So the inevitable happened: I got a bad bladder infection.  Although I had a successful flight with IC, I wasn't as successful in sticking to my fairly regimented regime (diet and schedule) for keeping my IC symptoms to a manageable level.  The water was different, the environment and humidity were different, and the biggest difference while on vacation: food.  While on vacation I did make a couple of special trips to Whole Foods but I was shocked to discover that this large chain store did not caryy one of my staple items: yeast free (sugar free) frozen bread!  On my second day of vacation a little nagging fear began to form that although my IC has improved greatly over the years I was not going to be able to maintain my diet while on vacation.  Would this upset the balance of my body, and the ultimate sacrificial lamb, my bladder?

Unfortunately, the answer was going to be yes, and I was going to develop a severe bladder infection a few weeks after my return home.  The bladder pain and discomfort sent me into a mini depression and I overdid it by taking too much oil of oregano and then ended up messing up the balance of my bowels.  Me.  Someone who has lived with IC for six years and knows EXACTLY what not to do in order to keep IC pain and symptoms to a minimum.  So I pulled out some of bladder's little helpers:

•  Relaxation CD's
• Started reading a good, humorous memoir to keep my mind off the pain
• Heated up a buckwheat pad and applied it to my bladder/vaginal area (warm, moist heat feels so good)
  
• douched with yin care twice a day
• took double doses of acidophilis to get my intestines on the right track
• Water, water and more water
• Rest

The bladder infection lasted for 5 days, but is now almost completely gone, and my spirit is slowly healing along with it.  I still don't regret my vacation and my first airplane trip since getting IC.  I am stronger than IC.

Dear Carin,

Although you have done a much better job with your diet and your IC symptoms are much improved, you still over-indulged a bit with crackers, cheese, and a Christmas cookie here and there over the holidays.  I'm thankful that you didn't try to ring in 2010 with alcohol like you did the previous New Years (I sure let you have it, didn't I?), but the holidays have still taken its toll and I am tired and sore.  A little bladder infection is a not so gentle reminder that you will always need to be careful with your diet and to eat more greens, drink more green tea and less coffee, and exercise more in the new year.  So as you drink extra water and take twice a day doses of oil of oregano to clear the bladder infection: remember how far you've come, but don't ever let up with your health.  Bladders never forget.

with love,
your bladder (without Hunner's ulcers)