IC flares and periods

[bladder]

Are your flares worse before, during or after your periods?

I am just beside myself with pain and frequency during my periods. I am on continuous birth control, but have to stop every 3 months to have a real period. It is horrible.

[cmikus]

I can sympathyze. I have a lot of pain and frequency during and for a few days after my period, it always seems to set off a flare.

[stef000]

I personally have flares with ovulation and before my period and during but don't really notice whats happening during since my uterus feels like an alien trying to get out the wrong way.....:lmao::loco:
I know i flare real bad with birth control that has estrogen in it too....
with birth control you can just take it continuously and not worry about a period unless your doc says otherwise....
because realistically we don't need to have a period and also the one you get during the break time with the pills isn't a real period, its just withdrawal bleeding from the hormones.....
Women scientists actually say that its more healthy if we don't have our period since then we save iron and such and just go off of it either to have a kid or once we are past menopause....
but some scientists say otherwise....its just like the margarine/butter debate....
which one is healthier......you can find the same amount of people to argue each product saying they are healthy....
but anyway....
yes hormones can cause flares and periods can since your uterus sits on top of your bladder so if your uterus is cramping therefore its making your bladder cramp too....
its the fun of a human female....:loco:
so i hope this sorta helps ya....
i know i was all over the place with it....
well i hope you find some relief soon.....but consider just taking the pill full time and no breaks....as long as you have no health problems preventing you to do that....
take it easy and take care
:grouphug::grouphug:

[Briza]

I used to flare really bad the few days b/f my period and the first day of. The next few days I would feel the best out of the month. For whatever reason I haven't flared like that b/f my period in a long time; my flares just happen whenever and don't seem to be related to my cycle anymore.

[specialcay06]

i'm new to IC, but i think my pain is worse the week before my period. I suffer from severe bloating and cramping during my period, and that kinda takes over my IC pain...

[boscoe777]

I get BAD flare-ups and cramps a week before my period. As of a few months, I also get them when I ovulate. The pain is excruciating and lasts for hours. Luckily, this only goes on for a few days. Ah, the joys of being a a female with IC. :dizzy:

[Claredale]

I started on the Depo Prevera shot over 3 years ago since my flares were like clock-work so I could tell when I was beginning to ovulate. I always flared so bad for days during the time I ovulated. Actually my periods were a relief even though I bled like a stuck pig! I was in my late 30s when I researched the depo shot. I hadn't needed birthcontrol in years since hubby took care of that so long ago. I was so grateful when my nurse practitioner agreed to allow me to try it just to see what would happen. I did quite a bit of research on it, plus several of my friends were on it with great success. I am happy to report I have only had 2 flares in the 3 years now. Flares used to be more on than off for many years prior to my interstim, then I could still count on that week long one each month. One was due to a rescue instill. My urethra doesn't do well with caths and the other was when I missed my quarterly shot about a year ago and as soon as I realized it, I stopped by my uro/gyno and the nurse gave me the shot in within a couple days at the most, I was back to myself. My husband would definitely agree that it has been one of the best things since sliced bread! No PMS or any female issues at all.

I agree very much with the poster that said that we don't really need our periods. I have always been extremely enemic most of my years since I started my period and even though I take my iron faithfully, I am finally staying in the normal range. I was at transfusion level on a number of occasions especially prior to a time I was having blood work for my first implant. The doctor almost called off my surgery, but thank goodness he saw in my records that I was chronically anemic, so he went ahead and did my surgery.

[april ryan]

Hi there,

I still didn't have my diagnosis but the doctor is pretty sure about my IC.

I used to have this terrible tummy bloating - like 6 months pregnant! - up to one week before my periods (now getting better with the diet), which I though it was for IBS (still don't know) and have more frequency, pain, drowsiness a couple of days before and during my period and I usually get diarrhoea too.

Today I am in the second day of the cycle and I am in bed extreeemely tired. Not in pain lucklily but frequency is increased and discomfort too..

Hope you improve.....

Hugs,
April

[tesschron]

When I was diagnosed 10 years ago, and tracked patterns, I could guarantee that even with an instillation, plus Prozac, plus BC pills to stabilize, that I would have a flareup during the week off the pill. Quitting Prozac and starting Detrol reduced or eliminated the discomfort. Then last year at 49-50 the flareups started happening again, and only an instillation calmed them down. I tracked the start to the same exact day, every month, in the pill cycle - second day of second week. Since I tried to quit the estrogen at 49, and had peri-menopausal symptoms, I figured it must be the drop in estrogen or rise in progestins during that time. My gyno walks on water, gave me a stronger pill and estrogen cream to try. I determined that estrogen cream 1 day before F-day (flareup) and continued 2 days after worked. For a year. I started having problems again this spring. At which point I tried Cystoprotek, which caused flare, but ended up with Glucosamine Sulfate - which stopped the flaring literally overnight. As of this week I have gone 2 weeks with out BC pills, with Glucosamine, with no flareups - a new result. Of course, I now am dealing with moods and night sweats, but that's another email :). Youa re correct that your hormone fluctuation can impact your flares, I did find obscure articles on the internet talking about estrogen receptors in the bladder, and how if these receptors are triggered, flares can happen. Try pinpointing the exact day when things go to heck, and if you have a good gyno, talking about what is happening at that time - maybe you can find a solution like I did.....

terry

[saptree]

I need to add to this thread. I have to say it has been a while since I have posted. I have a 14 month old baby. During the 2nd and third trimesters of my pregnancy and for 13 months after due to nursing/absence of menstrual cycle, I had NO flares! I was eating things I would never imagine before, like pizza and sour candies, things with MSG and such. I even ate a few pickles without any pain. Then my period came back last month. I'm still breastfeeding, but the frequency decreased enough for my hormones to kick in again. And now I find myself in a flare.
When I am not on birth control, heck, even when I am, my usual IC pattern is a worsing of symptoms the week before, the week during and the week after my period. So I would have one or two good weeks. I also have PCOS, so I have to be careful what kind of birth control I choose. As of now I haven't started any bcps yet. I have Errin in my cuboard- the mini pill, but I'm hoping to get somthing like Lybrel since breastfeeding is well established. I go to the gyn in Dec. We'll see. I'm just sad and fustrated right now. I need to purge my house of acidic foods and convert back to my IC habits.
Thanks for listening.
:cussing:
Sherry

[aleet7]

Hi Sherry!
I'm sorry that your symptoms are back full force! I know you got used to being symptom free and then all of a sudden a horrible flare! You do know that you will have to start back being somewhat strict on your IC diet. It pains me to cook foods like lasagna for my family and I can't eat it especially since it's my favorite! I was talking to my pelvic floor therapist yesterday about my most recent flare that I'm in and she told me to be so careful about what I eat and drink. I drank fruit punch several days ago and it killed my bladder! The therapist said that when I'm in a flare to only drink water to be on the safe side. It's so unfortunate that you have to get rid of the acidic foods now but it's the right thing to do so that you don't suffer with foods triggering flares. I hope you feel better soon. It's got to be hard to have IC with a little one to care for.
Best Wishes,
Teela