Is Water Really Good?

[SandraCT]

I have been trying to loose weight and have been drinking a lot of water because it's a known fact how good it is for you. My problem is that it seems to put me in a flare because I'm constantly urinating and this is aggrevating my bladder. Infact, this is how I realized I had IC years ago. I was drinking so much water and it was starting to hurt my bladder and always felt like an infection. My question is: Is drinking a lot of water really good for people with IC? Does it bother you? Thanks!!:p

[ICNDonna]

Drinking an adequate amount of water is essential for an IC patient. For one thing, it helps keep the urine diluted so it's less irritating. I find I do best if I take small drinks throughout the day, rather than chugging down a full glass.

It's possible to drink too much water --- my doctor says "don't drown yourself," but you should get six to eight cups in a day.

If you're on a city water system, you might try drinking bottled spring water for a few days to see if it makes a difference. Some ICers don't tolerate clorinated water.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[Katrina]

Are you drinking tap water or bottle water? Water is good for IC because it makes what is in your bladder more diluted and thus less acidic .....but to those that are bad enough already that doesn't help as much as having to go even more often for real hurts. For me acid does bother me.....but even without it I still have many symptoms...so I don't see water helping or hurting me..but I have heard people say both many times.

[lori jo]

I read that you should drink 1/2 your weight in ounces. As in, I weigh 120lbs so I should drink 60 oz a day. Does anyone else follow that or do you go by some other rule? I also wonder if my Britta filter is good enough, or should I try the bottled spring water? I happen to LOVE water but some times wonder what is the "best". I would like to know the right kind to drink when I am away from my house and to take to restrants (I'm really leery of that water) I did try the evian, but it tastes kinda funky to me. Dasani is good but it has a bit of salt, but is it enough to hurt me. Iv'e spent so much time hanging out in the state of confusion since IC came to live with me. :wink:

[Raelyn]

I have had good results with Absopure spring water and I enjoy the taste. I also have a filter pitcher but doubt that it could remove enough chlorine from the city water.

[PikkuMyy]

Actually, the carbon filters (like Pur and Brita) remove almost all Chlorine from city water, something like 99.9%.

I have a fancy water purifier, which cost about $80 from Paragon Water Systems. It takes out a lot of stuff, including pesticides. I like it because I never have to remember to full a jug, etc. I just turn on my tap and pull this little button.

There are often a lot of minerals in tap water too, which might hurt IC bladders.

Emily

[GloriaP]

Hi Sandra - I was reading your post about if water was really good for you. I told my uro that I was drinking as much water as I could get in me (water is the only thing I drink). He told me to stop it because it is like going for a run when you have a flare of arthritis! He said you are supposed to rest the bladder. So much conflicting information. I still have a water bottle with me at most times during the day because I have a dry mouth from the med's but try to drink less than I did before.

Has anyone heard of not drinking loads of water when you have IC?


:angel: I am so thankful for this web site, it was like Christmas day the day I found it.

[amaris]

I never thought that I'd be sensitive to city water. My husband actually figured this one out. I've had more flares this past fall and winter than previously. My husband realized that my increased sensitivity probably started around the time we quit filtering our water. He got a Pur filter about a week ago. What a difference in the taste. I didn't realize how heavily chlorinated our water is. It's only been a week, but I feel like I am less sensitive to triggers such as certain foods and riding in the car.

All those times I thought I was doing something good by drinking lots of water, I was probably aggrevating my bladder.

Amaris

[Patrice]

When I first got sick, I consciously restricted water. Drinking water did not alleviate the pain as some people say. Now that I'm doing well on Elmiron, I can drink more but was still in the habit of not drinkin much. In the past five months I have been told:

1. By the ENT who diagnosed salivary gland stones: DRINK MORE WATER

2. By the Gastro: DRINK MORE WATER

3. By the cardiologist who found two leaky valves regarding the palpitations: they will be less if you DRINK MORE WATER.

So, IC can really effect in an indirect way other parts of our health. I think the answer is to at least drink ENOUGH water. They're saying now that 8-10 glasses may not be necessary but at least keep yourself from being thirsty! :)

[ad8123]

I found that when we bought our house and relocated the water was giving me problem but we bought a water conditioner (fancy word for softner i think) and it takes out all the yucky stuff, so now the water does not hurt. when i am in a flare i donot drink much of anything, because i spend the day-days in the bathroom and in bed alredy.

Angela
From Florida:angel:

[felineperson3]

I agree with some of the previous posts about so many conflicts by physicians about how much water one should drink. I think the key for me is to drink enough water to stay adequately hydrated and this, of course, personally varies with the temperature of my environment and my activity. My uro gives a "rule of thumb" guide to drink 6-8 oz. every 2 to 3 hours.
I feel the"quantity of water" has to be an individual adjustment just like all other factors in our lives.
Hugs & blessings to all--

[Mimi-in-Chicagoland]

Water also helps people with low blood pressure have higher blood pressure...it increases blood volume. Salt also helps. This will in turn lower your pulse because your heart doesn't have to pump as hard/often to get your blood around. I have a pur filter on my faucet to filter the city water. I think it helps a lot. I also have water bottles that I refill and have in my fridge for when I go out.

[ljl765]

I found that I had to change to bottled water and use Crystal Rock in our home only, for drinking and adding to foods I cook.. The additives in our local water and hardness REALLY bothered my bladder a lot!! Try using purer water. I'll be surprised if your not feeling better faster..While I was in Florida visiting parents I noticed I always felt better and they had a water system with filters. When I came home I'd be miserable. I changed water and it helped so much, I never drink local water anywhere now.. I carry my own. Try it, worth a try. Have your own water tested for hardness and minerals ect. Just a thought, but I always felt our water was to full of choride and other chemicals.

[kadi]

I started drinking more water at meals & little water between meals and was surprised at how very much better I feel... I don't know why drinking the liquid at a meal would make a difference?? Maybe it still is less water overall, I don't know.

I am confused though, because if water is supposed to be so good for us & so necessary for us as IC patients, why do I feel so rotten when I do drink it by itself?

By the way, I have checked out different brands of water. Distilled Arrowhead is best for me, but the mealtime water is still way better than by itself???

Anyone understand this??:confused:

[blue]

I haven't really noticed the difference in the brands. Of course, I didn't realize at first that food was affecting me. I drink most brands of bottled water, never tap!

[ljl765]

Besides the obvious ways water helps our bodies, my URO informes me that water can dilute the acid..and flush out the bladder...and anything we may have gotten in foods to iritate us..Hpe this helps.. I really see a diference in my bladder w/the pure water. A lot of water is good for skin anyway.. (an inside job vs lotions)..and great for our organs too. Too much water can make a person nausiated ...It also helps the burning when the bladder is "clearer to"..:-)