My mother asked me ic she did anything to cause any of these health problems?

[tpronti]

My mother wanted to know if she might have done anything while she was pregnant. I was born in 1973. My mom said maybe it is because I smoked. My brother and sister don't have any of these health problems that I have. I have thyroid, ibs,and ic. She just can't understand that no one else in out family has any of these issues either. I really do not know what to say to her. Any thoughts?

[nekura]

My mom smoked in her early years, but not while she was pregnant with me. My Grandmother had IC. My aunt and uncle had chronic bladder infections. I just have awful genetics.

I think its a combination of genetics and your environment.

[Rope_Wrench]

For what it's worth, my mother did not or has ever smoked. Also as far as I know, on one else in my family has IC or and chronic bladder conditions. I guess I just got the luck of the draw.

[jen74]

My mother smoked too, but I have a brother who is absolutely healthy so I do not think it applies. My mom had alot of health issues, but not IC. I think IC is a product of immune system disfunction. Alot of things can happen to the body when the immune system is not functioning right. IC is one of them. Whether it be that IC is a constant low grade infection ( which is very possible) or just a chronic constant inflammation which again usually is caused by a bacterial component, it is the immune system that is not keeping things at bay or running up to par which in turn causes all these body disfunctions ( IC, IBS, CFS, Fibro, etc...) . Genes likely play a big role.

[mary124]

I can't blame my family for my IC--I could but my Mom feels guilty as is because of my heart condition (the doctor reassures her that she had nothing to do with it). No one besides myself have Ic, however back when my great aunt was living she had really bad bladder problems which could of of IC but I don't think that they had a name for this yet.

[simplicity]

Glad I'm not alone with being the only one in the family having all these issues. I have IC, PCOS, Hashimotos, IBS... Possibly other things that haven't been found yet. It's tough when your family doesn't understand. Now that I have some firm diagnosis, I feel more validated. But for a long time I felt like a hypochondriac.

As for what caused all these problems? Who knows!! My mom smoke and drank during pregnancy, so it could be that.....

[tierney]

I don't think smoking could have contributed to your IC; no one has proven the cause of IC. But tell your mom it does not matter what she did. Whether she was the best mother in the world, or the worst, it matters what she does now.

[tpronti]

My mother and father really do not understand this. They see me and since I look okay they assume that I feel okay. They have been supportive in their own way. They basically have told me that I have to just accept this and go on. My dad came over and I was crying one day and he told me to stop throwing my own pity party. I know that acceptance comes with time. I even invited them to come to a support group. My mother told me that once I accept ic in my life then everyone else will around me. I told her it really isn't the same kind of acceptance. I know my ic family will totally understand what I mean by that comment.

[elitynski]

Tpronti - it's so hard when people don't understand. I hate it when someone says "you just need to get over this," or "your anxiety is alienating everyone."

The other thing is that telling you to stop having a pity party is not helpful and it can potentially cause you to withdraw from people who aren't supportive. I know that I've felt like that with some people in my life. The people are well-intentioned, but comparing my condition to someone who has stage 4 cancer really doesn't make me feel better about my condition.

I've become more withdrawn because I feel like it doesn't make sense to keep burdening others with this problem as I don't know when or if I'll feel better.

I don't know your parents but maybe you need to let them know that if they can't support you, it may hinder the relationship.

I hope that you will continue to find the support you need.

Blessings to you.

[darlene]

Those who don't have IC, can't understand it. It doesn't help that they never hear or see anything about IC on TV, in movies, or books or magazines. This results in them thinking that IC isn't real. Until this changes, I don't think most of us will have much sucess at getting others to understand our problems. Relatives can be very hurtfull. My mother claims she has IC even though she drinks coffee, orange juice, eats spicy foods, and go 8 hours without using the restroom. I have long given up on trying to get others to have any empathy for my condition. My husband and children are the exception. I have a lot of experience trying to do this. Darlene IC for 43 years!!!

[ChrisNes]

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis often referred to as bladder pain syndrome ("IC/BPS") are terms used to describe the result of the body's own immune system attacking (the autoimmune attack) and damaging the walls of the bladder. This autoimmune condition can be severely debilitating.

Autoimmunity, is the failure of the immune system to recognize cells of “self” from cells of “non-self.” In other words, autoimmunity is the inability of the immune system to discriminate between the cells of the body, and the cells of a foreign invader. The level of ability, or inability of immunity to recognize or discriminate can vary with the autoimmune afflicted individual, and, these levels can fluctuate from day to day, from month to month, and from year to year, due in large to the two primary causes described below.

Deficiencies of vital immune modulating components in the food supply, and stress in general (both psychological and physiological) are the two primary causes of this “inability to discriminate,” leading to immunity’s “misfiring” or “autoimmune attack”on the cells and tissues of the body (the-self-attacking-self response of a struggling immune system).


In Interstitial cystitis, the mis-guided attack is focused on the bladder walls. The body identifies the cells of the bladder wall as a foreign agents. The resulting attack yields common symptoms such as pain, painful urination, discomfort, dysuria (burning sensation in the urethra when urinating), nocturia (the need to get up in the night to urinate), urinary frequency (as often as every 10 minutes), pain with sexual intercourse, and bladder ulcers.


The traditional medical community states that “the cause remains unknown,” while in the same breath, they acknowledge that the body's own immune system attacks (the autoimmune attack) and damages the cells of the bladder wall as described above. The system seems to play this “cause remains unknown” game with over 100 autoimmune conditions all of which are the result of the autoimmune attack on various, and at times, multiple systems, organs, glands, tissues, and cells of the body.


The obvious solution is to restore the compromised and misfiring immune system, subsequently eliminating the autoimmune attack at the root source.

Understanding that Autoimmunity is the Root-Cause
Examples in general:

When Autoimmunity attacks the joints, the industry term used is "Arthritis."
When Autoimmunity attacks the colon, the industry terms often used are: "Ulcerative Colitis," "Proctitis," "Diverticulosis," and "Diverticulitis."
When Autoimmunity attacks the muscles, the industry term used is "Fibromyalgia."
When Autoimmunity attacks the pancreas, the industry term used is "Diabetes"
When Autoimmunity attacks the tear ducts of the eye, and/or the saliva glands of the mouth, the industry term used is "Sjogren's Syndrome."
When Autoimmunity attacks the thyroid gland, the industry terms used are: "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis" and "Grave's Disease."
When Autoimmunity attacks the layers of the skin, common industry terms often used are; "Eczema," "Psoriasis," and "Rosacea."
When Autoimmunity attacks the small intestinal tract, the industry terms often used are: "Crohn's Disease," "Celiac Disease," "Leaky Gut Syndrome," and "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"
When Autoimmunity attacks the stomach and digestive environment in general, the industry terms used to define the resulting consequences are: "Gastritis," "Ulcers," "Irritable Bowel Syndrome," "Acid Reflux," "GERD," "Hiatal Hernia," and "Barrett's Esophagus."
When Autoimmunity attacks multiple areas of the body simultaneously, industry terms also exist identifying the particular combinations of the assault, such as "Lupus," where we commonly witness the attack hitting the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs.
Therefore, one may understand from these examples, that the Root-Disease is Autoimmunity, attacking various areas of the body, causing tissue damage (inflammation, damage, malfunction, and pain). The diagnosed disease-industry term, such as "Arthritis," (or any above or below) is simply a term identifying a potentially painful and damaging "condition," which is merely a consequence of the Autoimmune attack on a specific area of the body.

"Autoimmunity often attacks multiple systems, organs, tissues, and cells of the body simultaneously. I refer to this assault on the body as "The Shot -Gun Effect of Autoimmunity." Millions suffer with multiple Autoimmune conditions. In almost every case, the suffering person is unaware that their conditions and symptoms are all Autoimmune driven. The medical doctor has no motive to educate or discuss this with the patient, for they are trained to treat symptoms only and have no reason to discuss the Root-Cause. They are taught by the system that the Root-Cause, Autoimmunity, is "incurable," and in most cases are unaware that various conditions and symptoms alike are Autoimmune or Autoimmune related."

There are over 100 different Autoimmune conditions, and hundreds of Autoimmune symptoms, caused by the Autoimmune attack on the various organs, systems, and tissues of the body.

The Bottom Line
“The modern-day medical bureaucracy will not address the Master Disease, Autoimmunity. Eliminating the Master Disease via the restoration of proper immune and digestive function, would render an estimated 85% of the current pharmaceutical drug base obsolete, thus rendering the subsequent profitable surgical consequences unnecessary as well.

[meagain]

My mother wanted to know if she might have done anything while she was pregnant. I was born in 1973. My mom said maybe it is because I smoked. My brother and sister don't have any of these health problems that I have. I have thyroid, ibs,and ic. She just can't understand that no one else in out family has any of these issues either. I really do not know what to say to her. Any thoughts?

I have a thought. I was struck by your family story. Please Ask your mom if she took any medication or injections while she was pregnant with you.

The drug DES ( diethylstilbestrol) was rx'd from the 40's to as late as 1980 (rarely, tho it has never been banned). It was given as pills, injections and was even in some prenatal vitamins.

It was touted as an anti miscarriage drug and a drug 'to ensure a healthy pregnancy'. It did neither.

10 million people (that we know about) were exposed in what still is the biggest drug disaster ever. It causes Mullerian birth defects, (think malformed uterus or other urogenital malformations) infertility, cervical cancer, and oh yeah, AUTOIMMUNE disease. Specifically, Hashimotos, (that we know about for sure), as well as others.

There's a group called DES Action out there, they might as well be screaming at the ocean because nobody wants to listen.

I would like to see this subject brought forward now :idea:

[ChrisNes]

So how does one find out if their Mom used DES??? I had a sister die of breast cancer in 1985 and she was 32.

In 1998 I had a leep done do to pre cancer cells on my cervix.

I had an up-side-down uterus and was told that I would probably never cary a child to term. I went on bed rest with my last two kids.

TAH, POP, Bowel pouch removed in 2002

Mom died in 1998 dad died in 2010. I know my Mom had a few miscariages and a few DNC s. I am 47 this year and my eldest sibling is 62 this year.
Any Info would be great : ) Thank You

This was posted on the ICA New posts in 11-15-2004, 01:35 AM
I've been having complications from a failed uterine ablation that was performed in March of this year. I saw a specialist last week who picked up on the fact that I am a *DES Daughter, meaning my mom took DES while pregnant with me. He thinks my uterine ablation failed because the shape of my uterus is not normal. I am scheduled for more testing tomarrow.

Why am I writing this on this IC message board? Because over the past 11 years the government has been studying the after effects of DES on daughters and sons. It looks as if some of my health problems are explained by the findings. I have also had IC for about 20 years and cant link it to an event other than it occured about the same time I began having subtle autoimmune symptoms. I wonder how many people who have IC are also DES daughters or sons???

I've cut and pasted a couple of paragraphs from the Centers for Disease Control web site for explanation.

*Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a synthetic estrogen that was developed to supplement a woman's natural estrogen production. First prescribed by physicians in 1938 for women who experienced miscarriages or premature deliveries, DES was originally considered effective and safe for both the pregnant woman and the developing baby.
More than 30 years of research have confirmed that health risks are associated with DES exposure. However, not all exposed persons will experience the following DES-related health problems.
Women prescribed DES while pregnant are at a modestly increased risk for breast cancer.
Women exposed to DES before birth (in the womb), known as DES Daughters, are at an increased risk for clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) of the vagina and cervix, reproductive tract structural differences, pregnancy complications, and infertility.
Researchers are still following the health of persons exposed to DES to determine whether other health problems occur as they grow older.

[meagain]

There are two acknowledged conditions for which you can successfully sue. Primary infertility (especially with such an odd uterus) and Cancer.

The laws vary from state to state as to statute of limitations, what state you were born in etc. but the clock starts ticking once you a informed you are probably DES exposed.

You can sometimes get old pharmacy or hospital records, but there have been an amazing number of 'fires' and 'floods' affecting records, heh.

contact DES Action, they have quite a bit they can help you with, including records searches. It would be wise to contact your siblings as they may also be at risk for cancer.

Good luck to you!