HELP PLEASE

[sharon429]

Almost right after I posted my new pictures of Olivia and said how well I was doing I started having the worst flare-up of my life. It's been 7 days of the worst IC pain I've ever had. I can't take it another minute. At first I tried to think of what caused it. It could have been a peach I ate, or the sugar-free chocalate cake, or the sex one night or the two nights of spaghetti sauce. But all of these things I've been able to have for awhile now. Maybe they all started building up and now I've over done it and my IC is back. I don't know. All I know is that I'm extremely depressed. When my IC hurts like this I get a permanant frown on my face.
The really weird thing about this is this: My period is 7 days late. It's never late. I'm still breastfeeding and unlike most people who just breastfeed I got my period right away at 4 months after I had Olivia. Anyway, yesterday I went out and bought a pregnancy test and the first one failed. This morning I tried the second one and it came out negative. I'm so confused. What the hell is going on? I searched the internet under "breastfeeding and missed period" and came up with some stuff saying you can miss a period while breastfeeding. I've breastfed my other 3 children and never missed a period. I don't get it? Why am I in so much pain and not getting my period? This sucks. I had a terrible last couple of nights laying awake in bed with pain and all this crazy stuff running around in my head thinking I'm pregnant. Yesterday the pain was so intense I felt like I was going to have a panic attack.
Tommorrow were all going to Great Adventure. We've planned it for a long time and my husband took off. I don't have the heart to tell everyone that I can't go. Maybe tommorrow it will be better.
Sharon

[Jazzy Baby]

Sharon,
I am so sad that you are feeling this way. Have you called your doc? There has to be something that you can take while you are nursing. Seems like my sister did. I think she took darvocet. I really wish that you start feeling better. When I nursed my first, my periods were crazy. I still got them, unlike my sister, that didnt have one for 14 months after Chace was born, but mine were crazy. They were really messed up. One month I would have it, then I would go 4 months without it, then when I finally did have it, it hit hard. Maybe your body is just reacting differently to the hormones this time. Anyway, Hope you get to feeling better, I will be praying for you. <img src="graemlins/grouphug.gif" border="0" alt="[grouphug]" />

[ICNDonna]

It might be a good idea to back away from some of the IC trigger foods. I know I can have a little bit of some of the usual triggers, but if I overdo it, it's big time flare.

I do agree that it would be a good idea to contact your doctor. But on the positive side, it's been a lot of years, but when I was breast feeding my babies, it wasn't unusual to miss a period entirely. With one baby, I missed several --- and my doc said not to worry --- some people don't have periods at all when they're nursing.

I hope you feel better very soon.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[sharon429]

Jasmine and Donna,
Thanks for getting back to me so soon. I really don't have anyone to talk to about this except my husband who doesn't understand. I just got back from shoprite and I was so miserable that I'm really considering cancelling our trip.
I was thinking like you said to call my Dr. but right now I'm having a problem with my insurance. My husband got layed off this summer and he just recently went back. Now the insurance is all messed up. It's a long story. Anyway, I have a new Dr. who I haven't even met yet. Knowing how long it took me to find the Dr. who finally diagnosed my IC this is going to really stink.
Anyway, I was also thinking it might just be my hormones going wacky. I know always right before my period I used to have a flaring. Maybe that's what's going on. I just can't help thinking I'm pregnant. Well, I guess I'm not since the test came out negative.
Thanks again.
Sharon

[havehope]

Even though it's hard, try not to be down - this flare should settle down. Good advice to stick to the ic food-trigger list. The other week I dined on Thai and Indian (the mildest they had). I was okay until the third time out I tried Thai again....it caught up with me. Breastfeeding can cause irregular periods (but unless you are nursing on a really, really regular basis - yes, you can get pregnant). Can you at least get a pregnancy test done by the doctor, to put your mind at rest about that? You mentioned sex.....could you have a bacterial infection?
Try not to worry......all that stress doesn't help you feel better (easier said than done I know). Good luck, and I'll say a prayer for you.

[sharon429]

Well, I guess everyone's prayers worked. Thank you. Today the pain was gone. I can feel it a tiny bit but it's the difference between night and day.
We cancelled Great Adventure though - only because last night I was so miserable and I didn't know what today would bring and because it ended up to be much hotter then expected today. My husband and kids were so great about it. The kids didn't mind much at all and my husband made dinner last night for me.
I made a doctor's appointment for this Wednesday. I figured it wouldn't hurt to have them do a pregnancy test and also talk to them about giving me something I can maybe take while breastfeeding if the pain comes back. I suspect I just missed my period though and something weird is just going on with my hormones and that's why the IC was acting up.
Sharon
Sharon