fed up

[linz29]

hi there, my name is lindsay and i am a 29 year old single working mum from northern irealnd. i have just came across this website as i have being doing my own research into finding out what the hell is wrong with me. i am fed up being passed from doctor to doctor, and it seems like they all think it is in my head. i first had a problems in late 2003 and it was diagnosed as a uti then again i had the same symptoms in 2004 where again it was diagnosed as n uti and then maybe a kidney infection even though all the urine tests came out negative for infection. i tried to describe to them that it was like a hot poker in my nether regions and it wasnt just when i passed urine, it was all the time. since then i have reaccurent flares and just get told that it could be thrush(yeast infection) and get treated with diflucan as canestan is like putting acid on my vagina. i attended an appointment with a gyn consultant which i had to wait three months for, just to get sent home with a long term prescription of trimithropin and after a physical check she said she couldnt find anything wrong with me.this was in april....since then i was actually sitting watching an episode of sex and the city and heard about vulvidynia. i immediately looked it up on the internet and it sounded like what i had.so the next day i made an appointment with my gp to find out more about it.she prescribed me an anti depressant amitriptyline which apparently can help for vulva pain and told me to come back in a few months.
to be honest i cant really take them during the day as they make me really sleepy and i find it hard to concentrate in work, so i take one before bed time so i can sleep it off. i had another flare up last week and couldnt wear anything tight...i had to pee all the time and found i was scared to go to the toilet as i knew what it was going to be like. i have been dating someone for nearly a year and he wa staying for along weekend at mine and i couldnt talk to him about it as i dont know what is wrong with me, i also didnt want to put hime off me as its not really the most roantic of conversations. i am divorced from my husband no three years and we split because he couldnt understand why i was always in pain and couldnt accept that it was uncomfortable for me to have sex. i really want my new relationship to work and i want my life to be as normal as it can.
i generally feel isolated and am happy now to find out that i am not the only one suffering. i am going on holiday with my son in two weeks and all i can think about is "what if it comes back" i fell my life is being controlled with whatever i have.i have cut out foods and drinks...do not wash with soaps etc wash my clothes in unperfumed detergents etc etc ....i just want someone to tell me exactly what i have and to get treatment for it as i really am at the end of my tether with it.
does it souond like i have ic or maybe it is something else. i would appreciate some help?!!! please!:bonk:


p.s. sorry for going on and on!!!!:help:

[ICNDonna]

:welcome: to the IC Network.

Have you read the information in the Patient Handbook on this site? It contains some very helpful information about diagnosis and treatments.

I do have one suggestion and that is to put yourself on an IC diet to see if that helps your symptoms. Some people with IC find that single step helps more than anything else.

Donna

[SharonA]

:welcome: to the ICN... :)

I have links to the Patient Handbook and the IC Diet in my signature below. Please take a look that this information.

Also, I have taken Amitriptyline (Elavil) for IC symptoms a while now. I take it in the early evenings anywhere from 6:00 to 7:00 to combat the foggy feeling in the mornings.

[sickofmybladder]

First let me say :welcome: - I understand completely how you feel. I went to doctors for over 2 years - begging to find out what was wrong with me - and had lots of docs tell me they just couldn't find anything wrong that would explain the type of pain I was indicating I was in - in fact one doctor pulled my husband off to the side and said maybe it was all in my head :loco:. You are not alone. :)

Definately, try the IC diet - it may take a couple of weeks of being on it before you can tell a difference - but don't give up on it - now I am able to tell you absolutely the foods/drinks I must stay away from - it does help.

I also take a low dose of Elavil - and I must take my dose by 8pm in order to get up and not be in a fog by 6:30 a.m. - so see if taking it earlier in the evening helps you. Also - it took awhile before it started helping me - I've heard that some people can tell more quickly - but for me it was really a few months - before I noticed.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation - and try not to stress - it always makes my symptoms worse. Let us know how you are doing.

[linz29]

thankyou for all your replies.finally people who know what its like!!!!!!
unfortunately all these names of medication mean absolutely nothing to me...have tried looking a few up on the net but i think i will just have to yet another visit to my doc to see if she can inlighten me on them!!!am trying to get an appointment for next week, so i will let you guys know how it goes....fingers crossed! also i have made mental lists of what to eat and what not to eat....hardly drink coffee tea etc and when i do i drink decaff and i cant remember the last time i had soft drinks...the only problem is chocolate, but hey if its a decision between a moment on the lips or relief from pain...hey i choose the latter!!!!!! the biggets thing is fruit...i eat alot of it, but i will refrain yet again.i will be eating a very bland and plain diet for the next while so i can rule out whats good and whats not.

take care all.
x
:)