How do I know how well I could be feeling?

**Auranc8** · 08-19-2010, 02:31 AM

Hey all! I am trying to figure out how well I could be feeling. I've been careful with my diet. I notice doing too much can cause a flare as well.

Do your food flares and "doing too much" flares differ in symptoms?

Do you/did you have to go through a series of therapies in order to know if they help you? (trial and error)

I live withing 2 hours of Dr. Evans (NC) and think I should go see him as my doctor because he seems to be the best. I don't know of a good doctor in the Raleigh/Cary area.

I have watched my diet and have a hard time sitting still. Therefore my body hasn't been feeling great because of the latter. I am about to start teaching again and am scared to death that I will either have to quit or suffer each day. Thinking about it I picture myself climbing up this steep mountain.

Any feedback would be great.

Thanks,

Melody

***ICNDonna*** · 08-19-2010, 04:21 AM

For me a flare feels about the same, whether it's from a trigger food or activity. I have heard many good things about Dr. Evans --- you might want to see him at least for an opinion on possible treatments you haven't tried.

Donna

***kadi*** · 08-19-2010, 04:22 AM

Hi Melody,
Do your food flares and "doing too much" flares differ in symptoms? Not too much, no. Though food flares respond better to taking TUMS or baking soda in water (only do this if you have no problems with sodium or high blood pressure), than do stress or activity flares.

Do you/did you have to go through a series of therapies in order to know if they help you? (trial and error) Yes, I did. But, that was mainly because I tend to have a lot of allergies & side effects from medicines, so my doctors & I decided to try only one treatment at a time so we'd know what I was / wasn't allergic to.

I am also a teacher. I've taught 18 years total, the last 7 with IC. It can be done. I'll send you a letter I wrote for other teachers with IC, since it's too long to post here.

Wishing you a good school year & relief soon,

**123456** · 08-19-2010, 07:11 AM

Hi Melody,

It took time for any of my oral medications to work, but I'd say I started to feel much better within 3 months. During that time frame, I also started physical therapy which is awesome. I'm now 10 months in and I'm feeling better with each passing month. I am a single mom and work full time in a very stressful career. Just keep trying and don't give up. You will find some consistency eventually. You should only take it one day at a time. Don't let a flare up scare you or think you're going back to the beginning. That happened to me a few times and I flipped out but still I kept getting better.

**skybluesoul** · 08-19-2010, 09:24 AM

Melody, I sympathize with you. I've had to try many things (and am still experimenting) to see what helps. I'm a teacher also and am very nervous about beginning the school year. Last year I had to take a lot of time off to get my symptoms under control, and I really don't want that to happen again this year. I hope you have a smooth start to your year!

Kadi, could you also send me the letter? I really need some inspiration.