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[Tiffany Marie]

Hi
I am a 27 year old woman who was diagnosed 3 years ago , although I susspect I have had IC for around 8 years. I went to 5 or 6 doctors who pushed antibiotics on me and never really looked for anything eles. I can rember my first stand up and take notice flare, I was at a large concert and I seemed to have lost the ability to void and was in terrible pain. I have since found a urologist who diagnosed me although I am less than thrilled with his views on pain managment, even though he diagnosed me he has a hard time beliving that I have pain due to IC. For the last month I have been having the worst flare I can ever rember have been in and out of the ER hoping it was a bladder/kidney infection boy was that wishfull thinking. The past week I have had a catheter in and am due to remove it on wednesday and I am terrified that I will be right back at square one. I just in the past week started the IC diet I was in severe denial about the relationship between food and IC .Thanks for listening sometimes that is all you need and I am starting to learn that I need to ask for help and not to feel guilty for reaching out.Tiffany Marie

[ICNDonna]

I hope the catheter will help with the retention problem. Sometimes just not having the strain of trying to urinate for a few days can help. And --- good luck with the diet! It's a tremendous help to most of us.

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[hoping4acure]

Welcome to our little "family" glad you found us. Happy to hear you started to IC diet. It can be overwhelming at first so, if you have any questions, don't by shy.

I hope everything works out for you.

[mare mare]

Tiffany Marie,

Finding a Dr. who understands IC can be so exhausting!! :loco: A lot of us have been on that journey! Welcome! Come vent anytime!!

:grouphug: mare mare

[dbdab]

Hi Tiffany Marie,
:welcome: I'm sorry you had such a hard time getting a diagnosis. I'm glad you finally did. I hope you can start a healing process. This disease is really a struggle, but everyone here is very helpful when you need people who understand to keep you sane. Good luck with everything. I know it's overwhelming. Deb :)

[Tiffany Marie]

Thanks for the support I can really use it right now, I am having a real hard time with my family right now one in particular who seems to think this is in my head and that this is not a real "disease" hard words that make me doubt my self and what I am going through right now. It can be so hard to continue trying to feel better when I some times feel like I am under the microscope and being second guessed or using this as an excuse to not be involved. Do others feel this way?

[dbdab]

Absolutely. Totally feel like people think there must be something I'm just not trying or that I'm exaggerating about the illness. It's that old, "You look ok." Drives you nuts. :cussing: Like you would choose to be like this everyday and suffer. :loco: Try not to let them make you doubt yourself. I know it's hard because we all probably go through periods of thinking that somehow it's our fault, but it's not. We didn't choose to have this god awful illness. You can always come to the people here for understanding and support. Deb :grouphug:

[ChrissySunshine]

Hi Tiffany, Welcome, and I'm glad for you that you've found these boards. They have been a "Godsend" for me, and I truly mean that. I also have alot of trouble with people believing it's "all in my head", in fact I just posted a message on here yesterday about a long time friend who thinks this is all in my head, if you want to have a look, it's under "Just Venting" entitled "No one understands and I'm ALL ALONE". This disease really is a struggle, but here on these boards you will find a wealth of information and many, many understanding people. Use them frequently, as I have, and it has saved my sanity many, many times. Welcome Tiffany, and know you (we) are NOT ALONE!! Wishing you better days ahead!

[Tiffany Marie]

Thank you for the support I just read your post and I feel sad for you because I have been there and Will probablly be in that spot again I guess I just have to look at how I deal with things and relize that I can't internalize everything people say to me and that just because they say it doesn't mean it is true.... Easier said than done ...But I am so happy to be acepted here and not judged I feel like you all get it and I don't have to get into the regular song and dance of explaining and appologizing for the things I can't do or don't understand.

[traceann]

Hello Tiffany Marie and :welcome: I too am very glad you found us, this is a great place for support of all kinds. Don't hesitate to come around and ask any questions you want and/or just vent! No worries! ;)

Hope to see you around the boards!

Hugs!
:)