About the Author

Long story short, I have had nothing less than a lifelong interest in science, natural curiosity, and an ability and desire to do research to educate myself on whatever interests me, and a very personal experience with interstitial cystitis. In 1982 I was a happy warehouse worker taking care of business and the family. Then one day while driving my forklift I noticed a pressure on my bladder, so I loosened my belt a couple of notches. By and by I would have bouts of passing blood in my urine. Then, later, I would find dried blood flakes in the bowl. Frankly, it was just a curiosity at the time, since I was young, dumb, strong as an ox, and invincible. I was 27 years old. But then, I started going down pretty rapidly. Because I had a young family and because I was stubborn, I refused to quit the hard labor which aggravated my condition. Many days I would go to work and at the end of the shift come home only to fall into the bed. It was about this time that someone called the "grass police" to come tell me that my front yard needed cutting. I just couldn't do it. Rather than giving in I fought IC. Amassing a wonderful group of "Armchair Urologists" we all fought hard at a time when everything was against us. My story is their story. Our story and example ought to be yours. Never quit learning.