Interstitial Cystitis ("IC")

I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis almost two years ago. I knew something was wrong with me about four years ago, though. My doctor kept telling me that I had different forms of UTIs, but I know that it was something more than that. When I was younger, I can remember at least back in 6^th or 7^th grade, that I did not like using the bathroom. I always felt uncomfortable afterwards. My mom asks why I didn’t mention this to her back then, but I didn’t know how you were supposed to feel after you used the bathroom and this wasn’t something that you just bring up in conversation. It was around the time of puberty and I was already having to deal those issues. If this was something that wasn’t normal it would have just added to my confusion and insecurities at that time.
Interstitial cystitis basically means that you have an overactive and spastic bladder. It’s urinary frequency and urgency, along with having bladder spasms, bladder pain, and the inability to empty your bladder. There are several things that can trigger these symptoms even with being on medication. It varies by person but some of the causes are consuming caffeine, carbonation, alcohol, spicy foods, etc. That means no soda, no chocolate, no tea, etc. These symptoms can also be triggered by intercourse. To make matters worse, these flare-ups can happen without reason. I find out new things that cause these flare-ups all of the time. I’m already a picky eater/drinker and I’m adding to the list of things I don’t like/can’t have all of the time. I fell in love with lemonade but I believe that the acid in it causes flare-ups.
There are medicines that can help control this disease but there is no cure for it. Whenever the flare-ups occur there isn’t a way to ease the pain or symptoms. For me personally baths tend to help. For some people a heating pad helps. I’ve tried this and it doesn’t seem to have much of an affect on me. So imagination the most painful type of UTI that comes and goes more often than a woman’s regulatory period. That is kind of what it’s like.