Very new to all this

[dragginfly]

Hi all. I recently had a Total Vaginal Hysterectomy for uterine prolapse and at my follow up appt. was still in incredible pain. My doc. gave me a brief survey and said it was possible I had IC. He came right out and told me he knew very little about this, to search the internet. I met someone just days later who has IC and she has been wonderful. My pain was so intense after surgery I went through 3 prescriptions of vicodin. Long trips and long days are still a problem, but I've been working with the IC diet and feel so much better. I have an appt. with a specialist who has come highly recommended in Aug. I have had problems with bladder infections for years, but in the last year they were so incredibly tense (I now think they were horrendous IC flares as I had prescriptions called in), when I ovulated I could barely stand, and my period pain was awful. Intercourse was basically null and void. Wasn't happening. Things ahve gotten a bit better!
I have a few questions right off the top of my head:
1. When you take Elmiron (my ob would put me on this today if I wanted), do you still have to remain on the very strict diet?
2. Does everyone have to be on antidepressants? I think at this stage of my life I would truly benefit from them.
3. No swimming? Huh, never thought of it, but you know..... :)
4. How do you deal with your kids? I have such a short fuse most days.

I really, truly look forward to "meeting" you and can't wait for your wonderful support. To finally have a dianosis for things I've been living with for years will be wonderful, well, in a way right?

Thanks in advance for all your help!!

Jaime