Are flares only caused by things you eat???

[tommygal]

I was just wondering what exactly causes flares? Because I have been strictly on the IC diet for over a month, and seem to get little flares here and there out of no where. Not really bad ones so no big deal, just trying to figure out what is causing them! I get pains a lot, but not sure if from the bladder or other things wrong with me! But when I seem to be a flare, it only seems to be the frequent urination that I have. Course I could have some pain with it, just hard to tell cause I am always 24/7 in some kind of pain! Pelvic and lower back pain mostly. Is there anything I can do for these flares of having to go every 5 minutes for like a hour or two, or more? I've tried the drinking a lot of water, baking soda in water, etc. I don't think they really help, they just seem to go away on there own. Well I'm slowly learning, and just wanted to see what you all think causes the flares! Thanks!

[classics]

I know that I'm worse before my period especially when it's late. The later it is, the worse I am. Also, stress seems to cause flaring. Sometimes at work, when I get overloaded, or if my equipment has problems, I notice an increase in symptoms. And like you mentioned, sometimes flares just come out of nowhere.

I do refexology on my feet to help me relax after a bad day or situtation. I also like to sing to relieve stress.

[jen_dahling]

I think that since IC is generally thought of as an autoimmune disorder, it is succeptable to any number of factors that can serve as a trigger. Foods, hormones, allergies, etc. We are all so different in what sets our flares off that it makes it hard to say exactly what will effect each person as an individual. I have been wondering lately if I should go and have a consult with an endocrinologist rather than my urologist. I have already seen my gyn, family practitioner, allergist, & uro. Good luck to you!

[mom_in_ma]

I agree...we are all different when it comes to flares. I am convinced that my ic began because of major stress.

And then there are the wierd things. I used a tooth whitening gel once that set off a doozy! Unfortunately, it took me a few days to figure it out and by then it took weeks to feel better. Ugh. I also set off a flare by trying the south beach diet of all things. For that, it wasn't the food that set it off, but the ketosis that your body goes into with really low carbs.

Sounds like you're going good things...eating the ic foods, etc.

[Julie B]

Diet, and different sorts of activity including sex set me off.....even a pelvic exam every year has to be planned so that I don't have to do anything for a few days, just in case.....

[sleepyangel30]

stress used to cause me to flare really bad. i haven't been stressing over ic lately and my bladder is fine at the moment. i will not let ic control my life. i don't let it steal my joy. i'm not ic i'm still angela. :) you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there you will get better. keep up the faith.

[kadi]

Stress, emotional upset, lack of sleep, certain types of exercise, trigger foods, "safe" foods that are stale, wearing the seatbelt in my car without a folded handtowel under it, clothes that are too tight, hormonal shifts like getting a period. And sometimes they just seem random & I wrack my brain trying to figure out what I did.

I had a huge fight with a friend who called me "hypervigilant" when I first got sick. With a list like the one above - who wouldn't be vigilant????

[Sarojini]

Stress is a HUGE trigger for me. Also, all low-carb diets flare me... i think Robin (mom-in-ma) mentioned this too. Riding in the car flares me too (sometimes even just looking at my car makes me have to pee :lmao: LOL). Sex flares me too, although sometimes worse than others. Also, being sick in other ways flares me up -- if I have a stomach problem, or a cold, I flare.

And sometimes, I just hurt. I've given up trying to figure those out....

:)

[July]

I wish there was a black and white manual, a text book of IC, that we all fit exactly into! I hate not knowing for certain what causes symptoms to go off one day and not the next.

[Di_]

Sometimes it seems my "flare" is a permanent condition. (Just sitting here in this chair reading the messages causes so much discomfort.) Since the week of July 4th, while riding in a car for 1200 miles, my flare has not gone away! I've done everything by the book to ease my symptoms, but still no relief. GRRR... this is definitely one of the most frustrating, unhealthy times that I've been through. My OB/GYN is treating my IC with 400 mg./Elmiron a day, and I can't wait until it finally offers me some relief! In the meantime, I have a call into her office for some Elavil, and since I also have year-round allergies, she's going to offer me something for them, too. I feel lucky to have an understanding, educated, and sympathetic Dr. on my side.

Hugs to you all.... :)

Diana