Hey ya'll I'm new to all this! just looking for some advice!

[Emmy1151]

Hey!.....after 3 months, countless antibiotics from UTI's that i didnt even have, a couple of trips to the emergency room, and several negetive urine cultures, I was diagnosed with IC yesterday!

For me this all kind of came out of know where...it was like all the sudden It hurt when i urinated, it hurt when i didnt urinated, I was going frequently but most of the time it was just false urges. I am only 20 years old and none of my friends or boyfreind had even heard of IC so they dont really know what to say or do to help. I go back to my gyno on friday to discuss treatment options and i cant wait to start a plan of action and hopefully get this under control...

...I have a few questions....

1) I was diagnosed by a Parsons test however i read online that parsons test are only 70% accurate still all my symptoms match up with IC, but i was just wondering if anyone else was diagnosed by a Parsons teat?

2) About 3 months ago (when this all started) i changed to a new birth control for the first time in 4 years and I am wondering if that could have been the trigger. Did birth control trigger IC flare ups for anyone else and what kind of birth controls work well wiht IC?

3) Is anxiety something that often come along with IC or is it just me?

and finally 4) once i start treatment on friday how long will it be until i can expect to be feel some relief?



thank you guys sooo much for have this website.....reading this has le me know that I am not alone and has also been very educational on this condition that 3 months ago i never even knew exisisted!

[leelee88]

...I have a few questions....

1) I was diagnosed by a Parsons test however i read online that parsons test are only 70% accurate still all my symptoms match up with IC, but i was just wondering if anyone else was diagnosed by a Parsons teat?

2) About 3 months ago (when this all started) i changed to a new birth control for the first time in 4 years and I am wondering if that could have been the trigger. Did birth control trigger IC flare ups for anyone else and what kind of birth controls work well wiht IC?

3) Is anxiety something that often come along with IC or is it just me?

and finally 4) once i start treatment on friday how long will it be until i can expect to be feel some relief?



thank you guys sooo much for have this website.....reading this has le me know that I am not alone and has also been very educational on this condition that 3 months ago i never even knew exisisted!

Question 1- Parsons test ? Is this the Potassium Sensitive test? If so many are diagnosed with that test alone. But if you feel uncertain about the test being accurate then you could always ask for a cysto/hydro.But this is a more invasive proceedure.

Question 2- I have heard people mention on here that changing birthcontrol is when their symptoms started.. I do not think this is what caused their IC but a change in hormones could have triggered it..

Questions 3 -Anxiety and stress is ALOT of ICers #1 one trigger! I know it is for me!

Question 4 - What treatments are you starting? No treatments are guaranteed also it may take many treatments before you see results. You may have to try different meds to get your IC under control..

But with the right meds and treatment IC can be gotten under control.. There is NO cure but it is treatable!!!

[elamar]

Did the birthcontrol you switched to happen to be Yaz? I ask because many women with IC cannot handle that particular birthcontrol. There is something in it that doesnt' sit well with those with IC. I have never used that brand myself, just read on these boards about many women who have had problems with it. Have you been given any meds yet? If you are having frequency and urgency issues ask your doctor about urelle or prosed. These help alot with the spasms that make you feel like you gotta go. There is a generic of urelle called utira-c that I use, that is much cheaper. Your doctor should be able to give you free samples of these to try. There is no generic for prosed so it can be expensive. A big factor in all of this is diet. Somewhere on these boards some one has posted the IC diet to try and follow. Basically you want to avoid anything acidic - like coffee, chocolate, alcohol and things with vinegars. That's just a start! The list can look kind of scary to begin with, but can give your bladder a chance to calm down. My IC also came out of nowhere. I just woke up with a uti, and it never feels like it has ever gone away. Another thing you might want to consider is a good probiotic. Since you have been on lots of antibiotics, a good probiotic can help rebalance your insides. Do you live near a whole foods market? There are lots there. I take one called megadophilus. Others can chime in on what they use. This can also help prevent yeast infections. Hope this helps you get started. Sorry it started so young for you. Mine hit at 40. Don't be afraid to post with further questions. These boards can give lots of advice for you to discuss with your doctor. Good luck to you.

[leelee88]

elamar, You are correct!! Yaz contains potassium! and this will cause an increase to have to go....So if you are sensitive to potassium then Yaz is NOT a good choice of BC...Thanks for this reminder!!

[traceann]

Hello and :welcome: to the ICN! I am certainly glad you found us, this place is wonderful for help and support! I learned sooooo much from the gang here, I don't know what I would have done without this place!

Like Ronda said, treatments can vary and it's hard to say how soon you'll feel relief. With Elmiron, it can take anywhere from 3-6 months to feel some benefit of the med and 6-12 to feel the full benefit. That's where diet and whatnot really can be helpful in helping to control your symptoms until the meds can have a chance to do their thing. ;) Unfortunately, it seems nothing is speedy in treating IC, but it's very controllable and things will get better, usually the hardest and worst time is around diagnosis! :) :) :)

Keep your chin up, and vey nice to meet you!!!

Hugs,
Tracey

[Julie B]

My daughter had terrible problems with Yaz and had to stop it. There are so many other bc pills out there, hopefully, you can find one that works for you.

There is definitely a hormone connection to flares. I flare like clockwork the week prior to my period (as if regular PMS wasn't enough)!

What test did you end up having? Was it the PUF questionnaire? Was it a potassium test?

[Emmy1151]

Thanks for all the advice girls!....i went ot see my doctor yesterday and switched my from lo-ovral (which is the one i was switched to when my symptoms started)...to Aleese so hopefully that will help...and the test is had was that Potassium one that a few peole mentioned but i have an appointment with a urologist next week and i think i am going to have to cysto done just to be 100% sure. She also put me on some medicine for anxiety because when i start thinkin about it to much and get stressed i definetly noticed that my IC gets so much worse! I hope all of you have a great day!!

[dverba]

girl you just asked the most asked questions in ic history!

if you breeze through many of the old post there are lots of great ideas and opinions.

at work or i would go into detail on my situation and what works. :bonk: