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Brandi K: Interstitial Cystitis
It has been the most painful thing in my life.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is an inflammation of the bladder which can occur by itself or in conjunction with other autoimmune diseases, such as fibromyalgia, scleroderma, lupus, or Sjögren's Syndrome. Symptoms include bladder spasms (which can be very painful), bladder frequency, bladder pain, low bladder capacity, and incontinence.

When I was sixteen I was diagnosed with InterstitialCystitis. It has been the most painful thingin my life.

I have had a interstim put in (it is an implanted electrical device for the bladder) but it has not worked, it just gave me more pain. I wet the bed almost every night and I have developed a very depressing life.

I am now twenty years old and have been through everything. I am at the end of the road and cannot find a doctor who can help me. I want a bag or catheter.

I need help from anyone that knows anything. I never leave the house. I am just at the point where I only go back and forth to class.

To Contact the Author
Brandi
Email: Softballgurl911@myway.com
Story edited 12-01-06 JTD
Story posted 02-08-07 SLEISN Senior Artist: Sherrill Knaggs
Story Editor: Judith Thompson Devlin
LINKS
Interstitial Cystitis
ISN Artist: Sherrill Knaggs (In Loving Memory)
Sherrill KnaggsSherrill Knaggs, ISN Artist, created the digital photo to illustrate the story on this page. Sherrill lived in New Zealand. Her story was featured in ISN's book, Voices of Scleroderma Volume 2.
ISN Story Editor: Judith Thompson Devlin
Judith Rose ThompsonJudith Thompson Devlin is the ISN Story Editor for this story. She is also lead editor of the ISN's wonderful Voices of Scleroderma book series !
New Personal Stories
Donna: CREST, Raynaud's, possible Fibromyalgia I was diagnosed with CREST (Limited Systemic Scleroderma) by a rheumatologist in 2006. This wasn't really a surprise to me as my mother was diagnosed with diffuse scleroderma in 1998...
Jessica G: Parry-Romberg Syndrome By the time I was about five years old, the disease had already disfigured my left side drastically. I have had over fifty operations and surgical procedures for Romberg's....
Leslie R: Scleroderma, Vitiligo, Lupus, Anemia, Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes He told me that I have scleroderma and explained what this disease is about. After suffering so long I finally got some answers...
More New Stories: Feb-August 2008
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