Why?

[Portia17]

I dont understand this i.c. anymore. Last week I had a dmso on a friday and had no pain the next day. Then it came back on and off

Yesterday, I had a dmso and pain is still there. i also have my period. Is my period making it worse.

When am I ever going to have a day with no pain? Why can't I be like others and just have flares.

I follow the diet and I go to pain management.

It never ends and I can't work anymore

[southerngirl]

I know how you feel. I would have a burning pain almost every day and for a long time I thought that is what a flare was. Then, I had a flare! and now I know the difference, but I still have almost every day. Sometimes it's only for a minute or two after I urinate and sometimes it won't stop.
And I haven't understood IC for a long time anyway!! :dizzy:
And I haven't been able to work either. Which I know is a frustrating feeling.
Hang in there. Despite the fact that I'm still having pain I'm so thankful that I've finally found a helpful doctor and some meds that are helping to improve it. Improvement no matter how small is nice.
I hope you find something that works for you. I don't know exactly what kind of pain you have, but if you have burning like me I have found an ice pack "down there" helps.

Susan

[Portia17]

Hi Susan

It is not the burning pain being bad, it is the annoying pain in the bladder that stabs sometimes that you can't do anything.

Then when I do something it gets worse.

I go to p.m. doctor and take percocet, neurontin and other various items and I think I am taking the all for nothing.

What do you take for your pain?

Thanks

[southerngirl]

Hey Mary, :)
I just started taking neurontin about a month ago and that has helped some with the stabbing pain in the abdomen. I also have a TENS unit and lidocane patches for that as well. My doctor has also prescibed norco for pain relief. All of that was prescribed by a doctor at the pain clinic. And :bow: heating pads are very helpful. Before I was diagnosed with IC and even before I was having the burning I was having horrible pains in my abdomen. Pains that would come on with no rhyme or reason and would feel like a knife stabbing me repeatedly and then if I moved around it would just get worse. Sometimes I could barely make it from my bed to the bathroom during the day and would have to spend all day in bed. Since I started neurontin and using the other relief methods it's happened a little less often. The hardest part is never knowing when it will hit. I've just kinda learned that when it hits I rest and hopefully it will pass, if not then I just lay down with heat or my tens unit and usually take a norco and rest.
Susan

[Portia17]

Susan

What is Norco

Thanks again

[southerngirl]

It's a pain med. It's not quite as strong as vicodin. It's generic name is Hydrocodone which is the same generic as vicodin, it's just the dosage that is different. Feel free to message me anytime. :)

[applebetty]

Hi Mary, I'm sorry you are feeling down but I know how you feel. :rolleyes: I have pain 24/7 and at times it is better then others and for no reason too. I haven't been able to figure out this IC either. I know for me it was better not to try and figure it out. IT's there for a reason. I had to give up just about everything due to the pain mostly. Do you have any hobbies or crafts you like to do. :smile tee This might sound stupid but I know for me if I get my mind really busy then it "forgets" about all the IC stuff for awhile. Didn't you say you had a tens unit? How is that working for the pain? Do you leave it on 24/7 or just for short terms? I leave mine on 24/7 even while sleeping and that seems to help some. THere are good days and bad ones. You just sort of have to forget the bad ones. If you want to message me for any reason please do. I usually get on here once a day. :grouphug: Hang in there. My IC gets much worse 3-4 days before my period starts and then on the first day of it. Have you tried taking Naproxen for that? It helps me a lot with the cramps. Nothing else helps with the cramps.

[gwynnie]

ih.. you are not alone.. i have pain all the time...
hugssssssssssssssssssssss hope you are feeling better

[trytosmile]

Hi Mary ...

For myself half my battle is to focus my mind on something else. I know easier said than done when you are hurting. It may be something menial but if it takes my focus elsewhere then it helps. Lessens the stress and aniexty which for me helps control the IC symptons.

I do meditation or gentle yoga or pilate stretches. crafts. reading novels, meander outside whatever I can to within my limits of my new life with IC. With a little time and practice you to will find it is possible. Like you I am on disability and found it so hard to adjust to having to "fill" my days. It was a huge struggle. I worked 14 hours a day, I didn't have to "find something to do" and now something that I could do. Today it is different, still not easy but I'm getting there. I still have "pity parties" on a weekly basis. Me, myself and I, cry my eyes out and then I say, "Self,enough. This isn't going to control you !"

Remember, you are not alone in the search to make the IC go away or to make it manageable. We all want our "old" lives back but for some of us it just isn't going to happen. It changes our life, it's part of the illness, it is a part of alot of illnesses. Accepting that is the first hurtle. But we as human beings can control how much it changes it. We have the power in our minds to do so.

Don't let the IC take over you, let you take over the IC.

We are here for you !