Interstitial Cystitis Nutrition Support | The Link Between Interstitial Cystitis and Candida
Your Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms May Be Linked to a Candida Overgrowth
Life with interstitial cystitis is painful to say the least. It’s not just the pain that comes with urination, or between pee breaks…
It’s the pain of intentionally not drinking enough water in an effort to minimize pee breaks
It’s the frustration of doctors telling you there is no known cause or solution
It’s saying no to friends’ invites because you’re too uncomfortable or won’t have easy access to a toilet
It’s losing sleep, night after night, at the mercy of your irritated bladder
I see you, my little muffin top. And I have some new information for you that will help.
You do not have to live with this condition forever. I can help you get sweet relief from your interstitial cystitis symptoms.
Hi kittens. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and functional health expert. Women with PCOS or who are in perimenopause come to see me with signs of adrenal stress, insulin resistance, and inflammatory conditions, and my job is to find the root causes so we can address their symptoms more effectively and fill in the gaps between their lab values and how their body actually feels. Before you continue, click here to read my Medical Disclaimer.
In this article, you’ll learn:
interstitial cystitis symptoms
candida overgrowth symptoms
why candida overgrowth treatment may improve your interstitial cystitis symptoms
how to treat interstitial cystitis and candida overgrowth, naturally and effectively
interstitial cystitis symptoms
IYKYK, right?
If you’ve been told you have interstitial cystitis (IC), you’ve probably also been told there is no known cause or substantial treatment.
And if you don’t know what IC is, or are trying to get some answers behind your own symptoms, here are some common symptoms of IC:
painful urination, with relief after peeing
chronic pelvic pain between the vagina and anus (between the scrotum and anus for male-bodied)
frequent, persistent, and urgent need to pee
pain during sex
IC sometimes gets misdiagnosed as chronic UTIs, and when all the antibiotics and cranberry juice doesn’t seem to cut it (or maybe only provides short-term relief), you’re left feeling confused and [still] in pain.
I’m going to dive into interstitial cystitis treatment later in the post - but first we’re going to talk about candida.
candida overgrowth symptoms
Candida is a type of yeast that exists in small amounts in most humans, but can become very problematic when it is given an environment to proliferate and thrive, leading to chronic health conditions such as autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic digestive symptoms that are often misdiagnosed.
Click here to read more about conditions commonly associated with candida overgrowth.
For the sake of this post’s topic, here is a list of common candida overgrowth symptoms:
brain fog
bloating
constipation
frequent hunger
sugar or carb cravings
poor stress management
eczema
acne
depression or anxiety symptoms
blood sugar management issues (irritability, headache, or shaky when hungry)
chronic nail fungus on fingernails or toenails
chronic vaginal yeast infection symptoms
chronic thrush, or yeast infection symptoms in the mouth
difficulty losing weight
weight gain around the belly and hips
signs of insulin resistance
addressing candida overgrowth may also improve interstitial cystitis symptoms
Many practitioners say there is no known cause for IC, and that interstitial cystitis treatment isn’t substantial - in other words, if you have IC, sucks to be you, right? But research suggests they may be looking in the wrong places.
I specialize in working with female-bodied adults with inflammatory conditions - this means I work to uncover hidden causes of inflammation in their bodies so that we can improve inflammatory symptoms, like cystic acne, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, persistent and chronic pain, IBS symptoms, and yes, interstitial cystitis.
Interstitial cystitis is an inflammatory condition - it occurs when the tissues inside the bladder become inflamed.
THE STRESS BUCKET ANALOGY
Think of your body like a bucket. Every single stressor - every injury, every emotional or physical trauma, every infection, every work deadline, every heated interaction with a partner - is a drop in the bucket.
Every drop fills the bucket. Some drops get removed when we take care of our detox systems, and we address infections, when we get optimal rest, when we get professional mental health support.
But once the drops fill the bucket to the brim - it has no where to go but out of the bucket - it’s everywhere!
Here’s the thing, love - Your body is doing its best to deal with everything that’s been thrown at it. But at some point, it’s going to be too much, and that’s when we start to see these bigger reactions and symptoms. That’s your bucket overflowing.
We can help it by reducing the amount of drops in your bucket - put differently, by finding and addressing hidden causes of stress and inflammation.
WHY PINPOINT CANDIDA?
For one, research is starting to show that sufferers of IC often also have higher levels of fungus and yeast, including candida albicans, in addition to other imbalances in their microbiome.
Candida overgrowth can be an especially potent cause of inflammation and stress on the body because it has a unique ability to actually root into tissues and leech off your body’s nutrients, very similar to a parasite.
The candida infection itself is a source of inflammation in that it will stimulate an inflammatory response as your body works to fight it. Additionally, the tissue damage caused by its rooting adds to the inflammation and makes candida difficult to eradicate.
Interestingly, the Mayo Clinic actually states that having a chronic inflammatory condition makes one more likely to experience interstitial cystitis symptoms - seeing the connection here?
interstitial cystitis treatment naturally
There is no direct treatment for interstitial cystitis. In fact, the Mayo Clinic suggests a combination of physical therapy, antidepressants, antihistamines, and anti-inflammatory medications.
All or any of these things may help with symptoms, but they won’t get to the root cause of the inflammation. That’s what I’m here for.
Interstitial Cystitis treatment naturally and holistically requires a look at hidden sources of inflammation. Hidden sources of inflammation may include candida overgrowth, bacterial overgrowth, parasite infection, mold or mold toxicity.
Finding those sources of inflammation requires a detailed health assessment and functional lab testing by a qualified practitioner. Looking at your health history, symptoms, eating habits, nervous system, sleep, and stress levels is all part of the big picture. Getting functional lab testing to confirm or rule out sources is equally important and helps us to create a more personalized plan to address sources of inflammation.
I can help.
My private coaching program includes functional lab testing and an initial comprehensive assessment to help us get to the bottom of your interstitial cystitis symptoms, so you can stop letting pain make your decisions for you.
I also offer functional lab testing without being enrolled in a coaching program.
