IC belly relief?

[Jenny G.]

Hi everybody,
I was recently diagnosed with IC (I've had it for 4 years now though), and I have subsequently been experiencing major "IC Belly." It's really extended and tender. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of it? Thank you so much! Jenny

[ICNDonna]

I find I have less swelling when I'm not flaring. The best advice I can think of is to be sure to wear clothing that is comfortable. I like jeans and am feeling so lucky this year because stretch ones are available --- they feel so good.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[Jenny G.]

Thank you Donna. Unfortunately, I'm in perma-flare. I appreciate the advice!
Jenny

[auntiedeb]

grouphug grouphug grouphug Hope you feel better soon. what is a perma- flare?

[ICNDonna]

"Perma" means permanent --- or in a flare all the time, with no let-up.

Donna

[Jenny G.]

You got in, Donna. Unfortunately, Debbie, there is no let up. I just got back from acupuncture, and although I haven't felt real relief, my energy and optimism has improved. I'll take anything I can get! Thank you both for responding.
Hope you both have a great weekend,
Jenny

[lotsofgirls]

Hi Jenny,
I have IC belly too, ugh. It makes me look 20 pounds heavier. I wear loose clothing, stretch cords and jeans so that it doesn't irritate my tummy. However it went down alot recently when I had to take advil for awhile for another problem for swelling, so maybe an anti-inflammatory (if you can tolerate them) might help.

IC belly sucks!! banghead

As far as your perma flare, me too. Now I rate the level of my flare, is it 2 or 10 today (or this hour), at least I can see that variation in it, and that gives me a boost.

Take care,
Cath

[Jenny G.]

Fabulous advice. I'll definitely go take some advil. What a drag, right? I don't rate my feeling because it's pretty constant, but I may have to start doing it. Thanks for all the advice, Cath.
Jenny

[emeralds333]

I'll echo this one. It could be the retention and subsequent problems after that that yanked all my pelvic muscles but I feel bloated and pain all the time. It's just the pits. I echo Donna - stretch jeans are wonderful! Some days though I just have to cuddle up and moan and glare in a pair of sweats.

[Zanni2]

I wear stretch pants with an elastic band that isn't too thick or tight. I have to place the front part of the pants below my abdomen in order to be able to wear pants. I wear long blouses to cover up my abdomen. That I've been doing for 15 years. I think it's a symptom of IBS which I have had for 15 years. My bladder didn't start going bad until about four years ago. So now I've got both IBS and IC! banghead

Take care,

Zanni2 angel

[nifer]

I have had Irritable Bowel Syndrome for about 10 years which is probably why I missed the whole IC thing. It hasn't been until the last few weeks that I've realized that any pain I had, I assumed it was from IBS. Now I'm realizing that it could be IC. I often get a tender belly when I think I am having an IBS episode... I find abdominal massage works wonders to get things moving. I learned it from a massage therapist and it just involves gentle pressure moving things in the right direction. I also take Dicetel as a prn and it helps ease things for me. It is recommended for IBS ... not sure how it would work for IC. I'm still trying to figure out which parts are IC and which are IBS. NOw that I know IC also causes belly problems I have no idea what problem I have at which time!

[redstonebef]

When my IBS is acting up it is sorta the same pain. Sometimes I can hardly tell the difference either. I hate my IC belly. It just will not go away. Hugs

redstonebef

[Sarojini]

Today I am feeling really bloated/pressure in tummy... so I am wearing this pair of really baggy overalls to work! No waistband to squeeze tummy!!!! I thought I looked really stupid, but I didn't give a darn because they are comfy on my poor tummy... and so far today about 4 people have told me how cute the overalls look. It's always nice to get compliments if I am feeling crappy.

Anyway, normally if I am not feeling quite this bloated I wear stretch jeans like Donna and everyone else...but today even the jeans seemed like too much of an effort...

The only bad thing about the overalls is that they are annoying if my frequency starts up, as you have to practically undress every time you have to go to the bathroom, which gets real old real fast. However, today I am not having much frequency/urgency...just back pain and tummy pain.

Oh... my husband bought me a fun pajama thinking it would be more comfy... it is one of those old-fashioned one piece things with the trap door in the back, in bright red.. it is hysterical But again, like the overalls, I love it because it has no waistband to press on my tummy, and if you can get past laughing at the trap door in it, it's actually pretty easy to pee using it... LOL

[Laura E]

Ohhhh..i cant stand this belly issue...i literally look 7 months pregnant and it doesnt hurt and it isnt tender...jsut feels like im going to explode and i get soooo mad.....i HATE it sooo much...and the clothes dont fill and all that junk....this all of a sudden happens and it ruins my day or nite or whatever...but it doesnt hurt..just gets hard as a rock..one day i'm jsut going to explode!!! lol thaks for listening to me get this out of my system

[icnmgrjill]

Jenny,

The belly is really a sign of inflammation. There isn't anything that you can do to get rid of it.. other than to help your bladder settle down. Sometimes that just takes time. For example, I woke up with a huge belly yesterday after being have a flat stomach for almost two months. And, of course, my bladder is irritated and inflamed. It happened because I ate black bean soup YET again... and it irritated my bladder.

Here's what Dr. Theo said about the IC Belly??

"Why does an IC patient often experience the IC belly.. the generalized swelling of the lower abdomen...that so many of us have found so frustrating?"

Dr. Theoharides - A possible explanation is that the beginning of inflammation always involves what we call increased vascular permeability, which means that the blood vessels dilate and become leaky. The first thing that happens is that a lot of fluid comes out of the blood vessels and into the tissues. Then what happens is leukocytes/white blood cells come out and that might also set up inflammation. So, to the extent that the blood vessels become leaky, alot of fluid will come out and cause the "IC belly".

The dilation of the blood vessels doesn't last a long time. To the extent that we discussed earlier, nerve endings come to the different parts of the spinal cord. This will make different parts of the abdomen swell up. In this problem a drug like Atarax could possibly be helpful because the primarily molecule that causes the swelling is histamine. One of the more effective therapies for IC is the use of antihistamine, but it's a unique antihistamine - hydroxyzine (ATARAX OR VISTARIL). It is unique because it has four properties: (1) Antihistamine, (2) Anticholinergic (reduces the urge to urinate)It is sedating (reduces nocturia), (3) Slightly anti-anxiety (but not as good as valium) Atarax, in greek, means to calm down. (4) It blocks mast cell activation in about 40% in the bladder, as well as elsewhere.

Unfortunately, some patients are very sensitive to the fillers used to make up Atarax. So, you have four options. (1) Try Atarax or the Vistaril brand name. Unfortunately, Pfizer has stopped making Atarax pills through December 2003. (2) Try the different generics to see if it will bother you, but try them in small amounts. (3) You could also try the hydroxyzine elixir, which has a very small amount of alcohol in it but at least, there, you can take one teaspoon (5mg) while the smallest pill is 25 milligrams... and it doesn't have the fillers that irritate others. (4) The final approach to ask your pharmacy to take pure hydroxyzine powder and just put it into a little capsule in which case there will be no filler at all. A number of patients that have other problems have resorted, effectively, to that! You just have to have a pharmacist to help you!