I'm A Newbie

[Sharonna]

Hi!

I'm new and very glad I found this forum. Just knowing that I am not alone is such a relief.

I am relatively new to the pain compared to others, but the last 8 months have been hell and the thought of living this way scares me. My pain started pretty much exactly 1 year to the date after my hysto.

Beginning tomorrow I will start ELMIRON. I'm excited and scared. I pray this is the answer for me.

Praying for a pain free day.
Sharonna

[kat1107]

:welcome: Sharonna!

I hope that you find help and comfort here on this IC network! I know that it has helped me a little, I am still new too. But it always helps to know that you aren't alone in what you are going threw! That you will find people that understand your pain and not think that you are crazy! We are all here to help each other. I hope that you get to feeling better! :)

God Bless :grouphug:

[dyno]

Hi and welcome to the site. I hope the Elmiron is just the help you need. Something else that might help is the IC diet. Look in the handbook, http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/ in the diet section to find info on it. It is a big part of most IC'ers treatment. There is also a lot of info on different treatments etc.

I hope you will be doing better soon.

[Sarojini]

:welcome: to the ICN! I hope the Elmiron works for you -- be aware that it can often take 6 months or longer to become really effective, so don't panic if nothing happens right away. You may want to discuss treatments that can help you in the shorter-term with your doctor so that you will be more comfortable while waiting for the Elmiron to kick in. You can find info about these in the patient handbook Jolene gave you the link to.

I hope you feel better soon and I"m glad you found our site :) :grouphug:

[ICNDonna]

You've been given some good advice. I'd like to add another :welcome: to the IC Network.

I encourage you to give the diet a try. And hang in there. It can take a while to find the most effective treatments for each individual, but most of us do get there and most of us feel good most of the time.

I have had diagnosed IC for thirty years now and I absolutely assure you that there is life with IC.

Warm healing wishes,
Donna

[Babs RN]

Everyone else has given you great advice, I just wanted to say hi! :) Please let us know how we can help.


Hugs and :welcome: ,
Barb :grouphug:

[SharonA]

Just wanted to add my :welcome: to all the others...

:) :) :)

[traceann]

Hi! I just wanted to add my :welcome: also!!! Hope to see you around, you have found the right place!!

Hugs,
Tracey :) :) :)

[neal1044]

Just wanted to say :welcome: , I am new too, hope the Elmiron works for you. I have been talking it since October and I now have my good days than bad. Hang in there!!!!!

[Portia17]

Sharonna:

Glad you are starting elmiron but what will the give you for pain as the elmiron takes a few months to kick in. If the urologist does not give you anything then I would go to pain management as I am some success with my pain with that doctor

Just an fyi

Mary

[Katrina]

:welcome: Very glad you found us and joined the board. It is very common for abdominal surgeries to agrovate the bladder and either make IC worse or are the first time we notice IC symptoms. Such is very true for me!!!!!!

I hope you give the diet a try and try Preleif or calcium suppliments for acidic food. Let me know if I can help you with anything! :grouphug:
:welcome: to the family!

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?p=90935#post90935 Newbie kit from the oldies to the newbies
http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7562 this link is a pain managment post.

[Sharonna]

Thank you to everyone for the welcomes. I want you to know that those welcomes themselves are so uplifting.

I am so exhausted today from staying up until the wee hours reading about IC then going to work. I do have alot of pain today, but not in my pelvis, mostly just horrible urges or spasms. Tonight is my bowling night, I am going to attempt to bowl, only 1 more night after tonight.

Thank you for the links. I'm in big trouble as far as diet goes, ALOT of the foods I eat or drink are listed as no-no's. Yikes!!! Heck, up until yesterday I was popping concentrated cranberry tablets to the max. I will spend much time studing.

As far as pain, I have been taking 800 mg of motrin 2 x daily or Loratab at bed, as needed. But I think I read somewhere that this might not be a good idea. Advice anyone? I can call Dr. in AM if necessary.


Again thanks for the support, I must head out. I am so overwhelmed right now, but relieved that I finally have answers. I understand that this won't be cured overnight, (my next appointment is in 3 months, unless I have problems) but just the possiblilty of changing the quality of my life back to what it use to be is incentive.

As my emotions peek, I say "talk to you later".

Sharonna