new to the group

[dolphinlover21]

hi im new to the group i suffer from ic and irritable bowl.:help: I have been struggling with my diet. I went from a size 10 to a size 2! It hurts to eat anything thats if i can keep it down. This has been very frustrating.I also suffer from other chronic condions.My pain level runs high about an 8 everyday. This has become almost unbarealble for me to live with.I live way out in the coutry, everything is so far away for me. I can't drive anymore due to my disablilty. All my doctors are 1 and half hrs. away. My husband has to take me to my dr. appointments.I hate for him to have to take off work so much. So i have gotten now where i just rather live in the pain.:bonk: This in turn of course has not served me very well. Im on an emotional rollacoaster.I feel so alone and isaloted. My self esteem has gone in the tiolet:toilet: .I have no one to talk to. Im so cunfused and just want a somewhat normal life.thank u all :hi: dolphinlover21

[Katrina]

:welcome: to the ICN!
I am a lot like you....I have both IC and IBS and when I first got diagnosed with IC I struggled a lot with the diet and lost a lot of weight....I also found out that not eating was hurting my bladder too.....stomach acid was a big big problem for me! Are you IBS C or IBS D or both?
I found that my IBS contributed to my IC pain a lot...my IBS is mostly gas and D....with occassional C. They all hurt IC...bowel movements are hard on Pelvic muscles. I found a lot of help with an antispasmodic that works on both the muscles of the bladder and the colon. It made my gas (that I hadn't realized I had until my doctor told me) go down and bring down my pain.
I am Epileptic so can never drive myself...but even as a passenger there is a limit to how long I can take it in a car sometimes....but that has improved a lot since my diagnosis!!!!!!!!!!!! (there is hope a lot of self helps make things easier!)
On the diet I recommend Confident Choices....it is a lot of help....it has recipes, self help tips, a plan to make cooking easier, helpful ways to find your triggers, and is written by one of our Julie Beyer..
On car rides I find a lot of help from sitting on a pillow (there are some in the ICN store) and wearing a adhesive heat on my pelvis. Things that can keep the muscles relaxed and clam down there during car rides helps a lot!!!!!
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=27584 newbie kit moved to newbie board from the oldies to the newbies
http://www.icnshop.com/ there are IC friendly things such as alternatives, soaps, foods, books, and many other things. It is a good place to take a look at. Also has Julie's book "Confidnet Choices"
Just incase you wanted to change doctors:
https://www.ichelp.com/AskTheDoctor/physicianregistry.html ICA ask sign up for their physician list
http://www.ic-network.com/md/doctorlistings.html ICN's physican listing
http://www.orthoelmiron.com/html/elm/pd_consumer.xml?article=finddoctor.jspf find a doctor
:welcome: to the group. We are here to help!!! You are not a lone. We understand and always here for you. My profile and the links on the left have ways to start a chat with me if you need someone to talk to. :grouphug:

[vm]

:welcome: Welcome to the ICN. :) So glad you found us. I think you'll find these boards to be an invaluable source of support and information. At the least you will know without a doubt that you are not alone in this. Please ask any questions you have - there are no stupid questions.

[Dixiefireball]

I also would like to welcome you to the ICN family. Katrina gave you a lot of great info. I would had also recommanded Julie B. book Confident choices I wish it had been out when I had frist started the IC diet. It really makes things a lot easier on a person to find their triggers.

You are not alone we are here for you. We do understand, WE Do CARE!!!

sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[Kara Isabel]

Hi and :welcome:

I know what you mean! I have lost alot of weight since my bladder decided to go haywire (on top of my IBS!) It is a little hard to eat when one is hunched over in pain (or afraid of ending up that way!) But like Katrina, starving doesn't solve the problem. I find that small amounts of safe foods is the best way to control bladder pain.

Do you take anything to help with the pain? Lean on your husband and let him help you and take you to appointments for awhile......if the table was reversed, you would do the same thing for him, I'm sure! The only way to get better is to continue w/ the appointments and medications til' you find something that works. Everyone here seems to have their own "coctail" of treatment that suits them best.

I hope you feel better soon!
Kara I.

[Kimchi]

:welcome: You are in the best place for info and support. Hope you get relief soon.

[toby75]

Also I have bought an AC adapter for the car that plugs into the cigarette lighter and I can plug a heating pad into it for the entire car ride. That is the best thing I have found to help with me long car rides. I transfer it from my pelvis area to my lower back and it feel so good in the car!!

[ddemos]

Could you share the name of the antisasmodic that works for both bladder and bowel. I would like to suggest this to my dr.

Thanks

[emilyrose197377]

:welcome: to the ICN.

[Katrina]

ddemos, the one I take is hyoscyamine but I suspect there are others. :grouphug:

[dolphinlover21]

:hi: Thank u all for ur warm welcome for once i dont feel alone:) U all have such good tips i will give them all a try thank u so much. I never realized there was so much more i chould do. I had just given up i was tired of all the evasive procejures that didnt seem to do any good but put me threw more pain:confused: I didnt want to go back to the doctor. I am on elmiron for my bladder pain.,zelnorm and cytotec for my IB. I get terriable bloating and pain in my stomach. I have no appettite at all, when i do eat i usually wish i hadnt.So everyones input is grately appreciated :bow: thank u again :angel:Best wishes to all:grouphug: