Possible Diagnoses today, nervous, and scared

[amyw507]

Hi, my name is Amy and im 24 years old, I eat healthy, I exercise, I have never smoked, and I drink socially. About three weeks ago I started to get symptoms of what I thought was a uti. I was being treated with cipro and it was helping. I had sex with boyfriend while I was on the cipro (probably not the best idea) and I got what I thought was another uti, my gynocologist said it was probably honeymoon cystitis. I was put on Macrobid and it just wasn't helping. I had to go to the bathroom like every 20 minutes and it was always a full stream of urine, even when I wasn't drinking a lot of water.

About a week ago I went to a urologist who credited my cystitis like symptoms to a change in birth control, I changed from yaz to yasmin. Has anyone ever experiences cystitis like symptoms from this? He also did a urine culture which came back with minor bacteria, which he said should have been sensitive to the Macrobid. He did not give me antibotic because he said a little bacteria in the urine is okay. He gave me uribel which I took a few times, but it did not seem to help that much.

I went to a urogynocologist today, I told her all my symptoms, and my heart dropped when she told me it's probably IC. She told me take Azo and Motrin for 5 days and to see how I feel. I made an appointment for March 28 to get testing to confirm if it is actually IC.

I'm just so nervous, the frequency has now gone away and I now have pelvic and stomach pains. Also, i'm nervous because now I don't think i'm peeing enough, i'm scared there may be something wrong with me kidneys. My parents and boyfriend tell me I need to calm down. I'm just so confused. I'm also really scared to have sex with my boyfriend, I don't want to trigger anything. I am a graduate student and I'm scared this will interfere with my course work. I know it might sound selfish, but I want to be able to go out and have social life without any worries. I would really appreciate your feedback and thanks in advance for reading. I will know for sure if I have IC on March 28, when I go for testing.

Thanks,
Amy

[dyno]

Hi Amy and welcome. I am sorry you have been having trouble. It sounds like you are on the right track though to find out for sure what is going on.

In the meantime try the IC diet, you will find the link below in my signature line. The diet is really helpful to most of us.

Also try to not stress out so much. I know that is easier said than done, I worry about everything too. Stress is a big trigger for IC.

It may or may not be IC but one thing to remember is that when you find the treatments that will work for you, and most of us do find them, you will be able to many of the things you do now. You may have to alter your diet some but I have had IC for 36 years now. I was diagnosed while I was still in high school. I have flares but most of the time get along ok.

Hang in there. I will say some prayers for you and be sure to let us know how your test comes out.

[Linda May]

try not to worry in the meantime stick to the IC diet do no cheat! you might have a mild case. your uro will find a treatment plan that will work for you, and you will feel much better, but do stick with diet. let us know your results this is a very good support system and plenty of info here you are not alone. its going to be o.k. there are a lot of treatment plans maybe all you will need is to be on the diet, you just have to wait and see. i wish you the best of luck.

[jessicab]

Hi Amy,

My developing story is very similar to yours: I was a fairly normal and healthy 21 year old when my symptoms started developing. I am also in the midst of finding out if I have IC for sure through a series of tests. As such, I am feeling many of your fears and concerns and having trouble stopping myself from asking the What if? questions and feeling a little bit like the possibility of a life as a "normal" young adult being taken from me.

I know it's really hard, but when I stopped stressing so much my symptoms got way better. Instead of imagining the worst, I've funneled that energy into trying to manage my diet and lifestyle to help ease my symptoms. Taking a proactive role has really helped me to feel empowered, instead of helpless.

I've had IBS and a host of stomach problems for as long as I can remember, and although I do not think that the pain associated with that is quite as bad (whether because I'm used to it or have better ways of managing it), I have found what works for me to manage my symptoms so that I lead a pretty normal life. It's occasionally put me on the sidelines, but not often. I've learned to pay closer attention to what my body is telling me and I know what to do when I'm in an IBS flare. I've had to change my lifestly, but now I don't even think twice about things like never eating cheese because it's just a habit. It's only gotten better with time. I imagine that IC will be similar- your symptoms will get better with time as you learn what your body is telling you and how to control it.

Anyway, these are some things that have helped me and I just wanted to pass them along! I am so sorry this is happening to you, but I hope it's comforting for you to know there are other young people out there struggling with similar issues. Please let me know how it goes and stay in touch!

Best,
Jessica

[amyw507]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! It's so comforting to know that there are others out there going through the same issues and that they are able to lead fufilling and successful lives.

Jessica- Thanks for all your tips, I am definetly going to stick to the diet and focus on what I can eat rather than what I can't. I admire your positive attitude. Please let me know how everything turns out for you. Best of luck to you.

Thanks again,
Amy

[Capey]

Hi Amy just reading Jessica's reply above I had a very similar situation. I found that if I had an IBS flare my urgency to pee increased as well, it was almost as if the two went hand in hand. STUCK to the IC diet like glue, I mean never ever cheating, had accupuncture, which is great for relaxing and channeling all that horrible nervious energy into the right places, allows your body time to heal. I found that cutting out wheat worked like magic, it was almost a miracle how my whole system settled down. I find the occasional discomfort and then jsut think back to what I might have done, sometimes something as silly as not reading a lable propertly. I have been symptom free not with just a few small blips on the graph for coming up 8 months. There is a great deal of hope out there....there many not be a cure, but there sure as hell is healing.