learn about IC.

[SharonA]

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. 4 years old is so young.

I am not familiar with that antidepressant. I am on Elavil 25mg (Amitriptyline) which is an antidepressant, also. It is a pretty common med that is used to control the pain of IC. From the way I understand it, taken at low doses, Elavil interferes with the pain receptors in the brain. I have been on Elavil 25mg for almost 3 years and, except for a few light to medium flares, I am pretty much pain free most of the time. When I do flare, they are not as intense as they were before Elavil.

Please take some time to read the information available here on this Website. It is so important for you to become knowledgable about this disease. That way you can participate in her health care. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to know what this is all about. It will help dispel your fears, help reduce your anxiety and enable you to make the best choices regarding treatments. Take a look at the IC Diet. Many people here report good results from paying attention to what food and drinks cause them problems.

Remember, there is life with IC. There are treatments that can help enable her to live a full and productive life. :kissing:

[ICLori]

Imipramine is in the same class of tricyclic antidepressants that Elavil is. Same side effects, etc. It is also used, in low doses (not high enough to get antidepressant effects) for pain control.

I think that the possible side effects of this medicine, in very low doses as is prescribed, aren't as bad as the idea of leaving a young child in pain 24/7. People used to think pain wasn't a bad thing, that it made a person stronger etc. but now they are finding out that unrelieved pain has severe health consequences. It raises the blood pressure, makes a person less resistant to other diseases and cancer because it lowers immunity. And I don't even want to TALK about what living with unrelieved pain 24/7 does for a person psychologically.

I understand the worries about putting a daughter on medicine, but the dose is so low that it doesn't act as an antidepressant, and it's the lesser of two evils, really. You can either leave her in pain, urinating 40 plus times a day/night, in which case she has virtually zero chance of a normal, happy childhood, or let her be on this medicine, and her chance of having a good happy childhood are much, much higher.

Blessings, and good luck to you and your little one,

Lori

[Imustpee]

I have had I.C. since I was six back in 1966..

[Katrina]

:welcome: :welcome: to the ICN!
I had colitis ...docs say already at age 8 but not diagnosed till age 10....I know that for me it really didn't upset me too much at that point....It was like a part of my identity...which in the long wrong it had a very possitive effect...I do think that with support even children can handle sickness.....there may be times when it is very difficult...but most people were ammazed at the wisdom of children when they are sick. I am very very sorry your daughter has IC. If you read my links you find I am still have problems with my health...but to me my problems as a child gave me a lot of strength and are why even as multi diseased as I am now...I am still very happy.
I can't speak on the meds.....but they are a lot of treatments ....

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/ this is an essential link for everyone with IC. It is very informative on meds, living with IC, and self help....take a look!!!


http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7562 this link is a pain managment post. The second page has 4 attachments...the last one is a list of ideas for IC pain.....take a look if pain is problem for you.

[Dixiefireball]

:hi: and :welcome: to the ICN family i'm very sorry your daughter has IC.
there is a children book here on the icn that your daught may like you can print it out for her.
it may also help if you talk to Jill the founder of the ICN. jill@ic-network.com she is a very nice and helpful person.
this may also help you some www.ic-network.com/handbook Please keep us updated on how your daughter is doing
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[kelly McC]

I am sorry your daughter has IC and at such a young age. Glad you found the ICN sounds like your doctor has a very good doctor and I hope the meds work for her.
hUGGS,
Kelly

[ICNDonna]

Welcome to the IC Network. I'm so very sorry your little one has IC at such an early age. I hope the IC diet will be of help to her. You'll find diet information in the Patient Handbook.

Hopefully, the medications will help get her symptoms under control.

Sending warm welcoming hugs,
Donna

[Sarojini]

:welcome: to the ICN! I'm so sorry that your daughter has been diagnosed, but it's great that you found a doctor willing to believe she was having trouble--- I had IC symptoms at the age of 8 and our family doctor told us that my bladder was just small and that I would grow out of it when I hit puberty. Wrong!! I was recently officially diagnosed on 3/4/04. I'm also glad the doctor is going to treat the IC symptoms -- I hope she feels better soon.

You've gotten some great advice regarding the imipramine and the IC diet -- you can find more information in our Patient Handbook at http://www.ic-network.com/handbook -- please read it, as there's lots of information about treatments and also a lot of self help strategies that may help your little one! Also, there is a lot of information on the ICA (Interstitial Cystitis Association) website at http://www.ichelp.org.

good luck, and lots of hugs for both of you :grouphug:

[shennan]

sorry your baby girl has ic. i received my welcome package from ichelp.org.

i actually received three packages.

i think the disability package had the articles about the little kids getting ic.

they sent me some good stuff to read. they would be able to refer you to a good doctor if you need one.

the handbook here, @ ic-network.com, that everyone posts is good, too.

good luck!!!

shenna
have severe ic with only 400 ml of capacity. some worse than me, some better. i just know i don't feeel well.....

:toilet: :toilet: :toilet:

[stacey79]

I'm sorry to hear that your little girl has IC, but I would like to give you some encouragement, if I can.

My first symptoms started when I was three. I am now 25. IC is something I've lived with for as long as I can remember. However, I wasn't officially diagnosed until age 13. Until then my doctor just called it an infection, even though there was no bacteria in most of my cultures.

I've always found the bladder relaxers as well as diet modification help. Right now I'm trying some other things, too. I've been in a flare for the last couple of years, but I have had some years where I was completely in remission. For that I am very grateful. Overall I was able to have a relatively normal childhood and adolescence. It is possible.

What was most helpful to me was having a mom who understood a lot of what I was going through. My mom doesn't have IC, but she's had bladder infections, so she never got mad at me when I told her I had to go to the bathroom again after we had just gone. Also, when I got older, during the times I had more problems I had my doctor write a slip giving me permission to go to the restroom at school as I needed to. That was helpful.

Overall, no matter what medicine works, the support you give your little girl will make all the difference. You are on the right track and I applaud you. I hope you are able to look through all the resources available through this Web site and find some answers. Please know that you and your family are not alone!

[XoChelsey03Xo]

I'm so sorry!!! I can't imagine being only 4 years old with all of this horrible pain. I'm only 19 years old. I started having IC problems I believe when I was 13. I was just diagnosed with IC earlier this mo. Wow, she's so young. I wish you the best of luck. Just treat your daugther the same and she should still be that happy little girl. :) Chelsey