will it ever stop?

[waterflow]

Do you ever feel like you will never fit back into the world again because of the IC? I am getting to tired anymore to keep argueing with everyone about it. You all I'm sure know the routine. It's getting so that I'm to tired to even look for anymore things to try out. How do you get your "self" back?

[creatingkarma]

No matter what, everyone has a place in this world! Sometimes our roles change & we must adapt with those changes, but it doesn't mean that you don't fit in or belong anymore! I just try my best to do what I can & not feel guilty (or let anyone else make me feel guilty) about what I can't.

[armslee]

Flow-

Karma has a really good point. I firmly believe that God has placed us all on this earth with a specific purpose in our lives. The difficult part for us sometimes is finding out what that purpose is.

There are times when I am so horribly depressed at how badly I feel that I wished He would just call me home. Then I think about the people in my life and the impact that I have on them each and everyday.

YOU do have a purpose! Quite possibly your purpose is to teach patience and love to others through your illness.

Always remember that you have sisters here who feel the pains that you are going through each day and that it is our job to lift each other up and encourage one another so that we will continually have strength to fight another day.
Hugs and warm wishes,

[poetgirl]

Lots of hugs and prayers. :pray: :grouphug:

I know you're going through a difficult, painful time right now, but it really does get better for the majority of us who have this disease. Your "self" never went anywhere -- it just has different needs right now, and the best thing you can do is respect and honor that as best as you can (and ask others to as well.) It takes a while before treatments for IC take effect, so if you are newly diagnosed, take heart and have hope that in time, you will feel more like you used to. You may also find you're a stronger, braver and more open person as a result of having gone through this journey too.

In the meantime, get whatever help you need in order to cope with these changes. Seek out counseling and talk to your doctor about taking antidepressants if you really feel depressed and hopeless right now. Be an advocate for your wellness and do research to see what treatment options might work, because doctors, even the best ones, tend to stick with what's easiest for them to prescribe or treat, rather than being creative or collaborative about your care. Find little ways to do things for yourself that make you feel better.

Friends and family have a hard time understanding what this (and similar) diseases do to our bodies and state of mind. It's not that they don't care, they just haven't experienced what this does on a daily basis and it's hard for them to empathize completely, especially if they were used to you being in a certain role in their lives that you can't fulfill quite the same way. Many people, myself included, take refuge in these boards because everyone understands what it's like to deal with the symptoms of this disease and no one will judge us or tell us for how we are feeling.

You're not alone and we are always here for you! :kiss:

[SharonA]

:grouphug: and :kissing:

[waterflow]

Thanks everyone. You seemed to be able to say it better then what I could say to explain things. I haven't found my "place" yet in life now with the IC but I think I am making progress doing that. I'm not newly dio so I have done lots of research on this. Just that no one will agree with me. So I had to go through this all on my own. In the past I was a push over but I seem to know have turned into the "bladder breathing dragon" because I just don't have the patients with people anymore. Yes, I think that most don't understand just how awful and painful this is and after years it does start to take a toll on the old body. I use to keep a spotless house and for many years when the IC first started I would cry myself to sleep at night over how the house wasn't clean. Would have company and most didn't say anything but I knew what they were thinking. Then I decided that's it. If they don't like the house not being spotless then they can clean it. When they're sick they don't clean. Plus I figured those type of people I really do not need to be around. The hardest thing I had to deal with was when this first happened all the people I had helped were to busy and didn't have the time to be there for me. I was there when anyone needed anything and then my turn came and no one was there.

"You may also find you're a stronger, braver and more open person as a result of having gone through this journey too. "--you are right poetgirl. I use to be such a push over before the IC happened but with time I figured out if I was going to survive I needed to get a backbone and start fighting for myself. I just get to thinking that maybe I have turned into a snotty mean person.
Thanks everyone.

[Marne1975]

Hello All:

My name is Marne and I am new to this forum! I am feeling very very sad and confused!

I have had a IC diagnosis for over five years and I was diagnosed with IB today!

I also have other numerous medical conditions that i feel is just stopping me from living my life!

I am confused, scared, angry!

I have this bad pain in my left side? Could it be related to IC or IB? Could it be a cyst? Doctors never seem to know what to do with me?

THanks for listening!

Marne

[sandramac]

HI marne! i do also get burning and pain in the left side but you need your doc to make sure its only the IC and nothing else.Mine comes and goes i find my IC Is hormone related. Take care and welcome! hugs Sandra:kiss:

[Tina K]

Hi Marne,

I am in your boat there, I have IC, Endo, PFD, Pelvic Myalgia, I have now bad disks in my back too!! Just a party going on in my pelvis.

I get the burning on the left side, you can be ovulating, it could be a cyst, usually towards the side for me is endo related not IC but you never know.

You need to go into the doctors as educated as possible and find one that you feel comfortable with and trust. Have you had any lap's done as of yet. Sometimes that gives a better view of things and where all the pain is coming from.

I am here for you - hugs and more hugs.
This all sucks and that's the truth.
Tina :)

[July]

I have read that people with IBS often have pain in the left side as a symptom due to location of the sigmoid colon.

[weezer]

Hi Marne: Welcome to the "wonderful group of IC'ers", who as you read the posts, the different catagories, will help you to feel that your not alone and you won't have to feel scared,or afraid. I know how you feel - that's for sure. I've had IC for many years, and I also have IBS, and like most of the people on these boards you will find everyone has problems in the pelvic region. It goes with the territory so to say - the pain you have could be a cyst on your ovary (if you have your ovaries), which I don't because years ago I did have a very large tumour on my ovary that caused be a great deal of pain in the left quadrant of my pelvis. You should see your doctor and see if it's your IC, or anything else, just to be sure. On a happier note, "Welcome, hang in there, and I'm sure if you give this forum a chance, it will give you alot of information, love, and encouragement." I know this, because before I found this forum I felt so alone, like I was the only one out there suffering all alone, and I was afraid and confused too - but this forum with all the wonderful people on it will welcome you and help you understand that your not alone - and believe me - these people really do care and I really don't know what I'd do without them. This forum is my own little (big) safe haven. I hope it becomes yours.
Weezer

[Kara29]

Do you ever feel like you will never fit back into the world again because of the IC? I am getting to tired anymore to keep argueing with everyone about it. You all I'm sure know the routine. It's getting so that I'm to tired to even look for anymore things to try out. How do you get your "self" back?

I pick myself up, learn from my experiences, dust myself off, and try again the next day. If anyone knows what it's like to be depressed it would be myself. I just have a fight in me that keeps me going and trying new things so I can someday fit back into the world and not let the IC rule me. For the past 7 years I have been fighting and will continue to fight. My advice would be to find a good therapist to talk to and maybe try an antidepressant to get you back to a fighting mode. It takes an antidepressant for me in order to get the fight to continue.

I wish you luck in your journey and pray that you find the tools you need to keep going with this!

Kara