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Mary (Tucson, Az, United States) on 01/06/2012
5 out of 5 stars

I have had IC for 30 years. My main pain triggers are vinegar, lemon, citric acid, acidic foods, vitamin C, some of the B vitamins. I am unable to take any products with citrates, orotates, asporotates. The perfect remedy for me is 1/8 tsp. Baking soda (I use nonaluminum product from health store) mixed into very warm water. Usually pain subsides within the hour. If not, I take another 1/8 tsp. It is important to read labels carefully because many products contain triggers. My flare will occur within hours of eating a substance so I have learned that even small amounts of vinegar in mayonaise and salad dressing can be a problem. Before I reached menopause, hormones (I believe estrogen) were a trigger as well. That occurred at onset of menstrual cycle. An over the counter product for vaginal burning was very helpful to me at that time. It contained Benzocaine for numbing. I would only use for extreme pain though because it contains parabans, etc.

I learned these are common causes of flares at the IC website: Vitamin C, some B vitamins, the hormone Estrogen, acidic foods. Unfortunately, I suffered many years before I found what was helpful for my flares. Now I forget that I even have IC because I can treat it so easily. I'm hoping this will be helpful to someone.

REPLY   3      

Replied By Shampoo (Los Angeles, California) on 05/28/2012

Doesnt work. I did a half teaspoon every 2 hours with a ton of water for two days and it did NOTHING for me except made me sick. Absolutely nothing, and baking soda can be dangerous in large amounts.
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Replied By Plumhappy (Eugene, Oregon) on 07/23/2012

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.
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Replied By Ducklucky (Monroe, Maine, Usa) on 07/24/2012

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.
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Replied By Sunny (Ca) on 11/04/2013

Yes this helps!! I take in on empty stomach in morning. Still concerned about it being sodium?? Still safe than taking most presciption meds!

-Sunny

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