Do you get better with Pregnancy

[ddmarie]

Hi all,
I have had IC for 7 years now - with the treatment of Ultracet and diet, I have managed my flare ups rather well. I am much better than two years ago when I was in physical therapy for my IC. Now I have other issues to consider - every woman in my family has endometriosis - I believe I have started showing symptons. The doc sent my in for an ultrasound last week. My sister is now 35 and has been trying to get pregnant for the past three years. Her endometriosis is so bad she probably can't. I do not want to wait that long. My docs think I should "get cracking" - that it may help me with my cervical problems, my IC, and whatever hormone problems I have. However, I am scared to go off the Ultracet and I am pretty scared that I will get worse and go back to the extreme pain that makes me seek out physical therapy again. However, I hear there are women that do go into remission with flare ups and that they do get better b/c of their pregnancies.
Any advice? I am married and my husband and I wanted to have children soon - I do not want to wait until I cannot.
I know you guys have the best advice because alot of you have been there.
Thanks!
ddmarie :hmm:

[Cricketmk3]

I don't know from personal experience but from reading this site and talking to others, I believe it's just like everything else...it helps some and doesn't help others. I have a friend that has IC and she was symptom-free during her pregnancy. I haven't talked to her about IC lately so I don't know if her symptoms returned after she has her baby or not. I'll ask her.

[angelaharrell]

I've read posts by other women that actually got a "repreave" during their pregnancy. I did not, as a matter of fact, I started getting what I thought were UTI's by the handful during my first pregnancy. During my second pregnancy I was hospitalized for 18 days with chronic pelvic pain. (Both children were C-section). It was about 7 years after my second child was born that I received my diagnosis of IC.

I had a Doctor tell me that childbirth doesn't inflict IC. Probably not, who knows, but I definately experienced more pelvic pain during both pregnancies than I did before I was pregnant. I had several undiagnosed UTI's before getting pregnant, but I feel that pregnancy aggrevated a condition that I didn't know that I had.

I would recommend having a conference with your URO and discuss these fears. It sounds like you are proactive about your health and that you are able to manage your IC with diet and treatment so I would be willing to bet that you could do the same if you became pregnant.

Endometriosis is terrible, I learned that I had it when I was about 25. I had a DNC first, that didn't help and eventually I had a hysterectomy. I thank GOD everyday that I had my children before I became to ill to have children.

I don't really feel qualified to give you advice on this subject, only to say that I love my children very much and I would do it all again. They bring such joy to my life (well not as much now that they are teenagers, ha ha), but I honestly feel they were worth any ounce of pain I experienced during pregnancy.

Please keep us all posted,
Angela

[work it]

I had my baby 10 weeks ago and in the begining I was the same 2nd trimester things were great and I was eating what ever I wanted with no problems by the 8th and 9th month I had so much pelvic pain I wanted to cry daily. After delivery I was good again for the first few weeks. I am now starting my pains again. I really need to call the uro to get back on my meds but time runs short throughout the day

[dancemomof2]

no my IC aactually spiraled out of control and got worse everyday. it was horrible. I so wanted to enjoy this with hubby, and resented everyday I woke up unable to leave the couch.

[MichelleM]

I'm only 8 weeks along, but for me the IC problems seemed to stop almost right away! Even before I found out I was pregnant I was feeling great and wondering why. I don't know how long this reprieve will last, but I'm going to enjoy it while it does! Sometimes I think IC is caused by different things in different people. My flares always happen around the time of my period, so I think IC is hormonal for me and thats why pregnancy has helped. Since you seem to be weighing the risks, I would say its all a matter of how MUCH you want to have a baby right now. For me, all the pain would be worth it...
Michelle

[ddmarie]

Thank you all - the replies were very helpful. I'm so glad you all had healthy babies! This support network is very helpful. Thank you for sharing!
ddmarie

[sherry6]

I don't know if you are still reading this thread, but I will post just in case.

I think that IC is caused by different things for different people also, and like Michelle, my pain was always much worse around my period. I think for me IC is definately hormone related. I had my baby 8 weeks ago, and I was in total remsiion throughout my pregnancy. It was fabulous. It is back now, but I don't think it is any worse than before my pregnancy.

I have endometriosis also. I had laporoscopic surgery for it right before my last pregnancy. For me it is fairly mild, and sometimes indistinguishable from my IC pain. It can be confusing.

[ddmarie]

Thank you for your reply Sherry. I'm glad you were in remission. I think it is different for everyone too - sometimes I think maybe bacterial but perhaps hormonal or allergies.

[dminton]

My IC was in total remission during pregnancy, and for 8 years afterwards! During that 8 years, the only flares I had were short-lived, and were after taking a decongestant one time, and then from drinking a lot of vodka and OJ due to fear of flying another time! Then it came back with a vengeance. But I had 8 wonderful years, and the time during pregnancy as well. I only had a slight return of my bladder symptoms right after a vaginal birth, but that went away and I had those 8 wonderful years. It was probably due to some sort of hormonal and immune system changes, but who knows for sure?

[Melanie]

All of us have different experiences. If you notice your IC changes alot during your cycle (or because of hormones like BC pills), then you may have a strong hormonal link with your IC. Which could cause your IC to improve (or worsen).

My IC is overall worse during pregnancy. However it's because of the following: Normal pregnancies increase urgency/frequency is non-IC women anyway; Folic acid and pre-natal vitamins increase my burning; And most imptly, I'm not actively treating my IC because of the pregnancy. PLUS I've got 2 babies in there kicking my bladder!

No one can accurately predict how our IC bladders will respond to pregnancy. The only way to know for you is to try. For me, all the pain and discomfort will be worth it when I have those 2 precious healthy babies in my arms.

[basia]

When I got pregnant my symptoms went away completely. Unfortunately I lost the baby 3 months later possibly due to all the meds I was on when I got pregnant. I was still feeling good three months afterwards. I want to get pregnant right now but I am not able to have sex due to my constant pain. I have been in pain for the past 2 months. I am afraid to have sexual intercourse because I know that it might cause more pain.

[sherry6]

basia- have you thought about artificial insimination? I believe it is relatively inexpensive. I'm sorry you are in to much pain for the fun part! Feel better!

[Ashley1666]

My IC disappeared during my pregancies but as soon as I was healed from my c-sections the IC should his ugly face again.