Foods containing artificial sweeteners, including added and refined sugar, may trigger or worsen interstitial cystitis symptoms.
Coffee, soda, alcohol, tomatoes, hot and spicy foods, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, citrus juices and drinks, MSG, and high-acid foods can trigger IC symptoms or make them worse.
Coffee, soda, caffeinated beverages, tomatoes, spicy foods, high-acid foods, citrus, and MSG can all trigger IC symptoms. If you have a flare, journal what you ate prior to it. This will help you identify foods that could be causing your IC flares and allow you to avoid these in the future.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), to relieve pain. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or imipramine (Tofranil), to help relax your bladder and block pain.
An easy rule of thumb for those patients who are having flares is to avoid acids, alcohol and salts, each of which can easily cause a wound to sting. Yet every individual has different tolerances to foods and interstitial cystitis patients can be very unique in their specific diet triggers.
High levels of sugar in your urine can provide a good environment for bacteria to multiply, so any bacteria that get into the bladder are more likely to cause cystitis.
The most proven treatment for interstitial cystitis is natural. Pelvic floor physical therapy resolves IC symptoms naturally and gets to the underlying 'why' of symptoms for lasting relief. Natural supplements and remedies have also been tested and proven to help those with IC.
In the early phase of IC the symptom flares are intermittent in most patients. Over time symptoms increase and pain cycles may appear and last for 3-14 days. When these cycles become more frequent and last longer they are likely to be referred to a specialist.
Honey is certainly considered IC friendly when consumed in small amounts. IC patients have shared a variety of experiences after eating honey in general. Most tolerate it quite well according to a discussion in the ICN Support Forum.
Flares can last for a few hours or several days, depending on what triggered them, and they can happen to long-term IC patients, as well as those who are newly diagnosed. Triggers include specific foods, travel, tight clothing, strenuous exercise, certain medications, sex, and fluctuations in hormones.
Genetic and immune disorders, recurrent bacterial infections, and pelvic floor dysfunction are possible factors that can lead to this condition. Excessive frequency of urination, urinary urgency, and urethra, bladder or pelvic pain are common symptoms.
This data demonstrates that there is a higher prevalence of IC in patients who use hormones, whether for contraceptive purposes or not, and supports the theory that estrogen contributes to the development of autoimmunity, specifically IC.
In fact, only banana skins or extremely overripe bananas may have enough tyramine to bother IC bladders. Unlike many other fruits, bananas are fairly low-acid so they make an ideal choice for IC patients to experiment with.
What foods calm the bladder? The American Urological Association also recognizes some foods as potentially having a calming effect on sensitive bladders. These foods include pears, bananas, green beans, squash, potatoes, lean proteins, whole grains, nuts, bread, and eggs.
Foods containing artificial sweeteners, including added and refined sugar, may trigger or worsen interstitial cystitis symptoms.
Foods that inflame the bladder are thought to act as triggers for IC flare-ups. These generally include processed foods, citrus fruits, soy products, sugar, sweeteners, and spicy food. Certain vegetables, dairy products, and grains can also cause inflammation in the bladder.
Okay to try: white chocolate, non-aged cheeses such as cottage or American, frozen yogurt and milk. Vegetables Avoid: fava beans, lima beans, onions, tofu, soy beans & soy-based products, and tomatoes.
End-Stage IC
End-stage interstitial cystitis is defined as a hard bladder that triggers intense pain and possesses very low bladder capacity. Many cases of end-stage interstitial cystitis involve Hunner's ulcers. Also known as “end-stage IC”, only about 5% of IC patients develop this severe condition.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic and painful condition of the bladder. People with IC have a bladder wall that is tender and easily irritated, leading to uncomfortable symptoms. Although IC currently has no cure, the symptoms can be managed to help you feel better and live more comfortably.
IC is a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, pain and sometimes pelvic pain. Stress is not the cause of IC, but it can trigger a flare up. When you stress at a flare, it only prolongs it and increases the intensity of the pain. Reducing stress is the best way to limit IC flares and their severity.
Some people who have IC find relief after a treatment in which a doctor puts a small amount of liquid medicine into the bladder, called bladder instillation or a bladder wash or bath. The doctor guides a tube called a catheter into your bladder and slowly adds a liquid that eases irritation of the bladder wall.
Exercise can release endorphins, which are like nature's painkillers. Be careful to not place pressure on the bladder as vigorous exercise can backfire and make symptoms worse. Long walks are great. Swimming and water aerobics are terrific because the bladder feels nicely supported when you're in the pool.
Whatever the exact mechanism, Ultimately, patients with interstitial cystitis have a deficiency in the layer of mucus that protects the bladder wall from the saltiness of the urine. Thus, salt-bearing foods and higher salt loads to the kidneys will result in an increase of symptoms.