I've been dealing with Interstitial Cystitis since I was 21, unknowingly. I developed my first bladder infection at 21, and my regular doctor (who I'd had since before I was born) misdiagnosed it as being overweight and having back problems because of it. After solving that problem by leaving that family doctor, I continued to have bladder troubles. It got to the point in my mid-20's that I was getting an infection almost monthly. Medications weren't working and I was in a lot of pain. I saw a specialist who said to drink more water and pee more. I saw another specialist who told me that my tubes were too small, and proceeded with a procedure to widen them to allow bacteria to escape my bladder. Less than 2 weeks later, I had another "infection" and he not-so-kindly told me "then there is nothing else I can do for you". A year or two later, the clinic doctor I saw regularly finally referred me to a specialist who listened to me and correctly diagnosed me with Interstitial Cystitis and Hunner's Syndrome.
Basically, IC is a condition that causes inflammation in the bladder, and IC patients typically call them attacks. It's also known as painful bladder syndrome, for good reason. Hunners Syndrome is a secondary issue in some IC patients where ulcers develop on the bladder lining, making things that much worse. To date, I think I've had 3 surgeries to remove the ulcers. The surgery really is a blessing though - it relieves my symptoms for at least a year.
When I'm suffering my attacks, I get bloated along with being in pain. I get very worn down, sometimes nauseous, and sometimes other side effects like fevers, swollen glands, etc. It really depends on the attack - it has a mind of its own.
Anyways, it's been 26 months since my last surgery, and the attacks are coming back more and more frequently. I called my surgeon's office and discovered I needed to see a doctor to get a referral. Problem was... I don't have a doctor. Since I was 21 and was misdiagnosed as being "FAT" instead of suffering a bladder infection, I'd left my family doctor and relied on walk-in clinics for all of my health needs. But since moving with my husband away from the neighborhood I lived in through my 20's, I didn't even have my regular clinic to go to.
And so the search began for a family doctor in PoCo. I called a few places, but no one was taking new patients. However, I finally found a nice receptionist who took the time to ask if I had an illness that needed attention, and she accepted me in to see one of their doctors.
And that's when things started happening....
Stay tuned!
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