Elimron would be a good drug to try to start off with if you get a Dx of IC. It does sometimes take three to six months sometimes even a year to see any improvement, but you have to have something to band-aide the bladder so to speak. Elimron is a good place to start. Sadly sometimes IC patients has side effects with the drug, but most of the time it will go away. Most Dr's will recommend the patient try installments to help induce the elimron into the system this gets to the bladder a lot quicker and help get the band-aide started quicker. I do recommend the heparin, marcaine installment the heparin while going directly into the bladder will not cause your blood to thin. the bad thing about elimron is it can work as a blood thinner. since the heparin doesn't get to the blood steam it just helps with the pin point bleeding spots in the bladder.
the marcaine will help numb the bladder. You can't expect to see a difference right away even with the installments you may have pain a bit. There is no ace in the hole so to speak when it come to getting IC under control. If you have trouble with the installments let me know I have a lot of idea's that can help make them a lot less painful. (If you have any pain some patient don't have no trouble with them at all.)

Your new Dr. may want to try you on a lot of other drugs since no two icer are the same its kind of the same with the Dr's no two work the same so honestly they are no telling what they may want to try since they are so many different things work for so many different ic patients, but the elimron and rescue installment at the two most common.

Look on the diet board here on ICandMe you will see a list of some idea's on what to eat and what not too. We are trying to make our own special diet list, but for right now we are just going with the basic list. Now with the diet you may find what is on the safe list may still bother you, but once you find your triggers you may be able to start adding some of your fav foods back to your diet slowly. I would recommend that you do it over a period of three to five days before you say yes it is safe to put back on your okay list.
most icer once they get their pain issue under control they can do this. I know in the beginning I couldn't hardly eat anything. I lost so much weight.
Things will get easier. Just please remember there no ace in the hole when it comes to IC all treatments take time to see if they will work. We will be here for you alone the way to try to help you the best we know how.
You will find relief please always remember that, Never give up hope!

You said that sometimes it hurts to have sex but not all the time. I do the same thing. I have a mild case of PFD. this may be what is causing your pain also. Ask your Dr about this. He/she can give you more answers about PFD if you have it or not what you can do to treat it if any treatment is needed at all?

I'm not your avg run in the mill icer by no mean. Mine is chronic I do have hunner ulcers which does make IC much more painful. (The Dr should check for hunner ulcers, bladder cancer and so forth during a hydro/cysto.)
I also get the real UTI which is odd for for ICER"S I have at least one real UTI a month.
those real UTI hurt like a dickens too.

Please keep us update on how you are we do understand and most importantly we do care!
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda