Newly diagnosed with IC

[MommyLee4]

I was diagnosed with IC about five months ago. I had the bladder distention and 2 treatments but it didn't help much. I have four children (7,5,4,3) so my life is very stressful. I have had several very painful flareups in the past 2 weeks. I do not have insurance, since I stay home with my children. My husbands job does not offer insurance. The treatments are very expensive and I had to stop getting them. My doctor gave me pain medication for a couple of weeks but now I can't get any more until I get back in to see him which I can't afford. I hate having to ask for more pain medication but I am in a lot of pain. It feels like my bladder is on fire. It hurts to go to the bathroom and for a while after. I have painful shots of electricity in my bladder. I find the more I try to do around the house or even running errands I start hurting after a while. I hate that because I am very active and I love doing things with the kids. My husband is getting tired of hearing how bad I feel too. I love him to death, but he just don't seem to understand. I have always lead such a happy and full life and now it seems like I never feel good anymore. I try to ignore it and go on. The pain medication really helps for awhile I feel like my self again, but it is so hard to get without insurance. I don't know what to do I feel so helpless and alone. Can anyone tell me how they deal with this illness no one else seems to understand?

[ICNDonna]

Are you following an IC diet? If not, I suggest you begin that immediately. It could help you significantly.

And I honestly think you need to see a doctor, even if it's just for one visit. You could have an infection and it can only get worse.

Donna

[Claredale]

Welcome to the IC. I am glad you found us. You really sound like you are in a bad situation. Have you been following the IC diet? I have had IC for a long time and my kids were young when all of this started, so I can definitely understand what you are going through. I too was a very active mom and loved to be active, kept my house pretty clean and worked full-time. I have been on pain meds most of my time dealing with IC, so I can't imagine what it's like to go without them. I take a few other meds, but I know they are expensive without insurance. One of them is Prosed DS which hads actually decreased my need for pain meds.

Hopefully some people with chime in with ideas on how you can get your meds. One of the things that helped me the most when I first started dealing with IC was taking hot baths (4 or more a day). I had a 2 year old and a 5 year old at the time, so I know it's hard. I also pretty much lived with my heating pad during my painful times.

Are you drinking alot of water? This is easier said than done, but the best thing is also to get as much rest as you can. Anytime I would overdo it, I always had more pain than usual. As for your husband, I asked mine to go with me to my doctor's appointment and she talked to him about what IC was and how it may possibly be something that I would be dealing with for a long time and she was working on getting me on the best combo of meds and treatments. I am grateful that he was always understanding because he knew I was having a hard time not being my old self anymore.

Hugs, Tracey

[Pac168r]

Welcome........

I feel your pain...literally. I was in your same shoes, as were most on this board. I cry when I think back to when I first got sick...what I can tell you is that I took control and I got alot better.

Diet is huge. It's not easy, I remember crying the first time I was at the market. It was the fourth of July and I was scared to death to eat. Thank God for ICN.

Have faith that you will get better......

My husband did not understand...in fact after a year he couldn't even tell me what IC stood for...we ended up splitting up for 6 months, but we have found our way back to each other and now he can even pronounce Interstital Cystitis and is very understanding.

IC will throw you a curveball....adapt your swing and you'll stay in the ball game. Life is too short to sit out.