Just diagnosed

[leywren]

I was diagnosed with IC on the 18th. The doctor I saw was the 6th one I had seen this year alone trying to find what was wrong. Over the years, I had seen other doctors periodically for the UTI's I seemed prone to. The past couple of months however, I had been pressing for cultures of my urine to find just exactly what was causing the UTI's only to find I don't have UTI's at all. As frustrating as this is, its not nearly as frustrating as not knowing what is wrong. I am taking elmiron now. From what I have read here, I know I need to start an elimination diet to ease my symptoms. I am a vegan, and am kind of intimidated by trying to figure out what I can eat. If anyone here is vegan, or knows about how to eat on the IC Diet while vegan, I'd really appreciate the help. I also have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and right temporal lobe epilepsy. I am 25. I became vegan to help with my other health problems, which have all greatly improved since I made the switch.

~Leywren

[VickiB]

:welcome: to the ICN Leywren!

I'm not a vegan so can't really help you on that, but just wanted to say we're glad to have you join us here!

Vicki

[Briza]

hi:hi:
Welcome to ICN!!
I am sorry for your diagnosis but with diagnosis comes treatment and most times that leads to feeling much much better!!:) Yes, the diet is so very important for most of us, so it is good that you are already looking into that! I am not a vegan but I know there are some other members here who are or were, so possibly if you started a thread in the general diet questions forum might be helpful to get responses on that specifically. You can find two links to the diet info here on ICN in my signature below. They should be of much help
Stick around, search and read old posts, and ask questions...this is a very active board and rarely to never does a question not get a response! Take care!

[BT2008]

Hey leywren,

I am so sorry that you have IC too! But, you have come to the right place for information and support. Here you will receive a lot of both!

As far as being vegan is concerned you should have it a lot easier than most people, because a diet rich in vegetables is mostly a win-win situation for IC'ers. Even though you may have to give up soy products and most kinds of nuts, you are already accustomed to not eating dairy which includes all of the aged cheeses that most people love and find hard to give up. And, I find it truly remarkable that we can have so many herbs and spices for added flavor! Unfortunately, however, just like the rest of us, most all fruits are out of the question ... but I have developed a renewed love for Blueberries!!

Remember, if you do the elimination diet until your symptoms are under better control, then you can begin to experiment by adding back one item at a time, waiting a few days to see what happens, and then adding another one, etc. You will find out real quick which foods are your triggers, and you may well find that there are things that you normally eat now that you can eat again one day. But--without the elimination stage of the diet, you will not know for sure which items are causing you problems.

Take care of yourself, and let us know how things are going with you by posting often! We are all here to help each other through all of this...

Hugs,
~Beth

[mlzippy7]

Hello and :welcome:!!
So sorry you are suffering! Glad you found us and hope you get
the information you are searching for.