Newly diagnosed

[dkangel1]

Hi there!

I am never good at intro post, I actually dread them. But I am Audra, i'm 28 and I was diagnosed with IC last week by my OBGYN. Actually it was more I started crying and telling all what had been going on.. all the pain, the frequency and so forth. I told him how I been to the ER for the pain and to my family doctor.. just to be treated like I was a dummy. He asked me a trillion questions and then he said he was pretty sure it sounded like IC (since some of the other stuff was ruled out by family doc and ER visits). He told me to go online and find the diet and start following that and then get to a uro soon so I can make 100% sure that is what it is and make it official.

That is great and all, but I am currently newly graduated from college and don't have a job or insurance. Since these "issues" started in June.. I honestly can't even think about a job as my energy is gone since I can't sleep at night well. So how am I to afford going to a uro? The clinics for low income people in my area are very basic and some are not even taking new people! My family doctor who does work with my income treats me stupid since he found out I have a personal and family history with depression. Another thing being low income is getting the right foods.. healthy foods = higher prices. I am eating the same things over and over because I can't afford to get a lot. I am making do though, so I am grateful for that.

I just want to get these test so I know.. I feel like a fraud or something because it isn't "official", even though I am pretty sure I have IC. But even some friends and family are not really taking me to seriously lately. I think they are tired of me whining all the time about not feeling good.

They are right, I been whining a lot over the past few years. I have had 3 surgeries in these past years (left ovary removal and 2 hernia repairs). So I guess I can see why they may think I am being whiny. Doesn't mean I don't need their support. I am scared and getting depressed because I don't have energy to go out and get a job and insurance. I'm just so confused and I want caffeine again.

But I figured I would come here and be with people who have gone through some of this stuff and knew I wasn't just being whiny. So I am thankful for this forum.

Hope this post makes sense.. my thoughts are all over.

[SharonA]

Audra...:welcome: to the ICN...

You have already taken a very important first step in helping ease your symptoms. The IC Diet can be your first line of defense. Give it a good try. It might take a month or two, but it is very possible that, once your bladder calms down, you will be able to add back some of the foods you have taken off your diet. The information available in the Diet section explains how to proceed with your diet.

Also, take a look at the ICN Shop. There are all kinds of things in there that may help you feel better. You can find a link to it at the top of this page. I highly recommend the "Newly Diagnosed Kit". I have included the link to it. http://www.icnsales.com/KITS-our-best-buys-p-1-c-40.html

I know that everything can seem rather overwhelming right now. Take your time and don't rush. Explore this site and read the information available to you here. There are so many different meds/treatments that can help. There is no reason to think that your hopes and dreams for yourself will not become reality. Many of us, including myself, live a full and happy life despite having IC.

(((Hugs)))...

[leelee88]

Hello and :welcome:

I think Sharon gave you some great tips! The IC diet is not hard nor expensive so, I would stick to it for awhile and get things calmed down.

Do you think maybe your GYN would prescribe you something to help? I know you said you do not have insurance, but there are a lot of prescription plans you could try if the GYN would write you a script for something like Elavil just until you can start feeling better and get a job with insurance. I am sure if you explained this to him or her they would listen and do this for you.
You could get info here on the ICN and print out facts about Meds and take that to your GYN..

I hope things do work out for you! Please always know you are not alone and we are here for you if you need anything!

[ABliske]

Hi welcome, I am 28 also and it's hard having it this young. I wish you all the best. I would recommend trying to get on a pain killer so you can work. I know that sounds impossible. I worked through some horrificly painful days. I finally got enough relief with MS Contin. Vicotin helped me a little before that. Some people can take extra strength Tylenol or do natutal remedies to ease their pain.
I hope you are well enough to continue what you want to do very soon. It is a struggle getting there. I tried 100 different things and it felt like 1,000 because it can be painful (surgeries), expensive!, frustrating and very time consumming.
Hopefully, the diet will work out. I don't even really miss caffiene much now. I was a coffee and diet Pepsi drinker. There are many great things out there though. I like Cafix with creamer, herbal teas, and I just saw a magazine recipe for a blueberry coconut smoothie which sounds delicious.

[NewLife]

Hi Audra! I'm sorry you have IC. This is not a fun condition to have. The good thing about it is that flares seem to come and go and when they do go away for a while, we have an opportunity to really experience life in all of its beauty.

Don't give up! Find some pain management meds so you can work. Whether or not you have IC is not as important right now as the fact that you need to get your pain under control so that you can find a job. Congratulations on your graduation, by the way! I would suggest that you schedule job interviews for a time in the day when your symptoms are not as bothersome. For me, mornings are worse than afternoons.

As far as food, definitely try the IC diet. I too am a huge coffee addict--used to drink as much as 3-4 cups a day. Not any more! I found that hazelnut milk helps calm my cravings for coffee. It kinda tastes like iced latte. I've been off coffee for a week now and, honestly, I don't even miss it. Being healthy is more important.

Also, IC diet does not have to be expensive. The truth is that processed foods with additives are more expensive than unprocessed foods and they set off our flares. For instance, I eat a lot of grains--rice, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, millet...and all of them are under $2 a pound at Whole Foods. A pound makes a lot--between 6 and 10 servings! And it's healthy.

Good luck with your job search!

[dkangel1]

leelee88,

I would like to take something for the pain, but I am scared too. Addiction runs in the family and while I do not have any addiction issues, I currently live with people who are new to recovery and maybe tempted if they saw I have some pain relievers beyond a tylenol. But I may have to be sneeky about it because I need something as OTC stuff isn't helping all the time.

Thank you for replying!!

[dkangel1]

ABliske,
I am finding coffee not to be such an issue anymore.. I had a chance to have a cuppa today.. and I took a sip and I was like "eh" and gave my cup to someone else. I also understand sugery cost.. like I said I just had 3 surgeries lately and no insurance.. epp! But as I was telling leelee88 I may have to try something stronger than a OTC.. I need something.

Thanks for replying.

[dkangel1]

New Life,
What do you make with all those grains? Maybe I am just clueless about what to make with stuff. But fresh veggies are more pricey than pre packaged stuff. I am just confused with the food I guess.. that and I try to eat a certain way because I been trying to lose weight (65lbs over the past 1.5 years so far).. maybe I have to give that up and just not worried about calories and the such right now.

[TerriT]

Welcome,

Sorry you are having these problems but there are all kinds of treatments open to you that may help, pain control is a major one.

If possible, at least until you can see a uro see if your doctor will prescribe some Vicodin or similar. Vicodin are really inexpensive, less than $20 for 30 or so, depending on the strength. You need to control the pain and be able to sleep so that you can function until things fall into place and maybe you can then get a job and insurance so that you can try other treatments that you cannot afford now.

Good luck let us know what happens.

[NewLife]

Hi Audra,
I went through a period of not eating meat for ethical reasons (would continue to do that but I feel I need more protein now to heal my IC ulcer), so here is what I did:

-buckwheat + butter + milk (serve separately or pour into the buckwheat)
-rice + boiled or scrambled eggs on the side + cucumber on the side
-quinoa + cranberries mixed in. Can't do cranberries anymore, but I think that quinoa + parsley + scallions + sunflower seeds would work.
-millet + pumpkin or squash - not sure if pumpkin is IC safe, though
-rice + beans + chopped up carrots all mixed
-rice, quinoa or millet with steamed broccoli
-oatmeal with some brown sugar - I like it so much that I can eat it for dinner!

Also, you can have chicken or beef with a side of grains. It's very filling so you don't need a big portion of meat.

I am also trying to lose weight but I don't think that grains are horribly bad. They are complex carbs, have some protein and other vitamins, and are way better than pasta and potatoes. I find that what helps me with weight management is eating a big lunch w/grains and protein, and just having some cottage or farmer cheese with blueberries for dinner.

As far as vegetables--I think it is better to eat frozen prepackaged ones than none at all.

I hope this helps.