stress=flare?

[miz_sunshine87]

Hi everyone, first time poster here...I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right spot, but anyways...

I'm 19 years old and I was diagnosed with IC at when I was 15, after about 6 months of symptoms. My symptoms started after I had a real UTI...but the pain just never went away. My family doctor thought it might be endometriosis, but the internal came up all clear (the internat itself for a 15 yr old girl was bad enough). He put me on the pill anyways, in hopes it might help. I was lucky enough to get an appointment with one of only 2 female urologists in the city (I still can't believe there are only 2). I had the cystoscopy done, and I wouldn't wish the pain I experienced from it on my worst enemy! She confirmed that I had IC, but was reluctant to put me on the strong medication (you know what I mean..can't think of the name), due to my age. I went on a low dose of amytriptyline, and antihistamine, and also stayed on the pill.
Weeks after the procedure, I began to feel better, not perfect, but better. At my 6 month, I remember telling my doctor the good news, and she said that the cystoscopy might have been what helped, and I might need another one in a few months. Well that was the last thing that I needed to hear!
A few months later, I was virtually symptom free. Over the next 4 years or so, I have only had very mild flare ups, usually at certain times of the month. I even started skipping my meds, because I didn't feel that I needed them.
About 5 months ago I had a more severe flare up and I was certain it was a UTI...it wasn't, but it luckily went away after a few weeks. Incidentally, this occured right before I was to go away on vacation. Symptoms disappeared while I was on vacation!
Okay so heres the PROBLEM.....
about a week ago, I began feeling pain and pressure again as well as urethral burning. Uh oh. The pain has increased a lot. I've been under a lot of stress lately. I won't go into detail, but my brother and grandmother were both diagnosed with serious illnesses in the last month, which is very upsetting to me. I kept saying "why my little brother and not me?". I'm starting to regret every saying that! I'm also in a competitive university program, and am falling horribly behind in my work. I worked so hard to get in, I can't quit now.

I am currently only on amytriptyline and the antihistame. When my symptoms recurred the first time, my doctor suggested I up the dose of my meds. I am doing so right now, but they make me very sleepy. That would be fine, but unfortunately life doesn't stop just because I need it to.

So here are some questions:

While I was in my "remission", I didn't watch my diet at all. I drank coffee, orange juice, alcohol, (orange juice and alcohol lol) etc. I could go just as long as anyone else without having to use the bathroom. Do you think that drinking all this stuff during in the past has caused this flare up at all?

Do you think that my flare up is caused by the stress?

I no longer have a urologist, because I stopped going after I felt better. I foolishly thought that I was cured.

I haven't given this condition a second thought in 4 years. I can deal with the horrible pain as long as I know it is temporary, but the thought of living the rest of my life like this...just makes me cry and cry.

I'm only 19. I love to travel, and eat spicy indian food, and go out drinking with my friends.

I know there are many of you that are in a much worse situation right now, and I wish all of you the best of luck in achieving a remission as I did.

Thank you for reading this longwinded entry, if there is anyone out there that feels their flareups are emotionally based, I would love to hear from you.

[missdee1299]

my dr told me that stress will cause a flare up.

[aprilmae]

Stress is my biggest trigger. I can be just fine but once those nerves get going it is over - the pain hits along with everything else.

[armslee]

Stress is a hugh flare trigger.
I would find a new doctor and get an opinion to up your meds. Yes, your body does adjust to them and I too have been feeling better, able to eat more than I used to etc. But you aren't cured. Remission is far from a cure. God I wish there was a cure!!

Tiredness from the meds is just something to learn to deal with. I am 33, mother of one tireless 8 year old and I work 3 jobs. I have just learned to handle it if I can feel better and not be in pain 24/7.

Good luck to you sweetie. You are so young and very beautiful! Please try to control this thing before it gets out of hand for you again.

[Sarojini]

Stress is one of my worst triggers... I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with so much right now. That may well be why you are experiencing this flare, unfortunately.

It might be wise to find another uro at this point... perhaps some medication changes would be good. Every now and then, treatments need to be "tweaked" a little to help out...

[miz_sunshine87]

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

I kind of figured that stress had something to do with it, but now I know.

I'm trying to stay positive. I know if I had one remmission, it's likely that i'll have another that lasts at least as long.

I'm going back to my family GP this wed, just to make sure I don't have a UTI, and discuss my options.

I have a lot of decisions to make right now...whether to drop some classes at school, just beg for more extensions, quit my job...I'm not sure what, but something's got to give.

[blue bunni]

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. I also had a long remission, five years with just some mild flares here and there. I've now been flaring big time for 3 months and am still trying to understand why. I know stress doesn't help, but there have been plenty of times I've been stressed in the past and nothing happened.

I think we can drive yourselves crazy trying to figure things out on our own! But like you, I just keep reminding myself that I had a long remission and will (hopefully) have another one soon!