IBS - Constipation - Does a bowel movement improve your IC symtoms?

[Christine35]

I am constipated almost on a regular basis. I use to resort to taking Zelnorm once or twice a week to relieve myself. I think it is really rough on the body because you go a lot within 1 - 2 hours afer taking the pill!! (I felt dehydrated and tired when I am done!) I just started taking Casacara (herbs- 2 capsules per day before bed) and 1 Herbal Tea (Laci Le Beau) twice a week (that is stronger), trying to do it the natural way. I believe they are much more gentle on the body and they do work. I also, try to incorporate as much fiber as I can in my diet trying not to irriate my bladder. It is a vicious cycle!

If I do have some luck and have a bowel movement every day for 3 -5 days I notice that my IC symptoms improve very much. The pressure, frequency and urgency is almost completely gone.

Does anyone else experience this? If so, do you think by having the stool in your body for several days creates toxins in your body that irriate the bladder? If you eat too many carbs (breads, rice, pasta) do you think that could add to your yeast growth causing irriatation to the bladder? The Chinese therory behind IC mentions that having an improper balance of yeast and/or bacteria in the body could cause IC.

I am wondering if frequent (every day) normal bowel movement could greatly improve IC symptoms???

What do you think??
:hmm:

[harleybluz]

Yes. Actually, I was thinking that it might be my IBS acting up instead of my IC because the only thing that helped was going to the bathroom. Even when I'm certain the pain is in my bladder, it still helps. I'm glad to hear you ask this because I was thinking that they may have diagnosed me wrong.

[futurehope]

I am constipated almost on a regular basis. I use to resort to taking Zelnorm once or twice a week to relieve myself. I think it is really rough on the body because you go a lot within 1 - 2 hours afer taking the pill!! (I felt dehydrated and tired when I am done!) I just started taking Casacara (herbs- 2 capsules per day before bed) and 1 Herbal Tea (Laci Le Beau) twice a week (that is stronger), trying to do it the natural way. I believe they are much more gentle on the body and they do work. I also, try to incorporate as much fiber as I can in my diet trying not to irriate my bladder. It is a vicious cycle!

If I do have some luck and have a bowel movement every day for 3 -5 days I notice that my IC symptoms improve very much. The pressure, frequency and urgency is almost completely gone.

Does anyone else experience this? If so, do you think by having the stool in your body for several days creates toxins in your body that irriate the bladder? If you eat too many carbs (breads, rice, pasta) do you think that could add to your yeast growth causing irriatation to the bladder? The Chinese therory behind IC mentions that having an improper balance of yeast and/or bacteria in the body could cause IC.

I am wondering if frequent (every day) normal bowel movement could greatly improve IC symptoms???

What do you think??
:hmm:

In my case, absolutely having 1 - 3 bowel movements/day keeps my bladder feeling good. There is no question in my mind that, for me, a distended feces-filled gut must be remedied, the sooner the better.

As a matter of fact, invariably, when I feel the first pangs of my burning bladder, I can assume I'll be having a bowel movement within the hour.

Being aware of this correlation, between gut activity and bladder pain, has improved the quality of my life.

I must exercise and take 4 - 6 capsules of Fibercon/day to keep my gut moving.

I'm so glad you are realizing how important it is to correct constipation. I know the nerves from the gut can affect the ones in the bladder. All the other things you mentioned make sense to me.

I don't know the details, but I'm convinced in my case, keeping my gut emptied helps keep IC pain away.

I hope you have continued good results with your bladder/constipation issues.

[harleybluz]

Christine,
I take Digestive Advantage for IBS, bought at any drug store. You'll only need to take it once a day and as soon as I stop taking it, I'm constipated again. I believe Prelief, which they also say is good for IBS and Dig. Adv. is in my schedule for the rest of my life. I also believe that the pressure from your bowels is probably causing the pain in your bladder. Of course, I'm no doctor but it just sounds logical to me.

[futurehope]

FWIW, when I was given a write-up of "small intestinal bacterial overgrowth" from the tech who tested me and found me positive, the article said that overgrowth of certain bacteria in the small intestine can cause constipation. For that reason, both L. acidophilus and Digestive Advantage will remain in my daily regimen.

Maybe you could benefit from probiotics?

[farfrmnormal]

I find with my IBS that if I am even in a small flare up - where I am in the bathroom multiple times in a couple hours the spasms from my bowel irritate my bladder. With no official diagnoses of IC I cannot be sure that the pressure I feel is actually my bladder or if my IBS is putting pressure on my bladder.

I have been dealing with IBS for god knows how long, but officially diagnosed for 12 years now.

I do find after a bowel movement I feel much better.

[hdb1982]

This is a completely logical train of thought. I know that when I have a BM that is one of the only times I feel that my bladder empties completely...My dr said the 2 do go hand in hand...His first line of treatment to help IC pain is to get a pt as regular as possible...He is going to adjust my meds my next visit b/c even with Miralax I am still only having a BM about 2 times a week, which is definitely not enough.