I think I'm in a flare, again

[Shannonmarie018]

Well I think I've done it to myself again. I really need to stick to the diet. i was feeling fine last week and then I had pizza and it always messes me up. I took some Prelief with it and I thought I would be ok. I see my uro next month and all he has me on is elmiron right now, I want to talk to him about anything else I can take. He's really nice but I don't know how knowledgable of IC he is. He dx me after a potassium sensitivity test back in February. And it hurt, I mean I was sore after that, so I'm assuming that I have IC since I had a reaction to whatever they put in me. I wasn't expecting it, I mean it burned, and then I was flaring forever after that.
Now I'm feeling pretty much better but I still get some cramping towards the end of urinating. And I occasionally get pain in my urethra when I just sitting around or sometimes when I go. The last few days I've had occasional shooting pain not so much when I urinate but just when I sitting around. It's awful. But I've seen that a lot of you folks on this board have the same problem. I just want this all to go away. I see my uro next month for a followup. And no I don't have a UTI I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago and everything was fine.
This is just so frustrating. I'm young, 26, and I work in a bar and it's so hard to have this problem and be working. I mean I work 10-12 hour shifts on my feet the whole time and I can't call off if I'm sick. It was terrible 9 months ago when I didn't know what was wrong and I was in a ton of pain. I'm feeling so much better now, I just have this shooting pain. I'm not even going to the bathroom a ton anymore just normal 6-8 times depending on how much water I drink. I'm just so frustrated today.

[dancemomof2]

(((HUGS)))) Hope you feel better soon. Have you tried maybe the heat wraps while your working to help any? Hope your appt. goes well.

[Shannonmarie018]

I never thought about trying the heat wraps while at work. i should give it a try. Thanks:)

[Roxie2007]

Have you tried Freeze dried Aloe Vera? It coats the bladder and helps rebuild the mucus lining...like Elmiron does. You can buy it through this site, it's the Desert Harvest brand. I take 3 pills a day......and have for over 2 yrs.
Also have you tried Azo? it's over the counter and really helps calm the bladder down and coats it also inside.
Elavil is a prescription that helps a LOT with urgency and frequency and pain.
If I were you'd I'd come out and ask your uro specialist.....if not I'd look around and find one.
I've heard heat wraps help some, haven't tried that myself. Good luck to you. Hope you'll feel better soon!

[Shannonmarie018]

I'll have to ask my uro about the elavil next month when I go. I've taken aloe capsules from the health food store before. not sure if it's the same thing as the freeze dried. I should check it out though. thanks so much.

[JanL]

Sorry you are hurting. I have tried the heat wraps. They work best when you are leaning against something like a chair or car seat. Definitely check out the elavil. It is a life saver. I like cystec when I have an UTI, but I am currently starting AZO in order to try to control Pelvic Floor spasms. I do know that if I can lie down and pull my legs up to my chest it can sometimes help. The hard part is doing that at work. We have a carpeted handi-capped dressing room that is rarely used and I will sometimes go in there and do that if I start to spasm. I am so tired of this pain and hurting so I can emphasize with you.

Janice

[Shannonmarie018]

Thank you everyone for your kind reasponses! This webpage is a lifesaver:) I'm definitely going to ask my uro about elavil when I see him next month. I'm feeling a lot better today, sticking to the diet. Ate too many "no no" foods last week!!