Interstitial cystitis and food

I put off covering this because it seems like it’s the first thing mentioned with interstitial cystitis. So not much of a special tip, right? Except, when my doctor first told me I probably have IC, and I asked what I can do for the pain, diet didn’t come up at all.

Luckily, I had already figured out that some foods – like anything spicy – were a problem. That’s when I started looking more into how different foods effect bladder symptoms.

So here’s the breakdown of diet and interstitial cystitis.

Food? Really?

It sounds strange, since what you eat isn’t in your urine, right? Even though doctors don’t know exactly why it happens, it’s an undisputed fact that what you eat contributes to your IC symptoms. There are a few theories about why this happens:

– A problem with the lining of the bladder may make it so that normal urine irritates the bladder. Eating particular foods causes different a composition of urine, which is why some foods cause more irritation.

– Irritation from food in the intestines may lead to increased sensitivity in the bladder because the signals travel along the same pathway. This would mean that the food is actually causing irritation in your digestive tract.

– The nervous system may release too many chemicals that cause inflammation, and the body becomes more sensitive to diet.

The basics

Everybody’s list of trigger foods is going to be different, but there are some foods known to cause bladder pain. It’s recommended that you keep a food and symptom diary and eliminate known problem foods to get everything under control.

Broad categories known to cause problems include tomatoes, citrus, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks, and spicy foods. Also big are products containing soy and vinegar. And cranberries!  Cranberries may be recommended as a natural prevention for bladder infections because they keep bacteria from sticking to bladder walls, but they won’t do anything for IC and are known to irritate the bladder.

An exhaustive list can be found here from the Interstitial Cystitis Association, as well as some good advice about how to approach it.

As you’d predict from that list, some of the worst-offending foods for me include MSG, hot peppers, pistachios, wine, tomatoes, and soft cheese spreads. This is definitely just the beginning for me, since I’ve only had the diagnosis for a couple months.

If you’re in the middle of a bad flare and are at your wits’ end, it may help to try to just cut all foods that may be causing you pain to see if you can get it under control. I’ve had to resort to that before, unfortunately. (If you’re having a flare, also think about how much water you’re drinking, what you’re wearing, and even how you’re sitting to try to lessen pain.)

Alcohol

Sensible people will tell you to just cut alcohol from your diet, usually in a way that makes it seem like it should be easy to do. It’s undoubtedly the best choice, but it can be hard depending on your social habits. I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to enjoy a night out with my friends without letting IC stop me, so I’ll usually go for whiskey or vodka if I’m not in a flare. (If I am, I usually forget about the alcohol. Increased trips to the bathroom for my already-stressed bladder? No thank you.)

That being said, if you would still like to cautiously enjoy alcohol, not all alcohol is created equal. And check if alcohol is safe with the medications you take.

Wine is often cited as the worst to drink with IC. I made the mistake of having a glass recently, and I have never regretted drinking alcohol so much (which I suppose, all things considered, isn’t the worst reason to regret drinking). White wines may be better than reds, though, if you still want to go for it.

Beers are supposed to be better than wines, but since I can’t stomach the carbonation, I don’t have experience there. Mixed drinks can be a hazard because of the the pops and juices used in them, and are generally tolerated better than wine but worse than beer. Straight liquors are best for most people, including whiskey, rum, vodka, and tequila. In fact, according to a few sources, whiskey and brandy are the best tolerated of these.

Are unsafe foods ever okay?

This obviously varies from person to person heavily. For some people, following the diet all day, every day helps them control their symptoms the best. It’s human nature to want to cheat restrictions, though, so you can do that more smartly by listening to your body.

Disclaimer: The medically responsible thing to do is definitely to follow the diet whenever possible. This is just to share my experience with people who are determined to cheat the diet. Like I am.

My own symptoms are cyclical, with my menstrual cycle. While it varies some from cycle to cycle, I generally have 1-2 weeks where I’m almost completely symptom-free, and 3-4 weeks where my symptoms range from mild to severe.

During the time when I’m pretty much without symptoms, I can eat basically anything I want and not have debilitating pain as a result (as long as I don’t eat big irritants every day). That’s not to say it’s not affecting me – since I have no way of knowing that on a cellular level – but it doesn’t cause enough irritation for me to be bothered. Who knows, what I eat during those weeks might be what causes worse pain during my flares. But I like food too much, and I want to enjoy myself, so that’s my choice.

If my bladder is experiencing even mild irritation, though, eating the wrong food can up the pain level by a huge amount. I have to be extremely careful what I eat during flares, because if I’m not, I may end up awake all night with spasms.

That being said, my sometimes-careless attitude with food has blown up in my face a few times, so you have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. Everyone will have a different experience in this area, and it could take a lot of trial and (painful) error. If you want to play it safe, just avoid IC-unfriendly foods at all times and never have to worry!

What have your experiences with IC and food been? Do you have any questions about particular foods? Let me know in the comments!

-Bri

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