Kates318
12-10-2006, 04:46 PM
I was just diagnosed this past Friday with IC. Explains many things that have been going on with me. Thanks for the newbie posting, you are right, looking over the handbook is definitely overwhelming. I start DMSO treatments this Friday. For the past 3 months I have had what doctors have been telling me is a kidney infection/UTI infection that just wasn't going away. The antibiotics would work for the first 7 days of the 10 day treatment, and then they would put me on something else because the symptoms were back. Finally ended up collapsing at my wedding reception and was taken out by ambulance because the pain was SO excruitating. Finally got the referral to a urologist and he set up the testing for IC, said I had all the signs. I had the potassium testing and that was so painful. I am happy to finally have an answer. Didn't think that my bladder could cause so much pain. I have been in remission from lupus for 3 years, and since then I am very aware of any pain or ongoings in my body. I am constantly aware. I know when I am sick and I know when my body is trying to tell me that it's much more than a viral infection. I was hospitalized in September with a kidney infection, and since then the pain has not subsided. Not in the stomach/bladder area. The back pain went away, which told me the kidney infection was gone, but the constant pain in my belly was not normal. I It's hard most days, because I don't feel close to 100% and that affects my job and my work and then my employer gets angry with me. I give all I have to to my job, but sometimes/most times that leaves me with nothing to give my body to fight. I already have a weakened immune system, and stress and exhaustion don't help that. So I guess I am thankful for the lupus, because it made me pay attention to my body and not ignore little things. So I look at IC as another challenge God has put in my path. Thanks for letting me vent a little.