http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php Brian Selby's Blog for his motorcycle trip across Canada to cure Interstitial Cystitis en http://backend.userland.com/rss092 ]]> http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=48 http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=47 http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=46 http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=45 http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=44 http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=43 . I am 36yr old female, I was Dx with IC in 1993....at the age of 21. I had symptoms for a couple years before that, though. The month after I delivered my first child, I got the final diagnosis from my Dr. (my pregnancy actually helped my symptoms for 9 months! They say that happens sometimes, for some women. I wish the symptoms had stayed gone, but of course, they didn't.@@ I have tried every drug out there, I did a drug study with the Botox, I had bad reactions so I didn't go that route afterall. I also had the stimulator implanted.....few years ago. It was like having a big pager IN my right butt cheek.(so I basically sat on it everytime I sat down.) Was SO not comfortable. We could NEVER get it "set" right, so $40,000.surgery for nothing! It had to be removed. My Urologist tells me today, the device is MUCH smaller than the one I had done. But- no thanks I"m not going that route again! LOL I try to watch what I eat and drink, limit the foods I KNOW will bother me (there are several) and just live day to day. I have other auto immune diseases as well, Lupus, and Rheumatoid arthritis. They say it's very common for people with IC to have overlapping issues. Anyone reading this, keep journal/notes of your symptoms. Get regular health check ups yearly. You never know when something else comes knocking on your door to announce it's nasty presence! Brian, get well super fast! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you do!! We need MANY MANY more people like you! Fondly, Lisa~ Tulsa, OK- USA ]]> http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=42 . I am 36yr old female, I was Dx with IC in 1993....at the age of 21. I had symptoms for a couple years before that, though. The month after I delivered my first child, I got the final diagnosis from my Dr. (my pregnancy actually helped my symptoms for 9 months! They say that happens sometimes, for some women. I wish the symptoms had stayed gone, but of course, they didn't.@@ I have tried every drug out there, I did a drug study with the Botox, I had bad reactions so I didn't go that route afterall. I also had the stimulator implanted.....few years ago. It was like having a big pager IN my right butt cheek.(so I basically sat on it everytime I sat down.) Was SO not comfortable. We could NEVER get it "set" right, so $40,000.surgery for nothing! It had to be removed. My Urologist tells me today, the device is MUCH smaller than the one I had done. But- no thanks I"m not going that route again! LOL I try to watch what I eat and drink, limit the foods I KNOW will bother me (there are several) and just live day to day. I have other auto immune diseases as well, Lupus, and Rheumatoid arthritis. They say it's very common for people with IC to have overlapping issues. Anyone reading this, keep journal/notes of your symptoms. Get regular health check ups yearly. You never know when something else comes knocking on your door to announce it's nasty presence! Brian, get well super fast! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you do!! We need MANY MANY more people like you! Fondly, Lisa~ Tulsa, OK- USA ]]> http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=41 http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=40 http://www.ridingforacure.net/blog/index.php?id=39