When I was first diagnosed with I.C., my symptoms were very bad. I was in constant pain that was excruciating, the pressure and pain in my pelvic area was so bad I could hardly walk, and it burnt constantly when I would urinate. Now my symptoms are very minimal, except that I still urinate many, many times during the day.
I wonder why when the disease first starts, the symptoms are so much worse and then it seems the longer a person has I.C., the symptoms seem to subside. Don’t get me wrong – I am very glad it is like this.
I just don’t understand why. Now I do have periods where my symptoms will get worse, but nothing compared to what they were when I first became ill with I.C.
I have talked to others with I.C. and they report the same thing. I know that there is those whose symptoms do not subside, but the majority of I.C. patients do.
I have experienced the same thing. The beginning was hell on earth. Literally. My pain is minimal but if I find myself getting stressed out or eating poorly, the pain flares up again with a vengence – however, I, too, am very glad to be at the stage I am. I can actually function as a human being.
I spent so much money at a health food store, to purchase anything and everything that someone suggested I try because I wasn’t getting much help from my urologist. If a flare subsided, I would give credit to whichever pill or powder I was taking at the time. Suddenly after a few weeks of relief, I would go into a flare that was almost as bad as when I was first diagnosed. The Elmiron that was prescribed by my doctor made my hair fall out in bunches.
I started weaning myself from these over the counter drugs and now stick with Elavil 100mg and Pyridium every day. When I need it, I take Ditropan. I never have a pain free day but there are many that are better than others.
Food is a mystery to me because one day, I can tolerate something and the next day, I don’t.
What I wouldn’t give for a breakthrough in this miserable disease.