Newbie Here

[Melissa66]

Hi, my name is Melissa. I was diagnosed with IC 11 years ago in 1998. One day I was healthy and the next day I had a full blown case of IC. My gyno didn't know what to make of it so I saw a urologist. Luckily, I found a urologist who treats many women with IC and knows pretty much everything there is to know about the condition. From our first meeting, my Dr. took my excruciating symptoms seriously. I was distraught, losing weight and was desperate for at least some relief. My Dr. told me straight away that he hates IC, he really hates IC and the suffering it brings to women. He decided to treat it aggressively. Elmiron has just come on the market and I started taking it immediately. Luckily, within a few weeks my intense bladder pain and frequency improved dramatically.

I felt so blessed since there are tens if thousands of women who have tried every treatment available with no relief. My heart bleeds for those women and I admire their courage and have compassion for how crippling this evil condition can be.

My medication has changed. I've been taking Amitriptyline 25 mg for 6 years now along with Detrol LA. Amitriptyline makes me drowsy but it, along with the Detrol controls my pain and frequency. I recently found out that the pharma company that makes the Amitripyline I take stopped making it and no pharmacy I've contacted carries it anymore. The pharmacy that does make it now doesn't work. In fact, it aggravates my pain and frequency. Brand name Elavil isn't made anymore. So I have to see my urologist and re-think my treatment. I go on Wednesday and pray for a good outcome.

I'm happy to talk with any IC sufferer if they want to reach out to me. I know the physical and psychological toll it takes and want to help anyone who needs it.

Take care, everyone, and let's keep praying for a cure soon!