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I was diagnosed with IC in September of 2009. I had to switch to a new urologist due to insurance issues, and he told me he didn’t think I had IC because of the amount of liquid I could hold and for how long I could hold it (I did two voiding records). Unfortunately, I didn’t do a voiding record for the doc who diagnosed me with IC, so I have no way of knowing how often I was going before. However, after reducing my fluid intake by about half (I was drinking at least 4 liters a day before), and going off of Elmiron, I had almost instant relief. My idea was that drinking more liquid would make my urine less acidic, but what it really did was give me more pain. Then, after not taking Prelief for a day and eating everything I wasn’t supposed to (coffee, chocolate, tomato sauce), I realized food wasn’t bothering me either.
It’s been 3 months now, and my pain is almost non-existent. As long as I find the perfect balance between drinking enough and drinking too little, as well as frequent bathroom trips (i.e. before my bladder is totally full), I’m fine! It almost feels like a miracle. Now that I’m nearly pain-free, I wonder: am I in remission, or did I ever really have IC? Perhaps the Elmiron actually did work, but the excessive drinking would not allow me to feel better. Also, I started taking Biotin for the hair loss from Elmiron—could that have helped? I guess I will never know. I’m going back to the urologist next month, and I hope I’m feeling just as good then.
After going through this “IC” experience, I have nothing but respect for the people who are in chronic pain for a lifetime. Stay strong! <3
It’s been 3 months now, and my pain is almost non-existent. As long as I find the perfect balance between drinking enough and drinking too little, as well as frequent bathroom trips (i.e. before my bladder is totally full), I’m fine! It almost feels like a miracle. Now that I’m nearly pain-free, I wonder: am I in remission, or did I ever really have IC? Perhaps the Elmiron actually did work, but the excessive drinking would not allow me to feel better. Also, I started taking Biotin for the hair loss from Elmiron—could that have helped? I guess I will never know. I’m going back to the urologist next month, and I hope I’m feeling just as good then.
After going through this “IC” experience, I have nothing but respect for the people who are in chronic pain for a lifetime. Stay strong! <3
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