How Fast Does Remission Usually Happen

[GWENDOLYN]

For those who have gone into remission, Did you just wake up one day and feel no more symptoms, or was it more gradual? I have been feeling better each day I have been on elmiron almost 3 months and it just may be that it is working well for me, but I have not felt as bad as when it all first started several months ago. I feel less and less symptoms each day. I know not to get my hopes up, but I will enjoy every second that I feel better and I hope this for everyone else too!!

[mom_in_ma]

That's great that you are feeling better! My remissions have always been gradual. I wish I woke up one day and had no more symptoms!

[KristiV]

My symptoms have gradually declined also. I started feeling bad in January and was told in March they thought I had IC. Began Elmiron and Hydroxzine and am feeling better IC wise. Still battling allergies and yeast infections, but IC seems to be improving.

[Roxie2007]

HI, It's been gradual for me too. I've been on Elmiron for almost a year now and all the other stuff I take....and right now I'm doing well. I feel like I should knock on wood or something and not even say it outloud! LOL I watch what I eat so I don't eat anything that'll make me flare. Roxie

[jubejube]

Hey everyone...
It is so great to hear that you are all feeling better, al though gradually...
I was wondering if any of you have gone into remission, without taking a lot of medication?

[JDOOKIE]

i too have slowly been getting better.but i havent been taking meds from the doc. i tried that but have had bad side effects off them- so i'm going the natural route. needless to say it's still alot of pills(at 1st,cutting dose back now,so well see,ok so far!!) but i like it better becuase theres no side effects! hope you keep feeling better.

[meme]

For me it happened gradually, then one day I was like "huh, I haven't felt like crap in a while so I guess that means I'm getting better". I was also slowly able to add a few things back into my diet, a piece of chocolate here and there just to test it and I felt fine. Glad to hear you're feeling better!!! Hope it continues for you.

[LouLou]

i too have slowly been getting better.but i havent been taking meds from the doc. i tried that but have had bad side effects off them- so i'm going the natural route. needless to say it's still alot of pills(at 1st,cutting dose back now,so well see,ok so far!!) but i like it better becuase theres no side effects! hope you keep feeling better.

J Dookie,

I would so like to go the natural route. What are you doing?

[JDOOKIE]

loulou
wow lets see all the stuff i've taken-gotta get my list out-lol. and some people have problems off these thing but i have been lucky & they have helped some
aleo vera-liquid-still taking
cod liver oil-still taking
goldenseal root/echinica-take no longer than 2 weeks-done
gr8-dophilus-done
olive leaf extract-still taking
bone-up-done
curbita-still taking
d-mannose-still taking
ultimate flora-still taking
and i also take vita strips(i dont have problems like alot of people do with vita.)

i have elmiron but so scared to take it becuase i had such bad side effects off everything else the doc. gave me. that will be last resort kinda thing. you can find alot of stuff that could possible help of this site. hope you find something to help. have a great day.
jessica

[purpleviolet]

cubita?

Hi - I am curious about the cubita. I've heard of the herb, but not for IC. How did you know to take that? PV

[JDOOKIE]

purpleviolet,
an herblist recommended it to me. it's to support healty bladder function in men & women. on the box it says, unique ability to enhance bladder function, helps bladder muscles, and supports normal empting of the bladder. i have not norrowed it down yet to this but somethings working for me. hope you find something too!

[jamie_visiting]

Herbs etc

I am trying both natural supplements and Elmiron. I recognize that it will make it harder to figure out what is working if anything does, but I figure I'd rather get better first and then try to eliminate the meds one by one at that point.

Today marks my two weeks on Elmiron. The headachy feeling seems to be under control, and I don't think it has any major repercussions on my stomach. I noticed some hair loss, but it wasn't dramatic and I think it might actually already be improving.

Personally, I am willing to put up with a lot of other side effects to get the IC under control.

[LouLou]

I'm doing the same thing. I want to get rid of the pain- then I'll figure out what to stop taking. So far, I've only tried marshmallow root tea CystaQ and plain Quercitin It is expensive to try some of these natural remedies, only to find you can't tolerate them. Then again, it is expensive to fill prescriptions to find you can't tolerate those either-which has happened to me twice. I do have a sample of aloe vera capsules and MSM Glucosomine(sp). I'll try one of those next. I'm going to research the Korean Angelica and cubita too.

[Thereisnopain]

I seem to have two kinds of remission, if it can be called that.

The first, more common, and more permanent one, is very gradual for me. I will take 6 months to a year to achieve full remission and only with very strict management of my medications, stress level, and diet. I have actually only done this twice, as much of the rest of my time with IC was spent going "LALALALALAA I CAN'T HEAR YOU IC!!!"

The other kind of remission is yes, in fact, I wake up one morning and don't have any pain, any urgency, nada... Then for several days, a week, maybe at most 2 weeks, this will continue. I may have a tiny little tinge of pain here and there, and the urgency never comletely goes away, but all in all, Im at most a 1 on the "interfering with my life" scale. This sort of remission is extremely fragile, and something as simple as a sip of lemonade will kick it out of wack.

I don't have the foggiest idea why my IC is so inconsistent, but I'm thankful for these days when I feel myself again regardless of the cause, though I also am determined to find some of these causes

[curls]

Herbs

Hi - I am finding that Cramp Bark, Marshmallow and Cornsilk are all very helpful herbs to take in a tea form regularly.

Valerie.