Replied By Julie (San Diego, California) on 04/20/2010
Elizabeth, that's awesome you found something to rid your pain! Has the turmeric continued to give you relief?Replied By Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 09/23/2010
Julie- I still take turmeric every day as a precaution (it doesn't hurt it's good for you too). I think I found a link between my vaginal issues of yeast/bv and my IC. Once I started treating the YI/BV with home remedies my IC symptoms decreased alot. I've noticed when my lady parts are happy, my IC pain is practically non-existent. Woo-hoo! Also, I use Uva Ursi as a urinary cleanser after sex and a couple times a month. This seems to help also.Replied By Yezenia (Chandler, Az) on 11/12/2010
Elizabeth, I am so happy to know that you have found relief from IC with Turmeric. I am going to try this one. Also, I wanted to know what home remedies you have tried for your BV/IC because as many other women on here I am on a cycle of IC, then yeast infection, then BV over and over again. It has been the worst pain/experience of my life. Thank you for sharing what works for you.Replied By Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 11/12/2010
Yezenia- I've had to do alot of experimenting with my YI/BV/IC issues. I can honestly say that most of the time I am pain free. I believe I've had and still have systemic candida from overuse of antibiotics and cortisteroid medications for my asmtha. It doesn't help that my immune system has never been very strong either. I've experienced alot of improvement with my YI/BV issues by using boric acid suppositories that I make at home. I did alot of internet research before I finally took the plunge. It's a personal decision.. You have to weigh the pros and cons. I use the boric acid after I have sex and after my period to correct the alkaline ph these instances cause. Also, I will use an empty veggie capsule filled with jojoba oil and one or two drops of oregano oil to fight any active infection (in conjuction with the boric acid). I find this one-two punch approach really knocks out the infection quickly. I also find that drinking aloe juice, the distilled kind, really helps with repairing the bladder lining. I try to drink it at night right before bed so it can hang out in the bladder for awhile.Replied By Barbara B (Lakeland, Fl Usa) on 12/30/2010
I was thrilled to find this site and spent several hours reading about IC. It is so refreshing to be able to communicate with others who are experiencing what I am experiencing. I don't believe I have IC, but I believe I have the precursors to it. I sailed through four bladder surgeries, but the fifth, a year ago, traumatized my bladder and turned my life upside-down. Although I do not have the intense pain of IC, I do have painful urination, I do have daily episodes of acute inflammation and spasms and have to follow a low acidic diet to maintain control. I now have a potty chair next to my bed so that I avoid most night-time accidents. I adjust the leg length to tip the front forward a bit, which allows me to empty my bladder more quickly and completely. With the chair nearby and a draw on my bed, I also am able to avoid wearing protection at night, which helps helps with UTIs. The potty chair is also raised, which is much more comfortable than using a lower commode.
I am very eager to try the boric acid, turmeric, coconut oil, oregano oil, and marshmallow root. During flair-ups, tiny amounts of baking soda are moderately successful but I will increase my dosage. While I am going to try the apple- cider vinegar, I am cautious. I know that vinegars are very acidic in nature and and bother me tremendously, so I will introduce ACV VERY slowly. I had tried taking large amounts of cold-press aloe vera juice with not much success, but I will try the distilled concentrate to see if that has more benefit. Potassium citrate would tear me up (citric acid. ) and DSMO causes a strong and very unusual body odor, so I'll save that one for last. I have IB with diarrhea as well as OB, which are related, and the generic little green anti-diarrheal pills help tremedously with both conditions. If anyone knows something cheap and natural which would replace these, please let me know. I take probiotics.
I make my own low-acid coffee by mixing equal parts coffee (decaf is STRONGLY recommended for IC patients) and cold purified/distilled water, and storing it in a dark container in cool dark place or 18 hours. I then filter out the grounds to make a coffee concentrate that can be stored in the frig for up to a month. To make coffee, rule of thumb is 12 oz hot water to 2 tablespoons of the coffee concentrate, but adjust for personal taste.
Replied By Tom (Regina, Sk) on 12/30/2010
Barbara:
Did you ever try d-mannose, the sugar in such as blueberries and cranberries that is determined as the real healing substance in those products?http://www.tahomaclinic.com/mannose.shtml
D-mannose is a naturally occurring simple sugar, closely related (in chemical terms, a "stereoisomer") to glucose. Small amounts of D-mannose are metabolized by our bodies; more than small amounts are excreted promptly into the urine. But how can even large quantities of a simple natural sugar do anything at all to cure over 90% of all bladder and urinary tract infections?
The answer is found in the interaction between D-mannose and the bacterium found in over 90% of all bladder infections, Escherichia coli ("E. Coli"). [No, that's not the infamous E. Coli mutant associated with unsanitary food processing that's hospitalized and killed people. It's the normal E. coli found as part of the "normal microflora" in every intestinal tract.
But even normal E. Coli don't belong in the bladder and urinary tract; in these areas it multiplies and becomes an undesirable infection. But why doesn't the normal downflow of urine from the kidneys through the ureters into the bladder and thence beyond simply carry the E. Coli right along with it? What allows the E. Coli to "stick" to the inner walls of the bladder and even work their way upward (like "Spiderman") in some cases reaching as far as the kidneys?
Mannose found as a supplement in a bottle is not one of the cheaper nutraceuticals, because of course there is only a tiny percent by weight of it in a pound of blueberries. But compared to the miseries of a UTI, it would amount to nothing if it works! Example of bottles of mannose here in BING Images:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=d-mannose&go=&form=QBLH&scope=images&filt=all
Replied By Barb B (Lakeland, Fl Usa) on 01/03/2011
Thanks for the feedback, Tom. I did try a big jar of the D-Mannose. I've used it in the past with great success, but not this time. I took antibiotics almost continually for 10 months and every time I got off them, the infection was back the next day. I took the anitibiotics, the probiotics and the D-Mannose, plus AZO or other OTC, but the infection was relentless. Xylitol was the only thing that kept it at bay. It still keeps it at bay but it doesn't get rid of the infection. I would have tried the D-Mannose with the Xylitol along with the antibiotic and probiotics, but my funds are very limited.Replied By Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 01/03/2011
Barb- Try taking Uva Ursi with a little pinch of baking soda in your water. The alkalinity of the BS lets the uva ursi do its thing. I love the stuff.Replied By Barb (Lakeland, Fl Usa) on 02/24/2011
I recently had a urinalysis with culture and the e'coli is still present. The doctor wants to put me back on a med that created terrible joint pain for me, then put me on a maintainance antibiotic. I don't want to go there! This time I am going to treat everything including the IBS-D aggressively. A big bottle of D'Mannose, along with UviUrsi, Mashmello, Digest Advantage (for the IBS-D, )probiotics, Activea, ( more probiotics) Coconut Oil. My doctor may not appreciate me but I'll go down and get the second urinalysis she ordered to test for cure, so I will know if it working. If not, then I'll have to do the antibiotics. Thanks to everyone for the input.
Replied By Alexandra (Miami, Fl) on 04/12/2011
As Chrerieh said I started using equal parts apple cider vinegar and hydrogen peroxide as a douche twic a day, I have been using it since yesterday and I already feel better!!Replied By Shampoo (Los Angeles, Ca) on 06/07/2012
IC Symptoms and Turmeric:
Turmeric is awesome for me. I cap my own and I take about 3 capsules, three times a day, and MSM powder as well, I take about 2 capsules three times a day.
