Growing a new bladder

[bluegoo06]

Saw this article on the internet. This fellow had a flatten bladder, and the scientists and doctors were able to grow him a new one from his own cells. He is now functioning normally and has a good life. Maybe one day this can be used to help ICers.

Source < http://www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-uconn-student-national-geo-0202-20110206,0,550411,full.story >

UConn Student Owes His Normal Life To A 'Regenerated' Bladder

--------------------------------------------------------------------
A University of Connecticut sophomore gets a national TV spotlight next week as a leading example of a medical miracle.

Madison resident Lucas Massella, 20, was born with spina bifida and underwent an experimental process a decade ago that replaced his faltering bladder with one of the first to ever be "grown" in a laboratory.

It's not an artificial organ exactly, but a new one created with his own cells. The operation on then 10-year-old Lucas, one of the first examples of "regenerative medicine," is a focus of the special "Explorer: How To Build a Beating Heart" Monday on the National Geographic Channel. It looks at the efforts to regenerate damaged, gaining or diseased body parts.

"I was actually in full-out kidney failure," Massella says in the film. "That's when they decided needed something and fast." Massella's deteriorating bladder was backing up into his kidney.

"The question was: Why not make an organ that actually belongs there?" says Dr. Anthony Atala, a scientist in the field of regenerative medicine who grew Massella a new bladder in the lab at Children's Hospital Boston using the youngster's own stem cells.

It's one of several startling examples in the report, which also shows the famous mouse with a human ear attached and a man whose regenerated fingertip ended up with the same fingerprint as the one he accidentally sliced off.

For all that his successful new organ represents, few would now guess that Massella was once sickly.

"When I was born, they weren't sure if I was going to be able to walk," Massella said in a recent interview. "As I got older, I did start to walk and stuff. I do remember when I was 3 or 4, I had to wear braces on the legs to help me walk."

Massella was in and out of the hospital for repeated spinal-cord-repair surgeries.

"I had about 16 altogether," he said, "probably the majority of them before I was 10. Since I was 10, I've only had four surgeries."

That's because of the experimental procedure, which came when things were the worst for him.

"I remember being really scared when they said I'd be in kidney failure," he said.

Without the new bladder, he said, "I was probably looking at a lifetime of dialysis. I wouldn't be eligible to have a kidney transplant because my bladder was messed up. So dialysis was my only other option."

But the decision wasn't his. "My mom definitely had a hard decision to make because it was a hard surgery and experimental," Massella said.

"I was one of the first of to have it," he said. "It sounded pretty crazy, but not as crazy as it does now."

The experiment involved building a new bladder in the lab by infusing Massella's own cells into a small, bladder-sized mold.

The process was surprisingly fast. "What they did was, in June, they took a little piece of my bladder out, used the cells to grow it into its own bladder [during the summer]."

The cells were dripped on a mold, a three-dimensional, biodegradable "scaffold," that had the appearance of a bladder. "It looks like a small cast" said Massella, who is seen in the film turning the baseball-sized mold in his hands.

"Wow," he said. "Weird."

Once the cells had started forming a new bladder on the mold, the whole thing was implanted in his body. The mold "completely dissolved once the cells took over after it was put inside me," he said. "My body took to it right away."

After a month in the hospital and two months of bed rest at home, "I felt a lot better. By that winter, I was playing basketball."

Massella was partly inspired to get back in action by his twin brother, Zach.

"That was a good motivation to get better — to get in competition with him. That was fun."

As he grew up, he limited his sports to baseball and wrestling, which became his favorite. He became captain of the wrestling team at Madison's Daniel Hand High School and led them to a conference championship.

And still the other athletes didn't know they were grappling with a guy who had an organ grown in a lab.

"A few of my friends and teammates did know," Massella says. "And my coach did — he was my neighbor when that was going on."

But "my opponents never knew it. Only a couple of friends. To most people just a normal kid, and that's what I like."

Massella graduated from Hand in 2009 and enrolled at UConn, where just last week he declared a major in communications. Some children who have been through so much medically want to go into medicine, but not Massella.

"I did think about that when I was younger," he said. "But I've been in enough hospitals."

At college, he's still playing sports, but "just intramural basketball, intramural flag football. Just having fun."

His medical miracle has mostly been unheralded on campus, but he'll be having a viewing party of the National Geographic special when it airs Monday.

"Hopefully, they'll see me as the same kid," he said. "But I did go through some stuff."

He learned a bit about what he went through in the documentary as well.

"I have so much of a better understanding of exactly what they did in mine and some of the other procedures."

To help promote the special, Massella and his mother were flown out to Los Angeles last month to take part in the TV Critics Association winter press tour. As part of a National Geographic panel, he was a celebrity for a day.

"It was crazy," Massella said. "I couldn't believe it, walking around meeting people with crazy stories. I felt my story was nothing compared to others."

On a National Geographic panel with him was the subject of another documentary: reporter Terry Anderson, who was kidnapped in Beirut in 1985 and kept in captivity for seven years.

"He really stood out," Massella said. "I felt like a movie star, even though I'm not."

[alycat]

Wow. I do wonder if this could be used in IC treatment. I always wondered why they didn't just replace our bladders with ones that did work. Though for this to work I would think some genetic modification would have to happen, if IC ends up being a genetic issue.

[Evemarie]

I've read about this before. I got really excited until I learned that IC is an auto-immune issue (or at least that is what my doc said)... It isn't the bladder that was bad, it is the fact that your immune system attacks your bladder...

Definition: Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues.

So essentially, the new grown bladder would be awesome for maybe a couple of years, then your body would have attacked it enough that the new bladder will start having IC symptoms again... very depressing.

Basically, my hope is to participate in any study I can so I can help researchers learn more about IC and potentially cure it... Here is a wonderful website to show current studies and finished studies.. I'm actually going to participate in a new study here shortly and I encourage all of us to try to help one another out and let researchers "exam" us!

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?term=%22Interstitial%20Cystitis%22%5BCONDITIONS%5D

[bluegoo06]

IC seems to be a diagnosis for so many things with similar symptoms. I dont believe personally that IC is always auto immune. In some cases maybe, but in other cases maybe not. If IC was always auto immune i would think people would have have constant symptoms.

Maybe this type of thing would work for some IC cases. Hard to tell. Hopefully as medicine gets more advanced, IC can be cured or managed a lot better.

[Linda May]

I my goodness for those of us who don't get any relief why don't the doctors grow them a new bladder? I have a funny feeling that its all about money is why its not done. Money is the root and seed of evil.:pray:

[bob04951]

If they find the cause(s) maybe they will find a cure. Research funding is always an issue, and IC is not on the top of the list unfortunately. Many other more "famous" diseases ahead of us.

[zyphia]

I agree with Bob. There are more *famous*diseases ahead of us. I have the *Michael J. Fox* disease, Parkinson's, so I see how that goes. My IC is secondary and my other problems are waiting in line to be discovered. Until someone famous gets IC or spinal stenosis or one of the others on my list I will just have to wait them out. And as far as someone growing me a new bladder, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first clinical trial of a human embryonic stem-cell therapy to treat patients with spinal cord injuries and if stem cells are going to eventually be used as part of the Atala program (Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, grows human bladders, and has implanted more than two dozen of them in human patients since 2006) people may start to scream and yell the way they did during the Bush administration when stem cell was mentioned. Of course adult stem cells have so far worked well, and scientists haven’t made much use of the more controversial embryonic stem cells. I know I feel I could benefit from stem cell research and have a much better quality of life as a Parkinson's patient were it not for restrictions on research money held back. Just my personal opinion....... I am not preaching. I do not mean to offend.

[cmclien]

I've read about this before. I got really excited until I learned that IC is an auto-immune issue (or at least that is what my doc said)... It isn't the bladder that was bad, it is the fact that your immune system attacks your bladder...

Unfortunately even though your doc is saying that, I don't think its been proven yet. My UG says they really don't know. Don't get me wrong, if it were autoimmune, maybe they could come up with a medicine to stop the attack on the poor organ. It does seem to occur with people who also have IBS, TMJ, fibromyalgia etc. there is probably more of a connection there. I just wish some great researcher would come up with a "why" it happens so that then there can be a solution.

[vanilla]

There is an article in the March National Geographic on growing new bladders. Fascinating stuff.

[cosake]

This sounds interesting - growing a new bladder!

I wanted to talk about the autoimmune issue. I have ITP, which is an autoimmune blood disorder. I had my spleen removed in 1978 and have been in "remission" ever since. I found out last year that I have MS, yet another disorder categorized as autoimmune. Now I find out I have IC, classified by most as an autoimmune disorder. The MS has symptoms that come and go for no reason and each patient is unique in their symptoms and severity and placement of symptoms. This makes it difficult to treat. I see IC as being the same way - each patient is unique. With MS -- there is nothing that you could grow new to treat the symptoms. Alot of MS treatment is symptom management, just like with IC.

There are famous people, such as Montel Williams and Neil Cavuto with MS, but that doesn't mean that there have been any great strides with MS awareness, or research on why it happens, treatments, etc. just because there are celebrities with the disorder.

[janlan]

This sounds interesting - growing a new bladder!

I wanted to talk about the autoimmune issue. I have ITP, which is an autoimmune blood disorder. I had my spleen removed in 1978 and have been in "remission" ever since. I found out last year that I have MS, yet another disorder categorized as autoimmune. Now I find out I have IC, classified by most as an autoimmune disorder. The MS has symptoms that come and go for no reason and each patient is unique in their symptoms and severity and placement of symptoms. This makes it difficult to treat. I see IC as being the same way - each patient is unique. With MS -- there is nothing that you could grow new to treat the symptoms. Alot of MS treatment is symptom management, just like with IC.

There are famous people, such as Montel Williams and Neil Cavuto with MS, but that doesn't mean that there have been any great strides with MS awareness, or research on why it happens, treatments, etc. just because there are celebrities with the disorder.
:hi:My brother in law Had MS back in '69, he lived with it for just 20 yrs.
then died from complications. his symptoms did not come and go.
again like IC patients. he went from a limp to a cane to a walker to a wheelchair. some MC patients have little or no problems and some are episodic. they have a couple of weeks they aren't doing to well, then everything comes back. They have made some strides since he had it.
it's the myelin sheathing around the spine it wears down, and exposes nerves so the messages to the brain don't register. it's like the covering around electrical cords. the best theory so far is it's somehow is associated with Chicken pox, why some people can't shed it out of the body in the normal way most people do. sorry to ramble thought I'd give some info. on it. they 're not sure about it being auto immune. I guess a bit of an argument it.

[cosake]

I'm sorry that you lost your brother to MS.

Thank you for the reminder - I guess because the most common form of MS is the relapsing-remitting type (RRMS), I tend to forget about the more serious progressive forms - I'm sorry. There is currently only a small percentage of MS patients who die from complications of the disorder; compared to those who live a relatively full life.

I am fortunate that I have not had any major MS symptoms in over a year now. I have had quite a few minor issues that are annoyances. Many of the treatments available are for the RRMS. I had not heard of any link with chicken pox, but I have learned that many suspect a link with mono (or EBV).

I know that strides are being made in treatment and discovery, particularly with oral medications. I was trying to say that I didn't think those strides were made just because a celebrity had MS.

[janlan]

I'm sorry that you lost your brother to MS.

Thank you for the reminder - I guess because the most common form of MS is the relapsing-remitting type (RRMS), I tend to forget about the more serious progressive forms - I'm sorry. There is currently only a small percentage of MS patients who die from complications of the disorder; compared to those who live a relatively full life.

I am fortunate that I have not had any major MS symptoms in over a year now. I have had quite a few minor issues that are annoyances. Many of the treatments available are for the RRMS. I had not heard of any link with chicken pox, but I have learned that many suspect a link with mono (or EBV).

I know that strides are being made in treatment and discovery, particularly with oral medications. I was trying to say that I didn't think those strides were made just because a celebrity had MS.

:)NO need to apologize, I understand what you were saying, I didn't mean to come across that way. I just wanted to mention my brother in law's case because of what was thought back then . Guess I didn't say it too well.
He had from I think being in a wheelchair a congestive heart situation. suddenly he just went downhill and then one morning my sister went to get him some water when she came back he had died. he was just 60 he said I didn't think I'd make it to this age, and it was just a couple of months before he died. .
but now so many more new things have come out, since then, although some were being done then, he was too late for them too far into the condition.
And I agree the strides weren't being made for celebrities, they help by putting awareness to it. Sorry if came across in the wrong way.:)

[cosake]

You don't need to apologize either ! I think sometimes when I post that I am getting my tone right, but you can't really get "tone" right with an email or board post ! :) And when I'm just typing away it's easy to get carried away with a thought and have it not come out how I expect it to.

It's awfully sad what happened to your brother and you didn't come across the wrong way - please don't think that. :)

[Jem]

Saw this article on the internet. This fellow had a flatten bladder, and the scientists and doctors were able to grow him a new one from his own cells. He is now functioning normally and has a good life. Maybe one day this can be used to help ICers.

Source < http://www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-uconn-student-national-geo-0202-20110206,0,550411,full.story >

UConn Student Owes His Normal Life To A 'Regenerated' Bladder

Thank you for bringing us this fascinating article Bluegoo! :hi:
I have often wondered if it would be possible to grow a new bladder. I understand what some people are saying about the cells of an IC patient not being ideal for use. So my question is, could they use the cells from a 'healthy' person and make a bladder which could then be transplanted into an IC patient?
If the boy's bladder was 'faltering', does that mean that his bladder was not healthy? I'm not sure from reading the article what exactly was wrong with his bladder? (Can any of you guys explain? Sorry if I'm being dumb!)

Jem xx

[zyphia]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301387.html

This article in the Washington Post kind of explains how it is done. Don't feel dumb. Everytime I want to know something I go to www.ask.com and ask...haha...and I usually find some kind of an answer or find a trail leading me on to where I eventually find an answer. I have IC and many other problems and I am always on ask.com trying to find answers to my problems and sometimes I hit paydirt and often times not. Good luck.

[Jem]

Thanks Zyphia. :hi:

I printed your link and read it. It's a great explanation, and I think it's the most exciting news I have heard in ages. I'm going to ask my urologist about it when I next see him. Maybe he can give me more info.
Even if I.C does have some sort of genetic element, I managed fine for 26 years until the symptoms showed up. So if I had to get a new bladder made every 26 years, it would be fine by me! Lol. I know there's probably lots of complicated reasons why it isn't possible right now, but it can't do any harm to ask...

I also try to research things a lot online. Theres some great resources out there. Because I was studying Nursing before I was 'struck down' with I.C, I have access to some great journal articles and websites. But sometimes I feel tired and lazy and couldn't be bothered! :cat:

Thanks so much for posting that great link!

Jem x x

[zyphia]

I live in a very small town and there is only one other person I know of who had IC and years ago she demanded the doctors remove her bladder. She could no longer stand the pain and suffering she had gone thru for years. This was long before it had so much recognition and doctors actually started listening to patients and paying attention to the fact that it was more than just a bladder infection. She is now a happy lady and leads a very active life, travels all over the place and attends many civic and social functions. She wears a leg bag and has a Visiting Nurse come in and change her indwelling catheter once a month or on an as needed basis. I know, for I was the nurse at one time who used to change the cath for her. I never realized in all those years that one day I would be the one who would someday be diagnosed with IC but the time I spent with her, hearing her story, was invaluable to me later when I started suffering the signs and symptoms of IC. Gave me a much better insight to the disease and how I could approach it. Remember, it is a disease that has symptoms that vary from case to case, and many scientist believe it is a combination of many diseases for which they cannot find a cause or a cure, and what works for others may not be the magic bullet that works for you. I don't have a special diet I follow or take special vitamins or drink special drinks. I just know what my body can tolerate and go with the flow and so far I am doing fine. I did do one thing tho, I did seek out a urologist who specilizes in IC and never see my PCP about my IC. I did this from the very beginning. Good luck to you.

[Jem]

I am totally in agreement with you Zyphia. It's def not 'one size fit's all.' If it was, I think they would have found a cure by now....Thanks again and good luck to you too!

[LithEruiel]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301387.html

This article in the Washington Post kind of explains how it is done. Don't feel dumb. Everytime I want to know something I go to www.ask.com and ask...haha...and I usually find some kind of an answer or find a trail leading me on to where I eventually find an answer. I have IC and many other problems and I am always on ask.com trying to find answers to my problems and sometimes I hit paydirt and often times not. Good luck.

Wow, that is so cool. This is something I was sure "they" could do, but had no idea any one actually was. One of my teachers at the community college I went to for awhile said a boy that had a bullet through his heart had a new heart made for him and I was like, come on, if they can make a heart, can't they make me a new bladder?

I don't believe all IC is autoimmune, though I could be wrong, no one knows for sure...but for me it was started by a UTI...now that being said I also don't think IC is caused by an undetectable infection either. I just think I always had the tendency to develop IC in my genes, but getting that really bad UTI just created a situation my bladder couldn't recover from and there it was (this was the first UTI I'd ever had). If I could get a new bladder and be on prophylactic antibiotics I'd think I'd be fine. Just a theory...

[LithEruiel]

Oh, the other thing I meant to say was that if you have an autoimmune disease, you're immune system is in effect "too good." It attacks itself which is awful, but it also pretty much keeps everything thing else out. My immune system is a piece of crap...always has been. I get every little illness going around magnified X10... another reason why I don't think I have an autoimmune disease.

[Jem]

Hi Ashley,

I feel I am in exactly the same boat as you, when it comes to the reasons why i developed I.C. I'm 99% certain I don't have the 'autoimmune form' either, cos I have no other autoimmune conditions. Plus, no doctor has ever suspected me of having it. I'm in no doubt other IC'ers have this form, but I'm not one of them...

"I just think I always had the tendency to develop IC in my genes, but getting that really bad UTI just created a situation my bladder couldn't recover from and there it was"
That's exactly the explantion my new Urologist gave me for why he thinks I got I.C! (He also thinks the reasons why I was vulnerable to getting an infection was because my bladder muscles and urethra tightened, and my urethra narrowed as a result of being on Prozac for so long - but that's just a theory.)

About the boy who had a new heart grown - I have never heard of that! It's amazing. Does that mean they will now be able to grow replacement organs for people instead of making them wait for a donor for years?

It's a coincidence how all 3 of us have nursing connections! I'm glad you're still able to study. I had to drop out. :-(

[LithEruiel]

Now that I think about it, I don't think it was a whole heart, but just the area that was damaged by the bullet I think? I don't know where she got the info.

Jem, I hope you're able to go back into nursing school if that's what you want to do. It's really hard for me at times...the sitting in class is the worst (our classes are all day). It doesn't really hurt me anymore, but I get bored and tensed up. My symptoms are the worst doing anything school related, I think because of the stress. I want to do my RN to MSN online, I think it'll be much better (I can do everything online but clinicals). Maybe that's something you can look into. Good luck with whatever you decide! :)

[Jem]

Thanks Ashley. :-)

I don't think I would be able to do the course online because like you say, the clinical placements make it impossible! I completed my 1st year but I never made it into 2nd year. In 2nd year, 75% of the timetable was clinical placements and practical classes in the Clinical Simulation Lab. Did you feel your I.C symptoms got in the way when you were on the wards, or were you able to 'ignore them' more easily??
I also found classes and lectures really hard, especially when it came to getting to them on time! I would get the bus into uni and always get there on time. But then I'd suddennly need to go and pee (and empty my bowels which isn't easy cos of my PFD.) When I went into the toilets, they'd be really busy, but by the time I was finished they'd be empty and I'd have to sneak in late to the lecture theatre! And you don't make yourself popular with the tutors when you're constantly getting up to go to the toilet! I agree with you that the stress makes it much worse. In the end it was impossible. I'm not even sure I want to do nursing anymore, as it is such a stressful job. Maybe I'd be better getting an easier, more relaxed job (if there is such a thing!) It wasn't so bad in my last job cos I was right next to the toilets and no-one minded when I left my desk...Anyway, sorry for rambling!
I hope you manage to complete your course online and that you find a way round the clinical placements. Please let me know how you get on! (I'm sure you will be a great nurse cos you have so much personal insight into what it is like to battle crappy health problems, and you are obviously a very caring person.) :-)

Jem x

[LithEruiel]

Thanks Jem :)

Well, I work at the same hospital where I have clinicals and when I'm at work I'm so busy I hardly ever have to pee (like usually maybe 3 times in a 12 hour shift, plus I'm not drinking that much when I'm that busy either). But that's with an average of 10 patients...when I'm at clinicals I'm bored most of the time since I only have one patient and right now in my critical care rotation I usually have one patient WITH another student partner or sometimes two partners! So I get pretty bored. It's nice to have the help since the patients are so sick, but it's a lot of sitting around too. So I've kind of been having trouble with my IC symptoms lately there, but not too bad. I've actually had more IBS kind of symptoms lately too which is extra annoying since I have PFD too! It can't happen before I leave the house, it's always got to wait until I get to clinicals. I really haven't had a problem with it though. The teachers are very understanding. Some of them I haven't told that I have IC or anything because it hasn't come up, but if I've having a bad day or worried I can't make it through something without having to go to the bathroom I just tell them and they've been fine with it. I actually don't have to get up in class very much, but if I do they don't mind. Other people do too occasionally especially if we don't get a break for more than an hour (we are supposed to and usually get a break every hour).

There's actually a lot more I could have done if I felt I needed to. There are laws about accommodating students with disabilities. I'm not sure how it is in Scotland, but I'm sure there are there too. I never even got a doctor's note to turn into the school that I have IC and need bathroom access and stuff which I easily could have done, but everything's been fine. If you do decide to go back to school (for anything) you can definitely get a doctor's note and talk to student services (or something similar) about the accommodations you need and they will help you and then talk to the individual teachers as well.

The WORST experience I've had related to school and IC was during surgery rotation. I really had no desire to see surgery in the first place, even though the blood and stuff don't bother me, it's just something I wasn't really interested in. The thing that bothered me about it is the feeling of being enclosed that I felt. I'm not claustrophobic either, but I don't like the idea of being somewhere and I have to stay there until it's done and there's no telling how long it's going to be (like where I work I feel pretty free for the most part...I have do get everything done and answer call lights and all, but if I need to pee or need a drink or whatever, I can just go, I don't have to tell anyone where I'm going). So I got myself all nervous and worked up about that in the first place. Also, this wasn't very long after I was diagnosed with PFD so whether there was anything in my bladder or not, the muscle squeezing was making it feel like my bladder was constantly full. Plus I didn't like the surgery instructor, plus I also have asthma and I can't breathe with those surgical masks on. When we practiced getting all our surgical gear on the room pretty hot, so that made it worse...but it's supposed to be cold in surgery, well it wasn't! So I also couldn't breathe. So all that lead to a pretty bad flare and a very boring day...well it's over now!

[Jem]

I'm really impressed and heartened by what you've written Ashley! It sounds like you are coping really well with I.C, and that it isn't affecting your life too much. You're still doing exactly what you want to do with your life and remaining upbeat.

When I was on the wards I also had other students and plenty of other nurses and auxilliaries around, so I guess it was a bit easier to sneak off to the toilet without being missed too much. At least, that was the case when I was on a really busy ward. On the quiter ones it wasn't as easy as Mentors and Supervisors would always be asking where I'd gone! Also, when I was on a community placement, I visited patients houses a lot with the health visitor and was always asking 'Can I use your toilet?' LOL.
I suffer depression too, which was also a factor in me dropping out - it all got too much for me. We do have student services for students with special health needs etc, but like you, I never used them. My Mentor was so understanding so I just talked to her instead.

But I think I've pretty much decided nursing isn't for me anyway now. I may change my mind later down the line. The thing is, I've missed the boat for going back. The uni let me take a year off to get myself sorted, but it didn't happen. Then they gave me another year off, but I'm STILL no better!! I've only just found a new Urologist and started a proper treatment plan, so I'm going to have to tell the uni I won't be returning. If I did want to do it, I'd have to go right back to year 1 again!! But I'm trying just to take one day at atime right now and not plan too far ahead. I'm sure it will all work out in the end. :-)

How many years of your course do you have left before you qualify? Maybe you'll end up as a nurse on the Urology ward! LOL.

Jem x

[LithEruiel]

Thanks again Jem :) I think the hardest thing for me has been like social issues. I rarely go anywhere with anyone besides my family and boyfriend, but I still hate always having to go to the bathroom when I'm out anywhere. I used to go to a lot of concerts and be able to stand in the front row the whole time and now I can't...things like that are hard.

I had a day too where I went with a home health nurse and I didn't know if we were allowed to use the patients' bathrooms. After we left one house I told the nurse I'd have to stop and go to the restroom (there were lots of gas stations and such around) and she asked why I didn't go in the previous house since it was clean and she told me the next house was clean and they'd let me go. It was kind of awkward.

Your school sounds pretty strict like mine. Mine is only a two year program (you have to take about a year or so of classes before you get in, depending on how much you had in high school or at another college beforehand). But, you have to go straight through the two years. If you start over you only have to take the tests in the classes you haven't passed, but you still have to go to all the classes and audit them. That'd be really frustrating.

I graduate in July and then I can take boards :) I want to go back and be a nurse practitioner and work with IC patients.

[Jem]

I'm the exact same with social things, Ash. My social life has totally dried up. I can't go to the cinema anymore cos I end up getting up to go to the toilet 3 times throughout the film and I get so embarrassed cos you know that everyone's looking thinking 'is she going AGAIN?' Esp if you have to squeeze past other people and they have to stand up to let you out! I wait for everything to come out on dvd now! Last time I went to a party I crashed at my friends house and I had a really bad flare during the night and kept getting up to pee. But she only had half a loo roll, so I ended up having to use newspaper instead. I was soooooo embarrassed! And of course I can't even drink anymore, which totally sucks....sigh. I suppose I.C helps keep me on the straight and narrow, but it sure is boring as hell!! LOL.
I don't have a boyfriend just now. Is yours supportive and understanding of your problems? I hope so! :-)
I had to go to summer school before I could do my nursing course, cos I didn't have a high enough grade in Biology.
What do you mean by 'I can take boards?' (I've never heard that phrase b4 - soz for my ignorance!)
Btw, do you watch 'Nurse Jackie'? I love that show. It's so under-rated! I could totally relate to the student nurse, the way she was in Series 1. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out.

Jem x

[LithEruiel]

Yeah, my boyfriend is very supportive...the last one wasn't. He was worried about me, but he didn't understand the stress it was putting on me (we broke up just shortly after I was finally diagnosed). He didn't deal with things very well, oh well, enough about him. My boyfriend now doesn't really think anything of me having IC.

Once we graduate from nursing school we have to take an exam to be licensed in whatever state we're going to be working in. They call it "boards," I can't think of what it's called anywhere else.

[Jem]

That's okay! I think it's differrent here in the UK, cos once you qualify you can work anywhere in the country. Would you need to take the exam again if you moved to a differrent state? The great thing about nursing is that once you do qualify, you could go and work anywhere in the world! You could move to Australia or work with UNICEF in Africa or anything...If you got bored of America you could travel the world and never be out of work, and then come back home again!

That's so great that you have such a lovely boyfriend. :-) I'm glad the I.C isn;t an issue for him or you.

Well, talk to you later! Have a great day.

Jem x

[ICNDonna]

From working in Nursing Administration at a major hospital, I know that in the US, once you pass your state boards in one state and are licensed there, there is reciprocity with other states so you don't have to take the boards for every state where you work. You do need to apply for a license in the new state, however --- but as long as you have met the work requirements, licensing in other states shouldn't be a problem.

Donna

[Jem]

Thanks for the explanation Donna!
I did think it would be a bit daft to make you resit an exam every time you moved state...!

Jem x

[LithEruiel]

Yeah, Donna's right, you don't need to take the test again if you move, I didn't say that quite right before. But you do have to pay a fee to apply for a license in another state as well as to renew your license how ever often your state requires (1-3 years it seems). Like here, I'm right on the boarder of two other states so if I wanted to pay for it I could get a license in all three states. Some people do that when they first finish school since they don't know where they'll be hired yet and if they decide they'll be staying where they're at for awhile they'll let the other licenses expire instead of continuing to pay for them.

Oh btw, I haven't seen Nurse Jackie, I'll have to look it up!

[Jem]

Thanks for explaining that Ash. I think getting a license to cover you for all 3 states def sounds like a good idea. You should def check out Nurse Jackie. It's gotten really good reviews over here. I think it's Showtime who make it. It stars Eadie Falconi (sp?) who played Carmela Soprano in...you guessed it, The Sopranos. Lol. ;-) I remember reading that some official nursing body who review the portrayal of nurses on tv, said it was one of the best, most realistic depictions they have seen. (Well, except for the fact she's addicted to vicodin or something and is always stealing it from the ward! ) A bit like Gregory House! (I love that show too.)

Jem x

[Jem]

Soz, I got her name wrong. It's actually Edie Falco. I had to correct that! x