Yet another newbie - Going crazy.

[NotMyCupOfTea]

I can't believe I am here... but thank god this place exists otherwise, I just might go crazy.

First off, from everything I have read, it seems like I have fairly mild IC. It's not disabling but incredibly annoying and it makes me depressed.

I am a 41 year old woman, married, no kids but two cats. I live in the So Cal area.

I don't have any food allergies that I know of but I know that can change any time...

Also, I recently had my hormones checked and everything was good.

My story starts off in early June when I had a typical yeast infection. I went to the store and bought one day Monistat cream. BIG BIG BIG mistake. It felt like someone poured acid in there! It was so bad I thought I was going to pass out. I have a pretty high pain tolerance too. It took several hours but the intense burning and stinging finally subsided. Funny thing is, it got rid of my yeast infection but in the following days, I started to feel pressure in my bladder. I have had UTI's earlier in my life so I knew what it was....

I went to the docs and got Bactrim. I actually felt 75 percent better that night after taking just one pill. I was fine while on the meds but the SECOND I stopped, all the symptoms came screaming back. Pain, pressure, urgency, lower back pain etc.

Before I had gone to the docs with this, I did an at home UTI test and the nitrates were negative but the leukocytes were off the charts.

THen I retested after the pills (even though I was STILL having the symptoms) and both nitrates and leukocytes were negative. I went back to the doc just before I went out of the country (didn't want to be in pain while on vacation) and got Cipro. This time I felt like it kind of took the symptoms away but while on vacation, I didn't feel too bad. I do think the antibiotics were just beginning to wear me down though. BTW, It hurts to have sex. Not during but after, it feels like someone rubbed my insides with sandpaper... and peeing afterwards (because you are supposed to) is like acid on an open wound.

As soon as vacation was over, I was done with my Cipro and I could tell the symptoms were creeping back. Yet, all my urine cultures came out negative. Even the very first one

I have since been tested for STD's, vaginal culture, pelvic exam... NORMAL NORMAL NORMAL. Sound familiar??? I put the bug in my doctors ear about IC. Yes, I knew about it BEFORE all of this and in fact, when they couldn't find a reason for my symptoms.... I started thinking I might have IC. I have a uro appt on Oct 10th. That's the soonest I could get in.

Yes, I know, they are going to do the damn scope. I cringe when I think about it. Just CRINGE. But I know it's necessary.

I went on iHerb and got plenty of suppliments that are suggested for IC. I'm going to try everything. I started the IC diet today. I have my doubts that it will work for me but we shall see.

I actually don't go to the bathroom THAT much but I do drink a lot of water so I guess I do because of that.. but I am not going a zillion times a day although, sometimes when I go, it's not as much as it should be. It doesn't match the urge of what I feel (if you know what I mean).

I stopped my decaf coffee in the morning too. Everything I love has been taken away from me. Sex with my husband (not sure how much he is going to deal with that one), rasberries, decaf coffee, decaf tea.... you name it. I feel like someone is playing a cruel joke on me.

I do take the UTI OTC med (the one that dyes your pee) and that barely touches it. I still have burning in the opening area. Even Vicoden doesn't seem to help. Ibprofen takes the edge off but I am not allowed to take it because I have chronic GERD.

I'm on high blood pressure meds, Zegrid for acid, Wellbutrin (I tend to have depression anyway)

I could stand to lose about 10 to 15 pounds but in general, I am not too overweight.

And one thing I have noticed, my tailbone has been bothering me since all this started. So wierd. I can't sit for too long without it hurting and then getting up, I have to get up slowly because it hurts.

I'm also taking massive probiotics to help with the damage that the antibiotics have done. I am also taking L-argnine, Marshmellow Root capsules, Tumeric, Fish Oil, Calcium/Magnesium. Antihistimines don't touch it either.

So, that's where I am.... I refuse to be bounced around from doc to doc and I took hold of the IC reins pretty fast. I just don't understand how one day I am fine and the next, I have IC... it's just insane

PS. One of my biggest complaints in the lower back pain... ugh. And I do not have any co-morbid problems. i.e. IBS, autoimmune, Fibro, etc.

[ICNDonna]

It does sound like IC is a possibility. It's not surprising that you feel better on antibiotics --- most have anti-inflammatory qualities, which is why we feel better so quickly.

It's good that you're following an IC diet; some find that single step helps more than anything else.

I know it's difficult to wait so long for appointments. I had to wait six weeks before my last one. I just know that when symptoms return I need to call in immediately.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[KarenAnne]

Best of luck at the urology appt. Keep us posted.

[statesboro]

I figured I would give you another welcome as well. I happen to be a male, but I was still diagnosed with IC back in 1997. Of course, none of us enjoy having IC, or any chronic illness, but it is still good to be properly diagnosed. Yep! I did not know about IC prior to being diagnosed. OK. I don't know why I was peeing nornmal and then started peeing more than I ever thought possible all of a sudden, either. Some will say it started up after surgery, some UTI's, car accident,or blow to the crotch, but I had not had surgery or any UTI's back then. Regardless, I do figure you are expecting to be told IC after all. I can't diagnosed you, but it does sem like you have got IC as well. You don't seem quite as stressed, bummed, and lost as some newbies have been. OK. I can let that be vall now. www.icawareness.org