Cold weather makes us want to wrap our hands around a hot beverage and warm up from the inside out. But, finding caffeine-free hot drinks that are IC friendly isn't all that easy. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are the most common hot drinks, and the vast majority of them aren't good for our bladders. [...]
Approximately 70 % of all American households have a pet, so it makes sense that many IC patients also have pets.(1) Taking care of a pet with a chronic health condition can be a challenge, but the benefits can outweigh the drawbacks. And research has found that pet ownership has all sorts of positive health [...]
The whole point of setting New Year's resolutions is to have something to look forward to in a new year. Resolutions give you goals to work toward and ways to better yourself. Figuring out how to realistically set New Year's resolutions when you have a chronic health condition, like IC, can be challenging. IC affects [...]
The FALL issue of the IC Optimist, the magazine of the IC Network, is now available. It is currently available for download for all of our members and will be mailed shortly to those who requested printed copies! Members can now download them from their membership pages in the ICN Shop. Print issues will be [...]
For my first couple of years dealing with IC as an adult, I noticed that each year I had a bladder flare the day after Thanksgiving and often the day after Christmas. Of course my doctor was not in the office. I thought it was crazy I'd end up with a UTI after the holidays [...]
Have you ever felt like you have a yeast infection only to be told by your doctor that no yeast is present? Are there moments when wearing jeans or underwear are uncomfortable or painful? You may have vulvodynia, vulvar pain that lasts for three months or longer without an obvious cause. In the IC patient [...]
More than any other holiday, Thanksgiving revolves around food and that can be stressful when you are following a special diet for any reason -- including IC. However, you can easily have an IC friendly Thanksgiving with just a bit of planning. Whether this is your first or 15th holiday season with IC, these recipes [...]
Support group leaders are often hidden heroes in the IC movement. Through their own struggles and suffering, these rare and special souls understand the importance of being there for those who share their journey. They understand that a simple conversation, an encouraging word and/or helping hand can change another life for the better. Cindy Sinclair [...]
