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I'm trying to work on "interstitial cystitis"(sic) with SR. In the meantime, I heard about an over the counter thing called Prelief, which claims it turns acidic urine to alkaline. It helps a lot - the pain on urination is almost completely gone. And that helps reduce muscle clenching.
However, it is erratic, and very significant pain flares up about once a week for 1-3 days, and that leads to clenching. Before the Prelief I was in severe pain every day.
I am wondering if I am doing myself harm taking something which makes things alkaline, since if I remember correctly that is not good for curing yeast. As I posted in another message, I recently took Diflucan and that seemed to clear up at least one problem.
I also stopped taking a soup of meds that I had been put on and that were also causing problems - burning in my arms, blurred near vision. I had been on augmentin, levsin, diflucan, paxil, and amatriptyline, as well as long term beta blocker, aspirin, prevacid, rocaltrol and calcium. The beta blocker and aspirin are for paroxysmal afib, which I am hoping the sr will also help. The rocaltrol is prescription strength vitamin D for osteopinea. I got rid of the augmentin, levsin, the diflucan, paxil, and amatriptyline. I added passionflower every other day or so, 1/2 capsule to help with anxiety, as I start to panic when the pain is severe.
I tried stopping hrt for a month, but had 5-6 hot flashes a day, migraines, and we know from bone scans that I need something to help put bone back on. Fosamax type stuff causes esophageal problems, and evista apparently has a high blood clot risk, so I am pretty much left with hrt. Exercise, rocaltrol, and calcium is insufficient - I keep losing bone on just those.
This "interstitial cystitis" sucks eggs, and I would really appreciate any guidance as to how long SR might take to show some results, as well as comments about the Prelief. Azo etc. irritates.
Thanks very much.
In Reply to: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by trudy on August 31, 2002 at 15:40:02:
I've been right where you are right now, and I am healed. I've posted my story on the internet, and I hope it helps you. I have also had all my fillings removed and replaced and that has also helped. You CAN get over this, but you will need to detox your body.
In Reply to: Re: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by Susan in Fl on August 31, 2002 at 20:30:33:
Thank you - this was very inspiring. Blessings to you.
In Reply to: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by trudy on August 31, 2002 at 15:40:02:
Thanks, Trudy.
I would be very interested in hearing from anyone else this helped and how long it keeps the symptoms away.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline TESTIMONIAL posted by Walt Stoll on September 01, 2002 at 10:08:57:
Dr. Walt asked about the Prelief, so I thought I would add that there is also a similar poduct I found from web grubbing. This one is called Tamer. It has different ingredients, but both claim to simply very much reduce acid, way more than regular antiacids. I mention it because the Prelief can cause some gas, etc. so I am trying the Tamer. Both can be ordered from their web sites. Walgreens also carries Prelief.
Since I have been taking a prescription strength acid reducing med Prevaid, for some time, I find it interesting that additional acid reduction is necessary. I tried stopping the Prevacid since I was taking the Prelief, but that was a mistake - I started having acid reflux symptoms again.
The Prelief for me anyway does seem to really make (grossness alert) urination not burn. I take one tablet after each time I urinate, so it is always in my tummy combating acid. Esp. important before going to bed.
However, I have gone back to spasming despite this, so, sigh, I am still hoping for results from SR. Any thoughts on when that might start helping?
I am also going to see a physical therapist to work on those muscles in particular.
In Reply to: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by trudy on August 31, 2002 at 15:40:02:
p.s. For something that ties right in with Dr. Walt's words about interstitial cystitis and bracing, see www.jmweissmd.com which contains a published paper that seems to say exactly the same thing.
In Reply to: Re: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by trudy on September 01, 2002 at 13:52:48:
Great article, Trudy! Thanks for posting this. Looking over the treatment approach, it looks pretty much like the things that I've done to resolve my IC (physical therapy, biofeedback, stress reduction and relaxation techniques). It's nice to see that someone out there is recognizing this approach. Hopefully this type of treatment will become more widespread so that more people can get relief from this.
In Reply to: Re: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by Daisy on September 02, 2002 at 01:03:21:
Daisy, how long did it take you to start seeing consistent pain relief? Although the Prelief takes away the urination pain, and I had a marked reduction in clenching and spasming the first couple of weeks, I am back to clenching and spasming problems, perhaps because I had to delay the second physical therapy visit.
In Reply to: Re: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline TESTIMONIAL posted by trudy on September 01, 2002 at 13:47:29:
Hi, Trudy.
SR begins working in 3-6 months and then helps more the longer it is practiced.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by trudy on September 01, 2002 at 13:52:48:
Thanks, Trudy.
It is nice to see that others are beginning to catch on.
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: bracing, interstitial cystitis, and alkaline posted by trudy on September 02, 2002 at 08:09:09:
Hi Trudy,
I've never had a lot of pain with IC, mostly just urgency, although early on in it, I would have a few spasms a day in my bladder. The important thing for me was to become aware of when I was clenching my pelvic floor muscles. I gained most of this awareness in the first 1-2 months of working with a physical therapist.
I think that resolving this problem is a little like untangling a bunch of string. You end up working through it slowly and methodically and trying different approaches for unravelling it, and in no time at all, you realize you've made considerable progress.
You are definitely on the right track with the PT, biofeedback, and SR. I would also recommend taking D-Mannose daily in case you have a lingering bacterial component that is also causing you problems.
Keep taking baby steps and don't let yourself stress about this. You're well on your way to resolving it and getting back to a normal life. In 3 months, you'll be amazed at your progress. In 6, it will be even better. The important thing is to listen to your body and stay consistent with what you do. Also, it helped me early on to keep a symptom log and rate how each day was on a 1-10 scale. That way I could see that I'd made progress.
Send me mail if you want some support along the way. I'd be happy to hear from you : )
Take care,
Daisy
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