New to IC - am I on track?

[kjc]

Let me just say that I am so pleased to have found this supportive and helpful forum. I have suffered through a couple of years of what I thought were recurring (bad) UTI's. My pharmacist was the one who finally advised me to push my doctor to see if there was something else happening. Sure enough, when I asked if he had ever found anything in my (many!) urine samples...he said no. Through a lengthy discussion about my symptoms, he said he was almost certain that I had IC. So he has referred me to a urologist but wanted to start treatment right away.

So I started Elmiron 3 x a day with pyridium for pain management. I also started the "flare" IC diet right away. I actually started to feel a bit better then (not sure why) I am in another bad flare. So he added both Atarax and Elavil to my treatment. I wanted to start one at a time so I started the Atarax. No change yet except it makes me tired and have a huge appetite! I want to start the Elavil but I am concerned about all of the comments re weight gain.

I am a little freaked about about this as I can't imagine living every day with this pain. I know that I have to be patient and let the meds work. As I live on a small island in Atlantic Canada, my urologist appt isn't until next June! My doc is working to get me one in another city earlier though.

So - I do have a few questions (I'm sure I'll have lots more!):

- I get my exercise by power walking. Can I still do this?
- Since I just started taking the Atarex, should I wait awhile before adding the Elavil?
- I need the pyridium right now a few times a day. Can this cause damage?
- I have a 4 hour car ride coming up this weekend. Any tips?

I've ordered some items from the IC shop (the cushion, cookbooks, prelief). Is there anthing else that I should be doing?

Thanks in advance for your support!!

PS - I am also "enjoying" full blown menopausal symptoms!!!

[systitis]

Hi....Pyridium should not be taken for a long period. Many of us find relief with Urelle or Prosed DS...both help will pain as does Pyridium but can be taken for lengthy periods. A search will turn up lots of information.

Your PS sets off alarm bells. Is your doctor a gyno? My symptoms began with menopause & were much relieved by Estrace cream. Many of us here have been helped with hormone therapy. There is a long & valuable thread about the impact of menopause on IC symptoms...it's well worth reading in its entirety for its crucial information....http://tinyurl.com/n3grbb

Welcome to the p*ssed off sisterhood!!! lol

[Goldfinch]

Hi, and welcome. Good info from systitis. I used both pyridium and urelle before I was formally diagnosed and before Elmiron started to work for me. Urelle can be used long-term up to 4xday. IF pyridium works well for you, use it for emergency situations, or a few days at a time, but probably not long-term. Discuss that with your uro and ask about urelle.

Walking: do whatever doesn't aggravate your symptoms. I found that walking (altho it wasn't power walking) helped me when my bladder was irritated.

Atarax is a good complement to Elmiron. My doctor says his patients believe the two drugs enhance each other. I don't take it, because anti-histamines don't agree with me. Elmiron, Atarax and Elavil are the three most commonly prescribed drugs for IC. Personally I try to take the fewest drugs as possible, and I try to add one at a time, so I can see how they affect me. Elavil has the advantage of working more quickly than Elmiron. I would research them both, discuss it with your doc, and perhaps try one to start with. Since you already are on Elmiron, and it takes a while to work, you might give that a chance for at least 6 months, see how it goes. Nothing works for everyone, so it's a matter of trial and error, and finding whatever relieves your symptoms both short-term and long-term.

I was not particularly uncomfortable in the car, but I did make sure I had a good map, and tried to plan my route knowing where the hway rest-stops were and making sure I had plenty of water that I knew was safe for me, although I am lucky, and can drink just about any tap water.