I am an artist who was diagnosed with IC in 2004 at 45 years old. It is not a life-threatening disease but it is a life-altering condition. My artwork prior to my diagnosis was not very expressive-mostly still-lifes and landscapes. My work now focuses primarily on my physical and emotional reaction to IC. THe most difficult part about living with IC is the constant fatigue. I rarely sleep for more than two hours at a time without interruption from my bladder. It wakes me up several times through the night, and even during the naps I take to catch up on my lost evening sleep.