Sugar?

[Casi]

I read somewhere that when our bodies digest sugar it turns into acid. Is this true? If it is I think that may be why I'm in another flare right now....
I ate a lot of junk yesterday that usually doesn't bother me, but all of it had a lot of sugar and Im hurting like crazy today. I've taken all of my meds and of course pain meds. I just can't figure out why I would flare unless it's from sugar. :help:

I just feel like crap and I hope someone out there knows something about the sugar thing. I also have been smoking waaaay to many cigarettes and I'm wondering if that effects my bladder in a negative way. I know in the IC Handbook, one of the 5 worst "foods" are cigs and smoking is a major cause of bladder cancer. I kind of want to quit, but not really...... Doesn't make sense does it? I guess if I can give up coffee and sodas and chocolate and beer I could give up smoking if I had to. Jeez, this disease has made me and you all give up so much, I don't want it to take anything else away from me. I guess if I had to quit to help my bladder I would. I know cigarettes are not part of "Diet & IC", but I happen to think of that while typing hopefully that's ok. Thanks for listening to me.

[purpleviolet]

U must give up the cigs - I heard smoking is bad for IC. Some people react terrible to sugar, but I don't. I don't know why. Good luck in trying to ditch the habit. Do something else to make yourself happy. Hypnosis? PV

[Casi]

Thank you purpleviolet! Since 8pm last night I have had 3 cigs!!! It's a start, I guess. But I feel very strongly about quitting now, stronger than I ever have before. To me it's like quitting caffeine, I was majorly addicted to different coffees and lattes and chocolate. If I can quit those, I can quit this too. I've quit smoking before so I know I have it in me. Hubby even said he would not smoke in the house if I quit.

I also have to slow down on the sugar I have been over doing it with the sweets and I have to stop!!.

If anyone else flares from sugar please let me know what you do and how you handle it. :grouphug:

[ChrissySunshine]

Hi Casi! I just quit smoking too!! (Well, if you notice my signature, the date changed a few times, as I've been cheating, but I'm determined!!!!) May 1st I quit again! I've GOT TO DO IT!!

I met with a wonderful new GYN who I believe is going to be instrumental in my getting effective treatment. He explained (more than the other docs did), that EVERY SINGLE THING I DO....NO CHOCOLATE, NO CAFFEINE, NO SODA, NO ALCOHOL, NO CITRUS, JUICES, SAUCES, TOMATOES, ETC. You know!!!! EVERY TIME I LIGHT UP A CIG....IT'S LIKE I HADN'T GIVEN ANY THING UP AT ALL....SMOKING THAT CIGARETTE NEGATES EVERY SINGLE THING I'M DOING (and that is ALOT) TO GET BETTER!

Sooo, my point is.....that I DID manage to stop completely for about one week and did notice a slight improvment in my bladder pain!! I'm agonizing now over getting over the addiction, but I've got to do it. Since my cheating became more regular, my pain and symptoms are SEVERE again!!!! I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to bet it's the cigs...everything else I've been doing is the same ... just picking up that nasty ole cigarette is making my pain worse I think.

I'm also thinking that I would much rather have CHOCOLATE any day over a cigarette! I'm thinking if my bladder can heal from the cig toxins, maybe I can eat more of what I want again!!!

Please PM me if you would like some support...IC is bad enough, add quitting smoking on top and it's reeeeeeaaaaallly tough!!! I'm here if you need me, and I could use some support as well! BE STRONG... :)

[Julie B]

Hi Ladies..........just for a little science......one way that smoking hurts IC is that it reduces the bodies ability to heal....think about the recommendations for people who are having surgery.........no smokes for a couple weeks before and a couple of weeks after.......smoking affects the blood vessels and gobbles up nutrients like Vit C (and do you get enough of that anyway? Most IC patients struggle with that.)

Many state health departments offer free phone counseling for help with quiting smoking,.....and a lot of companies offer it as a benefit. My company offers Free & Clear which has an amazing success rate. They do it systematically......you don't quit all at once and you replace one cigarette at a time with another activity.........many of our employees have quit this way.....lXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX I know it is hard.....my mom smoked for 50 years.........my dad died of pancreatic cancer........which is WICKED stuff.........and almost directly attributible to smoking......or second hand smoke..............my mom had early Alzheimers.......started in her mid-fifties........also........some link to smoking..........on and on......you all know the stats.........check with your state health department though.........they are doing some great things.........XOXOOXOXOX again.......good luck

[sheilacoito]

I get sore spots with sugar, too. And I notice that if I am at my mom's house (she smokes) for too long, my bladder will burn. Weird?! The sugar thing has been super hard, but I am eating mostly all whole grains, and I am able to eat some fruits, thank God! Carob is like chocolate: very sweet and usually tolerable for ic'ers. Once a week, I will have a bannana smoothie then drink tons of water.

I used to eat seriously three packages of candy per day, so it's no easy battle, but if it helps, then I will do it!

Good luck quitting smoking!

[ICNDonna]

The fact that you don't want to give up smoking is your addiction speaking. I know --- been there, done that. It wasn't easy to give up smoking, but I did it and haven't smoked for twenty some years now.

Smoking not only is a known bladder irritant, it is a primary cause of lung cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, emphysema, cancer of the larynx, heart disease, etc., etc., etc.

When I made the decision to quit smoking it was following the death of a very close friend with lung cancer. I was working at the hospital where he was a patient during his last days so I made a point of stopping by daily. It was definitely not a pleasant thing to watch. I decided then that smoking just isn't worth it.

Hang in there. You can do it. When I quit, I was up to forty cigarettes a day and it was not easy, but I have never for one moment regretted it.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[kadi]

Hey, maybe you can put the money you usually spent on cigarettes aside for a treat for you to reward yourself for not smoking.
Treats: manicure/pedicure, massage, new & more luxurious than usual shower gel, flower bouquet, etc.. Or you could donate that money to sponsor a child somewhere.

Either way, by stopping smoking, you're doing something affirming & life enhancing!

[Boni]

I worked with a guy who used to always be taking a "smoke break". He was always a wonderful guy who loved his kids and wife.

Recently I heard he developed bladder cancer. Thankfully, he has it under control now after bladder surgery, but, it is a known fact that smoking is directly related to bladder cancer, (and other organs like lungs). My dad died of lung cancer, also a smoker.

Cigarrettes are harder to kick than heroin I've heard, but, it can be done. Your body will thank you for it. Good luck and keep trying until you make it. It would probably help to have a buddy to help you through the difficult moments. Keep coming back here for support.

[Boni]

p.s.

To answer your first question..yes, sugar does turn acidic in the body. Also white flour, which is why we have to find foods that are devoid of white flour and sugar that taste good...not easy. Whenever i eat sugar or white flour I inevitably pay for it with the burn later on.

Read a book by Richard Vassey called "The Acid/Alkaline Diet." It explains how the body makes acid from these types of foods. You may find it helpful.

I know many ICer's can tolerate white flour, but I can't without problems.

I've also lost 14 pounds in a year since the diet change. Wonder how I will look next year this time?

[Casi]

Thanks all for your encouraging replies and heart-felt stories. I am son proud of those who havequit smoking!!!
I am in A TON:headbang: :cussing: of pain todat and have taken my 30mg roxicodone (percocet) I have had 3 so far, I can take up to 5 on bad days.
Anyway, I will type more another time. My eyes arer "jumpy" snd it id very hard to typr right now. It's getting worse and Im at work nad have to type - dont know whati'' mgoing to do!!!!!!

I know there r a lot od errors, I haven't got the energy to correct. sorry guys. its been a bad past fewdays.:dizzy: