I look pregnant...but am not

[Toto]

Oh my gosh. Today one of my students (age 11) said she thought I was pregnant. Of course I was wearing a lose pregnancy looking style dress because I am in pain and having bladder troubles. (though the dress is a cute dress...) And I have my period which makes me more bloated. So the combination of IC, pelvic issues, constipation, and my period, makes my stomach protrude like I'm 3/4 months pregnant! (maybe even more) I'm petite and on the smaller size so it's really noticeable! I HATE this!

I honestly have no idea how to conquer the bloating. I have already started my new gluten fee/IC friendly STRICT diet. Adding more vegetables into my diet is making me more gassy and bloated. So I'm going slow. I have been drinking prune juice to help with constipation but it caused me gas and I swear it made my bladder more irritated. My physical therapist said I'm dehydrated. And I take a migraine medicine that causes constipation. So going off of that isn't an option. And you know if I drink more water, that means more bathroom trips. (as if once and hour isn't enough) I'm desperately trying to control my bathroom trips to once an hour. NOT easy during my period.

I just want to put a needle in my stomach to deflate it!

I had to vent... I feel I will float away...

[earthlady]

I feel for you I really do. I remember the bloated belly and it was so uncomfortable. It was like someone blew me up with a pump. Between the bloated belly and the constipation from the bladder meds I was miserable. I had to take Miralax for the first time in my life to get rid of the constipation. It would always be at it's worst at night and by morning it would deflate. I wish I had some good advice but I guess I don't. Just wanted to let you know that I can relate to how you're feeling. Hope it improves for you soon.

[Toto]

Did the Miralax work well? I took a stool softener but it didn't work. Maybe if I drank two plus glasses of prune juice by body would give up. But I'd be miserable in the mean time. I feel like a freak, I pray that a bowel movement will come at a convenient time. Always afraid I won't be near a bathroom. And besides that I HATE going in a public bathroom. So AWFUL!

[kadi]

My urologist also recommended a stool softener, but he didn't tell me what my primary care doctor told me when I complained it was useless. Stool softeners only work when you take them with your meals, because then they draw water into the food as the stool forms.

I found that Metamucil Clear & Natural was actually better for treating ongoing constipation than Colace (stool softener). I stirred it into my oatmeal or into hot milk with Pero (coffee substitute). Over time though, I found that my body adjusted to the IC medications and I don't really need the Metamucil anymore.

For occasional constipation, I use a Fleet's enema and that works well without side effects.

[earthlady]

Yes the Miralax worked well for me but not everyone has a positive outcome from it from what I've read on some posts here.

[Toto]

Oh gosh...did I ever make a mistake. I got so desperate tonight that I drank a whole glass of prune juice. I was so miserable today and couldn't take it. On top of it I got a migraine and wanted to at least end one suffering because my bladder can't take the pressure. Well...I ended up having diarrhea. I went at least five times. What a nightmare! I want to cry. At least I wasn't at work. But this week I've had so many flares because of my darned stomach and period and it had almost made me mad!

I'm going to try that Metamucil.

Thanks for suggestions and support!

[earthlady]

I did the same thing with prune juice once and I never did it again! I think I was in the bathroom all day! Hope the metamucil works for you.

[Mothergoose]

Constipation can cause headaches, metamucil when taken reg can help for both D and C. It makes me gasy which increases IC pain, so I use Miralax, it has made a world of difference to me.

MG

[snow_melt]

Are you feeling any better now, Frances?

I laugh at my body because my stomach goes from perfectly flat in the morning to a six month-pregnant belly by the time I get home from work! A bath, lying down, and relaxing seem to deflate it somewhat.

Taking a calcium citrate supplement with magnesium has done more for my intestines than prune juice or fiber supplements.

[Claire_A]

I know exactly what you mean about a flat tummy in the morning bloating out by 4pm. This has happend all my life, and I assumed it was just the food I ate or something, my friends used to laugh at me, so did I before that bloating came with pain and frequency. Now it only gets really bloated when I am flaring. Sometimes I have to laugh at how stupid I look. I am so skinny with what appears to be a basketball down my shirt :)

[Toto]

Snowmelt...thanks for the concern. I had no idea that people responded because the email responses went to my spam!

I am so-so these days. My stomach and back are such chronic problems nowadays, and I think stress and too much Naproxen are causing problems. I'm trying to combat these things by exercising and taking Omeprazole faithfully. When I ran out of Omeprazole I noticed a big difference in pain and heartburn. However, I always seem to have a bloated sensation in my entire stomach area, regardless of what I do. My PT said that because the muscles are all so tight, the bowel and bladder can't work correctly, which therefore affects digestion and other things, causing the bloating. (one of many symptoms) So now I'm going through bowel and bladder training. I did notice a difference in my bladder already, which seems to good to be true. And I am able to drink the KAVA coffee that Donna recommended. (SO GLAD ABOUT THAT) I am able to have bowel movements more by drinking coffee...not perfectly...but better than before.

Claire_A....It's frustrating huh? It's worse to be on the thin side in some sense because bodies look strange with the bloating. I have some weight in my stomach area but not enough to cover up the bloating.

I hope everyone is having a good day today.

[Mothergoose]

In this months news letter, there is a link down quite a ways on the page to a link that found people even with disc problems, did well on dexdrine, as a treatment for it.

Some people have found dexadrine to be really helpfull for IC, you should take a look at it.

MG

[LisaHope]

You may want to try (I know you are already gluten free) going dairy free and sugar free. I do that. It has helped ALOT. Also turmeric 4 pills or so per day heals the intestines and colon. Research this on the web....It is great for IC.
I use alot of stevia. Especially the flavored liquids. I also take some melted Coconut oil by mixing it with Carob and protein powder and "Chocolate flavored stevia" for a kind of dessert. Coconut oil is great for IC and for energy and is anti viral, etc. You can research on the web. My stomach has been debloated. It was big since age 28, when I got really sick. I feel gluten is the biggest problem for IC. :pray: