Help for Gas Pain When You Have Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome, causes severe bladder pain and frequent urination. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic believe it may be caused by a leak in the protective lining of the bladder, which may allow some substances in urine to irritate your bladder. Some patients who have interstitial cystitis also suffer from severe gas pain. The gas pain generally comes from another problem many interstitial cystitis sufferers also have.

Interstitial Cystitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• The IC Network is a support group for those who suffer from interstitial cystitis. According to its research, about a third of all IC patients also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, a separate but possibly related colon problem. One of the major symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is gas and severe gas pain. Because of the link between interstitial cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome, some IC patients may find treating the gas problems caused by irritable bowel actually solves their severe gas pain.

Ditching the Gas

• The simplest way to solve gas pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome is to watch what you eat. Take note of which foods give you excessive gas and cause pain. You can then build your own list of foods you shouldn't eat.

  In general, high-fiber foods like whole grains tend to give most people gas, so check your fiber intake closely. The key is to figure out how much fiber you should eat to avoid constipation without allowing excess gas into your colon.

  Carbonated drinks also cause gas for some people, so either cut back or eliminate sodas and other carbonated drinks from your diet.

  Spicy foods also cause gas for some people, and they can also irritate your bladder. Eliminating them from your diet will be a two-pronged benefit for your condition.

  Lactose intolerance is another common cause of gas and bloating, so you may also need to watch your dairy products. The good news about lactose intolerance is that there are many products available to either help you break down lactose or avoid it altogether. Soy milk is another great way to replace regular milk in your cereal and recipes.

  If you're still at a loss as to what's causing your excess gas, take a look at your sugar intake. The IC Network cites a handful of studies that all show that patients unable to absorb fructose also had excess gas. Fructose is fruit sugar, and it's also a component of regular table sugar. You also commonly find fructose in sodas and many other foods you might not think of, so always check the labels when you begin to eliminate this type of sugar from your diet.