My IC Story
To try and put my story in a nutshell here goes: I got IC symptoms in 1992 and was not diagnosed until 1994. I was told I was stressed out, wanted drugs and was crazy. My family eventually believed the doctors and had me put in a psychiatric hospital. I was told I was anorexic there (I had lost 10 lbs as a result of the stress and only weighed 105 to begin with and had not slept for 9 months before this). They would only let me use the bathroom a few times a day (supervisor had to be with me) as they thought I was throwing up my food. After 30 days I got out of there and got diagnosed. I tried DMSO and it worked for a year but then my system became immune to it. I lost my job of 16 years (I was a paralegal in DC) and had to go on SSI disability. We all know how fun it is applying for that. When the DMSO quit, I basically was bedridden for 7 years. I tried elavil eventually and at high doses it helped but the side effects were awful. I could not get out of bed until noon (elmiron did not work for me). I kept with the elavil, am now down to 5 mg. and have been in remission for 5 years. I have started to work again. These sites on the net are wonderful (keep in mind there was no internet in 1992). I hope and pray the cause of this horrendous disease can be found in my lifetime. We should all be given medals for our strength. Teresa