Living with Interstitial Cystitis

My body began to shut down towards the end of 2004: severe allergies, food sensitivities, migraines increased urge to urinate, and vision problems. At the beginning of 2005 I was experiencing what I thought were severe bouts with yeast infections and then I passed some kidney stones while at home. I begin seeing doctor after doctor only to feel like a hamster running in a hamster wheel: the more doctors I went to, the more tests they wanted me to get done, and the more doctors I had to go to.

I had numerous blood work, urine cultures, a PVP test, ultrasound, rectal and vaginal examinations, and finally a cystoscopy (without anesthesia) before I was finally almost diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis. The second urologist that I had been referred to would not give me a definitive diagnosis of IC until I underwent a bladder distension in his office-which I refused. It was pretty obvious to me that I had all of the symptoms of IC: painful sexual intercourse, urethral pain and inflammation, increased urinary frequency, excruciating pain in my bladder and vagina, all of which were negatively affecting my job and my relationships. I was prescribed antibiotics, anti-depressants, and medications to treat overactive bladder syndrome. I was quickly spiraling down into a world of extreme depression

Determined to get my life back I immersed myself in reading about all that I could about IC, bladders, yeast, bacteria, and the connection to having too much stress within my life. I went on an extreme IC elimination diet which removed all foods that are bladder irritants, yeast, and bacteria related foods, and of course eliminated all sugar and alcohol. I experienced intense pain and discomfort as my body detoxed. Eating such a limited diet caused a lot of humiliation and sadness to me as I could no longer eat out, travel, or enjoy foods that everyone else around me were enjoying. Holidays came and went like just another day.

In combination with the IC elimination diet, I worked closely with a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) doctor who specializes in treating IC with Chinese herbals, the elimination diet, and support. After finding a lot of relief from my IC symptoms I eventually switched to a local TCM doctor so that I could also get acupuncture treatments. The worst of my symptoms prior to acupuncture treatments included intensely painful clitoral inflammation during ovulation time-so severe that wearing clothing was painful. After a year of having acupuncture treatments done twice a month, the clitoral inflammation seldom occurs.

I am so grateful for this process, although it has been difficult, depressing, and painful at times, because I have learned to trust my intuition instead of sometimes uncaring Western doctors. I now eat a healthy and rich diet full of variety but I will always have to eliminate sugar and alcohol from my diet. My symptoms of IC are very tolerable now and this has increased my ability to support other women suffering from IC and to continue researching various methods for treating IC, both holistically and with Western medications.