Hi my name is Pattie

[Pattiepooh]

I have IC i was diagnosed about a month ago and Im taking Elmiron ...

I have found a few things through elimination that really bother me..like
chocolate,soda, caffeine,ham,salami;pork and beans,fig like in fig newtons...


I keep hearing and seeing about this IC diet can you tel me what it is....



now for another question...does anyone else have this problem...I am really constipated alot..but I have notice I can pee and sit there for a few minutes and if Im lucky enough to get my boughs to move then it is like my bladder will finish emptying....

I thought about a laxative but I dont want diarreah...


also I find instead of peeing alot I tend to hold it I cause I dont like the burning..but it burns when its fulll tooo.......I hate to pee first thing in the morning...

I go to my regular doc tomorrow to see if I have poly cystic ovarian syndrom and firbomyalgeia...I feel like Im falling apart..and Im only 38....

I see therre are actually other treatments which is good to know but I dont ever think I could cath myself....

My husband is very supportive and great but I dont think he really understands how bad I feel some days...

I know I will learn alot here,,thanks for listening Pattie

[VickiB]

Hi Pattie,

The IC diet made a world of difference for me. Currently, I'm having problems accessing pages here at ICN (so I can't check to see if this is correct), but if I remember right, the diet can be found at:
http://ic-network.com/handbook/diet.html
If the above address does not work, then there's a link to the handbook at the top of the site's pages, and you can find the diet through that.

Lots of us here battle with the constipation issue and have found varying ways to deal with it. It may be something you want to bring up at your doctor visit tomorrow. First I tried oat bran, increasing water, etc, but sometimes that just wasn't enough. So I finally had to ask my doctor what other aids would be okay for me.

Glad to hear you're finding some of your trigger foods. It can be a bit of detective work, but well worth it! I have many of the same triggers. Giving up lunch meat (ham, salami, smoked turkey) was hard on me! I still buy it occasionally for my hubby and he lets me watch him eat it. -He enjoys it for the both of us!

Vicki

[creatingkarma]

Hi Pattie & :welcome: to the ICN! Yes, please check out the Patient Handbook & good luck with your treatment.

[Katrina]

:welcome: to the ICN! Glad you found us!

Diet:
http://www.ic-network.com/icchef/ online cookbook IC
http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/diet.html#list you will find the common trigger foods here. The IC diet though is different for everyone...since we all have different triggers....but the most common triggers are in a chart at this link.

Yes, many with IC have constipation. Two main causes are Irritable bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) my guess for you is PFD which is a problem for about 70 percent of IC patients. I am thinking it is part of your situation since you have other symptoms as well.

Morning burning can be because of two things
1) our urine is more acidic in the morning ...which is why I like to take prilosec otc at night...since it stays in you a long time.
2) PFD flare ups which can come from holding it too long like when we sleep.

I sugest you talk to your doctor about PFD. Some self helps though are bathing twice daily (helps to relax those muscles), warm, cold, and moisture on the pelvis, and learning to relax those pevlic muscles. Please be very careful not to strain...in the long run it makes things a lot worse.

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7562 this is thread of pain relief the second page has attachments I believe the last attachment is the list of pain relief ideas.

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11535 This is newbie kit from the oldies to the newbies

Let me know if I can help you anymore. :grouphug: hope to see you around the boards:)

[ICNDonna]

I don't have much to add, but would like to welcome you to the IC Network family.

Hugs,
Donna

[emilyrose197377]

:welcome: to the ICN.

[Sarojini]

:welcome: :)

[armslee]

Hi Pattie! Nice to have you with us! Everyone has left you some very helpful comments so far. I just want to add that it does seem from the symptoms that you describe that you may have pelvic floor dysfunction. Your symptoms remind me very much of my own. You can read alot about it in the patient handbook on this website. I currently am being treated by a physical therapist and am taking a muscle relaxor. I have VERY contracted muscles most of the time and have a very hard time relaxing to void or have bowel movements.
Regarding your husband, I can tell you that my husband is also very understanding and somewhat supportive. This is a disease he has a hard time dealing with as he cannot relate to the symptoms. It wasn't until the last week that he has had to deal more with the actual "physical" effects of my IC as I had surgery on May 3rd and have had a very difficult recovery process. Give your hubby time and try to talk with him about your symptoms. It often will help him if he can go to a doctor appt with you and hear what your physician has to say, somehow it seems more "real" to them then.
Good luck and again welcome to the group!!
Wendi

[Pattiepooh]

thank you all so much for the welcome and info your great...Im learning alot:kiss: