new here and new to IC

[SusieQ045]

hello everyone i am new to the message borads and very new to IC. i was told i had IC about a month and a half ago. but i have felt the pain of IC for almost a year. i am a 20 year old mother of two. i am in pain almost all of the time. i take morphene (sp) for the pain but it doesnt seem to help. does anyone know of another good pain medicine? ive tried, tramadal,percocet,vicodin.darvocet,tylenol#3,. none of them seem to work for me or ive taken so much of it that i am immune to it? what should i do? thanks

[Sarojini]

Hi and :welcome: to the ICN boards!! :)

Have you looked at our Patient Handbook yet? It's at http://www.ic-network.com/handbook . This contains lots of information about IC, treatments, and self help strategies.

As for pain, have you tried things like bladder instillations (putting medication directly into the bladder via catheter)? These, especially ones with lidocaine, heparin, and bicarbonate, have been very soothing for many on these boards.

Are you on any medications like Elmiron for the IC? If so, they can help but can take a while. Also, have you tried a low-dose tricyclic antidepressant like Elavil? These have excellent pain-reducing properties for many IC patients. Also, medications for nerve pain, like Lyrica, Neurontin, etc help sometimes (I've had great luck adding Lyrica to my regimen).

Have you seen a pain management specialist yet? These doctors are usually in private clinics, but your current doctor can refer you to one. They may have more ideas for you to try regarding your pain. I'm sorry you're suffering so much and I hope you can find something that helps :grouphug:

[ICNDonna]

Jen has given you some excellent advice. I don't have anything to add, other than to suggest that you follow an IC diet faithfully (even one slip can cause a severe flare) and if you are a smoker, do whatever you have to do to stop. Smoking is a known bladder irritant, in addition to being a major cause of cancer.

Sending warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[jen48446]

Hello, I'm sorry to hear you're in so much pain, that is awful. I don't have the pain , only the urgency. I've tried Elmiron, detrol, Ph Control, Prelief & nothing's helped me the way the supplements I take do:-) I'm healthier & have more energy now than I have in many years!!

Jen

[traceann]

Hi and :welcome: to the gang!! As you have already gotten great advice, I will just give you a link right to the IC Diet foods list, very helpful! The diet was my biggest tool to keep my bladder fairly friendly to me in the beginning, lol. :)

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/diet.html

Once again, welcome!!

Hugs!
:)

[hoping4acure]

Hi and :welcome:

I know it is very overwhelming at first, but remember we have all been there, and we are all here if you need us.

Good luck and see you around the boards ;)



:grouphug:

[SusieQ045]

well thank you everyone. im glad to have some place to talk and vent about my problems. its nice to have people that know how i feel and what im going through. thanks everyone.