I hate the IC belly

[BAM23]

ugh, as of right now my flare seems to getting much better, but I can't stop the IC belly...really no pain just that horrible bloating, does anyone have suggestions? I've tried the heating pad, cold packs, rest but it doesn't want to go away...ugh if its not one thing its the other, at least I don't have the constant urge to pee anymore

[leelee88]

Well if you find out how to fix this PLEASE let me know.. My stomach has never pooched like this until IC...

[BAM23]

i have found that if I drink tons of water, hold it, and then go to the bathroom this helps mildly but I can make myself hold it up to ~18-20 oz...so I feel like it is close to a distension experience :smile tee . Also ibuprofen works for me, but I have read it can send people into flares on here....good luck to you and if you find a solution please let me know, I'm about to try that castor oil heating wrap solution I read about on here

[BAM23]

Well if you find out how to fix this PLEASE let me know.. My stomach has never pooched like this until IC...

so I was still having a lil problems, and then I had my period and it got a little better and then I took some gas-x and it is gone...hmmm perrhaps it was just gas...but for days and days?? I don't know

[Moonheart]

During this week that I've been taking the Topamax? I've almost completely lost the IC Belly. I'm sure that most of it's been swelling from excess fluid. Maybe not all of it, but most.

Working for me though. :)

[inlove96]

I am right there with you. When I have a flare my stomach gets huge. I mean like 3 months pregnant huge. :(

[laker46580]

I was taking amytripthelyne and stopped 3 weeks ago due to sluggish feeling and weight gain. Now I'm in a horrible flare. Does this drug do the same? Does it cover pain and spasms? I need something to help symtoms with vulva sensitivity.

[dancemomof2]

I bought the cutest tank tops yesterday and they were a little flary on the botton and todasy BANG belly from you know where. So I wore it anyway and thank goodness it was a family pic nic and they knew I had had a hysterectomy because my daughters swore I looked pregnant. When I tried it on yesterday it looked fine but not today. I hate swelly belly days. YUCK!

[tigger_gal]

count me in too, I got a couple of really cute tops that looked great and hid th fat, now I got the HUGE IC belly going on, it fells like a brick,, ugh!

[inlove96]

I need to take a pic for you girls next time. So uncomfortable and ugly.

[JanL]

I too hate the IC belly. My stomach is never flat these days, but on really bad days it can really swell. I work at a clothing store part time. The other morning I went in and tried on several pairs of pants. Well, I put them on hold and bought them later that day. That night I went to try them on for my husband and daughter and you would not believe how tight they were across the stomach. Well, I tried them on the next morning and there was a significant decrease---:bonk: That is so frustrating. Of course, I can't stand any pressure on my stomach so I had to swap some of them for larger sizes:rant: . So.... when you discover the magic cure for it, please let me know.

Janice

[inlove96]

I am the same way.....nothing can be pushing on my belly during a flare. Not even my underwear. I bought a pair of maternity pants once.

[BAM23]

you know contrast between heat and cold seem to help my swelling the best (when I know it is the IC belly), I actually experimented with just heat and then just cold, and then both and really found it helped a lot...hey it never hurts to try

[Moonheart]

I was taking amytripthelyne and stopped 3 weeks ago due to sluggish feeling and weight gain. Now I'm in a horrible flare. Does this drug do the same? Does it cover pain and spasms? I need something to help symtoms with vulva sensitivity.
I'm sorry I've been gone so much. I've felt awful for most of the time. Not from the Topamax, but from the virus and who knows what else. :(

The Topamax helps with the pain, spasms, Vulvadynia(sp?), the weight gain, etc....

it helps with everything except nasty viruses!:cussing: This morning it's gone into buckets of water from the wrong end. You know, where you can still talk? Sort of? :rolleyes: Too much info eh?:toilet:

[Krisi]

IC belly sucks! I can't stand anything on my tummy either during a flare. Sometimes I think they cause flares. Anyway, I found some cute pants around december and NY&Co that were stretchy knit all around but very cute that you couldn't tell they weren't dress pants :) I love them! :))

[bamafan]

Thanks ladies I feel the same way. During a flare I feel like I can't wear anything. One day I can wear one pair of pants and the next I can't. I feel like I am sufficating and just need some sweat pants to wear. Bamafan

[A.J.]

Hey all,
I'm having the opposite problem. I've been in remission now for probably six months (yay!) but I'm experiencing bloating like never before. I've never had the "IC belly" so I didn't know what it was until I came here and checked out what some of you have said. Here's the thing: I've been to an internist, a gastroenterologist (3 times), and my uro countless times, and no one has any idea what this bloating and uncomfort is caused by. And like many of you have already said, I'm looking beyond pregnant...I mean 6 months, easily, and can't fit into my regular clothes. I thought it was just weight gain so I dieted and exercised vigorously and ended up losing weight in other parts of my body, just not the belly!

Finally, after months and months of agony, I'm seeing a doc who suspects it's IC belly and is going to give me 3 little injections on the belly area, which he said, if it is IC belly, patients respond right away and the tummy goes down flat again.

Has anyone had this procedure done before? Any info would be great. Thank you all so much. I just hope to get some relief soon. With the suicide of my brother and all my health problems, I'm barely hanging on sometimes. I'm thankful you all are here.

[peachycajun]

I've never heard of the injections you are talking about? In the belly? Let me know if it works...and then what exactly it is.

I'm sorry about your brother....it has to be hard to deal with that and your health problems. I will keep you in my prayers.:pray:

[BAM23]

ooh, I want to know about these injections too if they work!

[A.J.]

thanks for the concern ladies. I wrote about my experience in this thread:
http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39471


it's very long, but explains it all!

[Charisse]

My lower belly has slowly over the past few years gotten more and more bloated and it even gets hard feeling when I flare. I hate it. I've never had a flat stomach my whole life so it kind of snuck up on me. I can't wear jeans at all anymore because they will make me cramp so bad. I have several pairs of expensive designer jeans that are just sitting in my closet now :( The last time I wore them was Friday April 13 which was the start of my flare this year. I'm getting really tired of wearing sweats and high waisted pants a whole size larger than normal. My pants fall down when I stand up but they have to be super loose so that they don't touch my tummy when I sit. Dr is still not sure I have IC but he has given me no other diagnosis yet. Just wanted to tell you that I feel your pain ladies!

[vegacula]

I feel that. Today is so bad for me and I don't even know what's goin' on! I've lost 15 lbs since I've been on the IC diet but I'm pretty sure it was all water weight, 'cause I gained it and lost it within a few weeks. BUT, since losing the "Weight" I don't see anything different about my tummy :(

There needs to be a cure just for the bloatingness! What about midol and stuff like that?

[CST]

wow, I've never heard of IC belly before, but I've noticed when I'm having a bad flare, my lower abdomen does look somewhat swollen and feels hard. I've often wondered if it was connected and apparently it is. That's wild! I never heard this term before, but it just shows how this thing affects us. I also cannot wear tight pants (sweats are my best friend!) but I sure do get sick of that. Anyway, I guess the swelling is from an inflammatory reaction throughout the tissue? Is that it? And you got shots for it? That's interesting....I learn something new every time I come here! Hope things are going better for you......things will get better, I promise.

[soccermom32]

Why do we get an IC belly??? I had no idea that when I was bloated it was because of IC!!