Help! What did I do wrong!!!

[born2swim]

I tried the IC diet before and didn't notice an improvement in symptoms, so I added things back (except for art. sweeteners, caffeine, tea (sniff sniff) and juice). I was put on Elmiron almost 2 weeks ago and about a week later, I was feeling a little better (didn't want to think it would last, afraid to jinx myself by saying that). I was feeling alright for a few days (still peeing a lot, but sleeping more and the urge wasn't as strong, constant, but not as strong). So... I went out to eat, pasta with red sauce with a piece of chocolate cake to celebrate something... not a problem. The next night a friend made dinner (tacos with mild salsa and sour cream) and then for dessert she had a chocolate fondu (strawberries and bananas). I was fine. I slept well that night (woke up around 6am feeling nautious though... but I was a little constipated when I woke up and after that passed I was fine). Then the next morning I woke up with a headache. I took my Elmiron with water. Waited and hour and took some tylenol. I had a protein shake and some oatmeal. Then a little later I had some strawberries. An hour after that I was peeing my heart out (getting nautious, hot flashes, sick feeling). I haven't had that strong of an urge in several weeks (this was aweful!). N

Now... what did it to me? I do feel like I was doing better, then out of the blue something hit me. Was it the Tylenol because strawberries and other "trigger foods" were fine the days prior? I was taking a Centrum vitamin for a few days too (not today yet). Did they accumulate? The kindeys filter pretty quickly, so I am guessing it was the Tylenol and not some build up effect. I'm doing better now (still have to go a lot, and little bits at a time), but not as urgent/sick feeling as earlier today (lasted a good 3 hours like that). In January/Feb, I was like that 24/7 and everyone that saw me said, "Jeeze, you look terrible". I guess control over symptoms and more than tid bits of sleep is helping my appearance.

I see a uro-gyno next week that knows more about IC than anyone in town.

Thanks for any insight! I want to avoid this again! I have 4 final exams next week and a 2 hour commute to a different city and can't afford to run into this problem! I was driving to the Florida Keys back in November and that was TORTURE! I noticed that week it was the start of my problems, but it wasn't as bad as my worst was... this today as aweful!

I am going to post this in another section... just in case this falls under something else...

[meme]

Hey, I've done that before too. Sometimes I'll flare for no reason at all it seems like. You said that the IC diet didn't really help you, but maybe it was and you didn't know it. I know all of the foods you said you ate would make me flare. You may too have tried to have too much to soon. I've done that before where I'll have chocolate one day and no problem, but if I have it two days in a row=flare city! Also, for me anyways, it seems like tomato products (which are the worst for me) tend to take about 2-3 days to cause a flare. I'll think that because I don't flare the very next day that its okay, but then the next day I'll be dying. I was on Elmiron too, it took me about 4mos to see improvements, but then it helped so much! I'd just try to eat with a little more moderation. If you have a "bad" food one day skip it the next to make sure you don't flare and drink plenty of water with it to help flush it out. That seems to help me. Also, sometimes if its a really bad flare food I'll take a couple of tums with calcium with it and that seems to buffer it quite a bit.
Hope you're feeling better soon!

[slaston]

The vitamins also could have had a cumulative effect. I bought a store brand of cheerios, thinking they didn't have vitamin c sprayed on, and ate them for a few days. On the fourth day, I was flaring like crazy, and I knew that everything I was eating should be okay. Then I checked the box to be sure, and there I saw it "vitamin c 25%". If you are really wanting to take vitamins, someone just posted about safer multi vitamins to take. Hope this helps.

[kadi]

Tylenol triggers my IC every time.
Sometimes too, eating too many "iffy" foods in a row can do it, even for patients who have been doing very well & able to eat relatively freely.

Hope you feel better soon!

[bpenn9]

Tylenol

My Dad has been diagnosed with IC after 2 prostate surgeries, non cancer related...

I (male 33) have the feeling I may have IC myself, diagnosed with Irrateable bladder sydrome over a year ago, but had symptoms for almost 4 years. Doc perscribed Oxybutin, seemed to help a bit, but I also stopped drinking coffee and really hit the gym, by summer I was feeling pretty good. Winter hit, I stopped exercising so much, started drinking coffee, symptoms, urge to pee but couldnt pee so much, horrible at night came back and stonger then ever. Oxbutinin was doing anything asked for something else. Dr perscribed Sanctura. Had shoulder sugery March 1st, 2007, was on Vicoden for about 3 weeks plus lots of Tylenol and that Sanctura...Got of the pain meds but I could hardly sleep at night, seemed to go four to six times and hour and never got comfortable, the urge was horrible...Went back to the Dr. he checked prostate, it seemed normal, perscribed Flomax to help me go...a couple weeks later no real improvement, got the point where I said screw it, stopped taking the Sanctura and almost instantly felt better...I still have urges...but able to sleep better...I havent offically been diagnosed but am very close with my Dad and seen all his symptoms...Dr referred me to a URO but I didnt want to go to anyone unless they are an expert in IC...

Any suggestions for IC Dr in Denver?
Anyone taking Oxybutinin or Sanctura or have taken it?
Would it be ok to take Ibuprofin instead or Tylenol?

[kadi]

I take Oxybutinin, 5mg at night for bladder spasms. It's okay as part of my IC treatment, but by itself it wasn't enough.

IC patients often have trouble with Ibuprofen. Some have trouble with Tylenol. It's one of those individual things. You could try if you take one of those, to take some Prelief (it's a calcium supplement that neutralizes acids in foods or drinks).

Hang in there, hopefully you will get answers soon & start to feel better!

[mellusk]

It does all sound like maybe a little bit too much, too soon. It's like if you injure a knee, and you stop walking on it for a bit, you don't go out and run a marathon as soon as you're off your crutches. You ease back into it. I'd also make a point to read the ingredients list on everything - I mean everything. You may not have a problem with whole foods in general, but additives like dyes, sweeteners, or msg can be hiding in there. I had a flare for a good three or four days from Kellogg's All-Bran. It's a pretty bland, high-fiber cereal. Turns out, it also has aspartame in it. Yuck.