Living Overseas with IC

[Faith1408]

I just found out I have IC. I am 28 and have been teaching in North Africa. I came back to the States where I found out the "bladder infections" I've had four of in the past seven months are really IC. Is it wise to return back to North Africa for twelve weeks to finish teaching, or stay and begin treatment options and check-ups? Would you return for a whole school year to teach there if you could not have treatment and no doctors speak English or really know what IC is?

Help!

[vm]

:welcome: So glad you found us. :)

That has to be so individual.... I would not return b/c I could not live comfortably without my medication. I would probably stay here and get treatments started and see if I could get my symptoms under control before returning. But that's just me.

Hope you've found the ICN's free online handbook:

http://www.ic-network/handbook

It has so much wonderful information about symptoms, treatment, self-help tips, coping, and especially about the IC Diet which is crucial for so many ICers. Check it out!

[GriffsMommy]

Oh wow Faith, that's a hard choice to make. I guess it would depend on how bad you feel and what you feel is most important to you. If you want to go back and finish out the school year in North Africa and feel that you can handle it and that it is safe for your health then I don't see why not. I can't imagine not getting any treatment at all but I'm in pain most days. Have you asked the dr who diagnoised your IC what they would suggest? Maybe that would help you make a decision. Maybe you could take some meds back with you to Africa to last you until the end of the school year is over and you can come back. I'm sure you'll get lots of responses and :welcome: to the IC network, you'll find tons of info here.

[Janie Miranda]

I know it is a hard decision, but imho you really need to get treatment.

[mom_in_ma]

Wow...I'm sorry that you are faced with such a difficult decision. I think that it really depends on how you are feeling. If you're in remission much of the time, it might not be so bad.

But, honestly, for me....I would stay in the United States. I can't imagine being far away from doctors who could provide relief if I was in a flare. Besides, are you with the Peace Corps? If so, they might not let you go back if you have a chronic medical condition that requires medical attention. They are sticklers about that.

[ICKIRSTI]

Hello there! My mom is from Finland, and so half of my family, a very large family at, reside in and/or around Helsinki, Finland. I am actually entitled to dual citizenship and have not yet proceeded with it, because of my health issues. Even though it would be possible for me to receive treatment there, I have not been able to manage the condition enough to travel to my family for an extended period of time.
Considering the location, you are discussing, I highly recommend not returning until you are quite sure you are feeling much better. It could be near impossible to receive the help you need. PLUS I.C. does not get better with time when left untreated!! So, do note, if you exert your energy in certain areas, you are likely to get progressively worse, and quick. I highly recommend you do all the research you can, find the best doctor's, and join us here for all the support and encouragement you could ever hope for! :welcome: :smile tee Whatever the choice, I wish you all the best!

[ICNDonna]

I wish I could help, but this is a decision you will need to make for yourself. If you find the diet helps a lot in controlling your symptoms and you are able to get the medications you need, you could probably make it through the twelve weeks, but I would be certain there's the option of coming back before then if you need to. And if you do decide to return for the full year, would you have the option of talking by phone with a doctor here?

I hope you feel better very quickly.

Donna

[kadi]

My thought is that it depends on how much pain or discomfort you are in. If you have a level of IC where you feel okay most of the time with periodic flares & you can reduce those flares by diet & 1 or 2 oral medications, then it makes sense to finish your 12 weeks. If you are in pain all the time (as I was when I first developed IC), then you probably need to stay here to take a more aggressive approach to treatment.

Remember also that the people on these boards tend to be in the sicker half of IC patients, because the ones who are diagnosed quickly & respond well to treatment often have no need of an internet support group & are out living their lives. There are thousands of IC patients out there living active & full lives with well-managed IC.

Wishing you better days soon & clarity for your decision making---

[mellusk]

How long do you have before you have to make a decision on this?
I guess it all depends on just how lousy this all is making you feel. If you're still functional for the most part, then I would say do your best to follow the diet and go out and do what you really want to do. If you find that this is so severely impacting your day-to-day life, then I'd try to hold off on returning until you can figure out what it is that works for you...the problem there is, that for some people, that can be a very, very long time.