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Hello everyone,
I have been lurking for a little while trying to find out as much as I can...this is my first post. Here goes...my name is Joe and I married the love of my life on Oct. 7, 2006. Wait, first I just want to say thank you to all of you on this site...it has been very helpful and you all do a great job! Since last July and maybe sooner my wife has been experiencing what now appear to be IC symptoms. It started out as what seemed to be pretty bad abdominal pain (i.e. - stabbing and spasms). She was taken to the ER (er docs!?!?!) back in July for what we think was an allergic reaction to strong antibiotics. Since then we have been to doctor after doctor and hospital after hospital. I must admit that this process has been terribly frustrating with the insinuations that it's all in your head when I know that my wife is in horrible REAL pain...I can not lie, it was putting a bit of a strain on our relationship. Finally, we decided to go to the Univ. of Pennsylvania Hospital to try to get some answers, something. She started out in Gastro (endoscopy - normal, ultra's/x-rays/cats - normal, colonoscopy - couldn't handle the prep, & sigmoidoscopy - normal), next it was on to OB/GYN (Laparascopy - normal, no infections, etc.), until finally at her last ER visit the triage nurse said, "I'm not a doctor but this really, really sounds like IC, you should see urology". Now, of course we had heard before that it really sounds like (insert condition here) but when I began to research IC and speak to her about it, she was convinced that her condition was bladder related (some urgency, frequency, & burning along with the stabbing and terrible spasms). I don't want to get to far ahead but this really seems like it could be it. Even though she has not been officially diagnosed, can I just tell you the relief after hearing about IC and reading your comments describing symptoms exactly as she does...just to have a name for it and know she's not the only one you know? Since then I have done as much research on the subject as possible, printing out everything and starting a folder for her, ordering the survival guide, helping as much as I can...just trying to be as supportive as possible. I probably could have been more supportive from the beginning (upset, not knowing, worrying) but I am learning and we are learning together. She already knew whatever it was was food and stress related (flares) and she has begun diet changes and void/symptom diary. I don't think she is ready to be on this site yet (upset, not official) but I want to be able to do all that I can if she is diagnosed...that is why I am here and writing this. Luckily, my wife has an appointment in April at Penn with Dr. Hanno...so we know that if this is it than we will have a sympathetic dr and a good one at that. Thanks again for all the support...we are beginning to see that there may in fact be a light at the end of the tunnel and I am trying to be the most supportive husband that I can be and I apologize to her for not being as supportive as I could be from the start. Thanks, Joe...will let you know how dr appt turns out...good luck to everyone!
I have been lurking for a little while trying to find out as much as I can...this is my first post. Here goes...my name is Joe and I married the love of my life on Oct. 7, 2006. Wait, first I just want to say thank you to all of you on this site...it has been very helpful and you all do a great job! Since last July and maybe sooner my wife has been experiencing what now appear to be IC symptoms. It started out as what seemed to be pretty bad abdominal pain (i.e. - stabbing and spasms). She was taken to the ER (er docs!?!?!) back in July for what we think was an allergic reaction to strong antibiotics. Since then we have been to doctor after doctor and hospital after hospital. I must admit that this process has been terribly frustrating with the insinuations that it's all in your head when I know that my wife is in horrible REAL pain...I can not lie, it was putting a bit of a strain on our relationship. Finally, we decided to go to the Univ. of Pennsylvania Hospital to try to get some answers, something. She started out in Gastro (endoscopy - normal, ultra's/x-rays/cats - normal, colonoscopy - couldn't handle the prep, & sigmoidoscopy - normal), next it was on to OB/GYN (Laparascopy - normal, no infections, etc.), until finally at her last ER visit the triage nurse said, "I'm not a doctor but this really, really sounds like IC, you should see urology". Now, of course we had heard before that it really sounds like (insert condition here) but when I began to research IC and speak to her about it, she was convinced that her condition was bladder related (some urgency, frequency, & burning along with the stabbing and terrible spasms). I don't want to get to far ahead but this really seems like it could be it. Even though she has not been officially diagnosed, can I just tell you the relief after hearing about IC and reading your comments describing symptoms exactly as she does...just to have a name for it and know she's not the only one you know? Since then I have done as much research on the subject as possible, printing out everything and starting a folder for her, ordering the survival guide, helping as much as I can...just trying to be as supportive as possible. I probably could have been more supportive from the beginning (upset, not knowing, worrying) but I am learning and we are learning together. She already knew whatever it was was food and stress related (flares) and she has begun diet changes and void/symptom diary. I don't think she is ready to be on this site yet (upset, not official) but I want to be able to do all that I can if she is diagnosed...that is why I am here and writing this. Luckily, my wife has an appointment in April at Penn with Dr. Hanno...so we know that if this is it than we will have a sympathetic dr and a good one at that. Thanks again for all the support...we are beginning to see that there may in fact be a light at the end of the tunnel and I am trying to be the most supportive husband that I can be and I apologize to her for not being as supportive as I could be from the start. Thanks, Joe...will let you know how dr appt turns out...good luck to everyone!
Janie
. I am so happy that your wife has such a supportive husband. Good for you. Support is very important. Don't put yourself down for being upset and for worrying about her when this began. I am glad that you felt that way. That means that she is important to you. What matters now is that you are here trying to get as much information as you can. 
I am so glad you found this site. As having IC and sometimes difficult to deal with it, I realize my husband is going through a hard time too. He just wants to be able to fix me and make everything better. I applause you that you are trying to find answers for her. My husband did the same thing and I love him for it. But sometimes you won't be able to fix it but just understand she is not feeling well at times makes all the difference. Hope you find out what is going on and that she can get some relief.
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