Top Natural Remedies for Interstitial Cystitis Relief

Wanted to share my story in the hopes it will help someone else...in the past I have been prone to uti or bladder or kidney infections...a trip to the doctor and Cipro would usually take care of it. This time I felt as if an infection was coming on, but it never did. Had my urine tested twice and no bacteria. I felt the urge to pee constantly, and though it was not painful, it was VERY uncomfortable. All day, everyday, feeling like I had to pee even after I had just gone. Slight twinge or ache in either kidney but nothing painful or particularly noticeable. Had CT scan to rule out kidney stones; had bladder scope to rule out anything else. With those and the urinalysis coming back ok, urologist, for lack of coming up with any other diagnosis, said it must be IC. Said to watch my diet and avoid coffee and alcohol and look it up on-line to see what foods were ok to have, etc. Came to this site and read everything that's been posted on IC. Made my lists and decided to try things one at a time. I could live with this feeling but didn't want to as it is a terrible thing to always have to feel like you need to pee.

Nothing helped until I tried Black Cohosh. Bought it at a health food store. It also has Isoflavones. I got it at work on my lunch hour and figured I had nothing to lose. So I took one after my lunch, about 1pm, to see how it would react. The urgency was gone within 30 minutes. Then again about 4pm I took another one. I had a night of relief from this terrible feeling for the first time in three weeks. In retrospect I would not take any after noon going forward as I do believe it kept me up taking one so late in the day. Today I will take one in the morning and one at lunch. I don't know if this is my answer, but I do know that I felt normal for the first time yesterday afternoon. Will keep you posted.

Yes to Marshmallow Tea. I have found it helpful as well.

Hello Veronica,

About IC, I scanned the posts on IC under Ailments (Earth Clinic) and didn't find DMSO discussed as a remedy.

DMSO is the only approved use officially given for it by the FDA. Doctors will topically apply weekly for six to eight weeks. DMSO is remarkable and ignored by the regular medical community although used by Vets all the time. And for IC, as I say, the FDA says "yes" to DMSO.

Could one self apply? Well it absorbs into skin and the whole body so one could simply apply topically to gain the same, or near some effect as applied by Doctor via urethra to surface of bladder.

Google "youtube DMSO Dr Jacobs" for a great 3 part study of DMSO.

Many Alternative Doctors who administer IV nutritional treatments finish the treatment with 25 cc of DMSO to make the nutrients fully infuse into the body. And as my Doctor told me, the DMSO carries the nutrients in such IVs past the blood brain barrier into the brain. My point here is that DMSO can go direct via IV (or orally) and is safe to use even straight into the system. If used orally, you'd want to use Dr Jacobs brand and dilute with purified water. Use a tablespoon of DMSO to ten tablespoons of purified water. I'd use distilled water.

So for those suffering with IC, consider DMSO. You can google, "interstitial cystitis dmso" and you'll find a Mayo Clinic site that discusses DMSO use by MDs.

@shampoo. That was a wealth of information. Now I know some of the things to research and what to ask about when I make an appointment with a urologist. Thanks for such a detailed journey. I hope I can finally end this horrible illness.

To: Shampoo from Los Angeles!! Wow your a warrior, you have tried so many things. How are you now and what are you doing for your IC now? Thank you, Sunny

I have IC. I found that MSM, a nicer derivative of DMSO works quite well. It reduces inflammation and that is what IC is, chronic bladder inflammation.

I'm new here. I went through a series of dmso, treatments, last fall. The dmso is put into the bladder through a catheter. It can be uncomfortable, for me they added lidocaine first. It helps a little. You then have to hold it in there for 10 to 20 minutes, I don't remember exactly. Pelvic floor dysfunction, and vulvodynia, usually go along along with the interstitial cystitis. Following the IC diet helps. I also try and stay away from gluten, and food colorings. I have found they irritate it. From where I was 2 years ago, I'm much better,
I taked pre relief if I'm going to eat something that could be irritating. I still get flare ups. Some people can eat things, that others can't.

The dmso is put into the bladder via catheter.

I had interstital cystitis in the form of bladder aches and pains for about 4 years or so. Some days it was more painful than others, but it often felt irritated. I changed my diet completely about 6 months after onset (veggies and lean protein - no sugar or carbs) and about a year and a half ago, I stearted taking a lot of coconut oil - up to 5 tbs per day. The diet helped, but the coconut oil put me over the top. I almost never have any issues anymore unless I get an infection (I take garlic and grapefruit seed extract for those) and I can eat fruit, although I only eat it occasionally because of the sugar, and drink decaf coffee with no issues. I also can take B vitamins several times a day, which is often a no no for people with IC. Try coconut oil and cleaning up your diet, but stick with it for a while and you will notice that your symptoms will diminish with time.

So this is for Interstitial Cystitis ( IC). I belive this is what helped my. I am way better now. But I also did Dr. Hulda Clarks Parasite Cleanse so it might have also been that or a mix of both. So try them one by one. Oh and I also took probiotics. All separete. First the probitics. Finished my 30 days wort , then I did the tea 30 days, then I did then the Parasite Cleanse like 50 days. I do not know which on helped me. I also did some emotional release I had been keeping feeling and secrets to my self and I told someone and I felt a big weight lift of my very soul. (I really do feel that negative feelings contibute to bad health). The tea is by Lagg's Kidney tea. It has 30 bags and I got it at Superior Grocers Market for like 3 dollars its good because all ingredients needed are there, but I suppose you can make your own. The herbs are: shave grass, corn silk, Uva ursi, Juliana adstringen, boldo, Hibiscus flower, (I have to warn of the hibiscus flower, as some one IC person said it cause flairs, orange blossom, like I said you can make ur own and take out the hibiscus flower. I took the tea, cool in the morning before eating anything. (no sugar). Tea has no caffeine says so on box. As caffeine is acidic. Probiotics took as directed. Parasite cleanse look it up its a bit more complex. Consists mainly of clove, green black walnut, wormwood. (your supposed to poo*p out the parasites, I did not. I was kind of disappointed I did not. But maybe the herbs just helped me another way. I had no negative side effects :). My Cc has gotten a lot better. I would say like I'm like 85% good now and can tolerate a lot more food :). Also I feel that IC has to do with the intestines (imbalance of floras/ balanced) floras also in vagina. I always had constipation problems and now I po*p a lot more. :)Good bc pressure of po*p hurts bladder.

I think it's obvious on the things that u have to change forever more for this condition and overall health. I drink mostly water and natural coconut juice. Sometimes! 100% juice. Nothing else. Too many fake stuff and bad toxins. I try to eat very well not so easy but at least try to make the best choices! I do not really eat red meat. And fast food. I try nt to get stressed (killer/ acid forming). Exercise (walk, stretch, yoga) (I know for some of u u have to wait to get better to work out)

Why I am writing this. Well IC is horrible to the point were I felt subhuman and did not want to live anymore. I hope this helps another person. If it does help you I want you to pass this forward. Also, to promise to be a better /more compassinate person. Having been thru ic if you are not a better person you have learned nothing!!! Western Medicine gave me no hope and just told me to live with it. I decided to start by trying the cheapest, safest, most natural means one by one. I have tried other things and they did not help( marshmallow root pills, alovera pills, activated charcoal, etc. But I could not give up, I research and researched , and research, and research and reseached! And try! Try! Try! Tyr!!!!! I only cared about finding something!! I also want you to not give up what works for one might not work for another, but do not give up and share you findings. Love to you AND LET'S START THIS FOOD REVOLUTION, !!! Email you companies and tell them hey do not add fake color , artificial ingridients, persevatives, perservative, corn suryp. you have ic , other people have other illnesses that are horrible too! ( cron's disease, cancer, asma, )and guess what they all stem from the stuff they put in our food we have common ground here ppl! we need to join and say hey enough is enough! stop posoning our food/things!!!!!!!!! . and if you do not change we will not buy your things!!!!!!! ( purchasing power) support those that do!! health food stores etc. let's change our world by changing with in our choices ( ex. food we serve at a party). nature! nature! nature our only and true source.

thank you you ec for this site that i always utilice and try to contribute too.

ted you are inspirational and one day i would love to meet you, (i kind of want to be like you) help you. keep up your beautiful purpose <3

I actually used corn silk herb. I started taking 1/2 tsp twice daily for about a week, then decreased to 1/2 tsp once per day. The pain had stopped after the first day, that's why I only use it once per day for maintenance.

The corn silk that I purchased in the herb shop, I just further grind it in the vita mix. It lasts longer that way. I have also used the tea.

Amen sister! I agree with you on the bogus diagnosis. Coconut oil reduces yeast. I'm on the yeast diet and progesterone. No more docs screwing up my lady parts! :D

Interstitial Cystitis: Hi everybody! I have suffered terribly like so many of you with yeast infections and urinary problems. I found a solution after many hours of research. What works for me is 2 T of distilled water, 10 drops of potassium iodide and 10 drops of dmso in a small glass or ceramic bowl. I swirl it to mix and lay a tampon in it to absorb. I insert the tampon for 30-60 mins and all pain and inflammation is gone! Now when I feel a flare coming on, ( which I suspect it is from some kind of food), I treat myself. It works every time! I hope this helps!

Evelyn from Singapore!!! Thank you for ur Hope you have given us! <3 that this can be cured. What did the Doctor do? Ex Antibiotics? What is the Nurses name? Please give us all the information you can. Thanks! <3

On the subject of cystitis, about 25 years ago I had chronic cystitis, bled from the bladder each time and life was pretty tough. Try holding down a job while suffering a bout! After 7 doctors and 3 surgeons, and the only solution seemed to be live on antibiotics for the rest of my life, (plus one doc who inferred that I might get help from a psychiatrist! ) I walked away and began my own long journey into natural solutions. It's right that cystitus is more about the digestion than the urinary tract. What I've found it's caused by candida yeast overgrowth (Candidiasis). Due to poor digestion from this, grains and dairy in particular clog the whole digestive system especially the bowel, and feed the yeast while the good bacteria are smothered. Remove grains and dairy from the diet, clean the build up of 'sludge' through the system by eating a small piece of cabbage each day to cleanse and heal the digestive system. You may suffer bloating and wind for 2-3 days but that's the cabbage doing its job.

Because candida is a small plant its roots reach through the bowel wall into places like the bladder, cruising the blood stream, creating itchy nose, ears, rear area, skin problems, general havoc. The more antibiotics they fill us with, the more the candida yeast is happy and grows. I've been free now for more than 20 years after being told by a lady doctor that it's something that many women get and have for life. I have it and I'd better get used to it! A couple of other things to note - it's best to stay away from oranges, mandarins, peaches, nectarines, apricots and pineapple until the whole inflamed system is healed because they can be an irritant. After some 3-5 years of living on lots of fresh vegetable juices, raw fruit, vegetables, nuts and dried fruits I found I could eat any fruit or vegetable I liked with no affect. My husband and I still live this way today having raised our family on the above diet. Juicing and a raw food diet will help to heal any health problem without fail. We're all basically suffering from malnutrition and toxic chemical overload. I wish you good health.

I have to say that I haven't seen anyone mention digestive issues as being a root cause for IC, but in my research of IC I have found that it may well be caused by digestive tract problems, not urinary tract problems. Some of you may want to consider dumping your urologist and finding a good gastroenterologist or other digestive specialist. Many of you may just be on the wrong tract if the root cause is indeed in the digestive tract. Search for IBD and IC together and see what you find.

To ALi from AUstraila, could you PLEASE tell me what kind of mild antibacterial cream you used. is it specifically for the vagina or intercourse? Thank you.

Hello all, I have what seems to be IC, and have had vaginal burning/itching/discomfort, pretty much everywhere and in every situation for the past two or three years.

I just recently eliminated acidic foods from my diet, since I'm trying to treat the IC, and I noticed the vaginal itching and burning has been gone completely since.

When I first started having vaginal pain, I did notice that certain foods, like chocolate would trigger almost immediate burning. This was before I developed IC symptoms.

Now, I notice the only time I've had burning or itching has been during or right before and/or after my period. I started taking coconut oil regularly (1 tsp in the morning and 1 at night) and I haven't had any burning or discomfort this cycle expect for the one day that I didn't take the coconut oil!

Everyone's body is different, and perhaps this isn't a solution for everyone... but for those of us that have really sensitive bodies (prone to IBS/vulvodynia etc) like me, I have a feeling that diet plays a really important role.

I wonder if trying to eliminate acidic foods for a while would help relieve the symptoms for other vulvodynia sufferers? I would recommend starting with the IC diet and then adding in foods little by little to find the real culprits... I was surprised when I realized I could eat dairy, which I thought was a big no no, but not oranges!

I guess what I realized was that food was playing a huge role in my suffering, maybe for some it has nothing to do with acid at all, but the burning is a symptom of another food sensitivity that could easily be eliminated.

I hope this is helpful to someone!

On HGH for 10.5 mo. I feel fabulous! Still on instillations and they worked in ONLY 3 months to the point of no pain! Still mostly on the diet, but with no pain. Drink white wine (alot of it), salty, sugary foods. Working out each day with vigor. Still up 3x night to pee, but no addn'l pain b4 my period (I have always had more insomnia b4 my period and that's the same). Sleep 8 hrs/night. Have not taken Fem-Dophilis in months, nor Claritin. Have reduced many other suppliments (too expensive). I take HGH homeopathic, instillations and estrogen(s). (I still take Vit D, E, A, acidophilis, fish oil and a few others) I will be able to start to wean off instillations soon, but I will take my time. Happy.

I am so thankful I found this site. I thought I was going insane with all the negative tests and fine kidneys from the hospital... Until one smart doctor, tonight, told me I most likely have IC. I couldn't have more similar symptoms. I have had 5 years of recurrent UTIS and am 20 years old. It is, indeed, an awfully painful disease...

However, diet and tumeric are crucial to this matter. I'm surprised, however, a lot of you are disabled, yes, but, we all are well aware that exercise couldn't be more important. In order to strengthen the linings, we must strengthen the muscles... So, do your best! I find leg lifts reduce my pains, as well as running, more than any other exercise... Simply because running is generally beneficial cardio and leg lifts target the pelvic muscles.

I also did some research based on my past experiences and cranberry juice can very well make IC matters worsen, as well as D-Mannose. D-Mannose and cranberry juice are for milder urinary tract issues, but for severe matters, they can cause severe damage. If the case is severe, D-Mannose is known to stick to the bacterias, yes, but it can stick to the walls of our organs, obstructing practically every option of ridding/treating IC. Regardless, stay away from acidic and fatty foods, equally.

As for the flares, I have it right now as I'm typing, but walking truly does help, as working out reproduces healthy cells and bacteria. ALSO... VERY IMPORTANT. If you have a lot of stress, be sure to see the doctor. Anxiety is a major cause of my increased symptom pains, and if you are unaware of your psychology stability, it could very well be the underlying reason for your IC and many other illnesses. If you meditate with faith that your body is healing, then it will do just that, and the pain will reduce immediately. I have severe anxiety, so it'll work on anyone if you try and do it right. Just breathe and do your best to keep the symptoms down... Never stop researching... never stop believing and always remember it could be much, much worse! Much love and best regards to you all.

Hey, just an update about whats up with me lately. I cured my IC with 3 rounds of the antibiotic Bactrim, finally, however, Im sensitive to all acidic foods now, and as long as I avoid them, Im back to normal again.

However, its nerve wracking trying to prevent another UTI, as nothing, not even probiotics seem to work for me anymore.

Ive come to the conclusion I had some kind of fluke staph, or MRSA infection that was antibiotic resistant. The doctor and I discussed the further concerning problem of antibiotic resistance. , it seems antibiotics hardly work for anything really serious anymore.

Organic Colostrum works well for IC. It is all natural but does take several months for the pain to subside completely. Iherb is the company that carries it and one bottle last for 30 days.

Evelyn, My daughter is 19 years old and has had IC for about 2 years now. As you know she has been having an extreamly difficult time. I would love to get in contact with that nurse in Washington DC, could you give me her name and an email or number where I can get a hold of her. Thanks, Janine

Hi All, Ive been reading over these postings because I was curious about Cayenne pepper as a Tx for I. C. I really empathize with you all and desire to share my Tx remedy. I suffered with mild I. C. for years while having my children (5, total). After my fifth, the I. C. really flared up and I just couldn't get more that 45 min. of sleep at a time. In addition, activities involving impact of any kind (ie. Running, household chores, intimacy) were out of the question.

My husband did some research and started me on a two week regimen of Cornsilk extract (20 drops in 1/4 cup water 2-3 times per day) followed by 2x daily dosing of Pumpkin Seed oil everyday. I have maintained the oil at 1 tablespoon in am and 1 tablespoon in pm, preferrably with food or drink, for about 2 years now. It has made all the difference in the world. If I maintain this dosage I have no symptoms except for mild ones during ovulation and the first two days of my period. I up my dose by another tablespoon sometime in the middle of the day during these times. If I run out of oil, pumpkin seeds (in any form, roasted, raw etc. ) will suffice until I can restock but they add a lot fiber to my diet since I need to eat almost 3/4 cup of them per day to achieve the desired effect. I also stay away from Tannic Acid whenever possible and have greatly reduced the gluten in my diet. I am otherwise a healthy 38 year old mother of five. I don't get back here very often at all so I may not be available to answer any questions but I truly hope that this helps as many people here as possible!

9/23/12 Update: Still on HGH and estrogens. Stopped the progesterone drops as they seemed to not work after a few weeks... I read that estroil and the estrogens take 1 yr to get 1/2 way back to healthy in the bladder. I stopped all gluten since Jan and think that greatly damages the bladder/GI system.

Estrogens: Love, Love, Love no more hot flashes, no bacterial vaginitis, and urethra is working!! Read in "Stay Young and Sexy that UTIs go down 1000% (yes! 1000 percent!!! ) w/vaginal estroil. I have had approx 5 of those, but none since starting the vaginal estroil. I will be on bioidentical hormones until I die.

HGH: I can fall asleep each night after I pee. This is the BEST thing that HGH does for me. Since I have a history of Fibro and IBS, I just want to say the HGH totally took away the fibro after 9 months!!! Just slowely went away!! (see studys on the internet on that) Also HGH homeopathic removed some under the eye wrinkles!! Energy is better too. I will be on HGH until the day I die! Love the stuff!!! But it hasn't fixed my IC. It does heal wounds though and I definatly have a wound there, so I will keep taking it in hopes that it will still work in my bladder eventually (maybe Fibro had to heal first?)

IBS is less due to no Gluten.

Am still in pain at night (and pee 6-10x per night) so got on instillations of heprin/ladocane and saline to heal faster one month ago. (Dr says it takes 6-9 months to START to notice a difference, but can be a permanent cure, for 80% of people (after 2 yrs) so what the heck, I've tried EVERYTHING else at this website). I will update again later.

Your absolutely right, its must be some kind of money making conspiracy, cuz I just cured my 6 month long, unrelenting battle with interstitial cystitus with Macrobid, basically. Coconut oil, and coconut water didnt help my interstitial cystitus, altho I have cured standard, garden variety UTI's, with coconut water.

Long term antibiotic therapy was the cure for me and my interstitial cystitus. The key is, you need to stay on a high enough dose, for a long enough time to get rid of the infection, and you have to get the right antibiotic for it, as antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasing problem. I was on Macrobid for almost a month (about three weeks, at 100mg, every six hours, (about 3 times a day) thats high, but normal, and prescribed to cure a persistant and severe infection which is what I had. I was rendered completely disabled by this bladder pain, I considered my life over, as I was told there is no cure. The problem is. Doctors are becoming incresingly reluctant to prescribe antibiotics nowadays. But in the old days, they understood, (as Ive talked to older people, my moms age, baby boomers) that sometimes, infections require antibiotic treatment, for longer than a week or two. These days, if you cant cure an infection in 14 days, at the lowest possible dose, your screwed, and there is "no cure".

Period.

I cant tell you how many times Ive taken my daughter to the emergency room, with 103 degree fevers, throwing up, sick as a dog, and they made me walk out of there empty handed, and told she had a viral infection, therefore doesnt require antibitoics. I now use homeopathic remedies (for kids) and thats helping her now.

Interstitial cystitus, (in my case) required hardcore antibiotics to eradicate the infection.

I tried EVERY, I mean every natural remedy known to man to try to fix the problem, and they didnt even touch it. What kills me, as I had to fight my doctors, and tell them what was wrong with me, cuz they didnt care, and they just do things by the book. I kept saying"how could this not ba a UTI", and "How can there be no cure??" They just put me on one or two rounds of antibiotics for a few weeks and when BACTERIA DIDNT SHOW UP IN THE URINE TEST, and I was still complaining of extreme pain and frequency, they dianosed me with interstitial cystitus. It didnt even occur to them to try me on different antibiotics and maybe for longer or higher, I had to FIGHT for that, and I became such a pain in the ass, they just wanted me out of the office.

Hello, i would like to share this: I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) two years ago. And I am cured, thank God. The woman who brought me on the healing path is a nurse practitioner in Washington DC, who has ahd IC herself. She has treated AND cured hundreds of persons suffering from this terrible disease. She sees that most of the time, IC patients have Lyme disease, without knowing it. Once you treat Lyme, IC goes away. Before getting to know her, all my urine test would come negative. But she is working with a lab in Virginia, which is the only lab in the world which specialised in IC.

I hope that other IC patients can read this post and find their health back again like I did. Evelyn

I also want to add that, diseases are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, including Gonorrhea, and tuberculosis. The guy I was sleeping with who I think gave me all these problems, was very primiscous himself, its not fair to say I was the one, when in actuality I know people personally that are far more "active" and with multipal people than I was, but then Im also seeing more and more people less willing to commit, and taking a very, and increasingly casual attitude towards sex but GOD KNOWs, I wouldnt want a drug resistant form of the clap, would you??!!

UPDATE: I cured my interstitial cystitis. And Believe me. I had it. I couldnt eat tomatoes or anything acidic, I was constantly flaring, especially a week before my period, I was unable to get out of bed, or even think, and I havnt had sex in 6 months either. I considered my life over. I would have rather got a diagnosis of Cancer or Herpes, as with Herpes, you get a break, and with Cancer, there is atleast hope for a cure or remission. 6 months of Hell.

Heres what I did. A month and a half of Doxicycline, first 3 weeks, 100mg morning and evening. Still was in alot of pain, still had symptoms. She upped my dose to 200mg morning and evening. 400mg a day... 2 weeks of that. Tested for Ureaplasma. Long gone!

But I still had symptoms. Altho I was much better, able to eat what I wanted (including tea, and acidic foods) and was able to walk around, and function with my life somewhat... Still wasnt testing positive for bacteria in the Urine. Technically I did not have a UTI.

One night, I got desperate. Was thinking I was having a "flare", it became unbearable, went to the emergency room. Tears pouring down my face, lying down, couldnt even get up when the doctor came in the room, wouldnt let them put anything in my urethra, cuz I was in so much pain. Gave me a script for Macrobid, (10 day supply, 100mg every six hours)

10 days later it was gone.

Ive been reading alot lately about UTI resistant antibiotics, and the link to supermarket/storebought chicken. They say, its becoming more and more of a problem. I think thats what was wrong with me, even tho I dont know why, the bacteria wasnt showing in my urine. So, 2 rounds of Cipro, 10 days of augmentin, 3 Z packs, and a months worth of Lyme disease dosage doxi, and macrobid finally cured me.

A not about the Doxi:: at 400mg a day, ti was very harsh on my body. I threw it up half the time, cuz it was so hard on my stomach. I got a SEVERE sunburn on my feet, (cuz it made me extremely photosensitive) I was tired all the time, sleeping all the time, and I was very hungry, and I had to eat alot of food just to keep it down, so I gained 25lbs. Its been Hell. But Ive learned to never to take my health for granted again. Im not sure what just happened to me, but im aware now about antibiotic resistance becoming an increasing problem. and I hardly ever take antibiotics, I always try the natural route first.

What Im plan to do now, to make sure this never, ever, happens to me again. I plan on taking my womens probiotic every single day, and add D Mannose to the regime as well. At least 2 teaspoons a day. (moring and evening) prevents bacteria from clinging to bladder wall. Especially when Im sexually active. Its expensive. But nothing can be more life ruining than interstitial cystitus.

To not be able to eat like a normal person again. (read several cases of people being able to cure their pain, by living on a diet, exclusively, of vegetables, brown rice, and nut butters, no salt, no sugar, no fruits (acidic) and claiming remision after a few years. Some women gradually being able to add in small amounts the old foods again, they used to eat again. "cheating" by eating Cheescake and Curry and to never be able to have sex again?? How sad is that? What kind of life is that?? and Im young women. Horrible. Id rather have gotten Cancer, or Genital Herpes any day of the week.

Im gonna give full credit to God, and Jesus Christ for my remision. There were prayer circles at my Church, and friends were praying for me. I prayed every morning to be healed. Plus I was on the prayer line, my life, my very life hung on the balance.

In the past Ive been promiscuous.. And I know Im not perfect, and I pray to God to guide me on this issue. I just know to be much more careful now, next time. Its worth it to stay in a monogomous relationship.

We'll if it exists I will try it! So far all special teas and probiotics and herbs and wonder drugs do nothing.

FRESH pressed lemon in water helps! Distilled water helps but is not good for you long term. Try to drink a gallon of non florinated water a day, it works but not instantly.

No alcohol or coffee :(.

Sweating out toxins in a sauna helps! As long as you drink a Lot of water and replenish with fresh pressed vegetable juice.

Everyone should have a VEGETABLE JUICER. Juice fast for a week for dramatic healing, but NO FRUIT in the juicer, spiking insulin will negate healing.

Get VITAMIN D LEVELS OVER 50, tan or take 10,000 iu of d3 a day, but get tested, and don't accept 30 as normal, it's not! Read about it w the vitamin D council.

For relief get a vaginal suppository with BORIC ACID. Its cheap, look online and read about it. Stay away from chemicals down there, boric is natural.

Stretching, either Pilates or something thorough really helps reduce the inflammation and allow the fluids kin your body release.

I just came across a FREE Ebook about treating IC naturally. It's a book by Diana Brady. It talked about the combination of Bromelain and Quercetin to treat IC. New to me, will keep you posted if anyone wants to know. Just curious. Would like to get coffee back someday!

Folks get your vitamin D tested. The vitamin D council spells it out online why its so IMPORTANT and how it correlates to health problems like this. Theres no instant cure, but get that D up and do the other things. Stay off sugars! For good and it will heal! :)

Diet is essential. My hub has severe IC with hunners ulcers and the whole shmear. Over the past 3 years we have tried EVERYTHING and finally gave in to pain meds, which he hates. Last month he became so frustrated we had to do something drastic. Even tho we followed the IC diet, we went to an elimination diet, basically starting from scratch like you would a baby. There is much info on the web. We are following the strictest. Voila!!! Pain has decreased from 8-10 to 1-3. It has been a journey. Found he had a definite sensitivity to bananas of all things! Just starting to add one thing at a time, our garden is filling with green beans, so we will give that a try next. This diet has worked for him, and he has lost 15 pounds in a month, which he desperately needed to do. Just puttin' this out there, it is pretty healthy. And as for the no dairy aspect, he was drinking a gallon of low fat milk a day, boocoo calories! And the diet is no dairy, so we switched to unsweetened almond milk. There is so little ICers can drink and he is always thirsty. Also marshmallow root tea brewed w/wo a cinnamon stick and honey sweetened, hot or iced works well. Pure seltzer with some allowable juices and a little honey scratches the soda itch. It is time consuming and involves some research, but anyone can do this. He can have brown rice, so found web recipes for brown rice flour breads, muffins and pancakes with no yeast (diet is NO gluten). Have seen a lot of ICers are gluten intolerant, so that is worth a try for anyone. It's real basic, no wheat, gluten, dairy, red meat other than lamb, turkey, fish/shellfish, nothing "white"... We hope this continues to work, even if it doesn't "cure" him, to keep his pain level way down and keep that bladder happy. Good luck everyone!

You have to be careful if you have any other conditions. My hub has severe IC, but also has history of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, and he retains fluid, so has to take blood thinners and water pills. Too much sodium swells him right up and can lead to CHF. So just a warning to others who may have any of these conditions to take it easy or avoid the baking soda.

Am curious with that much pain, are you following the diet precribed for IC, ie. Avoiding high acid foods, etc. I have IC and as long as I leave the offending foods alone and take MSM, I experience no pain, occassional "sensation" for lack of better term.

I have had severe bladder problems for well over 5 years now and just recently been DX. With Interstitial Cystitis. My problems kept getting worse and worse and even though my doctor started me on Elmiron most of you know that it only works in 30% of patients and takes about 4 months just to see if it will work. I got on the internet and began reading and one day I ran accross the 1/8 tsp of baking soda and I told my husband the next time the pain starts I'm going to try it.

I didn't have to wait long and I tried the baking soda and within one hour the pain and frequency were gone. I have now used that on several occasions and for me it stopped the pain within the hour a simple miracle. CHEAP 1/8tsp in a very warm glass of water. Not particularly taste so now I put the 1/8 tsp in a gelatin capsule and I take it with the larage glass of warm water and golly gee, pain free within the hour. I know that everyone is different, thats for sure but this has to be a first try for everyone suffering like I was and like most things we take RX's they are costly and have all kinds of side effects, this is easy, cheap and it works great if not what have you lost. I encourage each of you to give it a try. Thanks for allowing me to tell my story, I hope it helps just one IC patient.

Update::::: By now, I feel pretty foolish with all Ive gone thru these last 4 months with this horrible IC with natural remedies that didnt work for me, when all I had to do was take antibiotics, and Id be cured.

However, I had already tried 2 rounds of Cipro, and macrobid, and then started testing negative on all urine cultures, and being sent home empty handed, in horrible, horrible, horrible, crippling pain, feeling like I still have a bladder infection.

After finishing the z pack, I was almost all better, But 2 days later, symptoms returned full force and the nitemare was starting all over again for me. However, I knew the symptoms would return, and I couldnt get an appointment with my urologist, (which was 2 and a half hours away by the way, and I dont have a car) for another month. She wouldnt precscribe me another z pack, unless I retested again for the Ureaplasma. I would have to wait a month. Get retested, and wait an additional 4 days, then get more antibiotics, and hopefully be cured, but I knew it was impossible to wait the long, and it seemed horribly cruel, when I felt so close to a cure. Id have to start all over.

From the research Ive done on Ureaplasma, you almost always have to take more than one round of strong antibiotics to cure it, and some people take low dose long term antibiotics, from months to years to eradicate it. I saw a long painful road ahead, and I decided, getting Genital Herpes would have been a better fate for me than this, as at least with herpes u get periods of respite and you can SOMETIMES have sex, if your not having an outbreak. I was ready to Die.

I got the numbers of several Urologists closer to my area, about four. NONE of them tested for Ureaplasma, or even heard of it. I asked if they would do a test, they said no. You see. Many Urologist do not believe or even acknowledge the role Ureaplasma plays in IC, since 70% of the population carries this in their genital, bladder tracts without any problems. The community is split on the issue.

Ive been doing alot of research on this little bug, Ureaplasma. Its getting more and more attention, as more and more people are having problems with vulvodynia, and IC. Like I said, its considered sexually transmitted (but not), as we arent born with it, we get it thru sex.

A good gynecologist will also test for ureaplasma if you are having problems becoming pregnant, or have a history of miscarriages, or early deliveries. There's alot of talk about it on infertility boards on the net. The test is expensive. And the cure requires the use of long term antibiotics. Many doctors are hesitant to do that, these days.

As there is more and more hype about the overuse of antibiotics. Especially long term.

So I panicked, and I took matters in my own hands. I knew I needed more antibiotics. I had a reoccuring sinus infection for months. I made an appointment with my family doctor, and explained the situation, plus I made great emphasis on my sinus infection, (which had actually gotten better) but I wanted to make myself sound really sick (hammed it up), and she gave me Augmentin. A 10 day, supply and guess what. It is the third day, and I feel 95% awesomeness.

I then made a few more calls, and found out, I can get my doctor (the one that actually believes in Ureaplasma) to fax over an order to my family doctor or lab of my choice to do the test and everything will be gravy. So Im gonna test again for it, a week after I finish the Augmentin. Its also interesting to note that after researching IC, unrelentingly, for the last 4 months, and visiting, every IC website, and healthboard on the planet, and hearing people talk, Augmentin is considered one of the successful antibiotics for IC.

Thers only 3 that work against IC, only three.

Zinthromax (z Pack)

Doxicycline

Augmentin.

From what I read, its hard, hard, hard to cure. Harder than any STD. But its not incurable. It usually takes months to eradicate it.

many women just live with the pain, and take steroids, pain killers, and ANTIDEPRESSANTS. Isnt that sad?? Thats part of the protocol for IC patients. They give you an antidressant too, to cope with your life being over!!

I know on a gut level, this was some kind of elusive, hidden bacteria, embedded deep inside my bladder. Most people develop IC after a bad bladder infection. The pain lasts for years, YEARS. and its almost impossible to get a Urologist to help or even hear you.

I prayed to God to help me.

Its a miracle, and I will never doubt his presense and his ability to heal me again. Its a miracle the first Urologist I saw helped me, and was cutting edge enough to do this test.

Update: 4 weeks ago I upped the vaginal estriol to 2mg per ml of cream. Still taking Bi-Est drops (4 drops 2x/day since Jan) Urethra is working again!! Very little "straining or sitting and waiting to go". This was an EXTREME problem. Sometimes it took 2 hrs to go!! The pain was still the same at night, but way less during the day (from a level 10 to a level 3 during the day).

I was frustrated wanting faster healing, so I stopped the Bio-identical progesterone as they were making me extremely hot at night, creating horrible insomnia. I had been struggling to take progesterone pills since January (rarely taking them), but my Dr kept saying I needed to take them or I would not be allowed to take the estrogen, by her. I looked up progesterone allergy on google and saw: http://www.onlineallergycenter.com/blogpage.htm and called Dr. Roby who said I was allergic to progesterone as I had assumed. (I remembered that I started a progesterone cream when all this IC started years ago!!! Could there be a connection??) He said to stop the progesterone, as I am obviously allergic to it and ordered the progesterone allergy drops.

On day 2 of the drops I woke up w/NO pain (2 days before my period!! ). Same w/day 3 (1 day before my period!!! ). Then I got my period (Ouch each night (up 6-8x to pee w/pain) and then 3 days later, restarted vaginal estriol, (I continued the Tri-est drops, and Dr. Roby's progesterone allergy drops through my period). Now NO pain during the day if diet is good) and pain at 1 at night if perfect diet during the day. (actually 5 total days of 0 "awaking in the AM pain). I am at 2 weeks on the progesterone allergy drops. I am at 6 months of the Bi-est and estriol vaginal cream. I recently asked my bio-identical Dr for body cream instead of Bi-est drops as I read it's better for you. And Dr. Roby's progesterone allergy drops cost me 57 bucks for 3 month's worth of drops, and a book on how they work. He called me 5 times to see how I was doing. Such a caring man!!!

Will update again soon.

I also want to add that, its been 4 days on the zinthromax, or erythmycin, and I feel great, but I still have some pain, and I will be returning to my urologist in a week to get retested and hopefully get on long term antibiotics, as I've read thats what most people end up having to do with IC. So, now I KNOW this is an infection from a Bacteria, since I wasn't sure whether I had a damaged bladder or what?? A few more things about essential oil. Ive stopped that, as I wasnt getting over the hump, and it seemed to be very harsh on my body, but I was reading alot about BIOFILMS. Ureaplasma is considered a biofilm infection, by the way. Please learn and google this guys. In a research study, they tested 15 different essential oils, in breaking down Biofilms. Of the 15 only 4 broke the biofilms, of stubborn bacteria, and that is Tea tree, Eucalyptus, Palmarosa, and Rosemary.

Also, Ureaplasma is linked to miscarriage, and infertilty, which would explain my failure to conceive over the last 3 years. Like 50% of couples failing to conceive, looking for in vitro fertilization tested positive for this bacteria. But then AGAIN. Many people have this. Its just some people seem to have real problems with it, as it is SO LINKED to IC. Maybe some people's bodies dont like it, as one girl I read on a forum said. Ive also added coconut water to my regime. As I read some people cured bladder infections with it. It also makes your skin glow :))

UPDATE OMG!!! Breakthru, breakthru, breakthru!! Two words. Ureaplasma. Just got diagnosed with this by my urologist, OMG!!!!!

Ok. Parsley, essential oils, colostrum, cayenne... needless to say, did not really work to eradicate this infection.

I made an appointment with a Urologist. Breakthru!!!! She immediately tested me in my vaginal culture for everything, including a test for a microbe called Ureaplasma. I have never heard of this. Now, Ive been tested numerous times over the years, and everything always came out negative, but I get a call about 4 days ago from her saying I tested positive for this. She put me on zinthromax and I am taking it now. She tells me this is not an STD, but a sexually transmitted disease??? present in 70% of the human populations normal flora, (rectal, genital, and bladder tracts), but it is transmitted sexually, meaning, we are not born with this, we get it thruout the course of our sexually active lives. , and usually it does not cause problems for people, however.... There is now a compelling link between IC and this bacteria, or mycoplasma. I guess the test is expensive. Which is why most doctors will blow you off, and try to not test you , or REFUSE you and tell you tat since this is considered common flora for most people it wouldnt be considered a factor in causing, your IC. Cleveland Ohio is rated second best in the country for urology, with sum of the best urologists in the country studying and researching, IC. The first test they perform is for Ureaplasma. They say they get a 50% cure rate right there for people, once they treat it with antibiotics. However, my symptoms have improved vastly, I must go back again, and get retested. I was reading just now, online, that many people end up going back and still testing positive, and then after a three week course of doxycycline, get a complete cure. Googling it, I can hardly find any imformation at all about this, I cant believe how ignorant and reticent physicians are about testing for this, its awful, and scary. I was just reading about a gal, who had to fight to get tested and then fight to get treated for it, she saw 8 different doctors, and urologists... So be prepared to fight. There is compelling link here guys google it. I was really doomed. It scary, how a little microbe can jeopardize your whole future and life.