Happy 2 find you!

[winediva]

Just wanted to post a tiny Thank You for all the messages posted here! I was thinking that my doctors have no idea what they are talking about and after a few years of pain and feeling bad physically and emotionally they just decided to treat me for IC - now that I see there are so many of US, I feel so much more hopeful! I am only about 2 weeks into the meds and hoping that they will help.
Thank for being out there and sharing your stories!!

[Sarojini]

:welcome: to the boards! :) Glad to have you. Have you read our Patient Handbook yet? The link for it is on top of the main forums page ... it's a great document for anyone newly diagnosed with IC.

I hope your meds kick in soon too!

[icjen]

:hi: & :welcome: I'm glad you are on your way to feeling better. Definetly check out the handbook as Jen said. There is so much helpful info there. Hope to see you around the boards and wishing you better days soon!
Jen

[sweetangel2080]

Hiya
Welcome! Hope you find some inspirational posts and stories.
What meds are you on? They could take up to a month to kick in so don't give up. Sometimes it is a waiting game to see which medications help you.
Let's hope these do!

[hoping4acure]

Hi :welcome:

Good advise so far. As Jen suggested, check out the patient handbook. There is a ton of information there. This place is great...saved me I'll tell you that ;)

[dbdab]

:welcome: Glad you finally got your diagnosis. Hopefully, you'll be on your way to feeling better.

Take care,
Deb

[winediva]

This is so cool! Thanks for the warm welcome!

[traceann]

Hello and :welcome: winediva!!! Glad you found us as well, it really is a great place for information, support etc. Everyone is wonderfu and helpful!!!

Here's a link to the IC Diet foods list if you haven't checked into it already, it can be a huge help in reducing the pain and aggrivation that comes along with IC. I know it was a huge help to me in controlling my symptoms!! :)

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


Well, once again, nice to meet you and hope to see you around the boards!

Hugs!
:)

[cass2376]

Hello and :welcome: too, winediva!!! Glad you found us. You have already been given such great advice from those who know what they are talking about!! Your going to LOVE it here. You can learn so much here, get support, ask others what has worked for them, VENT out when you need to(and believe me, we all have our moments :) and need to vent sometimes), and the most important, you don't feel alone and isolated anymore. The love you get from this website is so awsome!! You can have conversations from those who TRUELY understand what you are going through, its great!! Just reading through the differant posts will answer alot of your questions. I can go on and on and on about how this website has "saved my life", but just read away on the differant sections and you will know what I mean. Once agian, :welcome: hope to see you around the posts!!
Take care and God Bless, Cassandra :angel:

[SharonA]

:welcome: to the best support group you will ever find. I am so glad you found us. Do like the others have suggested and read the information available in the patient handbook. :) :) :)

[Babs RN]

Winediva,
Welcome as well. We are all here for you and I hope those meds kick in too.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[SusieQ045]

just wanted to say :welcome:

[winediva]

Hi!
I see that mostly everyone is on the Elmiron too and this might seem a little silly to ask but I thought I read somewhere there is a connection with some of the other issues I have had (migraines, and some really painful irritation - which after reading the handbook sounds like Vulvodynia and some bowel issues - IBS?) but my current Dr. says that there isn't a connection - did anybody have a hard time getting the diagnosis? oh and that IBS is "stress related" - but my best friend has this and there is no way I think it's totally stress - thoughts anybody????? besides that- who would want these illnesses anyhow - I just want to feel better!
I would appreciate any advise, just reading on this site had made me feel so much more hopeful that you are all out there and understand - I felt like no one got what I was saying until last week!
Hey - Randomly I was reading that one of you Jens grew up in the same town in MA as me, that's sort of funny.
Thanks!!
Kathy / Winediva

[creatingkarma]

Hi! I wanted to say :welcome: also & I am glad that you found us too! To answer your question - IBS is not caused by stress. Just as with IC, stress can make IBS flare up, but it is not the cause. I'm wishing you the best of luck in your journey!