Nervous about flares during pregnancy

[bren]

Hi,
This is my first post, but I've been using the IC-Network site for awhile. I was diagnosed with IC after my daughter's birth 2 years ago, and have been managing pretty well with an antidepressant and pyrridium "as needed". My husband and I want to try to conceive this year. Both my doctor and my urologist recommended I be off the antidepressant for 3 months before trying, and I know I can't use the pyrridium while pregnant. I've made it one month with no meds and only used pyrridium once. However, I had a pretty bad flare this week and it's made me nervous about how to handle flares during pregnancy - when I can't use any meds. My uro mentioned DMSO treatments to "get me comfortable" before trying, but I'm nervous about those and how effective they might be; whether or not I should just try to stick it out the next few months and see if I get pregnant and how my symptoms change during that. I guess I just needed a place to talk where I didn't have to explain IC. Thanks for listenting.

[nicholenichole]

Bren,
I totally understand where you are right now. My husband and I want children (we have none) but with my IC, it's just going to be hard. We were talking about this Tuesday night. I take daily pain meds and don't know if I could make it 9 months without them. I have also had some indication that there may be some fertility problems. When you add time to conceive to the pregnancy, it could be a long time without my meds. I wish I had an answer. I'm stuck right where you are.

Nichole

[ICNLesa]

Hi Bren!

I was terrified of being pregnant with IC. I didn't know how I would handle flares without meds and if I would be able to even maintain my normal activities like work. As it turned out, I did great! I really used all of my self-help tools like relaxation, rest, music, diet...and I did it!

I'm here if you have questions!

ICNLesa [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[mimmy]

My predicament is when to try to get pregnant, if I wait to get better, I might be waiting forever.

I am on Elmiron now for 3 months and that doesn't seem to be working, so I was thinking of DMSO, but it sounds so painful.
I am not ready to get pregnant, because of my bladder pressure. I might never be, but I will try anyway. Sometimes the bladder feels better once you are pregnant.
I am going to try the DMSO I think, but I am terrified.
Miriam

[skb]

I am in exactly the same place. Because of age (38) and IC, the thought of getting pregnant terrifies me. When I feel good, then I think I can do it. But this past week, I was ovulating and in a flare. (Boy that was fun). I see a lot of talk about IC symptons worsening late in your cycle, but mine seem to be worse when I am ovulating. Anyway, I just finished reading Lesa's pregnancy journal and was really moved by it. It't nice to know that someone else feels the same way I do. I wake up sometimes terrified at the thought of being pregnant with all its attendant discomfort and having IC. I would literally feel trapped.

My husband and I tried last week and at this point I think not being pregnant would be a blessing though I do want to have a baby. I really think sometimes that it just won't be possible. But because of my age I simply don't have time to wait.

A few years ago I was blissfully sympton free. Why? No relationship stress and of course no sex. I know without a doubt that what starts my IC again is repeated sexual activity. My husband thinks the source of my problem is some underlying psychological dilemma. I get so frustrated sometimes.

One question I have for those of you with IC who had children, did vaginal delivery help or hurt your IC? I am also worried that a vaginal delivery could leave me worse off than before.

Thanks for listening and it is nice to know I am not alone.

Sarah

[ICNLesa]

Sarah,

What a really good question! In fact, that was my biggest worry about childbirth...if it would cause any additional bladder trauma? I even mentioned it as one of my concerns on the paperwork I filled out at the hospital before delivery. I delivered Kaitlyn almost 8 months ago and my IC has not gotten worse. I worried that my bladder would be killing me for the first few weeks after delivery too. Nope! Within hours of having her I was up and using the bathroom. No addition bladder or urethral pain either. Just the burning and pain where it should be right after childbirth, if you know what I mean.

I know you're scared. I understand completely and am here to offer lots of support and enouragement when you need it!

Lesa [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[aluttrll]

Hi!

I had IC undiagnosed since I was a teen. I was surprised at 21 with the blessing of my beautiful daughter Jeanne, but I was in pain from teh beginning. I went on a trac2x everyday and it really made my pregnancy wonderful. As soon as I started taking the trac2x, it was like a different pregnancy.

I safely took it during pregnancy but I did take it once a day everyday. It will act like pyridium in many ways. I would try it out now as an alternative to the pyridium. I cannot tell you how much of a difference that made!

[Shelleynz]

Hi everyone
Many times I've read here that those of you who're pregnant or considering having children, want to know if a vaginal birth or a caesarean would be better when you have IC.
I had 3 caesareans before I got IC and I can tell you for sure that my bladder was certainly bruised during this op. A catheter was inserted for the 1st two births and for the 3rd the nurse just told me to go to the toilet right before being wheeled in the the theatre.
Apparently during this op. the bladder needs to be empty so the surgeon is able to push it out of the way easily when he needs to.
A few days after every birth I had symptoms of painful urination which lasted until about 5 weeks after birth. And remember this was before I got IC.
My advice to you all is to have a natural birth if possible. Personally I think anyone who has a natural birth is a really lucky lady b/c it's something I would have liked to experience and I feel I've missed out.
What is trac2x please?
Shelley

[aluttrll]

Hi!

Trac2x is a prescription medication that is similar to pyridium, but was perfectly safe for me to take during pregnancy. It coats just like pyridium does but it is green instead of that red/orange color we are all used to soooo at least you get a change of scenery [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

I still prefer it over pyridium. I do ask for it instead and it is readily available in the US... I am sure it is in your country as well....

I actually had a planned c-section with my daughter. Granted I knew during pregnancy that I had some sort of urinary issue so my ob was extra gentle to my bladder. I had a remission with no flares for over a year after giving birth. I had not gone that long without my every three months flares in years. I think that is why I look so fondly on my pregnancy days.... IC just kind of went away with the combo of that drug and another one (Can't remember the name!)

[GREEK]

Hi everyone. I am so pleased to be part of the website to ask some advice. My husband and I have been trying for a baby for over a year now and have discovered he has chronic prostatitis. Because of this we are now going to start IVF. I have stopped taking my prenatal multi-vits with folic acid and my IC has eased (it started July this year after two bouts of antibiotics). Did any of you take a prenatal vitamin. What about folic acid? Did it cause any flare ups?

[Alexa]

to the ICN!

Quite honestly I don't know if I've been in a flare since I've been pregnant - the frequency and urgency would be up anyways with pregnancy, but I haven't had any pain. I certainly have to pee more (especially at night) and when I need to pee, I need to be NOW! (nothing new there!) I was diagnosed at age 20, so I personally wasn't ready to consider pregnancy, and I wouldn't have considered pregnancy anyways because I was so sick with my IC. Now 8 years later I'm doing great, I was on Elmiron for many years which helped me tremendously, and I'm having a good pregnancy so far. I've been off any medications for about the last 3 years and follow the IC diet very closely.

I wasn't on any prenatal vitamins prior to pregnacy because this was a surprise, but I started taking Materna as soon as I knew I was pregnant, and it seems to be OK for me, although the pregnancy could be masking IC symptoms. Materna includes folic acid. I'm doing OK with it though.

Hope this helps,
Alexa