Abdominal bloating

[dfarley]

Hi group, I am new to the network and have a question that I hope some people will have some input on. I was diagnosed in 1999 and have been on Elmiron since then: My question is: does anyone out there seem to have extreme bloating. I mean, my abdomen seems to bloat up quite often now. Luckily I wear scrubs to work, if I did not, I would definately have some problems. I am not really overweight, it is all in my stomach? Anyone out there experience this and have any ideas for relief?
Thanks to all

[BellaTutu]

hi dfarley,

I like to call what you're referring to my "IC belly" - for some strange reason alot of ICer's get it. Do you have IBS as well? I have both and there are times I look like I'm 5 months pregnant from the swelling - not much I can do to help it though, it eventually goes away on its own.

Wish I could help you more - maybe someone else has some ideas they use, but I think its pretty much a waiting game.

[patricia1]

Bella is right alot of us have what she referred to as the "IC Belly". I tend to do this also. One day it will not be bad and the next it will be bad....

[Katrina]

:welcome: to the ICN!!!!! Sounds to me like the IC belly caused by mass cells and can be treated with antihistamines. I am so glad you found us :)
If IBS is contirbuting avoiding causes of gas may help too. :grouphug:
Please keep us updated :)

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/ this is an essential link for everyone with IC. It is very informative on meds, living with IC, and self help....take a look!!!

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7562 this is thread of pain relief the second page has attachments I believe the last attachment is the list of pain relief ideas.

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11535 This is newbie kit from the oldies to the newbies
http://www.remedyfind.com/newsletter_archives/Jan_06_InterstitialCystitis.html alternative start for IC...this has a section of mass cells....they may help :)

[KJeanS2001]

Hello,
I have had my belly swell 12 inches in 1 day. Got so bad I wore 1 skirt every day for a week because it was the only thing that I had that would expand with me. I was running to the bathroom too frequently to even try to get to a store for other clothes. That was not a good time. Doc said it was IBS at the time and to try fiber. It did help some. Good luck, others here share the same wierd symptoms that you do. Hope this board helps you as it has me.

[ICNDonna]

Most of us have some abdominal swelling at least part of the time. As others have said, we fondly (or not so fondly) refer to it as the "IC belly."

Donna

[dfarley]

Thanks for all of the replies. What kind of antihistamines seem to work for people. I currently take Allegra D as needed(for sinus problems), could this possibly work for the IC as well: I do have IBS: I take fiber daily. Not that it helps that much.

[emilyrose197377]

atarax has helped me alot.

[Katrina]

You probably want to avoid any antihistamine that has a D at the end because that usually stands for decongestant which is acidic and make me have horrible flares. May normal Allegra help...possibly but these are the common options when treating IC.
What I found with IBS is that fiber needs to added to the diet slowly otherwise it increases gas....that was a hard struggle for me. :grouphug:
Antihistamines: ATARAX & VISTARIL
Mast cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against substances and invading organisms. Skin, nasal passages, and the gastrointestinal tract are all inhabited by mast cells. When you have a cold or suffer from fever, mast cells react to pollen or a virus by producing histamine and other substances. This leads to pain, inflammation and swelling.
Biopsies of some interstitial cystitis bladders, particularly ulcerative IC, have been found to have unusual numbers of mast cells. There is also speculation that mast cells in IC bladders do not function normally. In any case, antihistamine treatment in IC is aimed at stopping the "histamine-mast cell-inflammation" cycle in the bladder.

Atarax® and Vistaril® (generic name: Hydroxyzine HCL or Pomoate) are believed to block the activation of mast cells (12). Hydroxyzine has been shown in scientific studies to be very effective for IC patients, particularly patients with a history of allergies. Often used in conjunction with Elmiron, Hydroxyzine is now one of the most important therapies for IC patients.

The most common complaint of patients taking these drugs is that they cause drowsiness, dry mouth or irritability. Some people find that their drowsiness decreases in a few days. Hydroxyzine pomoate may be better tolerated than hydroxyzine HCL in some patients.


The most frequently used antihistamine is hydroxyzine (Vistaril®, Atarax®), a histamine-1 receptor antagonist which can block the neuronal activation of mast cells. In the past it was used primarily to relieve pruritis (itching), urticaria (hives), and occasionally added to narcotic pre-operative pain medication to potentiate the analgesic effect.

When mast cells are stimulated, histamine and other chemical mediators such as leukotrienes and cytokines are released which can result in the vasodilatation, smooth muscle contraction, inflammation and neural stimulation commonly thought to occur in interstitial cystitis. It was reasoned that hydroxyzine might prevent these neurochemical cascades of events. Additionally, hydroxyzine has some anticholinergic properties that should help reduce frequency, is a mild sedative which may improve the sleep pattern, and is also thought to decrease anxiety - all potential benefits for the symptomatic interstitial cystitis patient.

The dosage is usually initiated at 25mg at bedtime and then increased gradually to 75mg as tolerated and needed. It may take up to three months to appreciate its effectiveness. The major side effects resulting in discontinuance of the drug were tiredness and lethargy. In these patients, Claritin® or Hismanal® which do not cross the blood brain barrier and cause drowsiness, might serve as reasonable substitutes. No controlled clinical trials using antihistamines to treat IC patients have been conducted.

Antihistamine therapy is probably worthy of trial use in all interstitial cystitis patients with allergic histories and in those having excessive mast cells found on bladder biopsies. I personally am doing fewer bladder biopsies in interstitial cystitis patients today feeling that it adds little to any therapeutic decisions but does add to the morbidity.

One preliminary study (from England) found that using cimetidine (Tagamet®), a histamine-2 blocker commonly used for treating ulcer disease, may be helpful to patients with interstitial cystitis. However, placebo-controlled studies are required before accepting this as an effective and reliable therapy

http://www.ichelp.com/TreatmentAndSelfHelp/medsguide.html this can help you learn more.