A severe worrier...

[Agape]

I know stress is my main enemy with this condition, but I am a worrier. Now my latest worry is about this IC diet. I've been trying really hard to eat only the allowed foods, but now I am almost afraid to try any of the foods we should avoid. I have been on the diet for about two weeks and would really like to try at least one of the avoid foods, but I fear that I will start this flare thing up again. If I do eat one of the avoid foods, when should I expect to feel something, or how will I know if this food is ok for me or not? I am really hoping I am not food sensitive because I've never had a problem with food before (heartburn, indigestion or anything else). If I am sensitive to a food, will there be pain (what kind) and how long will it last?
I am worrying so much about this that the stress will cause me to flare again anyway.
I take Elavil, but it doesn't seem to do a thing for my stress. Any suggestions? Also how do I convince a doctor I need something for this?

[kadi]

I started out on the IC diet eating only the left hand column "usually okay" foods. Once I knew my basic symptom level for a few weeks on that diet, I then started to test the middle "sometimes ok" foods. I would try a small amount of one of those foods as part of a larger meal of "safe" foods & notice if my symptoms spiked (more frequency, more urgency or discomfort) in the next 24 hours. If that was ok, I'd try maybe a half serving of the food, again as part of a larger meal a couple of days later. If that was ok, then I might try it on its own. If my symptoms spiked, then I knew to cross it off the list for now.

If you're worried, I'd start very slowly & start with the "sometimes ok" foods, not the "problematic" ones. And I'd start with the "sometimes ok" foods that have high nutritional value, so that if the experiment goes well, you get something that will build your health & if it does bother you, well, at least it was worth a try for the benefit of your health.

If you start with relatively moderate experiments in small quantities, diluted with other food, if you do flare, it probably won't be a huge deal. I wouldn't recommend testing things like salsa or coffee. Start small & see how it goes. Maybe a few blueberries since they're so good for us & if that's ok, a few more a day or two later. Keep it simple & slow. If you're working, do the testing on Friday nights or Saturdays so you have a day or so to recover & rest if you do have a little flare.

If you do flare from a food, don't panic. Just drink some water to flush it out of your system & if you don't have sodium restrictions, you might add a half teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water to neutralize any acids & soothe your bladder. Some patients also take a couple of plain TUMS antacids to calm down a food related flare.

Hang in there, this process is challenging, but manageable. Just take it slowly, be gentle with yourself. There's no rush. And do not do food testing when you're starting new medications, because then you won't know if you have symptom increase which thing caused it.

I find that the IC diet is an essential part of my health & well being. Following it allows my medicines to work. If I'm not on the diet, no amount of medicine will control my symptoms. So, I look at it as a relatively benign treatment option, no real physical side effects, no major copays or insurance hassles. And it's something I can do for myself, on my own behalf, if that makes sense.

If the anxiety gets out of hand, you might talk with a doctor about a referral to a medical social worker for counseling or a nutritionist to guide you through this process. I was able to work with both a dietician & a medical social worker the first year and a half I was sick & they both made a huge difference in my life...

Good luck! Let us know how you're doing, okay?

[ICNDonna]

If you're doing well on the "usually okay" list, I wouldn't stress about adding things until you feel comfortable doing it. Then try just one thing at a time from the "may be okay" list --- try a very small amount, like a tablespoon, at first. If that doesn't bother you, then you can increase the amount. I think it's important to test adding the one food daily for several days before adding another.

You can stay healthy on the usually okay list.

Good luck!

Donna