looking for dr. in Illinois

[janee]

I live in Springfield, Illinois and am looking for a doctor. I have been diagnosed with IC. I have been on elmiron for about a year, and it is not helping. I also have lots of vaginal irritation, but doesn't culture out as anything. I need both a urologist and a gynecologist.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

[callie0767]

hi,
have you tried northwestern in chicago? dr schaeffer (spelling). i live in indiana but close to illinois -about 4 hours from chicago and i went to him for a few years.

[Karla D.]

I live in central IL also, I go to Dr. Hernandez in Peoria, IL. He knows alot about IC. I have been going to him since last Oct 04, I have had IC for five years but have gotten worse starting in Oct 04. Alot od people in my area go to him. Good luck and hope you are feeling better.
Karla

[janee]

Hi, I have seen Dr. Hernandez. He has told me to stay on the Elmiron. I've been on it for about a year now and it is not working. Was he able to help you?

[Karla D.]

I think there is only so much a dr. can do with this awful disease. I think he thinks elmiron will help with every one. I have been on elmiron for 5 years I thought it was working , so I went down to 2 a day instead of 4 . Well in Oct.04 I got the worse flair I have ever had and I am still not real good. I take elmiron 4 times a day , atarax 20 mg at bedtime, Urisym when needed for flairs. I also am troubled with vulvadynia, So do I think he has helped, Probably a little, But I think there are only so much you can do.

Karla

[janee]

Karla,

Hi, thanks so much for your reply. I've taken elmiron 3x a day and 10-20 mg. of atarax for the past year, but it doesn't seem to help much. I have a lot of frequency and bladder pressure. When my symptoms are really bad I use cleocin cream, an antibiotic vaginal cream, which really helps take away frequency and pressure. No one knows why this helps. I have a history of chronic bacterial vaginosis. I think I always have a little bit of that problem although not enough for doctors to treat. I need to find a good gynecologist in Springfield, Ill. who has knowledge of vulvodynia. What is the urisym you use and does it help a lot? Do you stay on the diet? I haven't been able to get off of diet coke.

Thanks for your help!