Hi labazs
I'm so sorry, I remember the pain only too well. I took had a cystoscopy and my diagnosis was IC.
Many urologists said it was a useless diagnosis because it was a poorly understood condition.
Hiprex didn't help me neither did long term antibiotics. I know they've helped others but both made me worse. Interestingly like you I flared badly with estrogen - high dose. I had an estring and the pain was through the roof. I now only use blissel vaginal estrogen which is a gel and the lowest dose of vaginal hrt. I've come off all other hrt, was on systemic bioidentical.
Ic can be linked to autoimmune problems and mast cell activation - a sort of histamine reaction. I found that a specific antihistamine called Hydroxzine really helped along with the blissel (a tiny dot applied twice a week - use more and I flare up).
I changed my diet and included more foods to repair my microbiome damaged by years of antibiotics.
Deep breathing, humming and pelvic hip opening stretches all helped as did counselling. The nervous system being on high alert really worsens the pain.
Sending a hug.
