The appointment

Today was the day. I was, of course, very nervous. Woke up with my usual anxious nausea. We had lunch at Boston's (delicious g free pizza) before the appointment, which was just what I needed. I walked in the office to read a sign that nicely said, "no children aloud." I of course had my little man (and hubby) with me. We came from 3 hours away, so it's not like I could just leave him with a friend. I asked about it, they said we could leave him with an operator (yeah right). The receptionist asked and said that they could come in after the exam.

This office caters to Spanish speaking patients as my dr was the only Spanish speaking ob in the area when he stared. He has since devoted time to providing quality care and understanding for Spanish speaking women. While I think this is wonderful, it did make it a little difficult. It is clear that Spanish is the first language for many of the office staff. The PA who I worked with a lot had a very strong accent which sometimes made it difficult to communicate. The doctor himself was very easy to understand as he has been in Texas all his life and did not have an accient. This was very much a relief.

He said I was textbook IC. He talked about the relationship between IC and endo and even gave me an article the referred to the 2 as the evil twins. He did an exam which was uber painful. He said the exam was abnormal in my inability to tolerate certain things, and typical of IC. He was very kind and knowledgeable, the most knowledgeable on IC of anyone I've ever seen. He explained how he believes it is a form of an allergy and hopes that I can pinpoint my trigger food.

The only thing he said that I didn't agree with was about infertility. He was discussing lupron and suggested that perhaps it isn't the miracle drug so many drs believe it to be (with this I agree). He then said "does endo cause infertility? points to Cooper I think not." With that I don't agree. I said, "well it certainly took some help." He replied that I told him I was anovulatory, which I was due to lupron, but without it would I have gotten pregnant. Who knows? I believe that endo most certainly can cause infertilty. It did for me. Because of endo I was on lupron, because of lupron I was anovulatory. I connect the 2, he does not. Whatever. This really isn't an issue at all. We will just agree to disagree. I still believe some of my cpp is endo, but agree that the IC is a huge contributing factor as well.

I came in with pain around a 6 on the pain scale. I was nervous, knowing I was going to have a pelvic exam, which set me into spasm, causing pain. Some people get a belly ache, I get cramps...go figure. The pain turned out to be a good thing. Since I was suffering, he wanted to go ahead and do a bladder instillation as a test of sorts. They cathed me (oh my gosh how it hurt), emptied my bladder, then injected the medicine. By the time this was over I was at a 7 or an 8, had trouble walking out of the office and made hubby drive. The dr also gave me a script for Elmeron and Vesacare. I will have 9 instillation to begin and take these meds daily. He called this evening to see if my pain had eased. It had, making the test positive, and getting me the official diagnoses. I told him that I was still at a 3-4, what felt like uterine cramping, likely due to the breakthrough that is heavier now. He said he would give me a script for estrogen (oh how I hate estrace!) that what hopefully clear that up. I go in again in the morning for another istillation and a muscle test to see what kind of spasms I am having. I'm bracing for it.

So I know have quite the med list. But, I am hoping it will give me pain free days. If it does, then it is worth it. I am so glad to have found this dr. I know that I would be no where near this kind of help anywhere else. It is truly a blessing. I told him I was sad to get another diagnoses. He said he understood, but in the over 500 cases he has treated, most get substantial relief. I will be starting an elimination diet avoiding the foods on the list. Hoping I am able to pinpoint a specific soon. I'm feeling hopeful today, and blessed. Things are good!