I know that making sure you drink plenty of water might seem counter-intuitive to someone who has Interstitial Cystitis (IC), but here is what you need to know. Adequate fluid intake flushes the bladder and may help prevent urinary tract infections.
Adequate hydration reduces constipation, which can also exacerbate the symptoms of IC (or Bladder Pain Syndrome).
Read below for more information.
How much water should you drink if you have Interstitial Cystitis?
According to Holly McDonald, PT, Pelvic Rehab Specialist, here are some general guidelines to help you monitor how much water to drink daily and what signs to look for:
- Start with 6-8 glasses of water a day as a baseline. From there, you can adjust up or down based on your body’s response. For some, sticking to this range, spread out over the day, is a good place to begin. You may find that it reduces bladder irritation without overwhelming your system.
- Check your urine color. Proper hydration usually leads to light, pale yellow urine. If it’s darker, your body likely needs more water. If it’s clear, you may be over-hydrating, which can mean you’re flushing out necessary electrolytes or overloading the bladder.
- Look at other hydration indicators like stool consistency, skin softness, and lip moisture. When properly hydrated, stool is typically well-formed and not overly hard. Skin should feel soft and smooth, and lips should look plump and hydrated, rather than dry and cracked.
- Space out water intake so you’re not drinking 💦 too much all at once. Try sipping a bit every hour rather than chugging multiple glasses. This helps keep the bladder comfortably filled without feeling overfull, helping to avoid those intense sensations of urgency.
I included a link to Holly McDonald’s website. Holly wrote a great article about achieving a hydration balance for someone who has Interstitial Cystitis. Here is the link – https://reliefpt.com/blog/hydration-balance-for-interstitial-cystitis/
Does drinking water help Interstitial Cystitis?
Drinking more water decreases the concentration of the urine and makes it less painful. Check with your doctor before cutting your water intake too much.
Stay Hydrated
If you have IC/BPS, make sure to stay well hydrated. Many patients think that cutting back on fluid intake will help lower urinary frequency. The truth is that sometimes cutting back on fluids can make frequency worse. When urine becomes highly concentrated it’s very irritating and if you have IC/BPS this type of urine can cause more pain and more frequent urination.
Keeping yourself well-hydrated so that your urine is a very pale yellow. This will help to decrease your bladder discomfort. You may find that you urinate less often than you would if you let your urine become dark and concentrated.
Sources
https://www.urologyhealth.org/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-practical-ways-to-curb-the-pain-from-interstitial-cystitis/
Holly McDonald, PT LMBT is physical therapist specializing in Pelvic Health. She owns and operates Relief Physical Therapy providing pelvic rehab in Winston Salem NC.
TREATING INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS 