My story

[sweettabby]

Hi,
My name is Tabitha. I have had IC for about six years now. My IC was brought on more than likely by Chemo I had for breast cancer six years ago. I have pretty much been on DMSO treatments which seem to help alot because I get good remissions though each one seems a little shorter. My last one has lasted for about four months. I am now entering into another flareup. I have a great uro who works with me but she isnt always easy to get a hold of so tomorrow I will talk to my GP and see if she will order my treatments. We will see. It is nice to have someone to talk to. My symptoms are not nearly as bad it seems as some. I dont go to the bathroom more than 5 or 6 times a day during a flareup and rarely at night. I still hate this disease and even though my pain is not as great as some its still my pain and it is still terrible. Thanks for listening and glad I found this board.

[ICNJess]

Hi Sweettabby and welcome!!! :) Sounds like you have already been through quite a bit with cancer and all. :( I'm glad to hear that your DMSO treatments send you into remission. I hope that the next one provides you with one as well. :) Keep posting, welcome to the family! :)

Hugs,
Jess

[felineperson3]

Hi Sweettabby & A Warm Welcome to you. :)
I'm still a "newbie" here and just trying to learn so I don't post much. Even though I can't offer much info, I can & do pray daily for a solution to this disease that affects so many lives.
Again, Welcome to a group of nice ladies that I feel can help you with suggestions from their own experience. hi

[Sandra m333]

Welcome glad u found us! Sandra grouphug grouphug

[ICNDonna]

Welcome to the IC Network family. I have a friend who also feels her IC was caused by a combination of chemo and radiation therapy.

I have also been on DMSO for the past several years. Right now I am taking a break from the DMSO in preparation for taking part in a study of a new treatment for IC.

When I first started DMSO I went for eight weekly instillations, then moved to a once a month schedule. This has worked out very well for me. You might consider regularly scheduled treatments instead of waiting for symptoms.

I do hope you feel better very soon.

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[sweettabby]

Thanks everyone. I intend to this time ask my doctor for maintence treatments which maybe will prevent these stupid flareups. I know from looking at this board that my symptoms are no where near what some of you experience, but to me they are horrible. I really want to try the natural stuff rather than keep going for the DMSO. Right now Im trying the AloeVera and I have thought about trying the Bladder Q which I saw yesterday. I figured this was a good time. Does anyone know how long it takes for these to kick in? Im a chicken for the pain so I will probably start with the DMSO and continue to take the natural.

[vm]

Welcome, sweetabby, and glad you found us! :)

[auntiedeb]

Welcome Tabitha, glad you found us and keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

[Iris]

Hi Tabitha and I am also glad you found this great IC family network, the gals here are so helpful and supportive, there are also a few guys on it as well. It does sound like you have had a rough time having had chemo. Do hope that you can get some relief from your IC and feel a little better, once again welcome great to have you here, hugs Iris hi grouphug

[poetgirl]

Welcome to the IC family, Tabitha. Like you, I don't usually have severe IC symptoms, but as you know, when they do flare up, it can have an impact on overall quality of life. It's good that you do have a urologist that is helping you with treatments, etc. I haven't tried the aloe vera or bladder Q. If you find that it helps, definitely let us know! So, based on what you've said, you tend to experience more pain than urgency/frequency?

[sweettabby]

Well yes mostly. The pain is anywhere from an aching in the urethra to a burning. I do have some urgency but nowhere near what some of you are experiencing. I rarely get up at night. Its mostly during the day. Yesterday was great. Almost symptom free. However, I never count on anything because one symptom free day means nothing. Also Im not sure that food really affects my IC that much as when Im in remission I can eat anything and everything and never have a problem. My IC is very weird.