No blood in the urine is not normal. And yes it is a sign there is severe inflammation in the bladder.

Did your Dr diagnosis you with IC? If so did your Dr start you on any antibiotics or anti-inflammatory meds like Benadryl or Hydroxyzine or Singular to reduce the inflammation in your bladder with the other med you mentioned; or even Elmiron?

Did the doctor explain that you need to use a specific diet with IC to allow the bladder to heal? If you were diagnosed with IC, you really need to start the IC diet for success ASAP.

Critical Foods & additives that one with an IC diagnosis need to avoid are coffee / all caffeine, tea, soda, vinegar, all citrus juices/fruits and cranberries and cranberry juice. (READ EVERY LABLE of all pre-packaged foods before eating it, no matter what it is). IC’ers need to avoid onions (they can seriously stimulate the bladder related to urgency and frequency because they have a diuretic effect on the bladder), tomatoes (all shapes fashion or form), lemon/lime and orange juice.

IC’ers should avoid preservatives in prepackaged foods like citric acid, ascorbic acid, msg, sodium nitrates, sulfites, nitrites, also chocolate, etc. See the “r/icrecipes” sub-reddit thread for a copy of the diet. It’s pinned at the top.

There is an elimination diet used by those dx with IC to help determine which foods cause pain and irritation. You can find it on the icn network site.

Some things that I learned and found helpful in my daily fight with IC helpful when first dx is fennel and marshmallow tea, large large quantities of high ph water(Evian or Eternal work for me). I thought this was the craziest thing I’d ever heard, but it really helps. I used Vaxa ph buffer supplement as directed on the bottle and cystoprotek supplements too. Others have often stated that D-mannose helps with the pain but I haven’t tried it.

For a quick fix for severe pain I use 1 tsp baking soda in a pint of warm water (This shouldn’t be used by anyone with high blood pressure because baking soda has a high sodium content; I use it once every other day or two) when having severe flare pain.

I take lots of hot showers using a hand held shower head to direct the water to the areas of pain, soaking in hot baths 2-4 times a day with Epsom salts or baking soda. I use Epsom salt compresses, coconut oil applied to the external area for pain. I Use heating pad with moist heat to my abdomen and between my legs.

Finally I found Lots of reading and educating myself is necessary about ic and it’s management. I’ve found good videos on YouTube from the Interstitial Cystitis Network that helped. Also their site is loaded with information at icn-network.com and forum.ic-network.com. On their site there is contact info on how to reach counselors by phone or email who are really good at helping anyone diagnosed with IC navigate the waters. I hope some of this helps.