The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Essential Oils
Posted by Shampoo (Los Angeles, California) on 06/10/2012
★★★★☆
ok guys, I am updating my interstitial cystitus game plan here as Ive drawn a few more conclusions over the last few days.
Im getting better. I feel great today, but I did have pain return with a vengeance 3 days ago, to the point where Ive made an appointment with a urologist, and I was looking up worst case scenerios stories on the net about having my bladder removed! :(( $%#@!!
Ive come to conclusion that this is a bacterial issue and not a physical or ulcerated bladder problem. How do I know this??
Ive upped my dosage of essential oils.
I did some research about curing stubborn bladder problems with alternative medicine, and I found out about a product sold in canada and eastern europe called nano drops. I found one random company in eastern europe that sells it. Its $80. There is also a youtube video under "nano drops" cure UTI. I wondered if it was a scam, and anywho, I dont have the money. However, Credited naturopaths had seen it clear incurable serious, interstitial cystitus cases, etc, etc, I found alot of different posts about it so I figured it was for real.
I looked up the ingredients. Juniper essential oil, Lavender, Eucalyptus and Pine needle oil. Thats all. $80. And thats it. In the directions it said, put 10 to 20 drops in a glass of water 3 times a day for up to a month until symptoms dissappear.
So, I increased my lavender and juniper oil intake signifigantly. I then ordered more juniper, and lavender, cuz I knew Id go thru the bottles in no time flat. I also ordered Cinnamon and Lemon oil cuz along with Clove, those are the main ingredients to the "thieves Oil" which is really helping me.
I take about 5-10 drops of juniper and 4 drops lavender in a capsule 4-5 times a day, no joke along with random gelcaps of 1 or 2 drops rosemary(cuz rosemary can be toxic) and more lavender 1 or 2 drops 2 drops peppermint, 1 or 2 drops sandlewood oil, or 1 drop clove here and there. Its been sporadic, Im just trying to get this fixed. Whenever I feel pain , I pop a gelcap with a few drops of random oils, being cautios about the more toxic ones (rosemary, clove) Everyday I push the envelope a little more. My bladder is healing. I can feel it. I cant believe it. It is awesome. I also have been dosing myself with cayenne, and turmeric basically, Ive been stuck at home, with the burning, flaming rocket runs :))) But its worth it. Drinking lots and lots of water, cuz I noticed symptoms started really returning when I slacked off on the water intake. Ive been at home, not going anywhere, focused, on trying to beat this thing.
I do not want biopsies, dont want to have them fill my bladder with potassium iodide or whatever, dont want these horribly invasive tests and procedures. Dont want this to ruin my life. I dont want the nitemare, and now that this has happened to me, its made me aware of this awful disease, I didnt even really know existed.
Ill sometimes do a random capsule of thieves, when I get hit with real pain, usually after I go to the bathroom. About 10 drops. Its pretty safe. I experiment with myself. Sometimes I get racing heart, or strange sensations when I do clove, or too many oils at once, I get paranoid, drink milk, and monitor myself. Its fine. And then I do more. Ive researched younglivingessential oils, and this is fairly safe, as there are recipes on the net calling for quit a few drops of oils, that I thought might be volatile, or unsafe to take. Just be careful.
Do your research guys. I have. Im determined. Im scared and determined. Im 32 years old, and Im not ready to throw the rest of my life away on this disease.
Cayenne
Posted by Shampoo (Los Angeles, California) on 06/28/2012
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 :))
Cayenne
Posted by Shampoo (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/29/2012
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??!!
Cayenne
Posted by Shampoo (Los Angeles, Ca) on 10/31/2012
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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lisadeb (Edina, Mn) on 02/05/2012
Update: Feb 5th: HGH: Bacterial Vaginitus is gone. This was a problem for the last 2 yrs. Daily hair falling out is less on my hairbrush. Skin looks better. Pores are getting smaller. When tried Gotu Kola and Querciten products they still cause too much insomnia due to Gotu-stomach ache and Querciten-Hot at night, so I am off them again. Must wait until I get stronger. I can eat garlic and onion now w/out bad breath. Normally spouse says it's a 24 hr problem. Now it's not even a 2 hr problem. Teeth don't feel dirty at 6PM. Less need to brush them during the day. Feel hopeful and can smile and joke again. I saw on internet that 55% of people saw renewed healing of old injuries" in people who used HGH for 15 days to 2 yrs. I need to heal adrenals and bladder. Bladder bad since 2005. Will text again if more changes.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lisadeb (Edina, Mn) on 07/01/2012
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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lisadeb (Edina, Mn) on 09/24/2012
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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lisadeb (Edina, Mn) on 11/25/2012
★★★★★
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.
Acidophilus
Posted by Chevygirl (Tuakau, Franklin, New Zealand, New Zealand) on 01/21/2012
★★★★★
Hi Chrissie, I was told to take acidophilus tablets for IC pain and I must admit, I was pretty skeptical about them working, but I can tell you, they worked within an hour!! I was blown away!
The weird thing was however, I bought them from right where you are at a drug store in Anaheim. The bottle is labeled 'Henry's', freeze dried acidophilus. When they had run out I bought more from our local health shop (in New Zealand) and to my disdain, they didn't work!
I have no explanation for this, so I will have to get my brother, who lives in Anaheim, to send me some more, as those ones definitely did without fail!!
Good luck with this, keep us posted!
Chevygirl, NZ
DMSO
Posted by Shirley (Il) on 08/18/2013
★★★★★
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.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Ducklucky (Monroe, Maine, Usa) on 07/24/2012
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!
Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide Douche
Posted by Lauren (Los Angeles, Ca) on 03/04/2011
★★★★☆
I too started douching w/ peroxide and vinegar due to a stubborn yeast infection and- voila!! IC symptoms (burning, pressure, pain, frequency) were soooo much better. So I douched for about 2 months, but it kept coming back quickly unless I douched every few hours. I learned I have a very heavy growth of group B strep in my vagina (tested negative for it 3 years ago, before IC started). So this explains why antibiotics always made my bladder feel better, but after I stopped i'd get a major flare-up (good bacteria killed off enabled bad ones to proliferate more).
Currently having luck with boric acid. I insert a "00" size veggie cap full of it at least once a day, and also a cap full of kefir cultured milk to repopulate good bacteria.
DMSO
Posted by Zsaqwe (Brownsville, Texas) on 09/21/2010
★★★★★
I think DMSO is for interstitial cystitis. CVS pharmacy might have it for that condition. I got it from the web. DMSO, although it is not approved by the FDA for anything except an obscure bladder condition (interstitial cystitis), is widely used in sports medicine. Professional sports in particular are obligated to use DMSO to get their athletes recovered from injury and back on the playing field. Each team knows the competition will use it, and this would mean a tremendous advantage for the other team, if it were to be ignored. Combine that with the fact that DMSO is as safe as it is effective (unlike large-dose steroid injections, which were once commonly used in professional sports) and its use becomes mandatory in professional sports medicine. When you consider the fact that DMSO is not a new and patentable drug, is cheap, safe and effective, and knowing what you should know about the medical establishment in the U. S. , you could predict with your eyes closed that there is a propaganda campaign against DMSO. The FDA has done nothing except drag its feet in DMSO research since October 25, 1963 when the first research application to study DMSO was filed with that agency. I got the information from: The Doctors' Medical Library by Ron Kennedy, M. D. , Santa Rosa, CA
Quercetin
Posted by Renae (Mpls, Mn) on 10/16/2010
Chamomile Tea: A lifesaver!!! I drink 4 teabags at a time in a large mug. 3 mugs per day. I keep extra tea bags in the car for emergencies. Chamomile also helps w/Irritable Bowel, and it contains Quercetin. Too much Quercetin is pro-oxidant even though it's an anti-oxidant. I can only take 1/day (Quercetin capsule also has Bromalin) I also recently added some couchgrass, Marshmallow, cayenne (Note: for us older gals: (I am age 47) 1xday on 1st 1/2 of menstrual cycle... Too many hot flashes on 2nd half.. It's estrogenic and so is quercitin, which I still take all month). Always remember that flairs can come back so do maintenance forever.
Couch Grass
Posted by Lisa (Coral Springs, Fl) on 03/14/2010
★★★★★
Couch grass works wonders for IC. Take it in pill form or in a tea and after about 30 days you will never knew you had it.
Couch Grass
Posted by Natalie (Pittsburg, Ks) on 01/31/2012
I have a question about the couch grass, did you still have to adjust your diet?
Natalie
Marshmallow Root
Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 01/15/2010
The aloe works wonders for the bladder pain. I've read it actually works to repair the lining of the bladder. Slippery Elm is supposed to do that too. I use the distilled kind of aloe juice that "tastes like spring water". Can't mention the product name. I had IC pain that got so bad last summer I thought about taking pain pills. I didn't want to do that so I went the natural remedy way. After alot of trial and error this is what works best for me:
1) I drink lots of water to keep the urine as non acidic as possible. I also take Prelief when I eat or drink anything acidic.
2) I use marshmallow root liquid- non alcohol (1 dropper full), aloe vera juice (3 oz) , MSM (4000 mg), and tumeric (1000 mg) as a daily regimen. I have some break-through pain sometimes but I keep it under control most of the time. It tends to flare up more when I get close to my cycle. I've noticed that this regimen also helps quite a bit with my IBS and asmtha too.
I've done alot of reading on IC causes and I think mine started because of systemic candida and having an acidic ph. Candida can affect all of your organ systems, which it has mine. I take coconut oil (2 tbspn), oregano oil, and ingest H202 to fight the candida (I'm seriously considering doing the H202 intravenously). I'm going to add fresh garlic to the mix. I also take 50 billion probiotics daily. My health is still not at 100% but I have come a loooong way in a year.
Good luck and God Bless!
Cinnamon
Posted by Steph (Lake Erie, Pa ) on 01/28/2014
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
According to healthyICrecipes, the problem with Cinnamon (most likely including capsules) in the US, is that it isn't "real" Cinn.! We use a cheaper alternative, called "Cassia", while "real" Cinn is "Ceylon". The cheap stuff contains a toxic compound called "coumarin", which is known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations (I think I read something about it being poisonous to dogs once.). This is why IC patients have trouble with it.
For me, Cinnamon is wonderful to my stomach, and not so to my IC. I found the waaay expensive Ceylon at my Whole Foods Store and am doing an experiment. I am also anxious to try, despite the price ($27.99/lb. this part of US! ), b/c of the grain-free, low sugar diet I am also trying. It is in very many recipes. Also, Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar by "tricking the taste buds that sugar is present", so one can use less! Yea!
I haven't read yet on Cardamon, the only other spice I feel is a similar taste & therefore substitution. Does anyone else know if Cardamon has the same "Coumarin"?
Dietary Changes
Posted by Husseypat (Panama City, FL) on 10/06/2009
★★★★☆
Interstitial Cystitis
I have IC and have suffered severe pelvic pain. Diet has helped a lot, but I am definitely not pain free. I have found that heat can help the pain temporarily and that the acid reducer listed on the IC NETWORK does help if you take it before every meal or snack. I know tomatoes drive me to a bad flare-up, so I try to avoid them at all cost. It's very hard to not eat foods with any preservatives-----that means nothing out of a box, can, or package. I do not drink ANYTHING but water. I wondered if anyone knows which of the bottled waters has the highest PH and the least of damaging processing for an IC patient. I can't walk much, stand much and definitely can't exercise. I get horrible pain. I bought an Elliptical Trainer machine and after a couple of days it had my pelvic in a complete knot. I have always exercised religiously, but not anymore. I find this condition can be very depressing because you know the lining in your bladder is gone forever and you have to deal with this the rest of your life. You look healthy when people see you, but they can't imagine the suffering you do in private. Good luck to all. pat
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Donna (Royal Oak, Mi) on 01/08/2010
The same thing happened to me - test after test came up negative for any bacteria. Finally one doctor, out of desperation because I kept insisting there was an issue, decided to use a scope and look. Turns out I had a massive infection. Surprised him but not me. It wasn't showing up in the urine tests because it wasn't coming out in the urine - the bacteria was actually imbedded in the lining!
Glad to hear about all these other things you have been trying. I'll put them on my list too. thanks!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dana (Allentown, Nj) on 09/27/2016
Donna, if the bacteria was found embedded in lining, what did dr do to treat it?
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Connie (AZ) on 09/18/2021
Hi that product that you can buy over the counter to take before eating problem acidic foods, is called, pre-life. Good luck to you dear as I have suffered with icy for most of my life and just in the last year I've had a terrible flare at 67 years old. But I'm trying many of the natural products and when I am being good I have less pain. I'm definitely going to try the Oxytrol patch. Take care
Turmeric and Lemon Juice
Posted by Annee (Niagara Falls, Canada) on 08/26/2008
★★★★★
Hi to everyone who suffers from chronic disease.. I suffer from a lot of pain, from interstitial cystitis to a severe degenerating disk of my spine. I am only 48. I have severe arthritis as well. i have been taking baking soda twice a day but found out that this cheap remedy is very good and will reduce the acid by far..and is good for a lot of ailments:
I take 1/4tsp of turmeric spice from the grocery store..and a squeezed lemon juice with hot water, about one cup... before breakfast and dinner.. read about information on the web, its amazing.. a specialist who I saw at the spinal decompression clinic told me that.. my faith is in that DR... take care..
Alkaline pH
Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, TN) on 05/03/2009
This is for Angie from Goodlettsville, TN that suffers from IC...if you had pus in your urine than it sounds like an infection to me. My urologist said that the does not rely on the urinalysis done in the office because they can be unreliable. He always sends them out to be cultured. I would definitely get a second opinion if I were you. I would much rather have UTI's which can be cleared up rather than IC which is a chronic condition. Best of luck to you.
Alkaline pH
Posted by Susan (Grand Rapids, MI) on 07/26/2009
I have had IC for 19 years so I have a lot of experience dealing with it. When I first came down with it I also noticed that antibiotics relieved my symptoms, so I kept going to the doctor and begging for antibiotics. Whatever causes it is some kind of virulent fungus. What has worked best for me is ___ ____ [anti-candida supplement] and colloidal silver.
Alkaline pH
Posted by Diane (Ottumwa, Iowa, Usa) on 01/14/2011
For I. C. , look at a particular form of calcium called Calcium Glycerophosphate, (brand is P______.) good luck everyone.
Alkaline pH
Posted by Vicki (Atlanta) on 07/07/2018
That's what the Interstitial Cystitis help site says. “Take Calcium Glycerophosphate daily to reduce unintended acids in your diet and decrease IC symptoms which result from ingesting bladder irritants.”
They recommend L-arginine, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Probiotics from studies indicating that they help relieve IC symptoms. I've upped my dose of L-arginine and ordered Chondroitin Sulfate. You probably know of Glucosamine & Chondroitin a popular supplement.
Alkaline pH
Posted by Lisa (Hastings, Mn) on 06/16/2011
★★★★★
Yes. I agree. Calcium Citrate did the trick. And Fast. Pain gone almost right way and permanently. I can eat much larger variety after only a few days. Staying off citrus and tomato sauce because I don't want to push it, as I am back on low acid caffeinated coffee after only 2 wks and I am afraid to push it. I need the caffeine more to get to work. I am also back on chocolate. If I take it on an empty stomach though I get nauseous! I take 3 to 4 per day. If I take 4 I get dry lips though. PH of urine is VERY alkaline.
Alkaline pH
Posted by Janet (In) on 04/27/2017
Treasa using Apple Cider Vinegar as a wipe would be beneficial. Maybe 50 50 spring water and Apple Cider Vinegar on t.p. a time or two. Keep a small bottle of the mix in bathroom for ease of use.
The debris at the opening will breakup and give you relief.
Using baking soda in your Apple Cider Vinegar drink would encourage the breaking of and effortless cleansing of the bladder and kidney.
2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar 1/2 tsp of baking soda let fizz add 1/2 glass of water and drink 2x a day 1/2 hour after meals. 5 days out of 7.
Janet
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Rose (Brighton, uk) on 07/26/2023
★★★★★
for Cystitis
2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar with bicarbonate of soda add water
Quarter flat of teaspoon cinnamon powder mixed to a paste warm milk added
hot water bottle between thighs is comforting
do not drink cranberry juice only drink lots of water
keep feet and kidney area warm
Baking Soda for Bladder Pain
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 03/30/2021
Thanks, Tom!
It's always good to have another remedy at the ready in my arsenal!
~Mama to Many~
Multiple Supplements
Posted by Eva (England) on 04/28/2020
★★★★★
I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis 10 years ago after many unsuccessful rounds of antibiotics for a UTI. At my worst, I was house bound and could not leave the house. I was searching for another remedy and realised that I had never written down what helped me recover and so thought I would pass this along to anyone else who needs help. Supplements I used: Marshmallow Leaf Tea Cornsilk Tea Iron (I was anaemic) Probiotics D-Mannose I went on to an acid free diet and ate lots of lettuce and cucumber, which helped. I also used exercises from Amy Steins - Heal Pelvic Pain. It was slow at first, but I gradually began to improve. I went back to my normal life and diet eventually, although would limit foods like oranges and coffee. If I get ill or run down it flares slightly, but I can quickly get it back on track. I live normally and for the most part do not give it a second thought, so if you are struggling- remember it is not forever. I would also have bad days in the beginning by trying to do too much, but when I rested I would feel better than before. Good luck!
Antidepressants Caused IC
Posted by Anne (USA) on 02/26/2019
★★★★★
It took about five days after stopping SSRI antidepressant Sertraline for my IC symptoms to clear up.
Researching this issue, I found plenty of medical evidence that SSRI medications along with other common medications are notorious for causing IC and bladder contractions and symptoms of IC. Please check your medications and see if bladder or urinary symptoms is listed as a side effect.
I have suffered chronic pain and infections for over nine months and it all cleared up in five days after stopping Zoloft/Sertraline.
Colloidal Silver, Garlic
Posted by Anne (USA) on 02/16/2019
★★★★★
Colloidal Silver
After 9 months of antibiotics and Doctors visits for interstitial cystitis and biofilms, I drank one quart of colloidal silver 10-15 ppm and ate 9-12 cloves of garlic which I chopped and swallowed each day. I spaced the silver and garlic out for three or four doses a day not exceeding a quart of colloidal silver a day. I was advised to use this protocol for three months. After one month, I am symptom free unless I start missing doses. I will complete the 3 months.
Online I found a video on how to make a colloidal silver generator cheaply using three 9 volt batteries, two .9999 silver wires, distilled water and two dual ended alligator clips. It costs me about .37 cents a guart to make a quart in 45 minutes using two 10 gage silver wires. I started out slow and increased my dose of garlic and silver until I was at the full dose.
DNA Testing
Posted by MariCarol (USA) on 02/20/2019
My regular lab will do susceptibility testing with a urine culture if it is ordered by a physician. Way cheaper than Microgen, and gives the same information.
Dietary Change, Probiotics
Posted by Lily%u2019s mom (OHIO) on 09/27/2021
Thank you for sharing this! I suffer the same way. I take probiotics every day, but will add another one🤗
Boric Acid Suppositories
Posted by Kaylap (Abbotsford, Bc) on 02/03/2018 5 posts
★★★★★
Yes, I agree on the boric acid. I found that recurrent yeast infections were exacerbating the inflammation in the pelvic region and thus causing IC flare ups. I experienced lots of relief from IC once I started taking probiotics as well as another herbal supplement (forget the name) to heal my gut, and boric acid to fight yeast.
Dietary Changes, Supplements
Posted by Whisperingsage (Ca) on 08/30/2017 45 posts
Raw dairy from grass fed animals can be healing, Weston Price did a worldwide study in the 1930's to discover the causes of modern degenerative diseases- Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, and he found that the refined foods were the culprit, granted that was before refined grain oils, and GMO's and all the additives after the 30's. But he found proper raw milk and cheese from mineral dense pasture was the ticket. I am trying to replicate that on my small farm. I have goats and milking sheep. There is definitely a difference- my goat milk when the girls are on raw greens is yellow, and so is milk from our Jersey we used to have, who ate foxtails, bless her heart, but green foxtails, and yellow, yellow, yellow milk. There is truly a different chemistry going on there. I am also trying to do greenhouses in winter for chicken and rabbit greens and they get yellow fat too from the greens. sometimes striking yellow. My husband thought something was wrong. But that's beta carotene as well as vitamin K2. We try to supplement with 60 minerals, and put limestone and dolomite on the garden and weeds.
Look up Weston Price's book free PDF here;http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html and listen to Dr Joel Wallach who is an amazing Doc Dead Doctors Don't Lie; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARB73jV4mro
Ozone Installations
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 02/02/2017
ANNE,,,,,,,,, since I's SJS, I failed to read your last sentence that this procedure can be expensive. No way JOSE, this procedure costs pennies and can be done at home. The problem is the protocol, and I can tell you that is not a deal because it can be done by trial and error. You just error to the safe side.
You have done all a service by telling us about this procedure, but it is not rocket science stuff. The medical folks just want to keep the details a secret so they can milk the patients for all they can. Business as usual. Not fussing at you.
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Diet, Turmeric, Exercise
Posted by Julie (Pa) on 07/23/2015
I am so glad someone mentioned stress as a huge underlying reason for IC. I have been dealing with IC for about 2 years. Oddly enough it began with a horrible episode of kidney stones and 1 Lithotripsy treatment. (not sure if that started my IC??) However, my flare ups definitely come when I am super stressed. Usually work related. I have read all of the websites I could about treatments for IC....but I don't believe one remedy will work for all....because IC can be caused by a variety of things. Including infections, stress, high acidity. The problem is finding the right fix can take lots of money and bathroom visits. Also, I also noticed that drinking water (tap from a well) can be very high in acidity....so stay with the better brands of bottled water. I believe managing my stress a bit better and watching what I eat and drink; although may not be a cure...but will definitely help in dealing with flare ups.
Macrobid
Posted by Nic (Boston) on 10/08/2015
You need to do a broth culture, but not any. The one that "brews" for 10 days. There are only a couple of labs in the country that do that. I always used United Medical Laboratories in West Virginia (I believe). Be careful with Macrobid. You likely have one of the bigger guns infections (enterecoccus), and macrobid only makes them stronger.
Look up Dr Paul Fugazzoto, but with interstitial cystitis in the search or you will get some dentist. He died a few years ago, but before that had a chance to help many-many women figure out they had a bacterial infection that simply didn't show up on a regular urine test. He passed on the culture method he used to the lab, but I believe it was actually used at the very beginning of urinanalysis, and then we switched to the simple test that showed no bacteria in your urine.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Nonib (Lower Michigan) on 05/23/2015
★☆☆☆☆
Aloe vera, pure organic (and very expensive) juice did nothing for me; made me extremely nauseated. There are some of us who can't tolerate various natural items, even though they are themselves straight from Earth. The fact that my daughter and I share the same intolerances (aloe vera, echanesia, gluten, St. John's wort, etc.) indicates to me that there may be a genetic component.
My IC is very mild compared to many posting on this thread and I'm very grateful for that. In my case I've found that carbonated beverages and, sadly, coffee can be irritating. I avoid soda ('pop') for the most part, drink coffee sporadically and never strong brew.
I just discovered that apple cider vinegar (w/a small amount of raw, unfiltered locally-produced honey) helps the IC as well as the various aches and pains from my constellation of auto-immune disorders. Mainstream medicine has saved my life a few times now but I don't do well with so many chemicals (medicines) that I just avoid unless life-threatening circumstances require them.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Toni Tayb (Memphis, Tn) on 12/17/2015
★★★★★
I used Diatomaceous Earth for 3 months. I just started off with 2 tablespoons. It did kill parasites. After a week, I followed with Senna tea to flush out my intestines.
I thought the same as you. The Earth is wet so it can't be effective, but it is!!!! It even removed swelling from around my knees, which I didn't even know existed.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Lisa (Yucca Valley) on 11/18/2016
Hello my friend,
You have Vulvodynia, a chronic pain syndrome that affects the vulvar tissue. I suffered with this for 3 yrs in the late 1990s. It is oxalate crystals in your urine that cause the stabbing pain to the vulva tissue. You must eat a low oxalate diet eliminating all foods high in oxalate. You must drink lots of liquids like cherry juice or water or apple cider. There are others look to the low oxalate diet alternatives. Buy Calcium Citrate with no additives. Figure out the times of the day when your pain is highest and take 500 or 750 mg of calcium citrate on an empty stomach with 8 or 10 oz of water. The calcium citrate will return the urine to a normal ph over time. Get a vegetable laxative you will get severe constipation from the calcium citrate so you must take laxatives. You can take a warm bath with some apple cider vinegar to relieve the pain. No soaps or harsh chemicals to the area. Get on an anti depressant now to be able to better manage or cope with this horrible pain. I have Vulvadynia again probably it came back as I had a first time ever yeast infection or it's heredity and stress plays a role in chronic pain conditions. You will get better. Look to the Vulvar pain foundation for support. There are about 2 million women who suffer from Vulvadynia you are not alone. You can also try biofeedback to the pelvic muscle. Stay away from too many Doctors as they don't know what's wrong and may give you topical treatments to the vagina which will make it worse and or antibiotics which will not help. They'll think because of a white odor colorless discharge that doesn't test positive for yeast it's still a yeast infection and treat as such. This will set back your recovery and you don't need that stress. Let me know how you're feeling, I pray you get well soon and you will but you must follow the regimen I have explained it's the only cure.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Anna (Michigan, US) on 01/12/2015
★★★★★
I did an anti - candida diet and supplements and most of my symptoms disappeared within 3 weeks. The first few days my pain and inflammation was reduced by 80 per cent.. I also recommend you have a Urine CULTURE done to find any bacteria not appearing in a standard urinalysis. If you go the antibiotic route remember to increase your probiotics and drink Kefir/yoghurt! Good luck!
Treat for Ureaplasma
Posted by Hope (Seattle) on 12/23/2014
★★★★★
I linked Interstitial Cystitis, IC to a cause.
I had a new habit of chewing on cough drops daily. I just like the peppermint taste and I was having vitamin C ascorbic acid IVs the stuff was burning my arm and now I have IC. I wonder if it burned my bladder, weakened it, and became susceptible to ureaplasma.I drink tons of water, fresh squeezed lemons and 2 drops of SSKI with baking soda,
I have read that Interstitial Cystitis may be caused by Ureaplasma. The doctors do NOT check for this. Also, bacteria can go into the lining of the bladder and live there and it does NOT show up in the urinalysis. So then you need to take medicine for 6 weeks I read, also first the biofilm needs to be dissolved then 15 minutes later then take prescribed medicine or find a natural medicine. See a toxicologist they will know what to do.
Treat for Ureaplasma
Posted by Mimi (Green Bay, Wi) on 05/17/2017
I also believe IC is caused by bacteria and I am taking steps to be tested as well. I went to my local urologist after being tested negative for a UTI and yeast infection. They didn't test or examine me. They just told me to go home and follow the IC diet and drink a lot of water. I left feeling very helpless and very misinformed on what this even meant and how to proceed. I spent weeks reading everything I could on the boards. Until I get tested I'm taking bladder ease which is a godsent.
I'm so glad you were persistent and followed through. I feel the same way, I am not going to take no for an answer by a urologist.
