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"Where There's A Will, There's A Way!"

By Rhonda (Submitted April, 2004)

I was born on Oct 15 1974. My twin sister died at birth. Before I was able to leave the hospital, I had bladder surgery. On my first birthday, I had surgery again. In the third grade, same old story, bladder surgery again. I was also having many infections but the surgeon, Dr. Hammond, did a good job and I was fine for a long time. We thought that I was cured until I developed a number of infections during several pregnancies. My family doctor finally made a referal to a urologist who diagnosed my IC.

After completing his examinations, my doctor said that I had had IC for quite sometime but that many people live with it without knowing they have it and just change there life style to deal with the pain. I did many treatments (DMSO, pain medication, Elimiron, Nerve blocks, etc.) to try to get the pain under control. Some helped but didn't last long. I finally told my doctor that I was ready to give up. Bless his heart, he could see that I didn't want to talk to him. He joked, asking if it would help if he dressed in drag so that it would be easier for me to talk "woman" to "woman." At that point, I did loosen up and started sharing my struggles. It's funny because now I can tell him anything. Remember, it's important to talk to your doctor about ALL of your problems. I'm very lucking to have such a caring, understanding physician. He really goes the extra mile to help.

I have Hunner's ulcers and do hope that they can be removed. I take pain medication if needed. I also take my own treatments at home, heparin and marcaine, which have been a Godsend to me. When my doctor and I decided to do these treatments he only wanted me to do them three times a week. A new study came out that my nurse showed me suggesting that it could be used more frequently. That was the answer to my prayers. It has helped me so much.

There are a few people out here that has gave me hope that and who understood what I was going through. They supported me and I would like to thank them all. Thank you, Dr.William Kerfoot, for never giving up on me and listening to my fears and supporting me through them. Thank you Cindy for always listening to me even though you
have your problems. You are always here to lend me a hand. Donna, thank you for straightening me out when I need it. SueC & Katrina for always being there and sending me hugs and prayers. Thank you for the support.

There was a stong loving women that passed not long ago (Jan. 2004) that taught me not to give up hope. We all knew her as AuntieDebbieF. I owe a lot to this special angel and I just hope she knew how much of a difference she made in my life. She was a loving stong lady who never gave up on hope or the Lord. She was right.

I do believe my IC started because of all the surgery I had on my bladder as a child, as well as the repetitive infections that I had over the years. Yet, after thinking about this, I realize that my mother had a lot of the same symptoms that I have but was never diagnosed. I believe that she also had IC. It makes me very angry when I remember how she suffered for years only to have her doctors tell her that it was all in her heard or, worse, that she was making things up to get attention. My mother was my rock. She was always there for me threw thick and thin. I lost her to cancer recently.

Thank you for listening to my story. I hope that you will never give up hope. Where there is a will, there is a way. AuntieDebbieF taught me that. I would also like to thank everyone for here for being my rock. Thanks you for being here for me.

Revised: 3/01/05 - kj