For newly diagnosed patients still struggling to understand IC, I want to recommend several great resources that you can purchase in the ICN Shop. http://www.icnshop.com

(1) The IC Survival Guide by Robert Moldwin, MD

This is the IC treatment bible! This is THE book you take with you to ever doctors appointment so that you can credibility check suggested treatments AND show possible new treatments to physicians who believe that Elmiron is the only therapy for IC. There are SO MANY great treatment options now available!

(2) A Taste of the Good Life: A Cookbook For An IC Diet

Diet is THE FOUNDATION of care for most patients. What you eat has the ability of soothing or irritating your bladder. I’m going to say it again and again and again. The patients who suffer the most are those who continue to drink that one cup of coffee or soda each day. The daily irritation that provokes is devastating to an IC bladder and sets that patient back a week in tissue growth. Think about it. Acid on a wound every day?? Are ya nuts?? Learn about diet with this great book.

(3) Confident Choices: Customizing the IC Diet by Julie Beyer RD

The newest addition to the diet information series, this book is written by a dietitian who also has IC. She focuses on how to eat a healthy balanced diet. Don’t be afraid to eat. IC patients can eat so many enjoyable foods… and, yes, junk food is out for now. But, your body will be healthier and more comfortable if you take a moment to build a better diet.

(4) Patient to Patient: Managing IC & Related Conditions by Gaye & Andrew Sandler

Written by the dynamic husband and wife team of Gaye & Andrew Sandler, this is the book that covers self-help strategies for women with IC, including hormones, menopause and how it influences IC, and many of the related conditions we struggle with! It’s a great read!

(5) First Year: IBS by Heather Van Vorous

Most IC patients have IBS probably because both the bladder and the gut share some nerves. IC & IBS are quite similar. Both involve nerves that have become sensitized. Both can be triggered through a traumatic event (such as food poisoning for IBS or a UTI for IC) and both are diet dependent. If you’re struggling with diarrhea, constipation or both, this book will help. It dramatically improved my IBS and gave me excellent tips that I use each day to avoid IBS flares!

(6) The IC Optimist quarterly magazine series

Well, as the editor, I have to put this in. The IC Optimist magazine is not a brag piece. We rarely waste space talking about ourselves… we focus entirely on articles that you, the IC patient, can use that day to help manage and control your IC. Available to ICN subscribers and for individual purchase by email or in print!

There’s more but that’s all I have time for now!

Jill