Kitchen

[Aquarius11]

I have a friend who suffered...yes past tense...with this until she went here:

http://bomamed.com/matia-brizman

This Dr. Matia Brizman is a naturopath and specializes in this and her husband Boaz.

Here is some more documented information from her

http://www.icaroadtorecovery.com/matia.htm

Good Luck and God Bless.

[depglass]

I diagnosed this in myself maybe 10 years ago. I traveled a lot and ended up in emergency rooms frequently. They kept saying you are culturing negatively for bacteria but they would give me an antibiotic anyway and send me on my way. Even my own gynecologist was giving me antibiotics. I finally made a connection between the coffee from one particular coffee kiosk and my symptoms. Then I started paying attention to my diet. I have always eaten a ton of grapefruit. Citrus fruit, certain kinds of apples and cayenne pepper were major culprits. Also certain coffees, I never know on this one, so I limit myself to one cup in restaurants. Even bedroom activity contributes, good old KY helps with this. I now travel without apprehension.

[shoekitty]

forrestwolf

I just was reading those southern recipes! Good grief, I am dreaming chicken fried steak, and I don't eat meat! LOL!

Although vinegar is good, that is one thing that sets my IC off on a tangent, and I am a health nut. There are different kinds and grades of IC. IC with the ulcers on the bladder being most resistant to treatment. Many IC sufferers have opted for bladder removal and resectioning.

True IC has sterile cultures. No infection, germs, candida, etc. I think some IC can be food oriented only. Others, it is almost like an auto immune disease. Diagnosis is hard, because IC mimics so many things, infections, kidney stones, cancer, etc. One thing for sure, after an ultra sound, and cystoscopy they find the bladder is thinner walled and pale.

My daughter takes vinegar everyday, and it has helped her so much for intestional problems and a few other things. She swears by it.

[shoekitty]

cardamom

You are right on the oxalates. I watch those foods. I am like depglass and citrus, and those foods I have to avoid. Watching those foods helps everyday. But when the pelvic pain, and the internal bladder pain start I need the treatments and meds. Thanks for the heads up. I knew what to avoid, but never knew they were called oxalates. Thanks

[Cardamom]

On 4/13/2014 shoekitty said:

cardamom

You are right on the oxalates. I watch those foods. I am like depglass and citrus, and those foods I have to avoid. Watching those foods helps everyday. But when the pelvic pain, and the internal bladder pain start I need the treatments and meds. Thanks for the heads up. I knew what to avoid, but never knew they were called oxalates. Thanks

You are so welcome. I had never heard of the word till last September. I was eating really healthy and that is when it all kind of went south for me. I got a Vitamix for Christmas last year and was eating green smoothies (kale, spinach, collard greens) at least 2 times a day. I was afraid to eat just about everything. So I lived on a diet of green smoothies (no fruit or dairy), almonds, almond milk, kefir for probiotics, chicken, rice and buckwheat pancakes since I was avoiding gluten. All these items that I was eating are at the top of the chart for high oxalate content except for the kefir and rice.

Before I was never sure what was bothering me but narrowing it down so much really helped me figure it out even though I was in the worst shape ever.

Until I healed I took calcium citrate. It's supposed to bond to the oxalates and keeps them from being absorbed in the blood stream. I will take it now and then if I feel I may consume a lot of oxalates but I still try to avoid them.

[missy mouse]

I just went on matia brizman website. I have tried acupuncture and herbs etc. I was a little disappointed when I read that she keeps her products a secret. If she or anyone has a solution to helping IC patients why would you keep it a secret? Get a patent or some legal counsel and share the secret with those of us suffering. I have tried so many of these out of the box treatments and nothing has worked except diet and watching my diet. I am very skeptical of those people who had IC 1 or2 times and are now free of symptoms. I wonder if they were properly diagnosed or the dr. Just guessed. I just don't want people to get their hopes up by some of what am reading on these boards.

[shoekitty]

On 4/13/2014 missy mouse said: I just went on matia brizman website. I have tried acupuncture and herbs etc. I was a little disappointed when I read that she keeps her products a secret. If she or anyone has a solution to helping IC patients why would you keep it a secret? Get a patent or some legal counsel and share the secret with those of us suffering. I have tried so many of these out of the box treatments and nothing has worked except diet and watching my diet. I am very skeptical of those people who had IC 1 or2 times and are now free of symptoms. I wonder if they were properly diagnosed or the dr. Just guessed. I just don't want people to get their hopes up by some of what am reading on these boards.

ITA with you on that. If a person had IC one or two times, they wouldn't have it. You can reduce symptoms, but it is still there. If I had IC one or two times I don't think I would have even sought medical advice. JMO though. They have to rule out infections, disease, cancer. It is a really hard diagnosis. Also, if they are keeping the cure a secret, and want to charge for it, IDK. Usually, the "medication" they sell you is secret as well.

acupunture can help with some of the pain. How was it for IC? I have had acupunture
for back and sinus problems with great success.

[shoekitty]

On 4/13/2014 depglass said:

I diagnosed this in myself maybe 10 years ago. I traveled a lot and ended up in emergency rooms frequently. They kept saying you are culturing negatively for bacteria but they would give me an antibiotic anyway and send me on my way. Even my own gynecologist was giving me antibiotics. I finally made a connection between the coffee from one particular coffee kiosk and my symptoms. Then I started paying attention to my diet. I have always eaten a ton of grapefruit. Citrus fruit, certain kinds of apples and cayenne pepper were major culprits. Also certain coffees, I never know on this one, so I limit myself to one cup in restaurants. Even bedroom activity contributes, good old KY helps with this. I now travel without apprehension.

Hi depglass

That is so odd you said apples, because they can cause distress as well. Who'd a thunk apples? I found with coffee it is a mixed bag. I cannot drink most Starbucks, and any espresso. I have a Keurig and use dark roasts with no problem. But I have one cup, and it is weaker than some restaurant or coffee shop coffee. But who knows. That is only my experience and every IC patient is different.

[Sunshine]

I'm sorry for all of you who are suffering from IC and/or Vulvodynia. I have Vulvodynia too, but not IC fortunately. A friend of mine has both and she follows a strict diet and drinks a ton of water. She takes some supplements that she gets from a Naturopath. She usually has the IC under control, but once in awhile will say how much her bladder hurts. I pray that anyone suffering right now will have better days. Sue

[sweetieone]

DID ANYONE EVER HEAR OF AZO

IT DOES HAVE CRANBERRY IN IT. IT IS A TEMPORARY FIX, BUT IT HELPS>

I AM 80 YRS OLD>