HELP During an IC Flare-up!

Your doctor should be there for you in a time of crisis.

The other day one of my followers told me she was in a really bad Interstitial Cystitis (IC) flare-up. My response to her was that I would pray for her. I tried following up with her but I did not hear back. My response bothered me for days. I felt like I was not very helpful. We should have more answers from our medical community. We need progress on treating this horrible disease. Wishing I could provide a better answer … I thought of what I could tell her that may bring her some relief. So here goes.

Please note: I am not a doctor so this post is for informational purposes and not medical advice. Always check with your medical professional before trying something new.

Below is a list of items you can use when you are in the middle of an Interstitial Cystitis (IC) flare-up. From this list, hopefully, one or two will help you. If you have other tips, please comment below.

TIP 1 – Call Doctor’s Office

Call your doctor’s office and ask if they can prescribe something for a few days until your flare-up starts to ease up. Your doctor should be able to provide medication that will give you some relief.

TIP 2 – Ice Pack or Heating Pad

I personally find that ice works for me. I get a zip lock bag and put 3 or 4 ice cubes in to the bag. I place the bag just below my stomach area. Others have told me that a heating pad helps them. And still others say that they rotate ice and heat.

TIP 3 – Baking Soda

Add a 1/4 of a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of water and stir until the baking soda is dissolved in the water. Next, drink the cup of water. It does not taste that good but I find it helps a lot.

TIP 4 – Over-the-Counter Bladder Anesthetic like “AZO.”

Go to your local pharmacy, drug store or chemist and purchase a bladder anesthetic like Pyridium or AZO. The anesthetic sort of numbs the bladder. Phenazopyridine (Pyridium) is a pain medication used to relieve urinary urgency, pain, and discomfort caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI), surgery, or catheters. The medication is available over the counter (OTC) at lower strengths, and by prescription at higher strengths.

TIP 5 – Drink water

Drink enough water to make sure your urine is as “clear” as possible. Concentrated urine can irritate the bladder.

TIP 6 – Soak in a bath tub

I know this might sound crazy, but soaking in water somehow helps with the pain. Some people prefer a warm bath and others go for a swimming pool. Somehow the pressure of water allows your pelvic floor muscles to relax.

I hope that one or more of these tips provides you with some relief during a flare-up.