Thread: does anyone know of a way to calm a flare-up of institial cystitis/bladder spasms?

We've had a crazy weather flop here that has brought on a fibro flare as well as a ic flare. This is only the second major ic flare up I've had and I don't really know how to deal with it short of taking the stuff that make ya pee orange. And that stuff isn't all that effective.

:help: please and thank you.

After radiation I was in pretty terrible pain in the bladder. I did take the pain releif AZO (they have 3 differnt ones) and it helped a wee bit.
Taking 4 ibuprofens sometimes helped calm down the inflamation.

I drank marshmallow root tea all throughout the day. My biggest help because I felt as though I was peeing though a coffee stir stick that had no flex and would break or soemthing.

Uva Ursi tincture can help if you have a bladder infection. It hels the bacteria not take hold to the walls of the bladder.

And if you have any percocet or better meds, take those when your dh comes home. LOL..(I had to do this a few times after rads and it woudl help all night)

The cause is a little different, but the pain I am sure is very similar. Danielle I hope you feel better soon. I am so sorry your health is so funky right now.
Healing vibes.....

I have that too Dannielle...and I take *2* of the over-the-counter "orange pee" tablets (2 is rx strength), taken on a full belly...for some reason, they are better absorbed and thus work better.

I also take 800 mg. of Advil, also rx strength.

Flare-ups are the absolute worst. I'd rather be vomiting, or have a migraine....urinary flare-ups can be he$$, literally.

Good luck.

Oh, and also take a lot of water to dilute your urine, I heard cranberry juice doesn't work all that well for IC. Though my OB swears by taking 1000 to 2000 mg. of VitC daily....works for me, I get only rare flare-ups now. Oh, and limit caffeine.....:nono:

They said what I was gonna say....Azo,vitamin C & drink lots

I have prescription "orange pee" pills right now but I did notice they're the same as (just half as strong as) the otc uristat I had bought.

I try and stay away from advil as I've used it so much in the past that I get rebound headaches. But I gave in and took some.

I do take vitC regularly. And I'm avoiding caffeine...well, except for my 1 cup of morning coffee.

I will get ahold of some marshmallow root tea. It can't hurt.

I guess I just need to be patient. And, Kristerae, you cracked me up. If I had percocet/vicodin/etc I'd totally be taking it.

Thank you for all the help!!

I'm sorry Dannielle...I'm in an IC flare right now too.

I can't tolerate any caffeine at all, period. No chamomile either, nothing carbonated, not even the honey-ginger lemonade I bought.

I bought marshmallow root today and will do the overnight cold infusion so I can drink it tomorrow.

I did get some relief with liquid Advil over the weekend; it seemed to work far better than the tablets which I am guessing might not break down fast enough. I have Pyridium and AZO (same thing) but haven't used it telling myself that it might be bacterial and they can't do the strip if I use it, but I'm kidding myself if I think it's not IC.

Is marshmallow root something I'd be able to find at a local store (GNC or something)? Or something I'd need to order online?

I haven't had a soda all day...which is SO not like me. I've mostly been drinking tea (well, rooibos with some licorice root) It just isn't appealing because it doesn't even seem soothing.

I did just find my heating pad (yay!). My lower back is just burning. The heating pad probably won't help in anyway other than psychologically. But I'll take that even.

Not that I'd wish this on anyone, but it is comforting to know that I'm not alone. Thanks for your help and support. I appreciate!

Danielle, do you have a local health food store that carries bulk herbs? It is best doing an overnight infusion like kimbermama said. Usually herbs need to be boiled when they are in root form, but this particular herbs medicine is best extracted with cold water-

It works becuase it is kind of slick tea and it comes out the same way. It does not taste real great or anything BUT it is that slick feeling lubing the urinary tract that helps heal and soothe internally. Very gentle. Good for sore throats as well.

I jsut checked my stash and I am down to about 2 TBSP. I will send that to you if you could send me your addy again.
But check your HFS, GNC whatever. If they dont have the tea, the tincture or tablets woudl still work, however the tea is best I feel.

Slippery Elm is another herb you can use in place of marshamallow root. Works very similar but seems to help the colon more than the urinary tract.

I wont send you any of my percocets though... That is my emergency stuff and about out of em at that :hahaha:

I woke up feeling much better this morning so maybe it's over. I seem to have traded it in for a sore throat. :lol:

Thank you, Kristerae, you're very sweet to offer up the rest of your stash. But since I'm feeling better in that respect I'll order some online so I'll have some on hand next time.

I hope you are feeling better soon. :big hug:

Dannielle, I am glad you are feeling better. I swear it's one of the worst, annoying pains ever, IC. I only get relief from awful flare-ups by sitting ON the toilet....just SITTING there, muscles all relax....I spend my freakin' day there to be painful during bad flare-ups! Course, it's lovely to try to do with kids, or when you are supposed to be there or here, or when you are out and about and a flare-up hits.....

Glad yours is gone, and hope it stays gone!

By the way, we all absolutely LOVE the jewelry you made for us!!!!! :bow: :flowerkit

Awww, thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying it. :heart:

I had the hardest time believing I didn't have a kidney stone or kidney/bladder infection when I finally went to the dr for this. The only thing that made the Dr seem credible was that the pain/burning that should be felt in the kidneys was in the center of my lower back.

But the worst is getting about 10 steps out of the bathroom and feeling like you're going to wet yourself. But then you *just* went. And even though you KNOW you don't have to go...you still go sit, just in case. My husband finds great humor in this LOL!

Urelle is a Godsend when I'm in a flare-up...I noticed some people on here advising you to up your Vitamin C intake-NOT a good idea...if you look on the Interstitial Cystitis Association website, you will see that is an irritant on your bladder. The site has a ton of helpful info for IC sufferers-check it out!
icahelp.org