Worried about passing on IC

**stacey79** · 07-10-2004, 09:32 AM

Hi. I'm relatively new to the message boards, as you can probably tell. I'm not as new to IC. I started having problems when I was 3. I've pretty much had "bladder problems" my whole life with another major flare starting up about 2 years ago. I'm now 25 and have been married for five years.

Recently I have gotten through with college and my husband and I bought our first home. We're thinking within the next couple of years of starting our family. One of my biggest concerns is passing this along to my children. Since it's something I've always had to deal with in some way, I don't want to put children through that.

I had read that IC can be linked genetically, but then I just read something else today saying that it's not. I'm not sure what to believe. I think nobody knows! I know when I had my last major flare 10 years ago there weren't nearly the resources or treatments available then that there are now. I just don't know that I want to wait around for scientists or whoever to figure out if IC is genetic. That may not even be in my lifetime!

I guess what I'm wondering is if anyone else has these concerns or knows of situations where IC either was or wasn't passed on? I know my mom has some very mild symptoms of IC that flares up every so often, as does my maternal grandma and two of my great-aunts.

Thanks!

**gloriabono68** · 07-11-2004, 02:26 AM

I too have had bladder problems my whole entire life. No one else in my family but ME seems to have this problem. mY mother pees alot some days but i think hers is more over active bladder......she never has any of the same symptoms i have had thru the years.......
I had my daughter 16 years ago this coming week and she has no bladder problems , whatsoever........she had a bladder infection one time when she was about 4 but other than that.....she can go all day without peeing and hasnt ever had any problems since. Thank GOD>.....
I just wish i knew what to avoid and all that stuff back then cause the last four months of my pregnancy was HELL because of my IC......although it didnt have a name back then........and i wasnt even diagnosed with anything until she was about 2 years old.......but it didnt have a name then either........they just gave me a bunch of tests and put me on low doses of medication.....which workded well at the time and for the next several years.........for almost 2 years now i have lived in bladder hell and i cannot seem to find any kind of relief.........but i wouldnt worry to much about passing it along.........I don't know if they will ever find out if its genetic or not..........and that doesnt matter to me.......they need to find a cure or something that will actually work instead of doing reseach on genetics......unless of course they can fix it before you come out with some kind of gene therapy or something........i dont know..........I only had one child so i don't know if i had had another that that child would get it or not.........its just the luck of the draw i think..........
but i don't know........i just wouldnt worry alot about that........just avoid caffeiene and certain foods during your pregnancy and your IC probably won't bother you that much.......i also have heard that alot of peoples ic goes into remission during pregnancy......i wasnt lucky that way .......but i hope and pray that all goes welll and you will have a healthy happy baby with no problems and NO IC when you get ready to have that baby..........:thumbsup:
good luck!!
gloriabono

**sleepyangel30** · 07-11-2004, 02:39 AM

Well bladder problems run in my family. My mom have over active bladder she pee every 2 hours, My oldest brother have over active bladder he pee 3 or 4 times every hour, My cousin have an over active bladder she pee 20 times a day thats more than me and she doesn't have IC, My grandma and grandpa (my mom parents) had over active bladder they are dead now.

***ICNDonna*** · 07-11-2004, 03:41 AM

I'm the only one in my family with IC --- to my knowledge --- and my parents both came from huge families. I grew up with 2 siblings, neither with IC; I have three grown children, none with IC.

There is a chance, of course, that an offspring might develop IC, just as there is a chance they might develop arthritis or cancer.

In my case, my genetic "gift" to my children was allergic conditions --- but I can't imagine my life without any one of them.

Warm encouraging hugs,
Donna

**Dixiefireball** · 07-11-2004, 05:22 AM

i was born with bladder problems and three kidneys. I have three children ages 12,10,06 two boys and a girl.
they havnet had no major problems.
think even if you didn't have bladder problem wouldn't mean your children would be born without them. Its what God has in store for your life.
Children are a blessing!
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

**stacey79** · 07-11-2004, 08:17 AM

Thanks so much for all of the responses. You all have given me things to think about as well as some different perspectives, which is what I was looking for.

I don't think we will have a baby for at least a year or two, but I've been thinking about it more lately after getting our first house and everything and my husband and I have been talking about it a bit more. I just think about the chances of passing on IC, but I also could think about the chances of passing on my husband's bad allergies. These things just happen. And our kids may have no problems with their bladders or allergies and have something totally different!

I also do know that God is in control and will take care of everything as He sees fit. I have already been praying for whatever children I may have, if He choses to bless us with them.

Anyway, thanks so much for the responses. As I said before, I'm new the message boards and I just really appreciate hearing back from people. It's been very encouraging to me to read through posts on the boards from people who know what it's like to live with IC.

I don't really know anyone who has IC. I have a great aunt who does, but I only see her a couple of times a year. This has been nice! Thanks! :thumbsup:

vm · 07-11-2004, 11:44 AM

I am the only one in my family with bladder problems.

**ChrissyH** · 07-12-2004, 02:54 AM

I have your same worries. I've been married for 4 1/2 years now and my husband desperately wants a baby. I'm just finishing off college now and we've decided to wait several years so that we can save up some money and buy a house first. But I fear that I would pass on all of my problems to my children and I also worry about how I will handle the pregnancy. I know that some go into remission during pregnancy, but I still worry, I'm a worry wart. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who worries about such things. Sometimes I dream that there will soon be a cure and can live like a "normal" person.

**Jen_Cole** · 07-12-2004, 01:10 PM

I developed eosinophilic cystitis at the age of 28, and my brother has had it since he was three.

**Jeanne D.** · 07-12-2004, 02:54 PM

I developed eosinophilic cystitis at age 21. No one in my family has any urinary tract disorders. None of my children (four) are affected with this disease.

I was one of the lucky ones. Other than hematuria, I had no other symptoms during my pregnancies. Felt great, no pain, and no frequency!

Jeanne