When does IC get better?

[teelag]

Hi everyone,
I am 7 weeks pregnant (yeah!) with my second (no IC with my first) and my IC seems worse these past couple of weeks after I found out. My OB and uro recommended going off my Elmiron, Elavil, and Urised at least for the first trimester (I have been on them 5 months post diagnosis) and then we will reevaluate the situation. I have been off my meds for 3 weeks now and my IC has definitely worsened...my main problem is a very irritated pain in the bladder and constant urgency. It is not so unbearable that I can't live with it (at this point), and I am trying to hold off even on the pyridium untill I get desperate. I had absolutely no urgency or frequency with my first pregnancy.

My question for all you who have gone through pregnancy is...at what week did you feel it getting better? Did it worsen at first, and then get better? I know full well that it might not get better at all, but I was willing to take that chance.

Just looking for some good news and possibly something to look forward to....:-)

Thanks!

[jaime15]

Hi there. My IC never got really bad. A couple times my ob treated me for a uti. But thinking about it later, it was probably flares. Have you talked to your ob or uro about instills if the pain or frequency becomes too bad? My uro told me heparin was the only safe medication while I was pregnant. But I know each doctor and individual patient case is different. It might be worth asking. If anything to ease your mind on the what-ifs.
The IC and the baby on the bladder is pretty intense. I was not one who had a breeze with pregnancy. I stayed sick the whole time. Non-IC related events.
But you will get through this. It is hard just adjusting to all the different changes your body is faced with daily.
I hope you feel better soon with the IC. I really hope you get to enjoy your pregnancy... :grouphug:

[KeeKee]

Hi Teelag.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Having just been diagnosed myself this past summer, I can't consider it quite yet, but am so very hopeful that soon I will be able to. I am very happy for you! Whenever I go out, I notice every pregnant woman out there and think how blessed they are!

Not sure about your question as to when the IC pain gets better during pregnancy, but I did find a very positive report while browsing the web. Here's the url: http://www.auq.org/1997/12.html

It was a small survey, but the results were basically that most people had improved symptoms during their pregnancy AND, here's the great part, most people continued with their improved symptoms even after childbirth for up to 3 years! Now, I know not everyone will experience this, but hey, this is good news and definitely a reason to be hopeful!

Best of luck to you and keep us posted!

[Lindsay K.]

For me personally, it was after childbirth that I went into remission for the first time. Literally the night after childbirth I started thinking about why I wasn't feeling the pressure and pain and assumed the darvocet they gave me was working for the bladder where it had never worked for my bladder before. And my bladder symptoms remained mild for a year. I breastfeed for a little over a year, maybe that contributed I don't know. I had my first post pregnancy flare-up after a year when taking the antibiotic, monocycline for 10 days (for acne because I had stopped breastfeeding) and it took several months to calm my bladder back but It did slowly "heal" itself back to a milder state.

[dancemomof2]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! :woohoo: another baby on the ICN. MY IC skyrocketed when I got pregnant and has never let up since and he is now 5 months old. Hugs I will be thinking of you. I know how miserable this is rightnow.

[teelag]

Thanks for that very encouraging article KeeKee...I surely hope I am one of the ones that gets better, but I am also preparing myself in case I am not. Thanks to all who responded...I will keep you posted on how I do!

[TiaTia]

tee -

Major congrats on the pregnancy! I am currently 31 weeks, and sorry to report that my IC is worse than it has ever been. It was not great before I got pregnant, and has gotten progressively worse. In fact, these last couple of days have been agony. I am sorry this sounds so negative, but I know that I would have liked to have been more mentally prepared about this. Most of what I heard before I got pregnant was that a lot of women with IC go into remission during pregnancy. Since then, I have found the opposite to be true.

With that said, I would do this all over again in a heartbeat considering the end result :) I just try to keep that "end goal" in sight, and take it minute by minute if I have to. Good luck, and take good care of yourself...

Tia

[janelle77362]

Hi Teelag,
Congrats on the new baby. I am also pregenant (12 weeks) and am still at times living with my IC. It was also very bad for me at first but I think that was because I had quit all of my pain medications. My pelvic and urinary pain let up at around 9 weeks and has steadily been getting better. Unfortunately the urgency and frequency has not gotten better but at least you can blame all the trips to the restroom on the baby!
Good Luck and let me know how you are doing.
:grouphug:
Janelle

[BrendaS]

My situation is like a previous poster. It wasn't until after I delivered that my IC improved. I was in a constant flare from about week 12 until the birth. I literally had to pee at all times during my pregnancy. As awful as it was, I would do it all again. Anna is well worth it! Good luck!

Brenda

[hopeful]

congrads.....Im pregnant too 9 1/2 weeks and my ic is about the same as it was before i was preg. Actually i dont seem to go as often as before, but i do leak a lot and today i had pain. Im taking prelief my ob said it was ok and i called the manufactor too and they said its ok too. I wish you all the best take care and good luck. love hopeful