I feel totally at loose ends

[searching]

After 2 and a half months I have been diagnosed with IC.
I was given some info at the Dr.s and told it could be a hunt and search treatment and it was all on me basically. I am taking Urimar-T for the symptoms. I am trying to get rid of things that could be the cause but to no avail so far. I feel as if I have a bottle of water in my hands al :mad: l the time and can't seep at night for getting up, for the bathroom. Let my urine get the least bit strong and It really hurts. it feels as if my urine is also strong enough at times to irriate me. What is my future from this, any hope, does it ever go into remission?

[Dixiefireball]

:hi: and :welcome: to the ICN family. To answer your question YES There is Remission!!!!
sad part it not everything works for each person its takes time to figure out what will best control your IC.
most doctor start pat. off with a drug called elimron this will help coat the bladder lining. some even do D.M.S.O treatments there is diff. types of dmso treatments to help kick in the elimron.
also the IC diet is very handy its important to follow it until you find your trigger points you can find the diet and other information on IC like treatments and the history of ic at www.ic-network.com/handbook.
that is a very informational site.
please let us know how you are we are here for you and most importantly we do understand what your going threw.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[sparklebabyprincess]

I Think before and when you get diagnosed it's a little worse then after you get use to the idea of having IC. At first you are so depressed, confused, and stressed about everything and that all effects the bladder.

After you get use to having IC and accept it, It dose not seems to be as bad day to day this might just be from the "changed mind frame" though.
Every thing is really scary at first.

It should get easier to tell what foods your can and can't eat, and when you can or cannot eat certain foods.
The more you learn about IC and get to know your bladder dose help but it is a very lonely and depressing journey. That is why this forum is so great you can come and talk to other people who know what you are going through.

Life like you once knew it is gone and there is a mourning process. well, at least that's what I went through.
I Am at the point now that I know what I can and cannot do, and I do not make up excuses for it anymore. Their are still some surprises but not near the amount that their was at first. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago.
and I'm still confused about some things, But I have finally accepted I have IC
And have learned to pay attention to my body and bladder.
The main things that helped me was eating portion sizes and preleif.

I Still get angry about having to have IC which I'm sure is normal, no one wants a bladder telling them how they can and cannot live.

I would like to give you a big hug :grouphug: and tell you that all of us here do know what you are going through. We know how lonely and scary it is.
Their are a lot of kind people here who can answer questions for you.

Learn about how every thing can effect your bladder like food, clothes, soaps, smells........... If you cannot tell what food upsets your bladder now because other things are effecting it also, then the best bet is to stick with bladder friendly foods stay away from acidy foods, I Never knew how many foods where really acidy until I got IC.
Keep in mind that all IC friendly food may not be friendly to your bladder and some non-IC friendly foods will be ok with your bladder but these are things you can figure out after you learn more. Just thought I would mention that in case you do notice that an IC friendly food effects it.
Do not try and learn every thing at once this will take time.


I Hope I have helped somewhat. :)

[SrMaggie]

I've found that lots of water is a 'Catch 22". It dilutes the urine so that it doesn't irritate, but then I'm running every 5 minutes to get rid of it. It can get better, though. I've stuck through several different kinds of treatment and today, I feel better than I have for many months. Like others, I have been in denial about having a disease that seems to be so dibilitating. I've been healthy for 52 years and all the sudden things that were easy become a chore.
Keep in touch. This board has truly helped me to feel more confident in what I have been doing to relieve the pain. Some things I have done out of instinct - that it might feel better if I try...whatever. Then I read on the posts that others have done the same thing, too. I feel better able to take the precautions and to do what I need to do to live a quality life. When there's pain, I can acknowledge it more readily and then be able to live with it - not happily - but not it get the best of me.

[sheryl*]

:welcome: Searching, i like that name, I feel the same way searching....
You have come to the right place though for support and some possible answers too. There is a lot to learn here and about this disorder. I have to drink alot of water or I become dehydrated real easy, i am like you I go no where without water, but not becuz I get burning, thanks God thats not one of my major problems, as I know it is for many here, I a feel really awful for you all that do have the burning that would be unbearable I think. I do have lots of pressure though from with in, painful intercourse, and major urge and frequency, an minimum of 50x a day. I am thinking abut getting one of those bracelts I have heard others getting. As I have beem in retail businesses and have had to go, and been deniied," we dont have a public bathroom" yeah well I wont be going back there. I am real soory you do have the burning I do hope you can find something to help it. The diet is defiantly worth trying as others here swear by it. I can tell fisrt hand that tomatoes anything carbonated, citrus amongs other things can be very irrating, for me casuing more of a bloating and stomach problems more than the bruning, but I know that i cant handle these food, and elimanting htem helps me to at least not have painful bm's and cramps, cant say it lessens my frequency though and urge,. another :grouphug: , and hoping you can get soem much neeeded relief....

[ICNDonna]

:welcome: to the IC Network. I'm very glad you found us.

First of all, I absolutely assure you that there is life with IC --- in my thirty years since diagnosis, I have learned which foods and drinks are a problem (and that fudging on my diet isn't worth it!), and which treatment options work best for me.

I worked full time for many, many years with IC before I took an early retirement so I could spend more time with my husband when he retired.

Donna