IC Symptoms gone b/c of period?

[4realtho]

I have been peeing about 20 times a day for a while because of a flare. I was peeing about every 10 minutes yesterday until I started my period yesterday afternoon. After I started the symptoms were gone. I was back to normal it seems. Has this happened to anyone else? I didn't even take my meds the night before and still was urinating very often until I started my period.(Don't think the meds are working! Uh!) I am confused as to whether these flares I have are hormonal and if I need to try birth control. I have Loestrin but have not taken it. SHould I try it and see if It helps? I have always felt the the IC was gone during my period. I wish i could be on my period all of the time! lol JK!

[cmclien]

I was just reading about this in The Interstitial Cystitis survival guide by Dr. Moldwin. Lots of people get more pain before their period, but some people have total relief during your period like you so it probably is hormonal. I'd say why not? what if it totally helps you out? if it doesn't and your worse you go back off of it and have another period. Maybe there are some people here who can chime in who also feel better during their period.

[rebeccat]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I've been searching and searching.
I've found my IC is worse for about 5-7days before my period but a day after my period starts it seems better.
I was wondering if periods had any affect on IC. I also have a Mirena IUD and wonder if this affects my IC at all?
anyone have any input to this?
Rebecca

[icadvice]

2 years ago when I took Diflucan thats when my IC began..I had IC for a couple weeks and then the pain died down and for the most part I would only get really bad IC right before my period and it would stop as my period started. Sticking to an IC diet (avoiding caffeine) really helped reduce the pain I got a couple days before my period.
However after taking my 2nd diflucan pill, the pain is daily now.. IC diet still helps overall but the only thing I can think is that inflammation related to menstrual hormones is what makes IC worse.

[kadi]

My mom's IC started after taking Diflucan as well. I've had a horrible flare when I've taken it, so if I get a yeast infection, I use 7 day ticonazole. The one day kits tend to be pretty harsh, so even though it's a hassle & icky - I use the 7 day kits now.

I've also noticed my IC gets better when I get my period, but then I also get migraines with my period, so if it's not one thing - it's another. My IC also gets better when I have a bad cold. My doctor just laughed and said, if you hit your thumb with a hammer - you forget about the headache you had before that, but I think there's more to it than that. I just don't know how...

[icadvice]

I was just reading http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66792 so what you said about a cold reminded me of this.

The worst part about taking the diflucan was that I didn't really even have a yeast infection then... because monistat actually made it worse which never happened to me in the past when I did have a few yeast infections and my cultures ended up coming back negative. I've never been one to have UTI's but on rare occasion or get sick in general. I'm thinking it was HSV-6 or 7. My next step now is just to work on sticking to the diet and taking L Lysosine pills to see if this helps.

[tootsietex]

Finally foudn others w/same smyptoms

Tracieg and Rebeccat, I know this post is from February but I just had to comment. I have been looking all over this forum for others like this. It seems a day or two before my period my symptoms stop and dont start agin until period is over. So can someone please tell me in this case what did you do? Did you find something that helped , did you get on hormones?

[Jinny Jean]

my IC also started after taking diflucan for a bad yeast infection... Why is this that IC can start from this!!!! I just took some today as well, and remembered that around the starting of IC I took diflucan also.. Not sure if THIS is what caused it, but it really scared me when I read this?! I am supposed to take it for 4 weeks, but I might not now.. I dont have a yeast infection either. Dr just prescribed it just because... you know how drs are.. UGH.

[greeneyes]

So glad you find relief during menses, I on the other hand have terrible pain before and during my period sometimes so bad I want to rip every thing out. I guess this shows how we all are different.

[Renate]

I was just diagnosed in April and my IC came on over night in Feb and I have noticed that when I have my period my frequency is not as bad and the overall symptoms of IC let up! I too have wondered why this is Crazy before IC hated to get my period now look forward too it how silly!

[umannla]

Okay...I have the complete opposite problem. I have a huge flare up before my period and during and then am usually better the rest of the month unless something really stressful happens. So, my doctor is thinking about Lupron (sp?) to stop my period and/or the pill. Has anyone out there had luck with either? I still haven't figured out if my problem is an internal bladder problem given my diet doesn't seem to have any effect and I can drink red wine, liquor, etc. and actually feel better after one glass of one or one cocktail. WHy????

[cmclien]

Okay...I have the complete opposite problem. I have a huge flare up before my period and during and then am usually better the rest of the month unless something really stressful happens. So, my doctor is thinking about Lupron (sp?) to stop my period and/or the pill. Has anyone out there had luck with either? I still haven't figured out if my problem is an internal bladder problem given my diet doesn't seem to have any effect and I can drink red wine, liquor, etc. and actually feel better after one glass of one or one cocktail. WHy????

I don't know but I'm like you and if my bladder is bothering me, a drink makes it feel much better! I think it has a numbing effect or something. I am also worse while having my period so take b/c pill, just a regular single phase (generic Apri) and go off of it only once every 12 weeks or so for about 5 days then back on. If your doctor figures out what is different for you, please let us know. Like you I am hardly effected by diet other then yogurt and some tea.

[umannla]

I have not heard of Gelnique...what is that? I tried OAB drugs, which seemed to help for about a week and then I started retaining so I had to stop. Have the birth control pills helped you? Weird that I am somehow freaked out about not having a period!!! :-).

[cmclien]

Gelnique is an oab drug, oxybutynin that you rub on your skin and it works for 24 hours at a time. It helps me alot with spasms but I don't retain with any of them unless the dose is too high. The advantage of it for me is it doesn't pass through the digestive system so no dryness or constipation. I have dry eyes and the pill form just makes it worse. Unfortunately I know not everyone can take the oab meds.

I've been doing the continuous b/c for 12 years now without any ill effects, in fact my doctor encouraged me to do it because I also get migraines when I'm off of it so this way I have alot less of them.
Has it helped? I think so. I just know during my period I am much worse so having less periods helps all in all

[Pammylynn8]

Mine gets worse with my period, so that is the opposite. I am wondering of the birth controll pill would work for you. I think it is worth a shot.