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shanaladee
02-05-2008, 08:53 AM
Hello all,

I am a 41 year old female who has newly been diagnosed although I now think that I have had this for years and years.

At the age of 12 or maybe younger, I began getting recurrent UTIs which ultimately became kidney infections. It was constant and many doctors and years later, my left kidney became deformed with lots of scarring.

In 1998, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer which had spread and I had to have 40 doses radiation along with radiated seeds...radiated rods and who knows what else.

Sometime after all that, I began to get the feeling like I had a UTI infection of some sort (usually it felt like it was bladder or kidney) but when I went to the doctor, they would detect blood but there would be no infection. It was thought that the blood in my urine was probably the result of the previous radiation.
Separate from this, my right kidney would hurt. After a few years and finally finding a doctor to listen to me; I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. (More than likely the result of the radiation). In 2004, my right kidney was removed.

The pain that I once felt in my back from my right kidney is gone but not the pain of feeling like I have an infection. My urologist, who has been wonderful, did a cystoscopy with biopsies and diagnosed me with Chronic Cystitis/Radiation Cystitis.

I have just recently found this site and am so relieved to read what others have had to say and get other prospectives and in turn; I hope that I maybe able to eventually offer help also.

Dee :hi:

kuntrygurl78
02-05-2008, 05:31 PM
Welcome to the ICN!:welcome:

You are right..this site is amazing! I love how everyone is so helpful and nice! There are so many treatments for IC. When I was first diagnosed, I just cried and cried. I thought my life was over. Now, Ive found what foods and drinks irritate me. I found what I need to take when Im in pain. I have a very mild case, and I contribute that to this site, and to the fact that my case was caught early.

Please feel free to post any questions/concerns!

A.J.
02-05-2008, 08:09 PM
Dee,
Welcome! I hope you find our community useful and you can get some help with any questions you may have. Glad you found us :)

ICNDonna
02-06-2008, 03:08 AM
I know one other person who has a chronic bladder condition following radiation therapy. She moved away so I haven't seen her for a while. She did say she was doing better on an IC diet.

Donna

GriffsMommy
02-06-2008, 03:13 AM
:welcome: to the ICN! You really have been through the ringer so to speak. I am so sorry that you now have radiation cystitis on top of all of the other problems you have had. I hope that now knowing what is going on you will be able to find the right treatment for you and start to feel better. I agree with the other girls, this is a wonderful site and we have all been helped so much by it in different ways. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do. As Kim said we are always here to try to answer any questions you have.

shanaladee
02-06-2008, 03:43 AM
:) Thank you for the warm welcome.

It definitely helps to have a place to come to and feel a part of. I now feel like there are others who really understand and even the embarrassing things that I never talked about; I can now talk about if I choose to and know that others understand and may even have some helpful things to help get through it. (I got a bit teary eyed with that last sentence-lol)

Donna, thank you about the suggestion about the diet. I will look into that. I really hadn't noticed if there was a correlation to what I eat and what I feel. Actually, maybe I did sort of noticed but never really paid attention. :bonk: :)

Dee