stress causing flares?

[holles]

i've been flaring pretty badly for about 2 weeks now. i had been doing really really well with diet controlling IC. then i started having some UTIs and other bladder problems. got them controlled, but now i'm flaring like crazy. i know it's stress. what i don't know is how is this working? i want to know the scientific relationship here.

and am i just supposed to accept the fact that when i'm stressed i'll flare? i'm trying to reduce stress, but it's a little hard (i teach junior high, so the next 4 weeks are going to be HORRIBLE). i've been to my happy place so many times, it's starting to get boring. :rolleyes:

so how is stress affecting my hormones like this?

i do exercise, and that does help with the pain, but last night, i had a stressful time at the workout (do martial arts, and am testing tonight for a new level), and i had pain and cramping the whole time and even after.

help!

[Dixiefireball]

I'm so sorry:grouphug: I know that stress really gets to my bladder also and bless your heart teaching Jr high I hope the next four weeks of school will be okay and the children will behave.
what a special lady you are to give your heart to the children to teach them i really admire you for that
i hope some one can come along soon and give you the answer you need.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[Katrina]

No...you shouldn't just accept that stress makes you flare...some stress is unavoidable and you need treatment that will allow you to have some stressful situations and still feel ok......that being said doing what you can for yourself does mean keeping your stress level as low as possible. I am very sorry you are flaring.

I believe that during a stress flare it can help to double the ammount of calcium you are taking in. One other thing that really helps a stress flare is visualization....it helps to lesson stress and lesson your pain. (good deal)

I hope that you get the answers and the help that you need.

Blessings to you,

[Sarojini]

Ok... from the resident biologist, the science is this:

When you are under stress, your body initiates what's called the "fight or flight" response. This involves upregulation of various mediators... for example, your adrenal glands start pumping out adrenaline, you begin overproducing the hormone cortisol, etc. These (a) can affect production of other mediators and hormones, and (b) can affect production and secretion of various neurotransmitters, thereby affecting nerve conduction. The changes in your hormone levels can lead to de-suppression of the inflammatory response (meaning your bladder gets more and more inflamed) and on top of that, the changes in your nerve conduction profiles can alter the way you feel and perceive pain.
Therefore, stress = major OWIE for most IC patients.

Making things worse is that these stress-induced changes also affect mast cells all over your body, and they can become "twitchy" such that they degranulate at the drop of a hat and release histamine. If you have IC, this usually isn't good, because it leads to pain reactions in the bladder... also, histamine also contributes to why, if you are asthmatic, your asthma can also flare during stressful situations.

So, basically, if you flare from stress now, you probably always will... however, if you find a treatment that works for you and that lessens the disease process in your bladder, the response to stress can be drastically reduced.

:)

Did that help at all?

[Iris]

Hey Jen, that helped me I know, I had heard of the flight or fight, but did not know exactly what when on, so thanks for the explanation, it was very informative. I know stress is a big owie for me at times, hugs Iris.:hi: :thumbsup: :flower:

[holles]

thank you sooooo much for the replies, support, and answers.

jen, so when i get the flares because of stress, would it be beneficial to pop a benadryl? silly question, but i'll do anything to stop the pain. i did learn from experience that a hot bath helps. maybe that draws out some of the stuff. it certainly helps with the stress. although i have to pee when i hit water. :toosh:

thanks again. the weird thing is intercourse helped today to relieve some of the pain. i had other pain during intercourse as usual, but the bladder pain disappeared. i was even able to test tonight for my new belt. and i passed! of course, now i'm flaring again, but it could be the fact that i celebrated with a glass of beer. :rolleyes: i'll learn some self-control one of these days.

appreciate all of you. i'm so glad this forum is here. i'm sure my doc is too, because without y'all, i'd be calling him every day probably. lol.

[Sarojini]

Hi Holles,

I think it may well help you to pop a Benadryl. I take Atarax, which is another antihistamine, but it really does help... and many people say Benadryl helps too. These are good because they help the mast cell problem -- but also they can make you a bit drowsy and have mild anti-anxiety properties, so they can help you get sleep (or just relax for a little bit). That also helps :)

[dyno]

Holly,
I am also one who will flare with stress. Check with your Dr. and see if there is anything you can take that can help when that happens. It can be a combination of things that are contributing to the flare and maybe he can give you something. If you are on other medications, you should check to see if he wants you to take anything else.
Hope you are doing better soon.:)