How can I avoid morning flares?

[nadl77]

Hi Guys!

I've been struggeling with bladder issues my entire life. For the past 10 years or so, my IC symptoms have been coming and going from really really painful to just pressure pain. My urgency is constant and for a while I've been dealing with it pretty well, until I was sitting on the toilet this past July with an unbelievable pressure pain and I had such an urge, but not a drop would come out. Only after that I started researching about IC medication and found info about changing my diet. (thanks ICN!)

Here in Austria, research has been scarce, so I'm glad we have Internet!

Now my pain level is as low as ever. (still not pain free unfortunately) What I still cannot seem to be able to control are morning flares ...

Part of keeping the pain away is that I constantly have to drink water to keep my urine clean and flowing (which I do), but when I sleep for more than 4 hours straight, it usually triggers a flare.

As soon as I wake up to use the bathroom at night, I drink some water, but 4 hours seems too long of a break. Do I have to set an alarm for every 3 hours??

Has anyone experienced something similar? Does anyone have some advice for this case?

Thanks so much for your help!

[skybluesoul]

I definitely don't drink as much water as you do, so I don't have any advice about that. However, for me, Atarax (generic is Hydroxyzine) has really helped my morning urgency and frequency. I take 10 mg at night before bed, and now I hardly ever flare in the morning. Some people take more than 10 mg, so if it's available to you, start there and see if you need to work up to a higher dosage.

[nadl77]

Thanks Amanda! I will check if I can get it here!