It Gets Better

Daily Blog of looking up

[icitgetsbetter]

It's been a while

My IC has gotten better. I'm dealing with bloating issues. So I started this new diet called modere 3 system. I choose three different things out of 5: fried foods, sugary soft drinks, white stuff (breads), 7200 steps, 6 12 oz glasses of water. I chose the water, steps and fried foods. we'll see how that goes. I'm so tired of having people comment on my stomach bloating. I'm NOT pregnant. Just really skinny and any time I bloat I get looks and asked about it. people at work, my dads friends and I ran into someone at Walmart who commented. Ugh. Well, it isn't gonna pull me down. I'm gonna push through this!

[icitgetsbetter]

Updates...

It's been a while since I posted but I thought I'd share some experience with some medications I've tried with dealing with interstitial cystitis. After my cystoscopy they gave me vesicare which has been beautiful. I'm not saying it's. Magic pill but after 2 months I'm very grateful. UNFORTUNATELY it's not covered by most if not all insurances because it's fairly new. I was recently hospitalized and they gave me ditropan and it was the WORST. dry mouth to the max. I was in taking so much water but still no water wasn't enough. Anyone else have that experience with that medication? anyways, I feel as though my IC has been manageable. Hasn't been cured or gone but I've been reducing my intake of caffeine and acidic foods. That's all we really can do right? Hope the world is doing well ❤️

[icitgetsbetter]

So I'm doing what I do with most of my blogs. I create it, keep up with it for a few days and then let it go. Here is to an update though. Upon finding out my diagnosis with IC I just figured it was a doctors way of bs'ing me saying I have a diagnosis that there's really no cure for, only management. I took a deep consideration of what I CAN do. I've been taking the medication they gave me to ease my symptoms AND I've been proactive about my health and I cannot tell you how much of a DIFFERENCE it has made. I really hope someone with IC reads this. I learnt what my triggers were by controlling what foods I ate. Once I found out foods could be a trigger I opted out all caffeine and acidic foods. Being scared to eat things like chili, spaghetti and even flavored decaf tea. But no... I found out simple triggers that were mine- SODA is a huge one. BEER is another. For the love of all humanity and your own sanity stay away from these two things bc these I noticed were huge triggers for me. I can eat other foods within reasonable moderation but I also think upon my own diagnosis that stress has a big factor as well as depression. I feel so much better after altering what I've eaten. I just really hope this good positive streak of mine lasts.

[chibird]

[icitgetsbetter]

Sometimes when you wanna give up... Just remember

[badlydrawneverything]

[blushrenard]

A life sentence

So I’ve recently become aware that I have an incurable condition called interstitial cystitis. I always told myself that if I could just figure out what has been plaguing me for half my life that I would be relieved since knowing is half the battle. Although when my doctor said the word ‘incurable’ I couldn’t hold back the tears. I always dreamed of a day where I would be cured and able to live normally. I could dance, run, do road trips, physical labor jobs, all with no pain. I know now that I will never have that future and it hurts down to my soul. I have never gotten used to the pain or the inconvenience of my sickness and I feel like a constant burden to those who love me. Lately I’ve kept up a facade of strength and going out as much as possible. I’ve tried to be optimistic but I’m tired of pretending. I don’t want or need anyone’s pity, I just need to be by myself to process my options and my future. I need to come to terms with the limits of my condition, and I’d like to be alone while I do. This note is to no one in particular, I just needed to admit that I can’t handle this, not alone, and I don’t intend to.

[icrants]

this is EXACTLY how I felt 

[icitgetsbetter]

I can relate

[icgifs]

Ok, not a gif, but accurate. 

[dietnutritionadvise]

What Food to Avoid During IC Outbreak

Interstitial cystitis, or IC, is a chronic condition of your bladder that can cause uneasy discomfort or burning. Treatment occasionally includes nutritional modifications in addition to medications and even surgery. According to the Interstitial Cystitis Association, there’s an absence of research in regards to IC and diet plan. Numerous clinical research studies have actually not proven a complete link to diet plan and interstitial cystitis. It’s best to consume a range of foods to keep a healthy diet plan. If you do eliminate a specific trigger food from your diet and feel better, it could be an excellent food to get rid of from your diet completely.

Interstitial Cystitis

The Mayo Center specifies interstitial cystitis as a persistent condition defined by a combination of awkward bladder pressure, bladder pain and in some cases discomfort in your pelvis, which can trigger a burning or discomfort. This condition can be awkward and uncomfortable. It isn’t caused by germs, so antibiotics are unable to assist heal this trouble. It can be connected with other clinical conditions such as asthma, endometriosis, food allergies, incontinence in addition to irritable bowel syndrome. If you’ve IC, you might’ve experienced frequent urination or even bladder spasms.

IC Diet

The Interstitial Cystitis Association specifies that getting rid of certain foods from the diet can help ease signs of IC for some individuals. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol as they could intensify your bladder. Stay away from beer, wine, booze, coffee, tea or soda. Specific carbohydrates such heavily protected grains or already-prepared noodle and rice dishes might increase your signs as well. Avoid dairy products like soy or soy cheese or processed cheeses.

Drinks

Tap water is by far the very best beverage to consume if you’ve IC. Some flavored bottled waters have included carbonation or tastes that may cause enhanced troubles for your bladder. Stay clear of all alcohol since it’s a bladder irritant. Any sort of caffeine can increase peeing because it’s a stimulant. Coffee, hot or cold tea as well as soda pop isn’t suggested. Numerous sodas include citrus flavoring as well as caffeine. Be cautious when consuming energy beverages or sports beverages too.

Fruits and Vegetables

Certain fruits have been linked to more IC problems. Be cautious when eating berries, specifically cranberries. Prevent all citrus foods such as lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits. Other fruit that may trigger issues consist of grapes, kiwi fruit, nectarines, melons, pineapple along with strawberries. Veggies such as chili peppers, onions, pickles, sauerkraut, soy beans, tomatoes and tofu can enhance your IC signs. Keep in mind that you may not have to get rid of any or all of these foods. It’s best to attempt each food to figure out if it might be a trigger food for you. Some fruits and veggies can easily be eaten with IC as long as you’ve no unfavorable side impacts.

Meat

Most meat products or protein is ok to eat with IC. Treated meats such as lunch meats or hotdogs can enhance the IC symptoms for some people. Canned crab meat has actually been linked to enhanced troubles with IC. Stay clear of all soy products such as soy meat patties, tofu and even protein powder.

[icitgetsbetter]

I found this to be helpful with starting a food diet plan

[icramblings]

A small reminder for those struggling with IC

[peace-s3renity]

[icitgetsbetter]

It gets better- first post

So here is something I am trying out- a blog for the new year. I do not often do online postings except when it comes to facebook. I love the anonymity the online web world provides. It is hideously embarrassing to find how I feel so helpless in my own being, while trying to always help others as best as I know how. I want to help myself, or even find a way to help others help to find a way to help me help myself. I am starting this blog as a documentation of my experiences with a new found diagnosis I have with my urologist. IC (interstitial cystitis)

It started throughout the 2015 year with frequent UTIs. My last one was in October, when I went to an urgent care I had found out it was not a UTI at all and was referred to a urologist. After a series of questions and “bladder cocktail” treatments (6 in total) I thought I may be starting to get some relief. However in the middle of those treatments my bladder did not take and the medication I had normally had inserted just leaked out. (Very embarrassing I tell you!)  After a series of tests: a KUB (kidney, uterus and bladder xray) and CT scan they found no kidney stones, but did find backed up stool and ovarian cysts. The examinations the doctor performed going into the office shown irritation of the bladder and tenderness in the lower abdomen. (I cannot even button my jeans!)

My lower abdomen hurts- everything below my belly button. It affected the way I went about my daily business. I felt like something was sitting on top of my bladder (running to the bathroom several times in just one hour). Discomfort happens on a daily- I do not have much of an appetite and force myself to eat knowing that if I do not it will only cause more pain. I try to drink lots of water and less soda. (Before my diagnosis, my vice was Coca-Cola.) I drink very small amounts of tea, if I do not I have a killer headache. So bending over, standing, walking, sitting, twisting and turning all are uncomfortable. I have an ache in my gut- constantly; A sort of pressure that is a mixture of cramps and aches.

Latest news is that I had a cystoscopy. They discovered that cancer is nil and gave the general diagnosis of IC. The doctor had told me that there is no cure, only management to relieve the symptoms. So here I am, with a newfound diagnosis I still have yet to learn more about.  I get to learn about the illness and about myself/finding my triggers. I am looking into online forums and informational recipes to help manage and rule my life instead of the diagnosis/pain running my life. I want to understand it and beat it. Most of all I do not want to give up hope.

Bringing up hope is so important to me. Why? Because when you are constantly in pain and want nothing more than to get rid of the pain, you are in this repeated thought process of: When will this pain end? Is what I am doing enough? How much longer do I have to go through this? Not being able to sleep, not being able to eat, not being able to be normal and functioning as I was before all this happened. Instead of thinking, ‘why did this happen to me?’ I try and think of it as, ‘how can I make this better?’ We (IC patients) cannot change what has happened. We can only move forward. What makes this even worse is how utterly depressed I am. I frequently cry and after I’m all cried out I wonder if I cry because I’m angry and frustrated that all this seems so out of my control or if I cry because I just am so close to just giving up. It might be a mixture of it both really. It feels good to cry. I read something before that said crying is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength as you’ve been strong for so long. My depression, S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) that much I do know; as the winter is nearer, I relay more symptoms and summer they subside. I have managed it thus far, but being in pain does not help, it only makes it that much worse. I try harder and that is the most you can do. I am enough. I do enough and I am the best I can be in this moment. That is all we can do is keep telling ourselves.