Forums:
I was just wondering if anyone has any theories about how they got IC. It seems that mine started with a bladder infection, but I did seemingly have an allergic reaction to antibiotics that made me have panic attacks for about a month during which my condition worsened. It seems like the more nervous I become, the worse my IC gets. Just wondering if you could share how you think you got IC and what you think it is? Bacteria, virus, etc.?
how I think I got IC
I think mine was a combination of a lot of stress, not enough water, to much coffee and overuse of ibuprofen, pretty sure the ibuprofen burned my bladder out, darn it, should be a warning on the packet cheers delie
How got IC
I think mine started when I took birth control pills. I started getting back to back infections and it went from there. Even when I quit the birth control pills a year later, the bladder irritation never left.
Combination of 15 years of
Combination of 15 years of birth control pills, loads of antibiotics since childhood (had loads of ear and throat infections), steroid injections for a hip bursitis, three years of intense emotional stress (separation and single parenthood), sugary diet since childhood and, in the immediate run up, gallons of ibuprofen for this shooting pain I used to get in the bone behind my ear. Was taking six or eight a day in the weeks running up to IC kicking off (about a year ago now, for me).
Basically, I had all of the predetermining factors! Oh, and lots of wine too ...
I think I was predisposed
I think I was predisposed from childhood since I had bladder infections as a very young child (under 5 years old). IC first hit me hard as a teen when I first had sex and had a pretty serious case of bulimia. Between the eating disorder messing up my digestion for 10 years or so and stress, I think my bladder just couldn't hold up. I was in relative remission for about 10 years and then when it flared up about 2 years ago, I had been exhausted for days, sleeping on a friend's floor, drinking strong coffee, and was constantly exposed to cigarette smoke. I got off a redeye flight and went to the bathroom, and the rest has been a looong journey since.
I'm not sure. I've never had
I'm not sure. I've never had a uti, I have never been on the pill, I've only taken antibiotics twice as an adult and I'm 44. I stopped drinking soda years ago. The only things Matia and I came up with were I did use Splenda everyday for over 10 years, I was a supplement junkie and I drank a lot of wine, and not a lot of water.
I wonder about so many
I wonder about so many things. I wonder if it is an infection, an imbalance of flora, nerve entrapment . . .
toxics
1. several time antibiotics for acne and rosacea (which was a very stupid route to take as my skin now looks amazing since I've cleaned my body from toxics!!!)
2. Yasmine bc pill for 1.5 years
3. bad hormonal imbalances
4. leaky gut, I reckon
5.poor diet overuse alcohol
The PILL over 10 years ago! I
The PILL over 10 years ago! I used to get UTI"s on it and they gave many rounds of abx. UGH! I could scream.
then
Infertility treatments
all while being:
Vegetarian and frequently bleaching my hair since I was 15
I started eating mych more healthy during my 1st pg 9 years ago so I've had a really above average diet since then but
I pushed myself over the edge last year because I was doing an elimination diet to se if ithelped my breastfeeding baby. Her dr suggested I do things to reduce yeast liek eating Coconut oil and apple cider vinegar. Matia believes I pushed myself into a hardcore cleanse with these "gentle"things
I am sad and wished I hadn't listened to Nora's dr- since Matia doesn't even think yeast a huge issue with me.But I still believe it was only a matter of time and i would never have gone full out and done say- The BOdy Ecology diet or something else that may have prevented this full scale flare up.
Also- genetics. My little
Also- genetics. My little sister just came down with IC symptoms a few months ago:( She was also onthe pill for many years and abx plus she was a terrible alcoholic and used a lot of pot and other drugs for about 10 years. Thanksfully, she is recovered for the past year but it could be that a similiar thing happened with her in a way- when she stiopped drinking, her body had massive die-off and it pushed her over the edge. In her case, it is proving to be a lifesaver becuase she has changed her diet completely (she used to be junk food queen) and so is feeling great in so many ways after years of killing herself daily.
WOW this is very interesting
WOW this is very interesting Deir....
My father has problem with the bladder as well... and yes, I totally agree in a way IC has been my life saver to get healthy for once and for good.
well lets see
Well let's see:
Honestly, though I think that it's all about having a healthy gut. And when you put chemicals in your body, stress, and not eat healthy that kills all the good bacteria in your gut. That's what Dr. B says all the time, it's all about your gut. Everyone got a unhealthy gut in similar and different ways. But I think that is the problem.
genetic connections?
Wow, I am really interested to see how many of us have family with bladder issues too. My dad has a "sensitive bladder" and has never been able to drink alchahol without feeling like he has a UTI. (He just told me this recently. After 10 years of me having this problem...) I just wonder how much genetics plays some kind of roll in whether or not one is predisposed to this condition and then if the external factors are right, it develops.
No one in my very large
No one in my very large family has any bladder issues that I am aware of so no genetic factor for me. I did have bad heartburn for about 5 years, it stopped completely as soon as I started the diet.
My mom has IBS too like me.
But I'm not sure if she has IC but she has battled years of bladder, kidney, urinary problems. I really do believe part of it is genetic. She is a stressful person, life has not been easy since she was young which has made her worry to much, I have become a very anxious and stressed person the past two years myself and do fear that unless I take control of my health now, I will mimic her health concerns beyond what I just listed. But I do believe what triggered my IC is the result of being on BC pill. I've never been able to drink, I dont think she ever has. So in my case, stress, anxiety, perhaps a sedentary lifestyle contributed, I never was on antibiotics until this past Feb which started my IC.
Panic disorder?
How many of you have panic attacks that affected your body?
genetic/cultural
I think there were several factors that contributed to IC.
Both my mom and my sister have to pee ALL the time, so I suspect I was predisposed to have IC since my mother was imbalanced while carrying me. This resulted in chronic ear infections and antibiotic use until I was 5 or so. As some one else said, I would never blame my mother for this.
The ear infections sent me on a long path of sinus infections, which I perpetually treated with antibiotics. I then went on the pill for a decade, resulting in several UTIs per year, all treated with, you guessed it, antibiotics.
I also smoked marijuana habitually for 5 years, binge drank through college, regularly smoked cigarettes and was bulimic for years.
Again, though I would never blame my parents, my childhood was not exactly warm and fuzzy. My parents and I get along very well now, a factor that I feel has actually contributed to the improvement of my health.
stress, anxiety and gut problems
I had a nasty infection with a 20 day round of antibiotics which threw me into an anxious state. My gut was messed up and I was diagnosed with dyspepsia and then my bladder started acting up which was odd because I stopped drinking coffee, wine and eating acidy foods bc of the stomach situation. I think it was brought on by anxiety and gut issues. I do think these two components are involved.
Melissa