Diagnosed in January w/ IC... I'm so depressed about it.

[Yko]

Hello everyone. I'm glad to have found a community so large to help me deal with my IC.

My name is Krystal and I'm a 22 year old girl, going through my last semester in college. My symptoms started overnight, like a snap of the fingers. It all started on October 2nd, 2007.

I started feeling this very painful arousal/burning feeling in my vagina, vulva, and clitoris on Oct. 2nd. It was horrible, and I went to the gynecologist immediately. He didn't know what was wrong with me and said that my pain was psychological, so he sent me to a psychiatrist.... that was all a big mess for me.

Along with the tingling I started having SEVERE pain in my abdomen. I lived like this for weeks. I went to my general physician and he did some tests...

... he narrowed it down to a possibility of interstitial cystitis. I made an appointment with a urologist. After a few months of all these different doctors, I had a cystoscopy and hydrodistention on January 16th.

My original bladder size was only 300cc. I had pinpoint bleeding pretty bad in the lining of my bladder. My doctor told me that I had severe interstitial cystitis.

I'm currently just taking Prosed DS. I've only been going to the doctors for 4 months now so I haven't had a lot of time to try out medications. My health insurance runs out in May and I'm freaking out.

This condition has severely impaired my life, and I'm having a very hard time dealing with it. I've had depression for years before this, and now sometimes all this pain/tingling/urgency just drives me crazy and I get so sad. Why did this have to come about right before I graduate college? I am currently not going to graduate school because of this disease. How is this going to affect my life just as I'm about to enter the working field?

That's my story in a nutshell. I'm very scared about my future, and no one in my family supports me because they don't understand the disease. I feel all alone.

I hope to make friends on this forum... maybe we can help each other.

[SandyRN]

:welcome: to the board. I'm sorry you're here under such circumstances but rest assured you came to a great place. There are a lot of very helpful people here who know what they're talking about and we're always here to help.

I have had the arousal problems that you describe and it can and does go along with IC, but some people have that alone as a diagnosis. It's called persistant genital arousal syndrome or persistant sexual arousal syndrome. Mine comes and goes and I get it a couple times a year but have been lucky lately because it hasn't bothered me. I do have severe IC and have tried a lot of different medications and treatments for it. I am taking round the clock pain medication now for it and it really has given me my life back. Not everyone needs the pain meds though as a variety of different meds can really help. Elavil is one of them, along with Atarax which is an antihistamine that helps the bladder because we have so many mast cells in our IC bladders and the antihistamine helps to control these cells. The elavil is very good for pain relief as well as frequency and urgency.

Doing the IC diet can help a LOT and I suggest you check out the diet section at the link at the top of the page that says diet. Finding your food triggers is essential to controlling your IC.

Read this board, ask lots of questions when you feel the need and know you've come to a great, helpful place where we all understand how you feel!

Nice to meet you!

Sandy

[Tara_09]

Im sorry to hear that you have IC but at least now you have a diagnosis and can start the proper treatments. You will definatly find all of the support you need here. Don't give up hope it can get better. Have you tried the IC diet? I was recently diagnosed with severe IC on Jan 14 by cysto/hydro. I havn't seen my doctor for a follow up yet so I havnt started any medication except pryidium. I started the IC diet and I have really noticed a big difference. Im 21 and am in my junior year of college so I know how you feel about school. We can definitly help each other get through this. Always remember you are not alone :grouphug: Feel free to PM me if you ever want to talk.:smile tee

[leelee88]

:hi: And :welcome:To the ICN

You know things can get better, So hang in there. And you should really talk to your Dr about Medicines. Because they have helped me be able to live a better life with IC.

Also I would suggest trying the IC diet and staying away from all the problem foods on the bad list. You can find this in our Patient Handbook. http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/

Now about that arousel/burning feeling. What helped with that was a tricyclic antidepressant, like Elavil or Tofranil. They are known to help with nerve pain. This is what causes that feeling in alot of people. Also drinking enough water is important. This will help dilute your urine and keep you from buring.
Well, Don't give up there is hope.. If you need anything just ask..

[dyno]

Hi, I wanted to add my welcome. I am sorry you are feeling so bad. IC can be tough to handle sometimes until you understand it better and get some treatments working for you. Most of us find those treatments but it just takes time to find what works for you.

You have been told about the diet and the handbook in previous posts here, I agree both of those things will be very helpful to you. There is also a book IC Survivial Guide by Dr. Robert Moldwin. This is a very good book. Sometimes printing off things you read on here or letting others read a book is a good way to help them understand what is going on.

Hang in there, work with your Dr. to find what works for you and know that we are here to help in the ways we can to get your through the IC journey. We all still walk it everyday!:)

[SharonA]

Hello and :welcome: to the ICN...:)

I am so happy that you found your way here for support and understanding. We all have been or still are where you find yourself right now...at the beginning. There are so many meds/treatments available to us now. It is very possible to find the right one/ones that will help you return to a productive lifestyle. Your dreams are very possible to achieve.

Read the information in the Handbook. Start the IC Diet. Talk with your doctor about the different meds. Do everything you can to work with your doctor. You and he/she should work as a team to help you find what works for you.

We are here to help you...:) :) :)