bloating and no flare?

[Kellysmiles24]

Ugggg, I just got over a bad flare yesterday and I still have the body of a 6 month pregnant woman! What causes this? My Doctor thinks it's the Elavil. It comes and goes.

[Katrina]

Bloating in IC patients: the IC belly meaning mass cells (highly possible if you just flared), medicaitons, OR IBS gas. Not sure what the cause it is with you but if it comes and goes I doubt the Elavil is the only factor. If it is mass cells have you tried being on an anthistamine? Since a very high number if IC patients also have IBS it may be from that....but at least for me when I have a lot of gas down there it causes me to flare not sticks around afterwards. So I am guessing you may want to see if a antihistamine helps it.

Hope you get it figured out!!! :grouphug:

[sandi303]

Katrina - Really? I've not heard about trying the anthistamine before. That is definitely worth a try!! I do have IBS, so I guess that could be part of mine, but I'm gonna give the antihistamines a try....

[ShePurzz]

I am constantly bloated -- I feel like I look six months pregnant most of the time -- it does go away occasionally, but nearly all of the time, NOT... :rant:

I do drink a lot of water, do have IBS, although it is mostly under control, but I do get constipated (which I think is med related). I am currently doing a colon and liver cleansing but it takes one month to go through so I doubt I will see a big difference only being about 7 days into it.

I feel like a big part of it is stomach muscle and lower back muscles that are really weak. I had three C-sections and one tubal pregnancy which was done with a full c-section incision -- and I think that I have never gotten even a 'fairly flat' abdomen back after all of the cutting. I do use some yogalates (combination of yoga and pilates) and that really focusses on balancing the center core muscles -- I am not very good about sticking to one thing for very long unless I really see good results -- so that may be my own fault -- perhaps if I stuck with it for a full month or so, I would see more results.

Anyhow, I am here to say that I am definately 'bloated' and right now I am NOT in a flare -- ugh... glad for no flare, always bugges by the bloated issue -- pants hurt, so I don't wear them very often.

Hope someone has some good suggestions for reducing the bloating! I will also consider the antihystamine -- when I saw my doctor last week, he suggested trying an antihystamine for the shanks I am getting from drug withdrawal -- I thought that sounded odd because I think of benadryl as something that GIVES you shakes -- however, he said it is used to help people going through withdrawal to reduce them -- so, maybe I will try it for a week and see what happens to the shakes AND the bloated belly.

Wherever you go...there you are.... smiles! :lmao:

[mela414]

Are you sure it's not your IBS. It sounds like it could be. There is a category here for IBS that I've been going to. I've learned a lot about it and ordered some fiber from the ICN shop that I am waiting for. I am hoping that it will help. You might want to check out that topic to get some more info.

[Katrina]

on IBS:
our recent speaker on IBS http://www.2006icpatientconference.com/vanvoroustranscript.html specifically said that IBS cannot be cleansed out of you and in actuallity doing the cleans can be very hard on your digestive system and increases IBS symptoms for a time.

Also, for some reason I sometimes can have a major gas flare up without having anything like diarhia or constipation with it. I had many flare ups like that and had no idea what was causing them for a long while.....eventually my gastro said that even though my other symptoms hadn't flared up that gas was causing all of that pressure and pain. Sometimes even after living with an illness for years our bodies change and react to things differently...ya think you finally know your body and illness and it changes on you again.

[jcarrielouise]

I too get very bloated when i'm having a flar up. I know I don't have IBS, to regular, and really no gas. I'd love to know what causes the bloating, my uroligist say's that i'm basicly (in my own words) swollen and having an allergy to what ever is causing my flare up. So it's like when i'm having a bad hay fever episode, and my eyes are swollen and my nose is all puffy.
Hope your bloating goes down.

Carrie

[Katrina]

Carrie what your urologist said is one of the things I said. your allergy....is the mass cells. Which is why I recommend trying an antihistamine. Good luck!

[threethings06]

when you say take an antihistimine....is benadryl ok? or something different? just curious because it get a lot of bloating and inflammation and i'm looking for something to try. funny..i recently told my doctor that when i have a flare...you can see my stomach sticking out (i'm very tiny so it's very easy to see) and she said she's never even heard of that before. she thinks i'm crazy.

[ShePurzz]

Katrina,
I have never really taken anything for the IBS -- although the JP is helping me a lot with digestive issues -- the bloating and the swelled tummy are the worst of it -- now I am a bit constipated lately, so maybe I am having more problems with it than I am recognizing (acknowledging) I am going to take the Benadryl now and see how that works -- do you take it once or twice a day, or how is it generally prescribed for the tummy swelling?

I know I CAN take it since my doctor told me yesterday that I can use it if I get the shakes -- however, today, NO SHAKES!!! Whoo Hoo!

I don't really feel constipated but I am straining and I know that isn't good -- so tonight I did do a colon hydro -- helps me to get moving and is a lot less stressful on me that straining.

Okay, hopefully you can get this and let me know how many benadryl or how often to take it and for how long before you get some results. I guess I am going to be 'pregnant' for the weddings tomorrow -- both my step daughter and my sister get married tomorrow ... ugh...

One is at 11 am and the other is at 1 pm. We have an hour drive between them -- so, he is going to give away the daughter (for the last time -- this is her third and wants a 'real wedding') and then we have to head out and drive to my sister's wedding. It will be fun -- I made them both nice things -- a plush blanket for the daughter, and a plush set of pillows to match my sisters plush blanket -- these are blankets that she showed me how to make, so I knew what color hers was and she will be so excited to have matching pillows! The daughter noticed my blanket this past summer on a visit to our house and said "Oh, I know what I want for a wedding present" -- so that was easy -- I knew what to do! It's nice to be able to make something and know it is going to be well used!

Anyhow, a busy, busy day tomorrow, so if you think of me, please pray for me not to have any problems with the drug withdrawal going on. My doctor did tell me I can't lower the dose yet and that I need to go a full month without any symptoms before I can reduce it any further.. so, I am eager to get through a really good month!

Thanks for the information Katrina!
Mary:smile tee

[momw/ic]

Everytime I flare I get a huge belly within hours. My doctor calls it the IC belly and says that they really don't understand what causes it or why it does this but he believes it is just a result of the inflammation - kind of the body's response in an effort to heal or adjust. It has to run its course and there really isn't a way to get rid of it. Sometimes ice packs will help me - but there are a TON of us who get this.

[Freckles]

I always look three months pregnant. I have constant pain and swelling. I've had this disease for 9 years and my puffiness never goes away. It was better when I was walking and getting some excercise every day. I'm in Florida and couldn't walk during the summer. My pain meds and the heat didn't get along and made me very sick. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather when I can excercise again. That is the only thing that has ever helped my swelling.
Karen

[PhotoLindy]

I went to my Uro yesterday and one of my complaints was after sex my tummy swelling is like I am 6 mos pregnant, sometimes even after I have eaten a hidden IC flare food will cause some tummy swelling. He says he never heard of tummy swelling with IC and called a GYN that didn't know either.

Any suggestions?

PhotoLindy

[Katrina]

Take note that your doctor isn't well informed on IC. He needs to do some research on what is known as the IC belly. Mass cells collect that cause pain and can make a person look pregnant. My suggestion is to print your doctor some info on this give it to him and consider looking for a better qualified doctor.
http://www.*************/node/23
IC belly

A symptom in which the belly (tummy), lower part of the abdominal and or the sub-pubic (upper) region inexplicably tender, swollen, and sensitive to pressure or touch. This symptom was one the patient did not likely experience before developing IC. Seen also in patients with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.



Suggested treatment is to treat it like an allergy. Antihistimines are often tried first. now not all swelling of the abdomin with IC patients is from the "IC belly" or mass cells. Gas and other things are possible but don't let your doctor dismiss this as not being because of the IC either.

[lisabar36]

I do have the swelling when I am in a flare. I have IBS also. So I swell from that to. During a flare my belly will swell though. I used to swell alot more and once I started meds and the diet, I did notice less swelling. :) Lisa