3girlmom
01-07-2010, 10:25 AM
I was diagnosed with IC 1/08. My symptoms 1st began 11/07. It started as what I thought was a bladder infection. (I had normally had UTI's 2-4 times a yr so my Gyn had given me a standing script for antibiotics) I took my antibiotics as I usually did but this time had no relief. Called MD got different antibiotics took them all and again no relief. This went on, I saw the MD and there was nothing in my urine but he attributed this to all the anitibiotics I had taken. By the end of the month I had been on several different antibiotics, uroblue, 2 ER visits, and had a few ultrasounds to be sure something else wasn't going on. Still no relief! I finally scheduled with a Urologist and he said I most likely had a very bad UTI and it would just take time to heal or I could have IC but that if it was IC there was nothing you could do any way. Miserable I left crying. After several visits to this uro and few more to my gyn I was still miserable! I started accupuncture which I did faithfully for 1 month, following the accupuncutrist diet as well. I also went the alt med route and started taking several different natural herbal remedies. I was desperate for anything to work. Unfortunately I still had no relief(2 months into this). I was depressed, hurting all the time and feeling hopeless. It seemed everything I read was hopeless and you would be in pain the rest of your life.
I scheduled with a new urologist and things started looking up a little. By the time I saw her, I couldn't sit through the appt without crying. She got me through it and suggested we schedule a distension right away. I did do a few other tests to be sure it wasn't a kidney stone. I had the distension done the end of Jan. By this point I had started feeling a little better I think just having hope of some relief helped. After the distension I was in more pain which she said was to be expected. This lasted a few wks. She diagnosed me at that point with IC which was a blessing to know but a curse at the same time!! I began Physical therapy and followed the IC diet somewhat ,I must say I wasn't eating much of anything at that point.
Now to the GOOD part. Slowly but surely I started to feel better. The PT REALLY helped!! By April I was pain FREE!!! I stayed that way for almost 1 and 1/2yrs!! I was able to return to my normal diet and almost forgot about this wicked illness. I have had a flare up recently which brought me back to this site.
My last flare only lasted 2 months. This time as soon as I felt the symptoms I went back to my Uro and started wkly instillations and started PT back too. I also took amitriptyline 25 mg at bedtime and UTA 4 times a day. This wicked illness has gone away again!! What a blessing!!
I hope this helps give you hope that it does go away sometimes, I am proof. I know it is depressing, when it does rear it's ugly head I get very depressed but luckily I have a strong faith in God which helps pull me through and a very supportive husband who doesn't mind listening to me cry when I do get down. So if you do have this hang in there!
I scheduled with a new urologist and things started looking up a little. By the time I saw her, I couldn't sit through the appt without crying. She got me through it and suggested we schedule a distension right away. I did do a few other tests to be sure it wasn't a kidney stone. I had the distension done the end of Jan. By this point I had started feeling a little better I think just having hope of some relief helped. After the distension I was in more pain which she said was to be expected. This lasted a few wks. She diagnosed me at that point with IC which was a blessing to know but a curse at the same time!! I began Physical therapy and followed the IC diet somewhat ,I must say I wasn't eating much of anything at that point.
Now to the GOOD part. Slowly but surely I started to feel better. The PT REALLY helped!! By April I was pain FREE!!! I stayed that way for almost 1 and 1/2yrs!! I was able to return to my normal diet and almost forgot about this wicked illness. I have had a flare up recently which brought me back to this site.
My last flare only lasted 2 months. This time as soon as I felt the symptoms I went back to my Uro and started wkly instillations and started PT back too. I also took amitriptyline 25 mg at bedtime and UTA 4 times a day. This wicked illness has gone away again!! What a blessing!!
I hope this helps give you hope that it does go away sometimes, I am proof. I know it is depressing, when it does rear it's ugly head I get very depressed but luckily I have a strong faith in God which helps pull me through and a very supportive husband who doesn't mind listening to me cry when I do get down. So if you do have this hang in there!