Did some per diem work this past week :o)

[KarenAnne]

I was so happy this past week, I just had to share something good. That awful UTI I had finally went away with a second course of a different antibiotic. AND, my old employer called & asked if I wanted to work some part time hours, & I was able to. I worked 2 hrs. on Mon., 3 hrs. on Thur., & 5.5 hrs. on Fri. It felt great to be back out there! My bladder & pfd were not too bad. I just took more frequent than normal bathroom breaks, which no one noticed. (They all know about the IC because most of my old co-workers are my friends & really nice people)

I was asked if I could ever provide coverage in the future & I said yes. I feel confident enough now with my current treatment plan, thank God. A year ago I wondered if I would even be able to go out of the house again. As an added bonus, yesterday I went to a craft show with my girlfriends & we had a wonderful time looking at all the beautiful Chirstmas decorations, laughing, & we went out to dinner at a nice seafood restaurant. Just a nice, nice day.

I just want all you newbies to have hope. I saw a urogyn, four urologists, three physical therapists, tried many oral meds, instills, acupuncture, vaginal meds, etc. And I had to learn a new normal for me. I still have bad days, or even weeks, but they pass. Please persevere & have hope. You will not feel this way forever.

[KarenAnne]

I am throwing this back out there because there are alot of new IC patients on here. This time a year ago,I was so ill with IC. Now here it is a year later & I have hope again & look forward to the day. I'm not saying that I don't have symptoms, they are just more manageable & I know they will pass at some point. When it's a good spell I make plans & do things. When I'm not feeling well, I have a stack of books ready & plan on renting movies to catch up on. I am just saying that it will get easier at some point, so please have hope. Try to find something that you enjoy, don't isolate yourself, & persevere at finding a doctor who you can work with & trust. :o)

[lttlewun]

Thank you KarenAnne ~

I really needed to read something positive! Sometimes IC can get me so down and it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have been having many more good days than before, but I find myself very, very nervous when I have my good days. It's like I'm afraid to have a good time because I live in fear of when my symptoms will return.

I'm so happy you found some happiness! Hooray!!:woohoo:

[KarenAnne]

Thank you. I still wonder how long a good spell will last, I am just more prepared for the bad bladder spells.

[lttlewun]

I guess we just have to learn to really embrace our good days and know that when a bad day hits, it will pass and another good day will be just around the corner!

[VickiB]

I was asked if I could ever provide coverage in the future & I said yes. I feel confident enough now with my current treatment plan, thank God.
What a wonderful thing to read! It sounds like a weight has been lifted (as they say)!

Yeah, I think even when IC times are good that fear is probably always there somewhere in the back of our minds. What you said, Karen, pretty much is how I feel,..."I still wonder how long a good spell will last, I am just more prepared for the bad bladder spells." I know I have another flare coming in the future. Maybe tomorrow, maybe three months from now. It's not so much a concern or worry for me, as it is what it is and with IC I've come to accept that I'm not 100% in control. But there's a kind of confidence which makes accepting that fact a whole lot easier once you know you can deal with it. And, as you said, you know it will pass.

I'm glad you're out & about! Did you buy any really neat finds at the craft show? (I love craft shows!)

Vicki

[lttlewun]

VickiB ~

I think the thing you mention about control is so true. I am a control freak and since I can not control IC, I am having a hard time dealing with this emotionally. I think that I haven't really accepted that I have this, therefore, I have not really learned to deal with it. How do we get to the point of finally accepting this? I feel if I was able to do that then I would be much better off. I hate living in fear. It's exhausting and it's no way to live!

[KarenAnne]

littlewun: That was my problem in the beginning too, being a control freak. It just took time for me to accept the diagnosis.

Vicki: It was so much fun. I bought: a snowman garland (little snowman heads strung with snowballs) ,a wreath, 4 primitive (country) candycane ornaments for the tree, snowman ornaments,a battery candle, snowman table runner, a Christmas CD, a Christmas pillow, & a Christmas cotton tea towel. (I always hang a cute little country towel from one of the drawers on my hutch in the dining room) I can hardly wait to start decorating for Christmas.

[VickiB]

Karen it sounds like you found a lot of neat holiday things at the craft show! Obviously I'm not the only one who chomps at the bit waiting to decorate for the season. My hubby just shakes his head over the corny stuff I put out, up, hang, drape, etc. What can I say, it makes me happy! :lmao:

littlewun, I think that's it,...it just takes time. Sort of like the grieving process where one has to work the way through all the steps. Eventually I came to realize that even after my best precautions, tricks and tips, some flares are just going to slip through and there's not a darn thing I can do about it. The stress relief once I let go of that fight seems to be beneficial. I think it was Donna who said something along the lines of appreciate the good days and not worrying about what tomorrow might bring IC-wise. That's become my motto.