Newly Diagnosed - diet questions [Archive] - ICN Support Forum - Interstitial Cystitis, Overactive Bladder, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

kelly_girl

09-14-2009, 04:09 PM

:confused:I was finally given a definite diagnosis this past Thursday of IC. I go back to see the Dr in 4 wks. I am dealing with it thanks to finding this website prior to my cysto and hydro. I have been able to share what is happening to me with my family and they seem to be very supportive. :)

My issue is that I am used to eating alot of Mexican, red sauces, cheeses etc. My husband starts dinner in the evenings it is a huge adjustment trying to find something that I can eat without causing a flare. It is no wonder I have been hurting - eating what I was. I don't want to have 2 dinners every night but I don't know what to suggest either. I really like healthy foods, veggies, chicken the family they like carbs. I just can't do that to my body.

Also, I sometimes take frozen dinners for lunch which most have the red sauce and lots of preservatives.

This is an adjustment for me - Help please - any suggestions. :confused:

Goldfinch

09-14-2009, 06:13 PM

Hi, I'm sorry you have IC and yes, it is an adjustment in many ways. Not everyone w/IC is equally food sensitive, so it is worth taking the time (and patience!) to use the scientific method and learn as quickly as possible what your personal diet parameters are; it's a standard elimination diet, where you start with a few basics that seem like the least problematic foods and see if you can get your bladder to calm down. It can take a month or longer. Then, when you feel like your body has benefited from a restricted diet, you can start adding back in various foods very carefully.

Then you will be able to identify the foods that irritate your bladder or cause your symptoms to flair. Hopefully your family will take your restrictions as a challenge! Check out the diet cheat sheet on this site. It's a good place to start, remembering that everyone is different. You may end up being surprised at the variety of foods you can eat once you have started treatment and feel better. So don't assume that you will have to give up all of your favorite foods forever.

I felt worse for my husband than he did. But after all, he can eat whatever he wants when he goes out. I'd rather have his problem than mine! There are lots of really healthy bladder-friendly meals out there; my husband has a bottle of Tapatia or a tomato salad on the side. We make burritos all the time with rice and beans and grilled veggies or meats. He loads his up with salsa and I don't. Any kind of simple grilled meats and fish work well, and almost all healthy complex carbs are ultimately tolerated by most ICers. If you buy processed foods you simply have to be a good label-reader, and try to get organic or natural foods without additives or preservatives.

The hardest thing for me, besides giving up coffee, tomatoes and red wine, was learning how NOT to be tempted by the high-fat high cholesterol foods that I am supposed to avoid anyway, but that are so comforting! Most ICers have no problems at all with eggs, vanilla ice cream, and many sweet treats. Unfortunately neither do I, so they tempt me when I get frustrated.

Check out the threads on diet; there are plenty of ideas there, and you can order a book of IC friendly recipes on this site.

You might have to do a bit more cooking from scratch, but you will find there are plenty of foods you can make for your family without making separate meals. We make a LOT of soups. I cook soup or beans on the weekend with lots of extra for a few meals during the week. If you find a chicken broth you can eat--or, even better, can make your own broth--you can make all kinds of meat and vegetable soups. And I can indulge in mac 'n' cheese once in a while and plenty of different types of pasta without tomato sauce. Last night I sauteed some swiss chard in olive oil and garlic, then tossed it with spaghetti and threw on some toasted pine nuts. Very nice.