Newly Diagnosed

[OllieR]

I was recently diagnosed and have been looking around the site and finally decided to post something. I had never really heard of it before, but I'm definitely ready for treatment because the symptoms have been driving me crazy for three months now! I do not think I have slept since then either. :headbang: I guess one unusual thing I've noticed about my condition is the fever I've had since like August. Just low grade, but enough to make me want to punch something haha! The diagnosis is frustrating... I am a very busy person. Love it all though - I definitely don't want to slow down so I hope this thing gets better once my doctor can decide on a treatment! Though he pretty much rocks my socks off. Anyways, I hope for the best! Glad I found this site - my friends aren't very understanding, but what can you do.

[leelee88]

Hello and :welcome: To the ICN..

Sounds like you have a pretty positive attitude about your diagnoses.. Which is a good thing.. Having IC is not the end of the world.. The biggest thing is just learning how to live with it and what works for you..Right meds, diet, what you can and can not do anymore. and in time you will learn this and adjust.. If you need anything please do not hesitate to ask..

[Briza]

Hello and welcome :hi: Glad you found us, sorry for your diagnosis! But like leelee said, a postive outlook will take you far as you start on the IC journey.

Don't forget that your dr should allow you some input on any meds or treatments that you are given. So if he is not knockin or was it rockin? your socks off fast enough for your bladder, please don't be afraid to do your own research here on the board and talk to him about treatments you would like to try and why and see what he thinks.

Also, always good to have a copy of The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide...it is very comphensive regarding treatments for IC. You can order from the ICN shop here or from any reputable online bookstore. Possibly a library might have it. But always good to have your own copy.
Also, please take a look at the ICN patient handbook thru the link below:
http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/

and the IC Diet and Diet cheatsheet....accessed up top of this page... click on DIET. The IC diet and determining your food triggers is probably the number one most important thing for patients, since almost ALL IC patients have a least a few food and bev triggers. Meds and treatments are sometimes pointless if you have food triggers but don't avoid them.

Also drinking lots of water very important for most of us. It keeps the urine less concentrated and therefore less irritating to the bladder.

Heating pads and/or cold packs also good self help things that most of us cannot live without.

The low grade fever doesn't seem to be a common symptom of IC unless you are dealing with an infection such as a UTI or something else. Not unheard of to have fever along with a bad flare, but not all that common. So please look into what could be causing that. If you have your urine sampled and it comes up clean, make sure to instruct the dr to send it to lab for culturing...sometimes those bugger bacteria like to play hide and seek. Also, sorry to say :rolleyes:submitting a stool sample for testing would be a good idea. Before IC I had a bout of low grade fever that would come and go weekly for 6 months. Finally went to the my GP, she had me submit a stool sample and yep, I had had a bug all that time and it required testing the sample to find the right antibiotic b/c it was a bug that doesn't normally make people sick. That was my only symptom, low grade fever, and loss of appetite. Of course I ate b/c I knew I had to, I just never felt hungry. Anyway, once the right antibiotic was given I was back to normal within a week!

Ok, sorry for the ramble lol, I'm known for that around here lol. Hope you feel better and get some symptom relief very soon! Best wishes!Bri:)

[OllieR]

Thanks for all the advice! I think I'll have time to sort this out better when I'm not spending every waking moment studying for finals! I hope I can start on the diet soon too, but for now I cannot make it through the day without caffeine. :/

[Briza]

Good luck with your finals! :) If you absolutely cannot limit your caffeinated bev intake right now, whether it be sodas, coffee, whatever....even more reason to increase your water intake to keep your bladder flushed out.
Best wishes,Bri:)

[ICNDonna]

Caffeine is one of the worst triggers for many ICers. I suggest you try giving up your coffee and sodas for just a few days to see if it helps.

:grouphug:
Donna