Good things about IC

[knitter]

This might be weird, but I thought it might be fun to list "good" things that have come about because of IC, no matter how small or silly.

I was thinking about this getting dressed today. I never got on the whole leggings-as-pants trend, but since I wasn't feeling up to wearing my usual jeans today, I tried it. And put together what I think is a fairly cute outfit that I never would have worn otherwise!

Other things:

I never would have tried marshmallow tea, which I ended up liking.

(Unless I'm having trouble actually urinating) I can go to the bathroom faster than anyone I know. Because of all my "practice", I have become very efficient buttoning down, buttoning back up and being on my merry way. I usually make it out of the bathroom before my husband. :-)

Anyone else?

[ICNDonna]

I would never have met the wonderful people on the IC Network and at the two ICA conventions I attended.

Donna

[Sunflower23]

Definitely agree with you about the outfit one. I usually try to avoid jeans (unless they're the loose pregnant jeans) or tight clothes because of the IC, so I had to come up with cute outfits that work with dresses and skirts. People started thinking cute dresses were just my "style" and started complimenting me for having one. Hehe...if they only knew, they probably wouldn't think it was so fashionable! ;)

Here's another one: if I hadn't gotten IC I would have never stopped using birth control (the IC is oversensitive to it) and never had my two daughters.

[amaranthe]

I would have still been working and wouldnt have been a stay at home mom. So, I would have missed seeing alot of things with my family or my son's "firsts" as he grows up.

[bob04951]

We still don't "like" IC but much prefer it over bladder cancer, which my beloved Dad had as a result of prostate CA mets. That was 10 years ago, and my hub (who has IC) and I cared for him in our home with hospice. He never suffered and was the funniest patient in the health care field I have ever experienced.

Dad had his routines, and always wanted his vodka martini at precisely 1 PM everyday. Hey, the man was dying, I would have infused him with it if he wanted. One day, the hospice nun, Sister Mary, stopped by at 12:30 PM, and she was a firecracker, telling jokes and such (some naughty!). My Dad was a little leary, not being a religious man, but liked her a lot.

At precisely 1 PM he pointed to his watch. I knew what he wanted, but for goodness sake, Sister Mary was there. He pointed again. She inquired what he wanted, and I told her. And she said "make it a double, and have half for me." She was wonderful, Dad opened up and had his 'tini and even a cig, and they had a great time exchanging jokes.

Bob and I relive those times, even tho it was a sad outcome, I remind him of that, because Dad was so very brave, uncomplaining and humorous til the end. Many days Bob took a shower with Dad when he was unable to do it safely alone. The only things Dad worried about were going out with his gorgeous silver gray curly hair, having his 1 PM martini, and leaving us with his boxers on! It gives Bob a chuckle to remember that and also gives him the courage to fight this IC, because there are alternatives that are worse.

We can all survive this, whether we are sufferers or those who love them. As Dad always said "keep the faith."

[LithEruiel]

I often think about all the places I never would have seen if I didn't have IC...mostly bathrooms...some of them that I've seen are very nice. Some not so nice. But I'm always interested in seeing new places whether nice or not so nice...the little gas station near the lake where I go to study in the summer comes to mind. I just thought it was interesting how you have to go downstairs to go to the bathroom and the little store has some odd things in it. I never would have been in there if I wasn't looking for a place to pee. I was thinking a funny IC-related website would be to make a "best bathrooms" website with pictures of nice public bathrooms. Of course it'd be kinda hard because you'd have to wait until no one was in the bathroom to take the pictures and I haven't done web design since about 2004....

The other thing is that if I didn't have IC, I don't think I would be so sympathetic to patients, especially those with bladder problems or people obviously in pain or having other symptoms that no one can seem to understand or diagnose. I'm a nursing student and an aide at a hospital so I know there are a lot of people out there being labeled as "seekers" or whatever that actually have real problems. I think it makes me a much better advocate since I bounced around from doctor to doctor about to lose my mind before I was finally diagnosed with IC. And it only took me 5 mos to be diagnosed...I can't imagine what its like for people who have to wait years.

I also don't think I'd want to be a nurse at all if I didn't have IC. I never really wanted to, but I already have a degree that I can't find a job with and I can't get much financial aid, so I had to pick a short, cheap program where I knew I could find a job and get good health insurance. What gets me through it is that I want to be a nurse practitioner and treat patients with IC. If i have to work in a hospital for a few years, but get to do that eventually, it'll be worth it.

[bubbe1]

I think IC has taught me to be okay with just sitting and doing nothing, without feeling guilty. While I'm sitting, my husband sits too, and we talk to each other! What a concept.
IC has forced me to really read those food labels and eat things that are pure and healthy.
I am also in the process of, learning to be more patient with illness and the limitations of my body, and how to accept what I can and can't do. This seems to be spilling over into my general philosophy of life. Wanted to do it, can't do it right now, oh well, do something else. Still working on it, though. I've always been empathetic towards other people's illness and limitations, just not my own.
I think I am also learning to stand up for myself more, at last.
And most importantly, if I didn't have IC, I would not have found this forum, and all the caring and kindness.
Laurie

[h808]

i'm living a healthier, safer, more positive lifestyle.

i eat better.

i have higher relationship standards.

i empathize with more people.

i care more about spirituality.

i have less negative people in my life.

i'm more aware of other people's challenges.

i value the days that i feel good.

:pray:

[Brightside]

i'm living a healthier, safer, more positive lifestyle.

i eat better.

i have higher relationship standards.

i empathize with more people.

i care more about spirituality.

i have less negative people in my life.

i'm more aware of other people's challenges.

i value the days that i feel good.

:pray:

I second what h808 said!

[kadi]

Since I got IC, I'm more understanding of others' struggles. I've learned to stick up for myself both in medical situations and at work. I choose my friends more carefully now and don't spend time on people who are game-players or selfish. I know myself better and accept myself more. I've learned that I am more than my weight or appearance and that the people who loved me thin, still love me now that I am not. I've learned that health is not to be gambled with and that energy must be spent judiciously because my supply of it is not unlimited. I've learned that I can go through really hard things and allow them to change me for the better.

[plmokn]

I have learned to more in touch with body. I am more aware of what I require of my body on a day to day basis and what put into my body. It is amazing how much crap is in the food I used to eat, I never knew until I started reading labels.

I also think it will make me a much better, more empathetic doctor than I would have been otherwise.

[NewICGirl]

I would never had started eating broccoli and liking it. I started to make up for not taking my vitamins.

[ChrisNes]

I think I have seen every product-info-commercial out there from 1am to 6am...ha ha ha ha ha!

I guess I wouldnt have my 3 dogs to keep me company out in rural ND if I didnt have IC.

I am a cheap date to take out to dinner, LOL lol lol. Oh come on its funny.

After one drink I am ready to do it in the bathroom, LOL lol lol...funny.

After an hour out on the town I am ready to crawl into bed lol lol...funny.

I dont need a wardrobe because I rarely leave the house lol lol lol

Any little thing gets me excited because my life revolves arround the john...lol

I can find the bathrooms any place faster than anyone I know lol lol lol

I dont have a shy bladder because when I gotta go i gotta go so watch out lol
Everyone knows my first question when ever i go to a family function," can I use your bathroom."

Were these to be good things? Funny things or just ......things.

[Kami]

If it wasn't for IC I....

Would never know how much crap was in foods.

Would never know how much Soy has infiltrated our country.

Would never know how creative I could be without a recipe!

Would never know how creative I could be when I substitute things with a recipe.

Would never know how some of my coworkers actually care.

Would never know which gas station toilets to avoid!

Would be stuck answering phones in a call center. (Thankfully, that didn't work out, can't seeing them liking me using the loo so much)

Would never eat so much vegetables.