my story

[R.Prall]

It seems like this feeling (now I know is IC) just came one night and never went away! I went to the doctor thinking it might be a bladder infection but the antibiotics never cleared it up! I then proceded to the urologist thinking I had another kidney stone lodged in my bladder. I had previously had a kidney stone during my pregnancy of my 4th angel, and some of the feelings were similar. X-ray and a MRI were done finding nothing! Where do I go from here I thought. The urologist wanted to do a urodynamics test in January but lets face it that is one test I think alot of us would like to skip out on! Finally in May I decided that I could not go on living like this without knowing why or what it was. The potassium cloride test pretty much was the telltale sign that I was,yes, IC possitive. It has been quite a struggle considering I have four young children who depend on a healthy happy mommy! It seems as if most of my immediate family just can't quite understand the depth of my illness which leaves me feeling lost and alone! My current meds are Elmiron,Wellbutrin XL and Atarax. Does anyone have any suggestions on what might help take away the spasms a little better? It seems as if that is one of the biggest problems with this that I am dealing with. Thanks from your new IC friend.

[dverba]

nice to meet you,
The first thing that helps me is the ic diet. My bladder stays in pain with the wrong foods. I am also on lortab for pain. I have only been on the elmiron for 3 weeks so that has not had a chance to work yet. Hot baths are my sanity, they really help with pain. The heating pad between my legs also helps. I am going to get he prelife today!! I have heard great things about that. You can not beet the support here so welcome.
deanna

[Claredale]

I am glad that you found us. I am so sorry that you have to deal with IC. My kids were young as well when I was diagnosed. It does make it very hard, but they are grown now, and they helped get me through it!

Have you tried Valium, Urelle or Uristat? I take Proced DS which is alot like Urelle and Uristat, but seems to work for me better. I can't take Pyridium Plus due to it causes nausea. Also are you following the IC diet. I am not that diet sensitive except for citrus, but when my bladder is irrated, I go back to following the diet until my bladder and spasms settle back down.

Tracey

[R.Prall]

I have been trying so very hard to follow the diet but not until recently. I have lost 20 lbs since November first. Is this typical of someone who does follow the diet considering it is not a diet to lose weight? I also misquoted one of the medications that I am on. One is Ditropan XL not Wellbutrin XL. I was taking that for depression.

[SharonA]

My symptoms can on suddenly, also. One day I was fine...The next, I was in pain and thinking I had a UTI . I went running to a Urologist and was diagnosed with IC.

I have read many posts from people who say the the diet not only decreases their symptoms but also has the added benefit of weight loss. It could be because the diet calls for eating less prepackaged foods, more fresh foods and more veggies. In my mind that is not a bad trade off.

About the antidepressants, Elavil is the one that I am on. I take it at a low dose (25mg in the early evening) and it has helped me immensely. When taken at a low dose, it helps block the pain from registering in the brain. At that low of a dose, it really does not work as an antidepressant. I think it also helped me have fewer bladder spasms. I could not take Ditropan because it caused me to have urine retention.

We are all so different and react differently to meds/treatments. I hope you get relief from the meds you are on along with the diet.

[dan47]

If you are taking Elmiron make sure you don't eat anything 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take it. If you eat something after you take it apparently it is passed through your system without a chance of doing it's job which is form a protective linning on the inside of the bladder. (This is what the doctors told me)

Danny Bales
dan47