Survey?

[dianak]

I'd like to find out how many people here have I.C. that is

1) not usually terribly painful unless a flare-up is happening

2) excruciating all the time



thanks.

[VickiB]

I started out between your two choices -hurting most of the time, but not always at a level I'd label excruciating.

Now I'm a #1 thankfully!

Vicki

[Big Red]

I also fall in the middle. Somedays are fairly good and others are terrible.

[ICNDonna]

I'd have to say I fall in the #1 group.

Donna

[jensue973]

I have excrucating pain everyday...so basically I feel I am in a flare everyday...

Jennifer

[redfearn]

:toilet: Unfortunately, I'm a 2 everyday!!!

:) Laura

[enk11]

hard to say..the flares are really excruciating and last a few weeks, then I have a break for a few weeks with just minor/easily controlable with meds symptoms. i guess im in the middle too

[green_the_fish]

I'm a #1 right now (knocks on wood, throws salt over shoulder), but I was a #2 for several months.

[mary124]

I have to say I fall somewhere in the middle.

[waterflow]

I fall under #2.

[Bethrlk]

I fall in between one and two; some weeks are excrutiating, while some are better. But, I am always "aware" of my bladder and pelvic region.....

[armslee]

Another middle of the road-er here.
I have days that I feel decent, never really "good". I also have days that I feel absolutely horrible.

[lanaiwahine]

I started out with pain only from flares, now am in excruciating pain all the time.
Best wishes to all,
Lanaiwahine

[mayray518]

My pressure and frequency was horrible every day until I found out that elavil helped me.

[Sassyvwgal]

I'd say I've been in the middle of 1 and 2 for about 3 years! Elmiron seems to be helping though!:puppy:

[kadi]

Before treatments: excruciating all the time.
Partial success with treatments: annoying all the time.
With successful combination of treatments (see below my name): pretty ok most days, still have several days a month of real discomfort/flare.

[sleepyangel30]

#1 for me unless i use unsafe soaps or eat and drink the wrong things..

[Zygala87]

You had Potassium Distillation and other test. My OBGYN wants me to have this test. I heard it is very painful. Just how bad is it? I am scared and don't know if I am in 1 or 2. I am in a lot of discomfort and hope there is another way to be tested.

[blendno14]

less than 1), never terrible pain, only mild (but diagnosed IC), discomfort every day

[~*~Christine~*~]

Out of the options, number 2, though I wouldn't say it's excruciating all the time. I'm always in some sort of pain but the pain can vary depending on different factors

[plaedes]

#1 even though I'm having a flare right now. However was a #2 for the first year or so. Took forever for meds to work and to find out about the diet and my triggers, etc. Even though I'm having a flare at the moment I know I will get over it. My biggest worry right now is my IBS-D flare or whatever is going on. Good luck with the survey. Nice idea.
KeLLeY

[weezer]

I hate to admit it, but I'm in the #2 catagorie, although I control it with very strong medication.
Weezer
British Colubia
Canada

[dianak]

wow - I really feel for those of you who have the constant pain.

The reason I asked is because I have read both of these things in literature about I.C.:

"how it is when it begins is usually how it stays"

"it is progressive, and can turn over to the worse kind (constant pain) at any time"

Seems to me your responses indicate that it might just be progressive.

I too was scared about the distillation test, but it was about 10 times less painful/scary than I thought it would be!

I also noticed, after being on Elimron for a few weeks -- I am sometimes completely unaware of my bladder, and general awareness is less and less as the days go by!

I didn't realize until the awareness was not constant just how bad it really was.

Those of us who have many kinds of pain get used to being in pain. I suffered from bad migraines for many years before I thought to seek real treatment.

thanks to all who responded.

[TerriT]

I am in the 2nd catagory, though now the meds I take for it keep it down to a dull roar most of the time but not always.

TerriT

[Lishypaz]

I am usually a "2"--though varying combinations of pain meds can bring me to a much lower pain scale. I really have to fluctuate between the variety of pain meds for the day (like this morning I knew my pain was calling for a heating pad and tylenol 3). I work with Elementary School children, so often I have to forego the pain meds and live with the pain during the day so I am not "out there" (they all seem to make me a little spacey). I have regular hydrodistentions to provide extended relief, which can alleviate the pain for a few days. My doctor and I kind of have a "deal" so that when I know I will have a really hectic work week he fits me in for an ambulatory surgery on a Friday and then I am good for a week or so. Hope this answers the survey question.