Hello fellow IC fighters...I hope you are well and that your symptoms are manageable today. I have decided to start a blog about my IC to help other people like myself. I am doing this in part because my beloved Dr. Gina S. has, with my permission, been giving my phone number to other patients so that they can seek my perspective on dealing with IC. I guess I am a bit of a success story in that I am able to deal with and manage my symptoms.
When I first got sick with IC I was in the bathroom every 15 to 20 minutes or more. My urethra was irritated and felt like I constantly had to pee, all the time. It was agony. I hated it. I wanted to die. 18 months later and I am 80% symptom free. I am so thankful for Dr. Gina S. because without her I would have lost my damn mind.
I am keeping this first post short because I need to go paint the....wait for it..bathroom. That's right on my first post about IC, I am talking about painting the most used room in my home. The bathroom.
I look forward to using this blog to communicate with my fellow IC fighters (I don't suffer this disease, I fight it). In the mean time I leave you all with a link to my favorite supplement, its helped me keep my bladder happy.
Glucosamine & Chondroitin W/Quercetin & Bromelain
All the best,
The Goose Girl
Hi,please help me. Ok so last year it all started when I had a UTI.I got some antibiotics and the infection went but the symptoms stayed.Eventually I got admitted to hospital for a cystoscopy and urethral dilation after my op I was fine,not a thing about 9months then March this year the symptoms started to return.In the beginning it was only once a month I was getting the symptoms but now its become constant again.The symptoms I'm having is obvious.Constant burning down there,a kind of tight pulling feeling and always needing the toilet.I'm waiting on another appointment to go to hospital for the same op as before.I've been taking powdered sachets for it which contain sodium citrate,theyre just over the counter.Anyway I just wondered If there was any advice you could give me.I'm in constant pain,I cry ALL the time,im totally depressed by it and its ruling my life.I don't even have a proper diagnosis.PLEASE HELP .If you understand or relate to any of this i'd greatly appreciate it and I'm only 19.
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with Sodium Citrate, so I looked it up. It appears to come from citric acid. This has made me wonder who told you to take this as a treatment. Was it recommended by a doctor? While your symptoms sound like IC, you will need to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. If you have IC you will need to follow the IC diet. The basics of the diet are avoiding all acids and other irritating foods. Follow this link for more information about the diet, http://www.ic-network.com/diet/
ReplyDeleteIf you follow the diet strictly it will help alleviate your symptoms, though it may take a little time to notice the effects. I would suggest you try the diet while you wait for a diagnosis from a doctor, as the diet may help and it certainly won't hurt.
I am sorry to hear that you are in such pain and discomfort. I do relate as my symptoms were once as you described and sometimes I still flare up. I see my doctor for installations of Heperin/Solu-Medrol or DMSO. These have helped me a great deal. These drugs are only available through a doctor and so I would suggest you speak to your urologist as soon as possible. There are also other medications available depending on where you live. Some medications are available outside the United States that aren't available here.
If you do have IC, you will start to feel better with proper treatment and a strict adherence to the diet.
Please write again and let me know what you learn or if you have any other questions.
GC,
ReplyDeleteWhat is your dosage for the Glucosomine/Chondroitin supplements? My doc took me off of Elmiron, and I'm strictly following the diet. I've had some flares recently and am looking at alternative drug therapies.
Thanks!
Lisa
I take 3 pills in the Am and 3 at night. Its pretty simple. The pills are big though so you have to learn to swallow them, but that's not too big a problem.
ReplyDelete