Interstitial cystitis and irritable bowel?

[pedroslittlefriend1]

Do these two disorders have a connection? I was diagnosed with irritable bowel and the only thing that really helps it is taking a fiber supplement. But I still have other symptoms such as urinary hesitancy, frequency, and minor testicular pain and pain at the tip of the penis.
So could one be causing the other?
Could it be a food intolerance since I also have anal itching sometimes after going to the bathroom?

[CppsDad]

I think IBS is a common diagnosis for people who also have CPPS. I myself was diagnosed with IBS a few years ago at the EXACT same time my chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms started. One of the links between them is that they can both be caused by tension in the pelvic muscles (in the IBS case the muscles in the bladder wall). Of course, IBS caused by muscle tension in the bladder may ACTUALLY be chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome in my opinion, but it doesn't really matter. The treatment was/is the same. Relax. Reduce Stress. Eat well. Stretch. Get excercise. Do PT. My IBS is pretty much all better now but the chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome is still there (but only because I just started treating it).

[pedroslittlefriend1]

Thanks. What sort of stretches do you mean?
Is there anything I can do to help the bladder?

[CppsDad]

Assuming that your IBS isn't being caused by digestive issues, looking at stress and tension in the abdominal muscles is a good start. There is a yoga position called the Cobra that is mostly designed for the back, but it stretches the abdominals as well. This stretch involves you laying face down on the floor and pushing up with your arms causing an arch in the back. The higher you push, the more you stretch the abdomen. I tire out doing this quickly, so I also do it one leg at a time in a tripod position with one leg straight behind me and the other with the knee far up; I then lean towards the side with the leg stretched back. I think you can also lay on your back and open your legs and stretch some of the inner muscles. I've also laid back on a small yoga block (you can use some towels too) just under my lower back or buttocks and gotten a stretch of the abdomen that way too (it's easier than the cobra).

[pedroslittlefriend1]

I also have sensitivity at the tip of the penis, (someone said it is called allodynia). I don't know how that is related but all of these problems started at the same time.
What could I do to help that?

[CppsDad]

Pain at the tip is one of the many common symptoms of CPPS. There is another thread going on right now about this exact same topic, so be sure to read it as well.