Question about interstitial cystitis and Vitamin C. I am not supposed to drink orange juice and other juices?
because of too much acid. Is it OK to take vitamin C pills or are they acidic also? I am getting bruises since I stopped the orange juice.
----------
First of all, vitamin C does NOT cause scurvy- it prevents it. The vitamin is closely related in it's structure to glucose, which is the sugar in human blood. For this reason, it is generally not recommended to take large amounts of the vitamin before a diabetes screening, because it can cause a false positive reading on blood and urine tests.
You should ask your doctor about whether or not you need a supplement, since you have developed cystitis and are on antibiotics for it. There are some antibiotics which are rendered ineffective by the presence of large amounts of citric acid, which is the acid in orange juice, and I think this is the real reason why your doctor doesn't want you drinking orange juice right now. There are, however, a number of orange juice companies that have low acid products on the market right now- Florida's Natural is one of these. You should ask your doctor if this would be an acceptable alternative to regular juice- and keep in mind that it will still allow you to get the vitamin C you need, because it is fortified, the way all juices are.
Now, about the bruising- you definitely need to tell your doctor about this, and tell him or her how long this has been going on. Easy bruising is a symptom of a number of medical conditions, including diabetes, but the likelyhood that you have scurvy is extremely remote, simply because scurvy is very rare in countries like the US. You can easily get and eat plenty of other fruits and vegetables here, and they all have vitamin C in them. Even the canned fruit is fortified with it- this is required by law. Scurvy normally only happens when people go for months or years without access to vitamin C, not just a few days or a week. So I would talk to your doctor and ask him or her to see what else may be causing the bruises. One possibility that comes to mind is leukemia and certain other blood and bone marrow disorders, as well as anemias. Any of these can cause bruising as a symptom. If you experience heavy menstrual periods which are causing anemia, then you may also experience bruising- and this is definitely another angle that should be looked at.
At any rate, I'd get myself back to the doctor, if I were you. Hope this helps clear up your confusion. (
+ info)
Can someone with interstitial cystitis take the colon cleanse / acai berry?
I would like to try this but did not know if it would be something that would make it act up.
----------
(
+ info)
Do you have Interstitial Cystitis and depression?
My phychiatrist put me on Lexapro for my depression and I am curious to know if this medication could cause a flare up for my Interstital Cystitis. Does anyone else have IC and has take Lexapro for depression at the same time? Did you have any problems with your IC because of the Lexapro?
----------
Check out the discussion on the IC Network at www.ic-network.com for comments by people with IC. Some say yes, Lexapro contributed to flare ups. Other say no that Lexapro helped. They talk about what they and their physicians did for the flare ups. (
+ info)
can people with interstitial cystitis still work?
my sister says that she has this disease so she can't work. she's leaching off of our parents because of it and I want to prove that its not as bad as she's making it seem.
----------
Yes, there are some people with Interstitial Cystitis that can work. The reason I say it that way is because there are some who have pain so bad from it that they can't function such as holding a job (I have friends with this disease at both ends of the spectrum). (
+ info)
do catheters relieve the urgency symptoms of interstitial cystitis?
the pain doesn't bother me. it's actually quite mild.
it's the urgency, and the inability to produce that is keeping me awake.
----------
if you fix the catheter you don't have to wake up for pee, you pee while you're sleeping, and the urine goes to the bag. it will help you if this is bothering you. (
+ info)
If you have Interstitial Cystitis, did Cysta Q work for you?
Did it help relieve burning symptoms and bladder pressure? What is your experience with it?How long did it take for you to start noticing relief? What else do you think works better to relieve symptoms?
----------
I have used Cysta Q September 07 thru December 07. It helped all my symptoms within two weeks by 80%. I was elated! I did not have much pressure and burning at the time though. My biggest problem at the time was that "drive you crazy" bladder pain- the one that is always there in the presence of a drop of urine and goes away for 2 minutes after urinating. Unfortunately, I developed severe neurological symptoms and had to stop. I don't think it is the Cysta-Q because it also happened with Cystoprotek. I am being tested for Lyme and co-infections. It is thought to be later stage Lyme, if positive, and that is why I think this happened. I would strongly recommend Cysta-Q for bladder symptoms. (
+ info)
Has anyone ever had or known someone who had Interstitial Cystitis that got better?
I have it, almost 4 months now of hell. I am just looking for a little hope. I can't live like this!!!!
----------
(
+ info)
Does Elmiron work for Interstitial cystitis?
I started taking Elmiron about 4 months ago, and while the pain isn't as bad, I still go to the bathroom a lot, and still have pain is a squeeze the urethra even a tiny bit.
Also, CRANBERRY JUICE DOESN'T WORK FOR THIS PROBLEM! I already know that. And "flushing the system" doesn't either.
So I'm wondering if this medication will work, or is there another one?
----------
I have IC and Elmiron helps my symptoms. I have to remember to keep taking it and not miss too many doses. Sometimes that can be hard when I'm feeling no pain... but for Elmiron to do any good it needs to be in your system on a constant basis. I too go to the bathroom a lot and have trouble draining my bladder but the Elmiron helps with the pain and that's why I take it. When the pain symptoms get really bad, I get Heparin treatments (Heparin is just one of the medications put in a mixture with other medications and put directly into my bladder via a catheter). I have learned to live with the difficulty draining my bladder. I know the idea of having a catheter is not a pleasant one but for me it is the lesser of the two evils. I'm one of those rare males that have IC (90% of the people who have it are female). I was finally diagnosed with it after 9 years of other treatments, procedures, and surgeries trying to treat my symptoms. By the way... cranberry juice normally is good for the bladder and kidneys but in the case of IC patients it can be irritating to the bladder because of its acid content. Acidic foods and beverages are some of the things people with IC try and avoid. Anyway, I hope this helps. Good luck. (
+ info)
Does anyone have experience in treating a very mild form of interstitial cystitis?
I have been diagnosed with IC 4 days ago.I also have pelvic muscle tension and I try to stretch gently with Yoga exercises. I do not know which teas are harmful except caffeinated drinks and citrusfruit- and tomatojuices. Does anyone know if there are herbs with which I could treat IC? And does Exercise make it worse?
----------
Good evening
In general, eat fresh foods, no canned,frozen,packaged. They have lots of additives which irritate our bladder.
The best exercise would be walking, stair climbing and such will hurt your bladder. Bottled water or milk. Heating pad works good. Some sort of antidepressant such as elavil or imipramine which will relax your bladder.
INC network good site or ICA. Support groups
yahoogroupsinterstitialcystitischronicpain
Good luck
Linda
[email protected] (
+ info)
Has anyone with interstitial cystitis ever been to the mayo clinic? If so, what are your results, or doc name?
i have been diagnosed with IC and am desperate to find SOMETHING ANYTHING to help relieve of the unbearable pain i am undergoing! i am fed up with this and need any remedy to rid of this unwelcome autoimmune disease i have been encrypted with! please please if anyone has any reccomendations or doctors names that i should see, please tell me!
thank you all!
----------
Wherever you go, the first thing you do is scope out the location of the nearest toilet. You can't get a good night's sleep because the pressure or pain in your bladder awakens you. And you may have pain in your pelvis, which can range from mild burning or discomfort to severe pain.
You may think you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), but antibiotics haven't helped. Instead you may have interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition that affects an estimated 1 million Americans. While it can affect children and men, most of those affected are women. Interstitial cystitis can have a long-lasting adverse impact on your quality of life.
The severity of symptoms caused by interstitial cystitis often fluctuates, and some people may experience periods of remission. Although there's no treatment that reliably eliminates interstitial cystitis, a variety of medications and other therapies offer relief. Work with your doctor to find what works best for you.The signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis vary from person to person. In addition, the symptoms of each affected person may vary over time, periodically flaring in response to common triggers such as menstruation, seasonal allergies, stress and sexual activity.
Interstitial cystitis symptoms include:
A persistent, urgent need to urinate.
Frequent urination that occurs both during the day and during the night, yet you may pass only small volumes of urine each time. People with severe interstitial cystitis may urinate as often as 60 times a day.
Pain in your pelvis (suprapubic) or between the vagina and anus in women or the scrotum and anus in men (perineal).
Pelvic pain during sexual intercourse. Men may also experience painful ejaculation.
Chronic pelvic pain.
More than 15 percent of people affected by interstitial cystitis experience only symptoms of pain, and at least 30 percent experience only frequent, urgent urination. Most affected people, however, experience both pain and frequent, urgent urination.
Although signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis may resemble those of a chronic urinary tract infection, urine cultures are usually free of bacteria. A worsening of symptoms may occur if a person with interstitial cystitis gets a urinary tract infection, however.No simple treatment exists to eliminate the signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis, and no one treatment works for everyone. You may need to try various treatments or combinations of treatments before you find an approach that relieves your symptoms.
Oral medications
Oral medications that may improve the signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and other nonsteroidal pain medications to relieve discomfort. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or imipramine (Tofranil), may help relax your bladder and block pain. Antihistamines may provide symptom relief for some people.
Your doctor also may prescribe an oral medication, pentosan (Elmiron), the only oral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for interstitial cystitis. How it works is unknown, but it may restore the inner surface of the bladder, which protects the bladder wall from substances in urine that could irritate it. It may take two to four months before you begin to feel pain relief and up to six months to experience a decrease in urinary frequency. Side effects include minor gastrointestinal disturbances and possible hair loss, which reverses when you stop taking the drug. Not for use by pregnant women, Elmiron may cause bleeding and loss of pregnancy. Make sure your doctor knows if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Nerve stimulation
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses mild electrical pulses to relieve pelvic pain and, in some cases, reduce urinary frequency. Electrical wires are placed on your lower back or just above your pubic area, and pulses are administered for minutes or hours, two or more times a day, depending on the length and frequency of therapy that works best for you. In some cases a special TENS device may be inserted into a woman's vagina or a man's rectum.
Scientists believe that TENS may relieve pain and urinary frequency associated with interstitial cystitis by increasing blood flow to the bladder, strengthening the muscles that help control the bladder or triggering the release of substances that block pain.
Bladder distention
Some people notice a temporary improvement in symptoms after undergoing cystoscopy with bladder distention. Bladder distention is the stretching of the bladder with water or gas. The procedure may be repeated as a treatment if the response is long lasting.
Medications instilled into the bladder
In bladder instillation, the prescription medication dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, (Rimso-50) is placed into your bladder through a thin, flexible tube (catheter) inserted through the urethra. The solution sometimes is mixed with other medications, such as a local anesthetic. After remaining in your bladder for 15 minutes, the solution is expelled through urination. Delivering DMSO directly to your bladder may reduce inflammation and possibly prevent muscle contractions that cause frequency, urgency and pain.
Your doctor may initially perform DMSO treatment weekly for six to eight weeks, and then perform maintenance treatments as needed — often, every couple of weeks — for up to one year.
A garlic-like taste and odor may last up to 72 hours after treatment. DMSO can affect your liver, so your doctor may monitor your liver function with blood tests. For some people, this procedure may be painful or it may worsen symptoms. Talk with your doctor about other treatment options if this happens to you.
Surgery
Doctors rarely use surgery as interstitial cystitis treatment because removal of part or all of the bladder doesn't relieve pain and can lead to other complications. People with severe pain and people whose bladders can hold only very small volumes of urine are possible candidates for surgery, but even then surgery is usually considered only after other treatments have failed. Surgical options include:
Bladder augmentation. In this procedure, surgeons remove the damaged portion of the bladder and replace it with a piece of the colon, but the pain still remains and some women need to empty their bladders with a catheter multiple times a day.
Fulguration. This minimally invasive method involves insertion of instruments through the urethra to burn off ulcers that may be present with interstitial cystitis.
Resection. This is another minimally invasive method that involves insertion of instruments through the urethra to cut around any ulcers.
Fulguration and resection are not always effective and could potentially worsen your symptoms.Some people with interstitial cystitis find relief with self-care methods, such as:
Dietary changes. Although no scientific evidence links the cause of interstitial cystitis to diet, many people with the condition find that eliminating or reducing their intake of potential bladder irritants may help to relieve their discomfort.
The most irritating foods can be summarized as the "four Cs." The four Cs include carbonated beverages, caffeine in all forms (including chocolate), citrus products and food containing high concentrations of vitamin C.
If you find that your bladder is irritated by these things, you may also wish to avoid related foods such as tomatoes, pickled foods, alcohol and spices. Artificial sweeteners may aggravate symptoms in some people, as well. If you think certain foods make you feel worse, try eliminating them from your diet. Reintroduce them one at a time to determine which, if any, affect your signs and symptoms.
Bladder training. These techniques may help reduce urinary frequency. The training involves timed urination — going to the toilet according to the clock rather than waiting for the need to go. You start by urinating at set intervals, such as every half-hour — whether you have to go or not. Then you gradually lengthen the time between urination. In addition, bladder training may involve learning to control the urge to urinate by using relaxation techniques, such as breathing slowly and deeply, or distracting yourself with another activity.
These other self-care approaches may help you:
Wear loose clothing. Avoid belts or clothes that put pressure on your abdomen.
Reduce stress. Try methods such as visualization and biofeedback, and low-impact exercise.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy. Gentle stretching and strengthening of the pelvic floor can sometimes help reduce muscle spasms. Some people with interstitial cystitis have pelvic floor dysfunction that may benefit from care by a pelvic floor physiotherapist, sometimes including biofeedback.
If you smoke, stop. Smoking may worsen any painful condition and smoking is harmful to the bladder. Interstitial cystitis can have a profound adverse effect on your quality of life. Support from family and friends is important, but because the condition is a urinary problem, you may find the topic difficult to discuss.
Try self-care strategies to determine which ones offer relief. Perhaps most important, find a compassionate physician who is concerned about your quality of life as well as your condition and will work with you to help alleviate your frequency, urgency and bladder pain.
Ask your doctor about working with a clinic that treats chronic pain as a multifaceted condition, where physical treatments take a back seat to learning and self-discovery. These clinics help you look at how pain has affected your life and find ways to regain control.
Also, you might benefit from joining a support group. Such a group can provide both sympathetic listening and useful information. For a list of interstitial cystitis support groups throughout the United States or for information on how to start a group in your area, contact the Interstitial Cystitis Association on the Web or call 800-HELP-ICA, or 800-435-7422. (
+ info)
We do not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content in this site. Click here for the full disclaimer.