Do I have a severe case of IC?

[Love2Act16]

From reading a lot of stories it seems that my IC case isn't as severe as others and I wanted people's opinion. I only started to have symptoms about 3 months ago. I can still have sex although it does cause me some irritation (My doctor said I only had a mild case of vestibulitis)... and with enough water, I was able to not have a flare up for over 3 weeks. This past week before I was diagnosed, I was not eating well. I had a few oranges, lots of juice, and lots of sourdough bread. I also thought I might have a UTI and stressed myself out severely and had my period. It caused the worst flare up that I have ever had. I had a flare up Thursday night, Friday morning and on Sunday (mostly due to the stress of knowing that I have IC). The Sunday one I was able to maintain and work through. It was very painful but I decided to not focus on it, hoping it would go away. I was able to go through my long day and by the end of it, I was ok. It seems like I have a mild case of IC. Does this sound right to anyone?

I have been on the IC diet for a few days now and am extremely careful. I don't eat anything that could possibly cause a flare up. I am hoping that my quick diagnosis will work in my favor.

[ICNDonna]

Now that you're on the IC diet, hopefully you will begin to feel better. It can take as much as a month on the diet to see much change, but if you slip (like eating oranges), it can cause pain within a few hours.

Hang in there. You will have better days.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[leelee88]

I really do not know how you would classify severe, I am thinking that would prob be people that are on the brinks of bladder removal..I really thought in the beginning I had severe because of how bad I hurt.. But I have met so many that are worse off than me..
But I seen my bladder when I was first diagnosed and it was covered with hemorrhages and glomerulations. it just looked really bad.. Now in the beginning I had pain 24/7 So I would say I had moderate IC then. Now my pain is controllable So I am hoping that my bladder is not as bad as it was, So I would say I only have mild IC now IF I was going by the pain level..I will never have another Hydro, so I guess I will not know what the inside of bladder looks like now..

[Love2Act16]

Thank you all for replying so quickly. Its so wonderful to be able to talk to all of you.

And on another note... I am able to go through many days at a time without feeling any sort of pain, if I drink enough water usually. During a flare up, the water doesn't work but I usually only have horrible flare ups once every 3 weeks or so. This seems strange to me and not necessarily normal of typical IC.

[SharonA]

Since you said that you have a flare about every 3 weeks, it could be hormonal in nature. There are many of us here who report that they flare around the time of their period.