Male with IC.....I think I figured this out!

[cowabungacal]

I haven't posted here in ages but I wanted to wait until I had some useful information to share in the hopes that it will help anybody possible.

I'll write a quick overview of my issues. At age 27 I started to have the urge to pee constantly, even when my bladder had a very little bit of urine in it. I would have horrible difficulty sleeping at night and was up probably 4-5 times every single night trying to empty my bladder. Felt like it was overflowing but very little actually was in there. Went to 2 doctors who misdiagnosed me with Prostatitis and continued to suffer for about 2 years. I went through a personal hell, sleep deprivation and leading me into depression as a result. I have never felt really depressed in my life until experiencing IC. Then I went to a different Urologist who told me he thought I had IC. He gave me Elmiron, Elavil and a pamphlet with the IC diet. I immediately started consuming approximately 85-90% water for my fluids and little to no soft drinks, fruit juices or other ACIDY foods. It took a few months to identify the trouble foods but I found them. Coffee is the #1 irritater, with Caffeine and fruits a close second place. I have not noticed Tomatoes bothering me however. Coffee as soon as that cup hits the bladder it's 100% of the time immediate irritation. Caffeine and fruit also. Also, stress is an irritant, almost every time. If I get stressed out the bladder will get irritated.

I never really believed the Elmiron was working, but stayed on it for about 1 year or so, along with staying away from Coffee and any acidy foods. Well about 4 months ago I stopped taking the Elmiron just to see if it was working at all. I haven't noticed a difference being off the Elmiron and staying on my diet. BUT, probably the single most important thing that works for me is drinking AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE. I can always tell the days when I don't drink enough water because the bladder will get a little irritated, not too bad though to where it keeps you awake at night, which is the worst symptom for me.

So I don't really believe the Elmiron is working for me. I think what is working for me is the diet, with an emphasis that water is going to be your best friend and try to drink it whenever possible. It took a few months of the diet before my bladder calmed down to something I can at least manage now. I am now 35 and I do have to wake up once a night but frequency in the daytime is non existent as long as I stay away from coffee, fruit juices and caffeine and flush with as much water as possible. I'm alot happier now and hope to continue to feel better. I will try to keep updated on here in the hopes it could help someone. It can really discourage you but don't give up because there are ways to deal with this and still live a relatively healthy happy life.

I hope this wasn't too long. I just wanted to get all the important stuff in there! Thanks to everyone who has heped me in the past, I really appreciate it!!!

Cal

[sofirus]

Hello cowabungacal I'm happy that you feel better . Now I do the same thing as you do I drink a lot of water and also cammomile tea and this seem to help me with the irritation feeling, but for now not realy with the frequency . What kind of water do you drink ? Now I drink spring bottled water becouse Evian is too expensive for me . I hope that the diet will help my bladder to heal and I will not need a lot of medications.

[cowabungacal]

I drink mostly Arrowhead bottled water, but I sometimes will buy whatever bottled water is on sale. I try to not drink tap water because I think the Chlorine is not too nice for IC.

I'm not convinced that doctors even have a handle on this condition. But I feel like acidy foods and such contribute to alot of different kinds of health problems. My friend has ulcers and his diet is pretty close to mine as a result. It's strange because it seems like people with this problem have different trigger foods that bother them more or less than the next person.

[Oscar]

I feel like acidy foods and such contribute to alot of different kinds of health problems.

I think you are right. People say "but people have been eating oranges and tomatoes for centuries".....yes, but they ripened in the sun. Many fruits and vegetables in the store do not. Tomatoes will turn red in a paper bag, it does not mean they are ripe and that the sugars are there. I'm still digging , and will be for a long time, but there's a lot to this.