Summer Vacation Tips For IC Patients (Interstitial Cystitis Network)

[drbeth2000]

A vacation may be just what you need to get your body moving and out of the old positions that you live and work in. I always find that when I am swimming or have the time to stretch I have much less pain. As a clinical psychologist trained to read research, I have yet to see any research that proves a link between diet and IC pain. I have found that stretching and avoiding medications help me to keep IC flares down to virtually nothing. The body can heal itself, given the chance. Mine has.

[icnjill]

Dr. Beth, We've had this debate before. I know that you don't see validity in the studies done published in the Journal of Urology. I beg to disagree. But, after serving as an IC support group leader for almost 20 years and working with thousands of patients, I have absolutely no doubt that diet can trigger IC pain because, certainly in my own case, there are certain foods that can be agonizing for me personally (i.e. green tea). So, while it may not be true for you, it is true for others.

[draculavera]

I always fly wearing a Depends diaper. I haven't needed to use it, but it sure feels nice knowing that I can if I have to. I hope I never will have lauriecircle's painful and humiliating experience, though... The attendant should have lost her/his job, and paid her a compensation...

[lauriecircle]

I wish everyone a kinder plane ride than I just had! I was just on a plane where I was in horrid pain because the flight attendant would not let me go while we sat on the tarmack for 4 hours! It was a nightmare. I was crying in pain, my son was crying because I was in pain and the attendant just kept saying "are you going to make the whole plane turn around because you have to go???!!!" A nightmare!

[icnjill]

I am so sorry that you had to go through that. That's when you whip out a traveljohn.. show it to the flight attendant... ask for a blanket and explain that you'll have to use it at your seat instead. You can ask her to hold up a blanket so that you have privacy as well. Then drape it over your lap and then pee.

There is a new rule that says that if you are on the tarmac for three hours, they must allow you to use the facilities. If I were you, I would file a complaint with the airline.