bumpy road& flare?

[Romans8:28]

We live on three miles of dirt road! My pelvic pain has really been good since I've been on weekly instills but now all the sudden it's been bad/ getting worse! I really think it's going up and down this dirt road! We've had a lot of rain lately and the road is so bad and I hurt a lot by the time I get home! We've changed vechiles already, and I'm not walking it! So other then becoming a recluse what can I do??? :headbang:
Thanks for any suggestions!

[Sarojini]

Many many many IC patients report that riding in cars can cause a flare-up... and if the road is bumpy, it makes it even worse! So, you are not alone with this. There are a few things you can do -- one is to invest in a cushion to sit on in the car. I bought the one that is offered in the ICN Shop on this site (I forgot how much it cost, but I believe it was about $20). This cushion is made of thick foam and has a "crease" down the middle -- really, it's a coccyx cushion for taking weight off injured tailbones, but it is also great for taking weight off one's genital area in the car, which helps with IC. Also, the foam dampens the bumps and vibrations in the car so your bladder does not feel them as much. I love my cushion, and it goes with me whenever I'm going on a car ride!

Others have said that "memory foam" pillows are good to sit on in the car -- you know, those Tempur-pedic kind they sell at Brookstone and other stores, that squish funny and mold to your contours? These are more expensive, but you may prefer that feel.

In addition, for long car rides, I got a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device with a prescription for my doctor. I put the electrodes in strategic places around my bladder, turn it on, and ... have a more comfy car ride. The electrical buzz from the unit seems to distract my nerves, and therefore I do not feel as much pain or get the "gotta go now" sensation as much in the car when I'm wearing the unit. Recently, we took a 6 hour drive, which would have normally meant 6-8 pee stops, but with the unit we only needed to stop two or three times. It definitely was a good investment for me.

Hope some of this helps....

[~*~Christine~*~]

I'm a recluse myself because of IC so I can't really give you any advice. With IC, the toilet dictates our lives :toilet: :mad:

:grouphug:

[~*~Christine~*~]

Sarojini, I agree with you on the pillows. I use the kind for the head and neck that is made of foam and I sit on that while in a car. It definetly helps :)

[Romans8:28]

Thank for all the suggestions! Just when I thought I could be a recluse for the day, I got a call and had to go out:( I had one of those squishy U shaped pillows, it helped the urethral soreness but not the pelvic pain! Tried a square pillow today and it seemed to help some. Used the U shaped one in front:)! Thanks again for your replies