[livingwith]

I was finally diagnosed with IC 6-9 months ago after dealing with the symtoms for the last 2 years. I went to Dr after Dr who poked and prodded from every end each with their own explination but no relief from anything. In the end I was so frustrated because you know that they are looking at you like you are crazy or it is all in your head, but the pain and misery is real. I finally seem to have found a answer between my gynecologist and urologist. Last week I had a cystoscopy and laparascopy ...Read the full article

[Littleangel0499L]

Hi lisa,
My name is Jenn I am also 25 and was diagnosed in march of last year after going through the same thing for 3 years dr after dr test after test and surgery after surgery, at one point they were going to remove my cervix because they thought that it was that that was causing all the pain, I know exactly how you feel from a certain level especially to be the age were at. I came to this website and was inspired by alot of women on here, they have helped me alot. I have gone through a spriral of emotions, which you are more than likely going to to. As far as your fiance goes, my husband was the same way, he couldn't understand so I printed out everything I could on this disease and made him read it. I told him for the first time in my life I felt so alone because no one around me understands what I am going through no one understands how bad the pain is and how frustrating it is to have to be by a bathroom all the time. He read it and gets it to a degree ( the best he can) I can suggest what worked for me the first 7 months I was diagnosed was they had me on elmiron amitryptiline and hydroxine and I had to modify my diet (that really does play a huge role in this diseas) i said seven months because i ended up having all my symptoms come back after that so now I am going through more tests they believe with me there is more going on so I have to go for an mri they think I have severe nerve damage in my body.
Don't let this thing run you down I wish I could say it will get better but I can't I am not going to sit here and BS you and say it does, it is a very frustrating disease but the best thing for you is to do your research and talk to people on here or anyother website that are going through what you are going through, it helped me. I hoped this helped you a little
I wish the best for you and I hope your wedding turns out the way you want

[surfergirl]

DEAR FRUSTRATED
I AM ALOT OLDER BUT FEEL THAT I AM LOOKING BACK ON MY LIFE AS I READ YOUR HEARTBREAKING STORY!
THE ONLY RELIEF THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR MYSELF IS PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY FOOD I PUT IN MY MOUTH AND KEEP A LOG OF THE ONES THAT CAUSE BLADDER PAIN.
WHICH IF INTERESTED I CAN LIST FOR YOU.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG ROAD BUT WORTH IT WHEN YOU ELIMINATE THE OFFENDING FOOD AND GETTING RELIEF.
HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THEM(ACTUALLY IT WOULD BE BETTER TO LIST WHAT I CAN EAT IT WOULD BE A lOT SHORTER LIST)
ALL ALCOHOL, ALL SOY PRODUCTS, ALL WHEAT PRODUCTS,MOST SPICES, TOMATOS AND ALL OTHER ACIDIC FOODS CORN SYRUP WHICH IS IN EVERYTHING, ALL GLUTEN PRODUCTS IN GENERAL SOME ALLERGIC FOODS THAT I AM SENSITIVE TO BANANA'S AVOCADO, ALL DAIRY INCL CREAM CHEESE,SOUR CREAM, ALL CHEESES IN GENERAL.
I FEEL HOPELESS MOST TIMES CAUSE I AM RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS OF WHAT TO EAT AND IT REALLY PUTS A DAMPER ON EATING OUT WITH FRIENDS. EVERYONE THINKS I AM NUTS BUT I HAVE THE PAIN
WHICH GOES AWAY IF I EAT JUST THE FEW THINGS I KNOW TO BE OK FOR ME
CHICKEN, MASHED POTATOES, STRING BEANS I COOK THE CHICKEN PLAIN NO SPICES, HARD BOILED EGGS. SALT IS OK FOR ME
APPLES SEEM OK ANDWATERMELON TILL THE COWS COME HOME.
I JUST DISCOVERD THIS SITE AND IT WAS AN EYE OPENER CAUSE I HAVE HAD ASTHMA, ENDOMETROSIS, BLADDER PAIN, AND NOW I SEE THERE IS A BIG FAT CONNECTION TO ALL THESE MILESTONES IN MY LIFE.
LUCKILY I HAVE A SCIENTIFIC MIND AND A NUTRITION DEGREE SO I AM NATURALLY INTERESTED ON EXPERIMENTS AND KEEPING LOGS AND ELIMINATION DIETS FOR MY MENTAL SATISIFACTION.
OH YES HAD TO GIVE UP ALL WINE TOO. THE SULFITES DRIVING ME CRAZY, ALL CHINESE FOOD THAT HAS MSG AND FOR SOME REASON I WISH SOMEONE COULD TELL ME WHY COCONUT MILK ?(WHICH I LOVE IN MY THAI fOOD) SO THAT'S GONE TOO.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND TELL YOU I AM PRAYING FOR YOU WITH ALL YOU HAVE TO FACE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND WITH YOUR PARTNER HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING.
LOOKING BACK ON MY LIFE I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT I KNOW NOW.
OH YES FISH AND SHELLFISH DRIVES MY BLADDER OVER THE EDGE. I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE I CAN TOLERATE YET.
I HOPE THIS MIGHT HAVE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE FOOD CONNECTION THAT I TRUELY BELIEVE IS A VERY BIG PART OF THIS IC BLADDER DISEASE.
GOOD LUCK AND I AM AS I SAID PRAYING FOR YOU.
WHAT I DO IS A ROTATION OF ALL FOODS SO THAT I EAT WHAT I LIKE BUT ONLY A VERY SML PIECE ONE A WEEK. NO ALCOHOL OR WINE OR FISH THOUGH NOT EVEN ALITTLE CAN I TOLERATE.
SO I KNOW AT YOUR AGE IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP WHAT YOU FIND HURTS YOUR BLADDER BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT.
LOTS OF LUCK
SURFERGIRL