Good morning. I haven't been in here in just about forever, but I woke up early this morning and thought I would do the natter diet, albeit the bitch's diet, and go back a couple hundred posts and catch up to the end. It's really fun seeing everybody. I'm glad Harvey is feeling better. Ginger I hope you are feeling better, and no longer walking like Festus.

Askye, I have intersistial cystitis also. I used to have a lot of pain and problems with it, but really have gotten a handle on it thanks to a doctor who specializes in uro-gynecology. She was new to my docs practice last year, just graduated from a fellowship in that specialty.

There are three things that made a huge difference for me. First, getting an actual diagnosis of IC. Second, going online and reading all the materials that the IC network has to offer about food and diet. Changing what I was eating and drinking was an enormous help. No caffeine, no chocolate, no citrus, no carbonation, no soy, no vitamin C (or overages of Vit C), no cranberry -- all these things were a really big help. Third, there are treatments to heal the inside of the bladder itself. A catheter is inserted into the bladder and the bladder is filled with medicine. For reasons nobody understands in the medical community, but it works, heperin, or DMSO heals up the lesion-like things inside the bladder. I had a series of installations with heparin at the beginning, and now I only very very rarely ever need one if I can't deal with it by taking AZO* a couple of times, and drinking more blueberry juice. I guess there are more than three things. 100% blueberry juice = a godsend. Or just blueberries, or frozen blueberries blended in almond milk (mmm). Pears, blueberries, and almond milk are the most soothing things to the bladder. That helpful info is from the IC diet list. The other thing that was really helpful, and really weird, was having the MD refer me to a pelvic floor physical therapist. One would think you do that to get toned up, but who knew it is possible to be hyper toned? Knowing that now is very helpful. I have breathing exercises to "reroute" and "remap" that area.

Dealing with IC is a real pain but if you can get a handle on what works for you, it gets better. Encourage you to try to find a doctor who knows about installations.

• The new doc said she has had two cases of full-blown renal failure from women taking AZO super-regularly, instead of only 3/day, up to 2 days as recommended, so beware if you take it. I've been lucky in that if I kick over to a flair because, say, I had two hard pear ciders instead of one, one or two individual doses of AZO is usually all I need to get over it.

eta: to fix on a laptop what cannot be fixed from a tablet.

Askye, lots of medical~ma headed your way. I hope you are able to get what you need and soon.

Lots of ~ma for solutions, askye.

Hi Java cat!!

I have no resources for corsets, but I volunteer to render opinions on any photographs posted of you modeling them, Vortex. I'm a giver that way.

Java cat, it is lovely to see you!

Lots of medical professional~ma, askye!

Strix, bonny, that ad will definitely draw people of my age range and sense of A) music, and 2) humor. In fact, if I lived anywhere near, I'd be tempted to apply, cat person or no.

We totally have work for cat people too, Andi!!

I'm taking Strix's frame and hanging some other song titles on it for a series that we can test.

I feel like the block has finally been moved. At the same time, the pressure is severe. We really, REALLY need good people and there are those among us who are so panicked, they'd rather make a mistake than do it right.

I gave the owner a Keep Calm & Carry On necklace for Christmas.

SOMEbody has got to keep a cool head around here.

Hi java. I follow the IC diet now. My case is really mild and I've been able to control it with diet. But I kept eating things on the Avoid list and combine that with stress and UTI I flated. I use the resources on ic-network. I post there occasionally. I'm looking for a uro. I called UVM hospItalian and they referee me to Dartmouth. Two hours a2ay. One way. I'm trying to hook up with a urologist I saw previously.

Talked to the GP and have a prescription for Trazadone short term for sleep. She doesn't feel comfortable prescribing anything else she's worried about steping on toes so she called the new person I'll see in a few weeks to see iif she would refill before my initial appointment with the new psych person.

Sorry iif that's incoherent. I'm on my phone and sleep deprived. The GP also mentioned that people w I think PTSD can get diagnosed with bipolar disorder. But I told other than the vague phrase childhood trauma Dr C has never been able to yell me what the PTSD is supposed to be from. AND some stuff thy could eexplain that happeNed after I had Bipolar symptoms.

Talked to the GP and have a prescription for Trazadone short term for sleep.

Have you taken that before? It's pretty helpful.

I think I have. I don't remember why I stopped if I did take it. It's just short term. I broke down crying at the GP's office telling her I didn't feel comfortable asking Dr. C for anything because I was afraid he'd think I was drug seeking.

I did not break up with my dentist. Instead i met Will for lunch. The original plan was for him to spend the day with me (i had forgotten about the doctors appointment). AFter lunch he asked me if I still wanted him to come over and honestly I had no idea. I told him that and then he asked again and I started crying becasue I'm sleep deprived and it's been a stressful day and I had lost my decision making capacity.

He ended up coming over but we basically just sat on the couch and snuggled some. I did go online and buy a pair of work pants (now up to 2 pairs) and another pair of long underwear (Lands End had them for clearance). I'm down to 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of gray cords for casual clothes. I'd like to get 1 pair of black cords (which I can't wear to work) and maybe that's it.

The only upside today is that I learned I've lost 6 lbs since Septmeber. I'm chalking that up to all the walking I do at work, I regularly hit the 10000 recommended steps. Plus eating less junk food.