any canadians?

[jubejube]

hi everyone...
just wondering if there are many canadians on this site?

[DebbieB]

Hi,

There are lots of us Canadian on here.
We used to have a Canada IC message board but since it went , I don't see to many of the members any more, which I miss them all a lot ..

I just wish that more would post once and awhile on the Canada Chat ..

Where are you from jubejube ???

I am in Ontario just south east of Toronto ..

Debbie

[jubejube]

Hi Debbie!
Another Canuck... yay! I was hoping to find some Canadians... for some reason it just makes me feel less alone in this.
I am in Ontario... currently living in Toronto! So we are very close.
Very nice to meet you :)

[DebbieB]

Yes the same here !!

There are a lot of the girls I know from the Toronto area , hope they will post to you soon, don't worry you are not alone with IC in Ontario ..

Have a good week.

Hugs, Debbie

[lalarainbow]

Hi
I am in NS.. Just have not been around the past week or so..Hope everyone is doing well. ~~Pam

[jubejube]

thanks everyone for posting back...
I was really hoping to meet some girls from the area, to hopefully meet up and talk to in person... maybe to ease some of my fear!

[Photoboy61]

Hi JubeJube,

Welcome to the IC forums. Yes there's allot of Canadians on the site.

Like yourself, I also live in Toronto. There's quite a few people in Toronto who have IC. Not sure on the exact numbers.

Everyone's really nice and very helpful. How long have you had IC?

I've had IC since 2002. I'm doing really well now. Almost to the point where it's gone. I've learned to control it through non traditional methods. I'm not any meds whatsoever. It took allot of time, but was worth it.

First thing is not to be afraid of your IC. It can play on your mind and that will affect the way you feel each day. You have to change your way of thinking. It's not easy. Everyone has a different level of pain, so for some it's harder to accept that they have IC.

I hope your feeling better soon!

[chantal nicole]

Um, I'm going through toronto real soon but i won't have much time at all (like maybe just 15-30min). I will be in the pre-board area of Gate 10 at union station about 11am ish June 28th (5' feet small framed white girl with red suitcase). I will be pre-boarding for a train leaving at noon so like i said, maybe a quick hello. I go through toronto several times a year but this trip is particularly crazy. I'll find out soon- there might be a possibility of meeting up for a couple hours on June 5th afternoon. My bus leaves at 5pm so again, not good if you're working.

*Hey friends- I'm going camping in Killarney this weekend. I've only been camping in a tent twice in my life but it wasn't in the north. It's supposed to be cold and i don't think the berries are ready yet (for the bears to feed on). Wish me luck- i really don't want a bear encounter and apparently there are quite a few in this area. Most of all, i hope my bladder behaves- wandering in the dark night by myself to find a port-a-potty doesn't sound like fun.

chantal

[marsi4]

Hi, I'm from Montreal, Quebec. I don't know anyone here with IC, but I know that there are quite a few ic patients here since it's a big city. It does feel good to know you're not alone suffering with ic and would like to extend my greetings to all Canadians on this board.

Marsi4

[DebbieB]

:welcome: marsi4 to the Canadian Chat board !!!

Yes , there are lots of people from the Quebec area with IC ,we had a lot on the Canada IC message board but we know longer have this message board so I was hoping others would come and post on the IC-network message board ..

I go to Montreal a lot as my husband is from Quebec and his sister all live in Montreal and parent outside of Montreal..

I am glad you posted on the Canada chat !!

Debbie

[humpieumpumkin]

I'm canadian, but live in Maine!!!

Erika:hi:

[lbcharel]

Hi name is charel I am from Vancouver delta B.C. ,have had IC for 10 years hit a bad flare up for 2 weeks IM having my dmso treatment tomorrow just started this chat line last week its great to talk to someone that has the same as you take care

[DebbieB]

Hey Erika;

Well :welcome: to the Canada IC chat board, glad you came over here !!!
Where are you from in Canada ??

:welcome: charel , also glad you join us on the Canada IC chat as well ..

This is a good place to come and that you are not alone with IC as well ..


Hugs, Debbie

[NovaBella]

:hi: I'm from Nova Scotia. I was diagnosed with IC in 2003 and unfortunately I am in a major flare right now. I don't know anyone else that has IC so I'm glad that this chat area exists. It's comforting to know that I am not alone!

Suz

[DebbieB]

:welcome: Suz to the Canada Chat message board, so glad you could join us all here !
I know a lady from Nova Scotia, I hope she see your post..

Yes , you sure are not alone with IC . any questions just ask away we all can share our experiences with you , we all are so different with our IC too ..

Warm hugs, Debbie

[lalarainbow]

Hi Suz,
I am in the Annapolis Valley NS. My Ic is under control right now.. but with the stress in my life at the moment not sure how long that will last!!!.. My cat is very sick with a urinary track blockage..and I love my cats!
Feel free to pm me! Hope everyone is feeling good..

~~Pam

[twosweethounds]

Hello all from Edmonton!

[DebbieB]

:welcome: to the Canada Chat message board so glad you found us all !!

Hello back from Ontario.


Debbie

[minniesmom]

Hi
I'm from Hamilton Ontario. Just found this site. Was beginning to think I was alone!
Kathy

[LeeAnn]

HI, I just wanted to ask all you Canadians how you feel about the services you receive in Canada. Do you like the system & the way it is set up? I'm curious because Michael Moore's SiCKO just came out and I nearly started WWIII on another message board. I have friends here and I value my friends on the ICN so I'm gonna keep my mouth shut as to what my opinions are. My lips are sealed!! But I am wondering how happy you guys are up there, especially because I know everyone here on the ICN is in need of medical care. :)

[DebbieB]

:welcome: Kathy to the Canada Chat message board , I am glad you found all us here..
You are sure not alone with IC..

I have a friend that lives in Hamilton that has IC as well ..

Hugs, Debbie

[DebbieB]

Hi LeeAnn;

I am very pleased with our health system in Canada, how ever we do have longer waits for surgery and testing now and the cost of care has been going up it is changing some from years ago ..

I heard about SICKO and would like to see this movie..

Debbie

[SLS]

I'm Toronto as well. I used to be a part of a support group at Women's College for women with IC, but the government decided not to fund it anymore!

[loriw]

:hi: Hi From Medicine Hat, AB.
LoriW.

[DebbieB]

:welcome: LoriW to the Canada chat message board, glad you found us all
here!!

Any questions feel free to ask away !!

Debbie

[jubejube]

Hi SLS... I am new to IC, but have been looking for support groups in the area. I am so dismayed to hear that they shut down the one at Women's College... I wonder if there is any way we could start it up again, or to find out about it? Im not sure how this works, but i know it sure would be helpful for me to meet some others with IC and learn from them!

[jubejube]

Hi Leanne,
I just watched SICKO myself... and it was really, well....I sat with disbelief throughout that movie...
As a Canadian I am happy with our healthcare system, al though as Debbie mentioned, we do often run into longer waits for testing and specialists, which can be very frustrating. However, as a sister of a doctor in Canada (hopefully i dont upset anyone here) we do have a shortage of Doctors, and those which we do have some are very much overworked and some are underpaid (i know that sounds so wrong, but truthfully with the amount of insurance and membership fees that Doctors have to manditorily pay, that is a huge amount of their income)... with that being said, I tend to be a bit more understanding of wait times, etc, just because i understand how hard it can be on my sister...
(However i will say it has been super frustrating that I was given an appointment with a Vulvar Specialist when i was referred to him in May, and my appointment isnt until November... and that is just for a consultation!)
But enough griping... i do believe we have a great health care system, just a shortage of available doctors...
jube



HI, I just wanted to ask all you Canadians how you feel about the services you receive in Canada. Do you like the system & the way it is set up? I'm curious because Michael Moore's SiCKO just came out and I nearly started WWIII on another message board. I have friends here and I value my friends on the ICN so I'm gonna keep my mouth shut as to what my opinions are. My lips are sealed!! But I am wondering how happy you guys are up there, especially because I know everyone here on the ICN is in need of medical care.

[lbcharel]

hi I live in Delta B.C. hope you have a good weekend

[DebbieB]

:welcome: lbcharel to the Canada IC Chat message board, also glad you found us all here ..

Hugs, Debbie

[DebbieB]

Hi Jube;

Jube you did not upset me that we have a shortage of Doctors, yes we do big time ..

I think we still have a wonderful health coverage as everyone is covered in Canada as to what I heard and seem about there were no coverage to lots of Americans including children that is very hard to believe for sure ..
I forgot the percentage that was said !!

Yes we do still complain about the waits and doctors shortage but after seeing this movie , we should be very thankful that we are all covered in our medication and dentist and hospital plans in Canada ..

Debbie

[lbcharel]

HI thanks for the welcome ,just wondered do you know of a diet book you can buy to follow a everyday diet from breakie to dinner

[lbcharel]

HI does anyone know about a cook book that has reciepes that is safe,what Im looking for is a step by step meal tah you can make each day Im in a rut and flare up for a month or longer ,hope you have a good day all of you

[DebbieB]

Hello again,

Check out this web site at
http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/

Read under diet for IC , this should give some ideas , I know there sell cook book on this web site at http://www.icnshop.com/

I am lucky I do not have much problem with food...

Debbie

[jubejube]

Hi Debbie,
I think you are very right... we are fortunate to have a majority of our health care covered... it helps a lot... :smile tee

[Photoboy61]

Yes we are really lucky to have coverage here in Canada. The only problem is we don't have enough doctors educated in the area of IC. That's why most people take up to 4 or 5 doctors or several urologists and several years to get diagnosed. What we need are doctors who are trained in the area of IC. That begins with awareness and adding IC into the education programs of upcoming urologists.

Second problem we have is awareness and support groups. As for awareness, Canada lags way behind in this. I was in Europe and even there there are more doctors who know about IC. The US is the same. We here in Canada seem to just take things in stride. There have been many attemps to start an awareness movement or even support groups , but all failed due to the lack of response by most IC patients. I started a support group a few years back and all but a few people showed up. I tried to start an awareness group, all but a few showed interest and many even criticized my efforts. There were also some support groups which began but closed after a while. The group at Women's College Hospital also was closed. Yes it's great to have coverage, but IC patients need more then this. I often wonder why other countries seem to have more success and are way ahead with their IC support groups, IC awareness movements, IC medical research , whereas we in Canada seem to fail at all attemps being made. I guess we all have to look at ourselves as a reason perhaps. If we have a great medical system, then how come other countries seem to be so far ahead of the game and we are lagging so far behind? Shouldn't we be ahead of everyone one else? Like I said before part of the problem is we just sit back and do nothing. Here in Canada we lack voices. Something to really think about, I guess.

[grouchy]

of Canada! Although it is no so flippin hot I am here naked with a fan on!Scarey picture!!:smile tee

[lbcharel]

hi yes its been hot,Im having a bad flaer up with IC so Im in bed most days ,hope your getting better,IM trying to find a good cook book so know what all to have its hard sometimes enjoy the sun

[jkrul]

Yes I am from Canada,lower mainland.chilliwack.bc

[Judy M]

I'm a proud Canadian, from Calgary, AB. It's nice to have "sisters" to share with.

[Mothergoose]

Well we are almost close, I live close to Jasper.

[alwayspeeing]

I too am Canadian, residing in Calgary, Alberta!!

[holdingontohope]

Hi all, I am from Gatineau on the outskirts of Ottawa, anyone here have vulvodynia too?