Positive Feedback and Stories Needed

[ellenjb]

Hi Everyone!

I figured I would post this here since I was only diagnosed 3 months ago, and cannot currently take meds. I'm now 18 weeks pregnant....and while I know what a blessing the outcome is, I was diagnosed with IC (after 4 years of symptoms) right before I found out I was pregnant. As a result, my IC will remain untreated with meds until after I have the baby. I seriously cannot handle feeling like this anymore, and am wondering if anyone has any tips on how to minimize the extreme bladder pressure...I just always feel like I'm ready to explode. The diet is not much help, and I also am not willing to avoid everything considering my baby needs nutrients (and i cannot take vitamins b/c they make the IC horrible). Also, please anyone with good stories about how much meds have helped with the constant urgency, please please chime in b/c i'm in dire straights right now and need some positive feedback. I truly feel like I'm never going to get better. Thanks everyone!

[ICNDonna]

I suggest you talk with your ob doc and ask about some medications that are safe to take that could help you feel better. And you can have a very balanced diet and still follow the IC guidelines.

When is your baby due?

Donna

[ScrabbleMom]

I think it might encourage you to know that many people go into remission after having a baby. I mentioned having another baby to my doctor, and he was very positive about it, saying that he had seen lots of good effects on IC from pregnancy.
I think you should treat yourself like a queen during this time-- lay on the couch all day if you need to! If I were pregnant, I would try to follow the IC diet as much as possible. The diet is so important-- drinking soda, hot chocolate, coffee, or orange juice is an automatic flare for me, and you don't have to have any of these things while pregnant.

[Goldfinch]

I would search through the pregnancy threads and see what types of meds are helpful during pregnancy and not harmful to the baby. And definitely talk to your doc about that; if you do your research first you may come up with some that he/she doesn't know about! Find out if Urelle or Prosed be taken during pregnancy. Those drugs seem to be fairly benign.

Despite how bland and boring the IC diet gets, it can be a very healthy diet even when seriously restricted. Assuming no major food allergies to dairy, wheat or eggs, you probably do well with most protein sources, orange, red and green vegetables, legumes and complex carbs. Dark leafy greens have plenty of vitamin C.

I didn't have IC when I was pregnant, and I admit that pregnancy without pickles and sour grapefruit would have been very hard for me, but I'm surviving without 'em now, so I could have done it then, I guess! Treat yourself to some things you love and can tolerate. Congrats!

[vm]

Hopefully all the women who are pregnant or have been pregnant with IC will see your post and chime in. I'm sure they'll have some tips for you - or will at least be able to commiserate. :kissing:

[ellenjb]

Thank you all for your responses. Donna, i am due July 4th but will be taken in a week earlier than that as I'm a repeat csection with a blood clot disorder (so they take you early to avoid fetal death). I have a 9 month old son, so unfortunately resting on the couch is just not an option....he keeps me busy. And to be honest, after I had him, my IC remained horrid. I defin. follow the IC diet pretty closely, but every now and then I will have some fruits...I cannot justify not eating them with a little baby relying on me for development, ya know. I called Dr. moldwin today to ask about doing instills without sod. bicarb (increases the absorption and makes lidocaine cross the placenta) and they ok'd marcaine plus heparin. hopefully I will respond somewhat to it. I took an Azo today to get through the work day (I am an attorney who works only about 12 hours a week....which is more like rest time compared to running after a baby who is almost walking, haha). That really really helped. I guess I'm just going to have to wait to take most meds by the sound of it. Thank you all so much for your suggestions : )