Anyone suffering in Oregon?

[ClaireNN]

Hi, everyone,

I'm 24 in Portland, OR and suffer from IC, vulvar vestibulitis, and endometriosis. My pain has really put an end to my social life, let alone dating. I would love to meet people around my age (or not) who are suffering, too. I have posted on the forum to meet people regionally on this site, but I thought I'd try here, too.

Good luck to everyone!

Claire

[ICNDonna]

I'm south of you in the country outside of Eugene. I know there are some ICers in the Portland area.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[JanaMarie]

Hi Claire,

I am also in the Portland area (Hillsboro).
I am 45 with a husband and 3 kids and have IC probably for many years although I am newly (finally!) diagnosed. I'm finding this to be a very frustrating condition, but relieved to at least know what it is I am dealing with. 2 weeks ago if I was in a flare, I would have taken 2 advil, some cranberry extract pills and swallowed them down with OJ! Yikes, no wonder I just got worse.
Anyway, I just wanted to say "hi".
:hi:

[KatieB]

I'm not from Ore. but I just wanted to tell you that when I started with this flare I'm in (in October) I DID take cranberry pills and washed em down with cranberry juice. I can almost laugh about it now (almost)!! So glad I finally got diagnosed!!

And welcome!!!

[JanaMarie]

Hi Katie, and thanks for the welcome :)
If I hadn't come across this forum 2 weeks ago, I would still be abusing my bladder today!
Did you mean that you have been in a flare since since last October? How in the world are you still sane?

Jana

[KatieB]

Jana, I had SUCH a hard time finding a uro to treat me that I only got diagnosed in Dec. And I finally found a uro to treat me but he's in a big teaching hospital so I've had 1 appt with him and won't start any treatments til after I have a lot more testing with him. Which I can't do until Feb. 10th. It's going to be a long process and there hasn't really been a day since the beginning of Oct that I haven't had pain. I have moments of "comfort" and I always notice them because they are rare. But I thank God for my pain management doctor. He didn't sign up for IC. I was seeing him for injections in a herniated disc in my neck. But he has helped me SO much. I don't know what I would've done without him.

[bjcov]

I'm not from Portland, I'm from Eastern Washington, I can't find any support on this side of the state either! Its so frusterating! I hope you all can meet and get together! Are you happy with your docs? We don't really have much choice where I'm at but I do like my current doc, He's a gyn

[ClaireNN]

Hey,

I just wanted to respond about if I like my docs...if you're talking about MDs, no, they've given up on me. Nothing they tried worked, and I've seen the urologists supposed to be best for IC in Portland. I'm currently working with a great naturopath, although, again, no results yet. I also love me PT. She can't help with the cause of my pain, but she helps with the muscle pain I get from holding my muscles as a result of pain. Just wanted to throw that out there in case others are getting frustrated with MDs.