what not to wear

[amaris]

When I'm experiencing pain or the IC belly I find that wearing a dress is the most comfortable. If I'm at home, underwear is optional.

The tricky part for me is towards the end of a flare as my pain tapers down. I wake up feeling better, maybe still with some sense of urgency but not enough to stop me or inconvenience me. Then I get excited because I think I'm well enough to wear a pair of pants, finally! Within an hour I'm experiencing intense pain and am just thinking of rushing home to get out of the pants. (Happened to me just this week). You'd think by now that I'd always err on the side of caution and keep flaunting my dresses at work until I'm relatively symptom free.

[tigger_gal]

I agree with you 100%.... I also wanted to add that wearing silk panties and nylon type ones are bad for IC... Sleeping with out any too is helpful.. there are days that I just want to rip them off because the pain...
thanks for a great post:)
Brat

[work it]

I am glad to see that I am not the only one that has a "underware optional day" Throughout the day when the kids are in school I prefer to just wear my bathrobe with nothing on underneath. It grosses my older daughter out just knowing but awww the relief.

teisha

[Hope]

Men's boxer underwear in a large enough size to stay put. Light, airy and with enough coverage to not freak out your daughter!

Hope :cat:

[work it]

I do wear my husbands boxer at night sometimes but I figure I am home by myself durning the day so why not be totally comfortable. She just knows of the fact and it still gets to her. Oh well she is a teenager so it doesn't take much to gross her out :)

[ad8123]

I have a lot of pain with my clothes and I am going to try to go back to work. i found some pants that just pull on put are flat in the front (no bulky elastic) they come in a boot cut style so they look just like office casual kind of pants (I found them at Walmart, they come in short lengths too). They are the only pants i can wear, I have been wearing long lounging gowns at home and yes without panties so I am not sure how I am going to handle the transition. All underware bothers me, I ware a barely there style made of a super thin fiber can not really feel it, they have a dotton panel but actuall cotten panities do not agree with me either. Oh well. Thanks for the advise.

[kadi]

I found some pants at Mervyns-- "Briggs" brand. They have a side zipper and a large flat waistband. The waist is elastic but sits flat & doesn't cut into me at all. (I probably bought them a size bigger than I would have pre-IC). I also love long boots with long skirts (no pantyhose!). I was pretty determined not to wear smocks or look frumpy, so I got loose dresses that had jackets with them. (JC Penney). Hope that gives a few ideas:)

[blondiecat]

I have often gone "Commando" on days when my IC is flaring really bad. However I haven't gotten up the courage to go to work like that yet :yikes: With my luck I would trip and fall wearing a dress and no underwear and scare the L out of everyone there :lmao:

[khatinger]

I find that the low cut pants that are in style now, do not bother me, anything high does. I weareverything baggy. People just tend to think that I have recently lost alot of weight. Changes in weather bother me to, especially when it starts to get cold, I live in MICHIGAN.

[Sarojini]

:) *guilty, blushing smile* When I still HAD to work, I went commando to work a couple times during a horrid flare. I either wore a long skirt with a flat waistband or a long cotton dress from the Victoria's secret catalog (has a V-neck and basically looks like a long, ankle length extension of a T-shirt, but it is shaped so it doesn't look like a muu-muu or smock) .... no one was the wiser. Since I worked in a research lab, everyone asked how come I was dressed up, as normal attire is jeans and a t-shirt.

If you're going to do it, make sure the skirt is long and made of a slightly heavier material (heavier cotton is fine, but no breezy rayons or chiffon stuff) -- that way the skirt stays put if there is wind outside or an errant air conditioning duct ;)

[Kimbamor]

Thank goodness for scrubs....mine are all loose with a cotton tie (as loose or tight as I need it without it falling down in a pool at my feet.) I have always worn loose "old granny" cotton underwear. I don't sleep in anything except when I am on my period but not sure if I could pull off wearing the scrubs without panties....I even change from "work scrubs" to home scrubs (old O.R. scrubs) as soon as I get home. Oh and the bra bites the dust too.....

[Sarojini]

Oh... also, baggy overalls are AWESOME -- no waistband :) However, they're good for pain days but when the frequency gets real bad they are a pain in the :toosh: because you get preety tired of fooling with straps every time you gotta pee ;) But I wear them a lot anyway. When hubby and I went to Wisconsin, he took me to a Mill's Fleet Farm, one of those farm stores I'd never been to, being somewhat of a city girl -- I went wild and bought 3 pair of real Dickies overalls that workmen and farmers wear :) One stonewashed, one dark wash, and one striped... and I parade around down here in the city with pride. It's amazing how many people come up to me and say, "Those are so CUTE!! WHERE did you get them??"

I also got a bunch of comfie elastic waist sweatpant type things there --- I am now a huge Fleet Farm fan ;)

[tigger_gal]

I live in my sweats.. and cotton pants that are light weight.. If you have a dollar general around you, they are cheap cheap cheap :)
Brat

[SusanB]

The best thing I have found are cotton panties from QVC calles BREEZIES they have this special crotch that helps so much!!! They also come in nylon with the same crotch so you don't have to wear white cotton all the time.
HUGS
SUSAN B

[Just Mary]

You might want to keep a dress in the car incase you need to change at work to be more comfortable.

[XoChelsey03Xo]

Sometimes I have trouble wearing jeans. Especially when I start to get the IC belly. Jeans can become so uncomfortable for me. Chelsey

[amaris]

I just donated my last pair of jeans to goodwill. It actually felt liberating to go through my closet and get rid of stuff I haven't worn in over 6 months because of IC. I'll probably get a new pair of jeans that are cotton/spandex. I've found stretch fabrics are much more comfy for me.

Amaris

[XoChelsey03Xo]

Yeah, I wear my jeans a size bigger. It helps a lot. I also buy the stretch jeans. They work pretty good too. Chelsey

[tigger_gal]

:yikes: Thongs :yikes:
must of been invented by a man..... :lmao:
Brat

[ad8123]

I wear only the stretch pant style jeans-no zippers or buttons too. I can not even wear pants that zipper in the front, or button. I have gone through my closet also and boxed up all my old clothes in all my sizes, since IC changed from a 6/8 to 12/14 (I truley hate my body just now) but at least all teh clothes left are IC safe so I do not feel so bad when I get dressed.

[XoChelsey03Xo]

:yikes: Thongs :yikes:
must of been invented by a man..... :lmao:
Brat

Yeah, I use to try to wear thongs. I was never able to wear them at all. Chelsey

[Sarojini]

I used to try to wear them too -- thought my husband would think it was sexy. They hurt my vaginal/urethral area and felt like I had a permanent "wedgie", and I was constantly pulling at them and trying to be discrete about it. Definitely NOT sexy ;)

I gave up and bought a bunch of regular cotton bikinis and boy-shorts in all kinds of fun colors and patterns. Ahhh... what a relief ;)

Now I only wear a thong if I'm pretty sure it will be taken off me within 5 minutes by hubby ;) :toosh:

However, I would suggest not even doing that if you're real prone to UTI's... that thin strip that goes through your butt crack can spread bacterial to your vagina and urinary tract -- not only are they NOT comfortable, they're unhealthy as well!

[Lady Tamara]

Yeah clothing is such a hassle isnt it...I was lucky, at my last job i w as able to be comfy in trackie dacks hehe :)..that was the best part of the job! hehe :) i find that loose fitting skirts are great too...and definately a big no no to thongs hehe..they are just a night mare!

[Cricketmk3]

What about maternity jeans and pants? This may be carrying it a bit too far but it's just a thought.

[tigger_gal]

lmao... I went to K mart and bought some tank tops and one of them was maternity.. and I am not pg :lmao:
Brat

[Myli]

I wear size large mens t-shirts and stretch leggings with an elastic waistband. I figure it looks like I've been working out. ;) I do still wear cotton undies, both bras and panties. I have all my life. I haven't considered not wearing undies. /shrug Old habits die hard, but I'm going to try going to bed without panties and see if it helps. The biggest no no for me when I am in pain are my jeans. Currently, I restrict them to times when I am going out and am not flaring. However, wearing them all day can become painful even when not in a flare. Anything restricted around the waist/tummy/crotch can cause pain regardless.

I've never gone commando, but I'm thinking no panty lines..... Could be a good thing. :lmao: Funny how old attitudes and old habits can restrict your thinking. Everytime I read the boards, I come away with new ideas. Thank you all for such care and sharing!

/hugs,
Myli