IC Archives - Page 2 of 5

Oxalates and Interstitial Cystitis

ByLayla | On July 29,18 | 11 Comments

Oxalates are the salt form of oxalic acid, an acid that is found in many plant foods and can also be produced in the body.

Oxalic acid can form oxalate crystals when binding to minerals such as calcium. When deposited in the body, these can cause a lot of pain, similar to tiny glass shards.

This is probably most well-known with regards to kidney stones, which can often be oxalate/calcium stones.

There is also some evidence that excess oxalates could play a role in painful bladder conditions, such as interstitial cystitis. However, this evidence is more anecdotal than based on scientific studies (as there haven’t been any studies that I know of). Today I would like to look at some potential connections between oxalates and interstitial cystitis.

IC Stories

Callie’s Story: I Started To See A Difference When I Believed in My Ability To Heal

ByLayla | On July 08,18 | 0 Comment

Today I’d like to share yet another success story in the form of an interview with blogger Callie Dixon of River&Quill.

I hope you will find reading her story as inspiring as I did and be sure to check out her tips for dealing with the challenge of chronic illness.

That’s it from me for now, enjoy the interview!

Conditions, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis

The Bladder-Gut Connection

ByLayla | On April 29,18 | 15 Comments

Hippocrates already said over 2000 years ago that ‘all disease begins in the gut’. Today, we’re understanding more and more how right he was.

For me personally, gut issues preceded the onset of chronic cystitis and interstitial cystitis. When my gut was at its worst, so was my bladder. I have no doubt that, similarly to many other conditions, the gut is implicated in bladder problems.

Conditions, Interstitial Cystitis

The Problem with B Vitamin Supplements and Interstitial Cystitis

ByLayla | On April 15,18 | 37 Comments

I have been mainly clear of bladder symptoms for over 3 years now. One of the few things that can still flare up interstitial cystitis symptoms for me are B vitamin complex supplements. These tend to cause a burning sensation and a slight loss of bladder muscle tone. There is a reason why B vitamin supplements can be a problem for IC sufferers, which I’d like to share with you today.

Conditions, Interstitial Cystitis

Could These Amino Acids Be Triggering Your Interstitial Cystitis?

ByLayla | On April 05,18 | 4 Comments

Amino acids are derived from protein and they are the main building blocks in the body. For example, they are used to make hormones, neurotransmitters and enzymes. Some of them are essential, meaning they need to be taken in from the diet, whilst the others can be manufactured in the body.

As you hopefully can see from the above, amino acids are pretty important. But some of them can become problematic for people with bladder pain. These are tyrosine, tryptophan, tyramine and phenylalanine (called the ‘arylalkylamines’).

Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis, Overactive Bladder/Incontinence, Protocols

The Best Ways to Exercise for (Bladder) Health

ByLayla | On March 20,18 | 5 Comments

Exercise is generally considered to be health promoting, but not all forms of exercise might be ideal for someone with bladder issues.

Last time, I talked about why jogging may not be so ideal for bladder health. This week I’d like to look at some options that I consider to be safe and beneficial.

Interstitial Cystitis, Urinary Incontinence

Why Jogging May Not Be Ideal For Bladder Health

ByLayla | On March 04,18 | 0 Comment

When I first had interstitial cystitis (IC), I started looking at diet and lifestyle changes that might help me get better. Exercise is generally considered to be health promoting, so I decided to include it in my routine. I knew quite a few people who were jogging regularly and decided to give it a go myself, since it required no special equipment or gym membership.

However, each time I did go for a run I would get a massive flare of my IC symptoms, as well as the urge to run to the toilet.

I eventually abandoned jogging (mainly because I was chronically fatigued and couldn’t do much at all). I only recently came across an explanation as to why jogging may not be so great for the bladder and I thought I’d share it with you!

Continue Reading

Conditions, Interstitial Cystitis

The Bladder Microbiota and Interstitial Cystitis

ByLayla | On February 04,18 | 4 Comments

If you have been following this blog for a while you’ll hopefully know about the role of the microbiome in health, including bladder health. I’ve posted about this topic several times. Today I’d like to look more specifically at the bladder microbiota and interstitial cystitis (IC).

Conditions, Interstitial Cystitis

Is Interstitial Cystitis An Autoimmune Condition?

ByLayla | On December 10,17 | 16 Comments

I’ve recently come across an info-graphic on Twitter, claiming that interstitial cystitis (IC) is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the bladder lining, causing the painful symptoms of IC. This reminded me that it’s about time that I explore this question further: Is interstitial cystitis an autoimmune condition or not?

The short answer is: maybe sometimes.

Conditions, Interstitial Cystitis

Is Interstitial Cystitis Really Just One Disease?

ByLayla | On November 15,17 | 1 Comment

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a painful bladder condition that, in the research, is usually described as being of ‘unknown etiology’ [1] i.e. the true cause is unknown.

Several researchers have suggested that IC should be called ‘Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS)’ or ‘Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS)’ [2].

When we talk about a syndrome (such as IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome), we normally talk about an array of similar symptoms for which the causes are not known or for which several causes could exist.

If you’ve been following my blog, you will have seen several articles about different root causes of IC. This begs the question: is IC really just one disease? Or could it be several conditions, resulting in similar symptoms in the bladder?