If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you've probably seen me use the hashtag #icproblems, and lament about how I want to eat chocolate but can't. Afterwards, I've had people ask me what IC was. I'd always link them to the information, but I needed a post today, so I thought why not write about this.
What sucks even worse is there's really no cure. I'm on a medication that will possibly heal me up to 70-80%. If it doesn't heal and it only gets worse then the only option is to have the bladder removed. Remission I think is possible, but it's anyone's guess if that happens. They also don't really know the cause either. The most I can do is manage it with my eating habits.
The first few months EVERYTHING I tried triggered me. I printed out that list and carried it around. Finally, I found something: Milk. One day all I did was drink milk. I lost 20 pounds as a result! (So if you really want to lose weight, might I recommend the elimination diet. Just pretend that all food will hurt if you eat it.)
I still have to carry the list and consult it from time to time, but I've gotten a pretty good handle on what triggers me and what's safe. Hopefully between that and the medication (which I have to take on an empty stomach, so that's another weight loss tip. Pretend you have a three hour period where you can't eat food no matter what) my bladder will repair as much as it can. But I'm stuck with this illness.