New here and pregnant with IC

[shnncof]

I am so glad I found this site. I have had IC for 8 years now.Started with 1st pregnancy in 1997 but Dr.s had no idea of what was wrong until 1999. Many years of pain and misdiagnoses.Have no special Dr.s that know anything much of IC here and only had bladder installations and 2 medicines with no help.Been coping with nothing all on my own.Until this site I had no idea I was among so many.Just found out I am pregnant,9 weeks, and TERRIFIED!!! :help: I have nonstop cramping and pains and wandering is this normal? I hurt before I was pregnant but not like this 24/7!!! Tried for baby for 3 years to no avail until now and SO worried. Am I at higher risk because of IC? Dr. seems to not care and says nothing of my IC. No extra Dr. visits or anything.Nothing said at all.What can I expect? Had Ultrasound at 6 weeks and saw babies heartbeat so cramping then was okay but I keep thinking something bad will happen.Some pretty sharp pains make me think I am miscarrying.I can't tell what is what pain wise now.Already making a million more restroom trips than before, which are painful. :mad: Can anyone pregnant or who has been pregnant with IC please give any advice of things to maybe help symptoms and PLEASE offer any helpful advice as to what I can look forward too?
Thank you ALL!!!
Shannon

[K9wife]

Many of us have had babies!!!! We promise...you'll do fine!!!! It is a scary time, I agree, and definitely the first 3 months can be especially trying between the fatigue, bladder worsening, and nausea if you have that too. Unfortunately, your Ob'Gyn's main concern will be for everything EXCEPT your bladder, so you learn a lot about finding your own comfort techniques. It's hard to tell what the cramps mean....between Ic and the other things that all make us hurt, you just have to learn your own body I guess. As long as the ultrasound looked good, that's a positive thing. get a LOT of rest, and somewhere in the middle of the pregnancy things lighten up a bit. Like I said, lots of us got through it, and if we can do it- you can do it! Read all you can about Ic and don't be afraid to educate your Dr if you need to. Any time there is "non-stop cramping" though, it's time to let the Dr know...it may be nothing, it may be your IC, it may be something else..but why risk it? That's what the telephones are for! Call your Ob/Gyn.

[Danielle2392]

Hey Shannon. Congrats on the baby. I am pregnant with my first baby. I am 18 weeks and due Nov 5, 2005. In the beginning I had alot of cramping to. I was so worried that I was going to miscarry, but my doctor said it was just my bladder. It was and it got alot better when I entered the second trimester. Your not at a higher risk because you have IC. I thought the same thing when I first found out. My doctor wants me to continue treating my bladder with certain meds, but other than that I am fine. If you want to talk or ask questions my e-mail is Romeofl@aol.com. Please feel free to contact me about anything. Good luck and keep us updated:)

Sincerely,
Danielle

[shnncof]

Thank you SO much for the input :angel: . I feel so much better now. I went to the Dr. and she did an ultrasound to make sure everything was still okay and she assumes it is my bladder.Good news being how I had worried. Although she has not much information on IC but I have found comfort in reading what has been posted here and her saying things are okay.Hope everything continues to go well. Are there things I can do for some relief without meds? Some times the pain is so severe it is all I can do to keep my sanity.Thanks again for the posts I am much less worried now.
Shannon

[fireflicker285]

Hey, Shannon.

Hang in there. I am on my second pregnancy with IC. It can be rough for sure but my girl is two now and very healthy and happy. She was so worth it ofcourse. I am 25 weeks pregnant again and my bladder seems worse with this one. some days are tough but I noticed some improvement in my second trimester.

Hang in there and be well.
Congratulations!!!!

[severa marandus]

hi there i am so sorry with everything you are going through i wish i had some advise to give you but i need help my self i just found out that I am pregnant and i have just been diagnosed with a mild case of ic. I cant even be happy anticipating the pain i am overwhelmed with what if 's. my uro said he would not put me on meds quite yet since i seem to be doing ok i dont know I am going to make another appointment to see if we can have a pain plan because that is my main symptom. I cant believe this is stilling my joy of becoming a mother. I am worried whether i can be able to be a good mom with this do anyone feel this way?
So far i just cope by prayin alot and trusting God.

[shnncof]

severa marandus:

Hi, i posted this 2 years ago so i no longer am dealing with my pregnancy.let me just say though i KNOW I KNOW I KNOW how awful it is to have IC and be pregnant.when i was trying to get pregnant i NEVER had a clue what IC really was or what was to become. the dr that diagnosed just said it is inflammation, showed me pics from my surgery showing all the inflammation, and that was it. he never put me on medicines or told me any more so i lived with pain for years before getting pregnant. when i got pregnant we had been trying for years i had given up. NOTHING made me happier than to learn i was pregnant i still remember it like it was yesterday and IC never crossed my mind, until i started having problems. i stopped posting on this board because i was so overwhelmed with IC and everything i had going wrong in my pregnancy that i self absorbed into my problems and i worried and worried and worried. my OB dr was not too kind. i would hurt SO bad i cant describe the pain but i had many other problems too that contributed to my IC flare ups and pain.i found out later in my pregnancy that a lot of my pains to begin with were not just from IC but from other problems i just did not know that at the time found out much later on.looking back it is all worth it! dont let IC take over your joy for being pregnant you WILL make it through this. pain, burning, hurting you may go through it all and if not GREAT you never know. try not to be upset worrying "what if" wait until the "what if" happens then deal with it. you may not have any "what ifs" and get lucky!! i HATED taking medicines while pregnant and in fact took only 2. one for UTI and 1 for cervical inflammation/infection that would not go away so i cant say anything about taking meds for it while pregnant. . i know telling you that you will be okay isnt something you want to hear when your so worried :rant: :rant: but you and baby both will!! take it 1 day at a time. while pregnant i didnt think i could do it but i did, lots of faith in God and praying:pray: , and you will too!!! just keep in touch with your dr at least he is acknowledging your IC and is willing to help you with it, mine wasnt that way at all i was made to look like a fool:loco: for going into dr so much for what i thought were UTIs but was just flare ups.stay on these boards or others like it and talk away or ask questions. the best thing i can say is know it is worth it!! enjoy being pregnant it is such a wonderful gift as much as i worried i not 1 minute did not "enjoy" being pregnant and what ever came my way i faced.i thought many many times there was no way i could make it through my pregnancy with all i faced but i did and i would go through ALL i went through again. what was sad was i became so worried with my IC that by the time all my other serious problems came along i freaked and it was hard on me and i know it was on my DD. IC can be bad and painful but i always tried to think of it like would i rather be suffering and have a beautiful baby to hold or for God to never grant me the chance to over come all my obstacles and not have my DD and there is not 1 day that goes by i am not thankful for my DD, pain and all.i seen it as Gods way of showing me just how much i could handle and how strong i really was and then i was blessed with DD:angel: . turned out my dd was born premature at 35 weeks so all the worrying i did throughout my pregnancy did not change what would happen it sure didnt my situation,and it was nothing even related to IC at all that caused premature labor!!! she was in NICU for 2 weeks fighting her own obstacles and on breathing tubes and REALLY sick, sent home with heart/respiratory monitor until 1 and now is 19 months and still seeing some specialists. ic is bad :evilsmile i know but there are always things worse, i found out with all my other problems and then seeing dd in NICU fighting for her life..i would had rather had IC flare ups everyday while pregnant than to be so helpless and see her in pain, but it just shows you cant change anything with worry. so try to focus on being pregnant and be HAPPY :woohoo:!! deal with today and dont think of tomorrow for you have no idea what may come. you may not have any symptoms, may have some a lot of moms regress when pregnant you never know so try not to worry until it happens.you will be a GREAT MOM ic wont make you a bad mom it just gives you a hard time and makes you stronger in the long run!!! hope my story helped some i will be praying for you- be strong!!!
feel free to PM me any time!!!!!:smile tee

[ICNJess]

severa marandus,

You got some wonderful advice from Shncof. I'm not pregnant right now, but I was in 2005. My daughter was born in March of '06 at 37 weeks. Being pregnant with IC is a difficult thing, there is no doubt about that, but hang in there.

You are completely normal to worry about how pregnancy will affect your IC and how IC will affect you as a mother.

My daughter is now just about 16 months and is always on the move. From the time her feet hit the floor at 7 a.m. till she goes to bed at 8 p.m. she is running everywhere! Let me just say, the 1 1/2 hr. nap she takes in the afternoon is a blessing! Somedays I feel like I can't move from the toilet or the couch. I take full advantage of my husband in the evenings and on his days off. When he gets home we eat dinner, I give her a bath, and then he plays on the floor with her and some toys until her bed time. Then I read her a couple of stories and tuck her in and we have a nice quiet evening.

On my good days, I take full advantage of the fact that I feel great, and I do housework and play with her. On the days I feel crappy, I put her favorite channel on (Noggin, I myself have become a fan of Moose A. Moose) and she will color or play with some of her toys happily. Sometimes she'll curl up on the couch and cuddle with me and her favorite blanket.

I know that right now you have a lot on your mind with just having a normal pregnancy and then having to deal with IC on top of it. Try to take care of yourself and relax. Some women go into remission when pregnant! I did on and off and it was sooo nice. Except the last 3 months, when my DD was breech and had one very active foot on my bladder!! :)

Hugs and congratulations,
Jess

[severa marandus]

hi my ladies
Dear Shnncof and jess14 and all who responded to me thank you. You dont know how much your advise means to me its like God sent you to talk to me. I read your stories and i think how blessed I am and how could I complain to God. My symptoms are bearable i manage with Tylenol only flare up if i get yeast infection or UTI and was diagnosed in less than two months after the symptoms surfaced thanks to a pcp who did not waste time to send me to a uro whom as soon as he cleared me of uti's and i was still having symptoms he went ahead and did a cysto and i was out and about the same day got married at the of March and pregnant by July You are right as bad as it may be I stil have alot to be thankful for.I will take it day by day and visit this board regulary to talk to people like you who understands. My hubby is a sweatheart but he cant really understand although he would trade places with me in a heart beat.Thank you ladies i will keep you posted with my little one to be. If you guys made it I am inspired to trust God and hope for the best. May God bless you and your little ones and no matter how long it may be this too shall come to pass. Oh my word I am pregnant i am officially excited thank you!!!!!!!!!

[ICNJess]

Well now that you are excited, I think an OFFICIAL congrats is in order!!


CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :bunny: :bunny:

Enjoy your pregnancy, it is a miraculous thing and a wonderful time :grouphug:

[severa marandus]

Hi Jess thanks for responding. I went to the doctors on friday and they confirmed the pregnacy. I am so happy. It has been a trying week some cramps pain and frequency but I am staying positive excited to see my gyno. I will also see the uro in a few weeks. I am planning to stay med free I pray everything goes well.I will keep you posted and your little one is so cute i want to hug her she is adorable.

[Yulia]

Thank you for your kind words
I will try to be as strong as u r
I am here alone with my IC in Moscow (russia) -nobody cares and in the main hospital on urology they asked me if i think they have no problems with health? and thinking every 2nd minute about pregnancy (though i am not pregnant yet) but trying hard

So difficult for me to smile to my hubby while it hurts and want to cry
I thought also about going to NY to see one doctor (Sentralpark urology)
may be anybody knows is he worth to come through such a long distance?

[johnsela]

for those of you who were pregnant w/ ic. was there anything you did to help w/ the freq???? everything is cat c. my uro had me try a patch-oxytrol: which, of course, didn't help. now i'm trying ditropan, which, not to be negative, i'm sure i won't help b/c even b4 preg i've tried like 4 or 5 diff meds for freq, which none helped. i take a pain pill, which my doctor, of course naturally, would prefer i wouldn't take but understands why i do. i've tried to cut back. would love to take nothing or maybe something natural to help. i started acupuncture again b/c it helped me in the past but so far nothing. i'm only 12 wks and want to be safe and drug up the baby or cause harm. if the ditropan doesn't end up helping i don't get the impression that my uro will have any other suggestions

[kendra&joe]

:woohoo:
I am so glad I found this site. I have had IC for 8 years now.Started with 1st pregnancy in 1997 but Dr.s had no idea of what was wrong until 1999. Many years of pain and misdiagnoses.Have no special Dr.s that know anything much of IC here and only had bladder installations and 2 medicines with no help.Been coping with nothing all on my own.Until this site I had no idea I was among so many.Just found out I am pregnant,9 weeks, and TERRIFIED!!! :help: I have nonstop cramping and pains and wandering is this normal? I hurt before I was pregnant but not like this 24/7!!! Tried for baby for 3 years to no avail until now and SO worried. Am I at higher risk because of IC? Dr. seems to not care and says nothing of my IC. No extra Dr. visits or anything.Nothing said at all.What can I expect? Had Ultrasound at 6 weeks and saw babies heartbeat so cramping then was okay but I keep thinking something bad will happen.Some pretty sharp pains make me think I am miscarrying.I can't tell what is what pain wise now.Already making a million more restroom trips than before, which are painful. :mad: Can anyone pregnant or who has been pregnant with IC please give any advice of things to maybe help symptoms and PLEASE offer any helpful advice as to what I can look forward too?
Thank you ALL!!!
Shannon
Shannon,
Sounds like you are from AL. like me.lol Seriously though I am SURE I had IC before got pregnate with my now 7 y/o the night before I got pregnate with him, we were camping with the scouts with 2nd older son and I was hurting soooo bad but blamed it on endom. cause had been diag. with that for years and like you no one seemed to worry about my pain or frequent urine problems just fussed when I actually got kidney infections.Docs. basicaly said I was bringing this on myself. But back to subject, I have 3 boys, but also have had 3 miscarriages too, can't blame any on IC had had a miscarriage 9 mon.s before this pregnancy so I was scared so bad that I wouldn't go to doc. til was 10 weeks, but was hurting so bad that I had to go see what was up then when I was able to give his dad a ultra sound pic of our baby as an early Christmas gift I was so excited but still worried, well at the beginning of 2nd term ALL MY PAIN AND FREQUENCY WENT AWAY that was until he was born, After that pregnancy I had a tubal I was 34 and now my hubby had a child of his own and wanted me to have it Then trouble set in I knew something was not right there was NO way I should have been in so much pain, the only way I could describe it is to say it felt like I have a fire breathing dragon in my lower stomach, what they didn't understand was my dragon has moods. When he's happy he will go to sleep when he is awake he;s always poking me with the ridges on his head and back but when he is mad he actualy breathes fire, well every doc thought I was crazy [ and agreee I can be ] long story short I messed around with the docs. around here til I was in diapers myself, I always say that JJ and I potty trained together. but went to b'Ham and bam bam bam I was treated like a number in a roach motel BUT that doc got me out of diapers and told my husband and mom that I had IC, I never went back to him and been searching for a decent doc ever since, but I need a doc that will take time with me . The baby was fine now almost bigger than me and doesn't have AGS or any signs of IC unlike my second born son he pulled from my genes and has Alagille Syndrome and just found out that this kidneys are not functioning right so he has to see a uro also soon. But I'm glad that you are pregnante and pray you to will be symptom free too soon.Remember GOD MAKES those decisions not us. Hubby & I did not plan JJ's pregnancy, we were just cold from the camp in the mountians and was so mad at oldest son I forgot I was ovulating that's how I know right down to the hour that he was concieved. We Will be praying for you and I know it;s hard not to but don't worry yourself to point of stressing out over it, IC feeds off stress or mine does anyway best advice---- take it easy on yourself and rest rest rest !!!!!! congrads again
Kendra:smile tee