New to this...

**ICtears** · 08-29-2007, 02:22 AM

Hello,

I am 19 years old and in my second year of college. I've been dealing with this issue for over a year now and it only seems to keep prolonging itself. I have had countless uti's in the past year and finally a doctor mentioned IC. Of course this particular doctor described it to me in an end of the world type of way. I have not been diagnosed. I finally found a doctor that I really love but it was right before I had to leave for school and she was unable to perform an instillation. I will be going home for that in a few weeks but at the moment I am just trying to survive until that day comes. I always feel like I'm just surviving until the next appointment. I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but it always seems like the pain and the other symptoms are the worst when I'm walking. This poses a huge problem when I walk for a half hour to get to each class. I have been on the elimination diet for about two or three weeks now but I have come to decide that anything I eat causes problems. Does anyone have any tips to keep me moving until I can get some answers? Thanks!

~April

***ICNDonna*** · 08-29-2007, 02:31 AM

The Patient Handbook will help you learn more about interstitial cystitis. I do think it's important that you have a diagnosis. Hopefully after you see your urologist you will have that.

And I hope you feel better soon.

Donna

**Roxie2007** · 08-29-2007, 04:49 AM

HI ICtears,
Sorry to hear you are going through so much at such a young age. Have you tried Azo Standard? It's over the counter (you can get it at Walgreens). It's like anesthea for the bladder. It really helps with pain.
I hope your dr. tests you for IC before starting any treatments like instills. There's lots of great meds out there now for IC and since you are young and starting your treatment right away you should get some relief much faster than those of us who didn't have that option years ago.
Good luck to you! and read that IC handbook and stay on the diet.

**Charisse** · 08-29-2007, 06:43 AM

Can you find a uro closer to where you go to school? I feel for you. Hopefully the instills will work. Are you taking any other medications? I also felt like I was living from one appt to the next for the first couple of months.

**leelee88** · 08-29-2007, 07:57 AM

So sorry you are going through this.... Like Roxie mentioned Azo is good for spasms and pain, burning.. Also warm baths with help.. And drink only water, this will keep your pee diluted and hopefully keep you from flaring, until you can get bk to the uro... Good luck!

**lan** · 08-29-2007, 01:55 PM

Hi April - I am so sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. There are some medications that are non-intrusive (that have helped many of us) that you can ask your doctor about also. I only take Elavil and that has helped me a great deal. I have read that others on this board have had success with Atarax. These are just some things that you can read about and ask your doctor about. I am so sorry that you have to worry about all of this while you are starting school. I am keeping you in my thoughts. Keep us posted on how you are feeling and ask any questions that you may have. The folks on this board are so helpful. Wishing you well...Linda

**ICtears** · 08-29-2007, 03:05 PM

Thank you so much for your kind words. I actually hassled my doctor AGAIN and she finally prescribed something similar to Azo-Standard for me. Hopefully it will kick in soon. I will let you know how the diagnosis goes in a few weeks. I hope everyone is doing well. You have all helped me so much already. It's just nice to know I'm not alone.
~April

**born2swim** · 08-30-2007, 06:26 AM

April,

I am so sorry that you are miserible! I am in college (24 y/o) and starting med school classes. It is rough, believe me. In undergrad, I had to get a handicap parking decal so I could park next to my class buildings. It helped quite a bit. I also had to let professors know why I had to leave their hour long lecture 1-3 times. Some had special exam arrangements. I am doing better now (maybe meds or the hydrodistention), but I can sit through 2-3 hour lectures if I don't drink anything before.

As for the walking. Yes it is much much worse for me. Running is completely out of the question now (before IC, I was training for my first 1/2 marathon when the symptoms appeared).

Have you tried the IC diet? That seems to help a lot of people. I can't do tea, coffee, or or a couple of things. Diet doesn't really seem to make a difference, but I try to stick to it as much as possible.

Good luck! I know it is tough. I hope you can find a way to feel better!