Future Pain Forcast?

[mick]

I am a 37 year old male that has been diagnosed with IC for the last 6 months. I had a cystoscopy and hydrodistention back in Nov and I am curretly on Elmiron, Hydroxyline and Elavil. I have not been able to be sexually active without experiencing eaither severe pain or discomfort during intercourse and afterwards. I wanted to know if other men with IC have found the side effects to decrease with time, increae with time or just stay the same. I know that there are not a lot of men that read this message board so if there are any women out there that can know of men that have had the same side-effects of IC I would like to hear from them.

I am wanting to have a better idea of what i can expect my body to be able to tolerate in the future. I have suffered with IC for 5 years and was miss dianogsed with prostate problems in the past.

thanks,

mick

[tired of this]

Mick-

Welcome to the IC site, but sorry to hear that you have the same &*#($ we all have!

I am 36, and have been misdiagnosed for over 10 years. After 10 years of being treated for symptoms of enlarged prostate, I was correctly diagnosed as having IC after a cysto with hydro. I was told that IC affects everyone differently, and that IC is a term used to classify many with different problems; kind of like a catch-all diagnosis.

I was prescribed Elmiron 3xday in late June '04, and other than the stomach upset, noticed no significant improvement after the benefits of the cysto with hyrdo went away. I was prescribed Pamelor 3xday for pain management, but being stubborn, I only take when needed.

I now have flares very rarely, which I attribute to the following:

1) I changed my diet to closely follow the IC diet that either Donna or Katrina told me about.
2) I took my Elmiron as directed.
3) I drank nothing but water, and lots of it.

After about 6 months, I feel 100% better. It took awhile for the Elmiron to work for me, so give it time.

My pain is all in one testicle, and nowhere else. The Pamelor is for the flares.

Hang in there, it takes a litte time. BUT, AND I REPEAT, Do not underestimate the power of changing your diet. The diet change helped very quickly, and caused my IBS and spastic colon to virtually disappear.

Good luck, and let me know if I can help.