staying active

Hello IC readers,

I have read on many of the IC boards that IC can make it difficult to stay active and get exercise. My own experience with this has been quite mixed. I lead a very active life. I swing dance ( aka Lindy Hop, a dance from the 1930's + 1940's) about five days a week. I have danced through flare ups but I find when I do that its difficult for me to focus on dancing. This could be because of the pain of the flare up is very distracting or because the pain medication doesn't exactly help me think clearly. Still, I persist because dancing lowers my stress level and keeps me happy. Having a lower stress level ultimately helps my IC.

However, I have found that dancing sometimes aggravates my IC. After some trial and error I have realized that if I don't have enough water while exercising, that my bladder starts to become unhappy. The solution seems simple, drink more water. But this is not without its challenges, the tap water at one of my favorite dance venues seems to irritate my bladder, other venues don't have easy access to water. I am now trying to make sure that I bring  a large bottle of water whenever I go dancing and that at the end of my evening I either a drink a large glass of water or a big cup of chamomile or peppermint tea. I have found this keeps me well hydrated and keeps my bladder happy.

Or course if a flare is bad enough, I usually don't go anywhere. This can be very frustrating and not just because of the flare but also because I hate the way IC interferes with my attempts to have a normal life.

I am wondering dear readers (if you are out there) how you cope with exercise and IC? Thoughts and feedback would be appreciated.

The Goose Girl