UK people with Interstitial Cystitis

hi to holly and sandra, l think elmiron is on prescription, and amitriptylene  cimetidene common first things prescribed. l,m a long termer as well Sandra, 32yrs for me, initially also having bouts of bacteria cystitus. Starting with amitrip and cimet, but had many years before diagnosis, years of torment, physical and mental. Diagnosis, knowledge, suppert and meds did help. l also added l arginine to med regime, and several years ago one kefalexin a day, as prescribed by urologist, research showing women did improve with one a day, and didnt with placebo,s, not sure why think it might be deep seated bacteria, but it has kept my ic stable and moderate over many years, but in recent times it has been problematic again, not as bad as it was in early years, but bad enough.  l dont know if its with getting older when things often do get worse, or increased allergens in envoiirament as my allergic rhinitus asthma also worse, plus know a few other olders whose chronic immune allergy problems worse in last year or so, after managing well enough for years. l so agree youve to experience it to know how much it affects, l think most gps, and items wrote about ic do not fully tell how bad and in how many ways it can affect. Emphasis on frequnecy and acknowledgement of some pelvic pain, far more to it than that, at its worst devastating physically and mentally, due to nervous system passing through the bladder.lve had cancer, chemo radiotherapy, 4 major ops, minor ones, gall bladder pain, but nothing came near, for me at least, to severe ic, maybe if hunners ulcer present.  But treatments are improving, as with earlier diagnosis.  Good luck to all with it.