[livingwith]

After having IC for 8 years and doing everything that the doc told me to do, and taking all of the pain meds. Which by the way was the only thing that actually did help (which is sad to admit). I finally decided to do something a little out of my ordinary. I decided to try an herbal remedy that was suggested to me. I was very skeptical because me and herbs just don’t click. hahaha. But, on the flip side there was a guarantee with them so I figured what did I have to lose. If I took th...Read the full article

[lorlor]

Hello, I was hoping you could tell me what herbs you use? Thanks, Laura

[LorK]

Jennifer~ Which herbs do you use you never mention them in your post?

[irmag40]

I have had severe IC symptoms for almost 6 months straight. Frequency almost every 30 minutes and severe pelvic pain if I have to hold it. Three urologists have gotten very angry with me because I won't let them take out my bladder. I would rather try alternative meds. I am very interested in the herbal med that you take and that you sell. If it helped you, maybe it will help me too. I am so
desperate and so tired of this constant pain even though I have tried so many therapies and diets!
Please let me know asap. Thank you, Irma G

[LorK]

Irma,

I responded back in Sept. asking Jennifer the same question for the herbal remedy however, she never replied so I don't know if she doesn't go on this site anymore? Are you on meds now I presume? My urologist had put me on two different meds and I am fine now and pain free. I went in December for a follow up and he even told me that I could try to cut back on one of the meds and see how that goes and do a follow-up in a year unless I have a flare-up. So far so good.

I would never let them take out your bladder. I would continue to search for a dr. that specializes in IC until you find one that you are comfortable with that doesn't want to do a radical procedure.

I wish you well.

Lori

[irmag40]

Thank you Lori. I am not on any meds right now. For a month I have been taking an alternative med called UroLogic but it doesn't seem to be working. What meds are the ones that helped you?
The last urologist I went to last August had me on Elmiron and phenazaphrid for burning and another for pain. But they weren't working so I quit taking them. I prefer alternative meds that's why I
was interested in the one that cured Jennifer. I am totally down on medical doctors right now.
In Nov of 2006 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. My first urologist took out a tumor but said he couldn't take it all out so he wanted to take out my bladder instead. When I refused he got very angry with me and told me to take my records and get a second opinion. So I found another urologist. This one tried taking out the rest of the tumor but said that he was afraid some cells had already gone into the lining of the bladder and he needed to take out the bladder so that the cells wouldn't get to my kidneys. When I refused, he also got angry with me. On Feb of 2007 I started taking a tea extract called Essiac and I bought a Rife machine. Between the two of them I was able to get rid of the cancer. (And it was a fast growing cancer according to the 2 urologists) On March of 2009 I went to another urologist to see if he would do some tests on me to determine whether I still had cancer or not. He did a cystoscopy and took out biopsies of the bladder. The lab reported "no cancer in site"!
But what they did find was Interstitial Cystitis. After I recovered from the biopsies I kept having
IC symptoms. Frequent urination and some pain but not severe. On August of 2009 I had a follow-up appt with the urologist and he insisted on doing another cystoscopy there in the office because he
didn't believe that the lab reports were right. He couldn't figure out why the cancer was gone. I told him about the alternative treatments that I had been doing but he didn't believe it. To make a long story short, when he did the cystoscopy it was very painful. It felt like it was hitting a bone or something but I couldn't stand the pain and asked him to stop. He got upset and told me to make an appt at the hospital so that he could put me under anesthesia and do the cystoscopy. I left his office feeling terrible. My whole pelvic area was in severe pain. When I got home I decided that if he hurt me that bad when I was awake, how much more would he hurt me when I couldn't feel it. So I haven't gone back to him. But ever since then, I have been in severe pelvic pain and going to the bathroom constantly. Sometimes every 30 minutes and during the night every hour on the hour.
My whole life has changed dramatically because of this IC. I will be so relieved when I can find
something that will help me. Thank you for your comments. IrmaG

[LorK]

Irma,
My urologist has me on Oxybutynin 5mg 1x/day & Cytotec 100mcg 4x/day ( this one you cannot take if you are or plan on becoming pregnant though).

Like I said this has worked wonders for me and I have now lowered the Cytotec to 2x a day and all is good. No pain, no urges, no frequency back to myself. I would prefer natural as well however, I will not deal with the pain and want to live my normal life.

I am sorry to hear about the awful problems that you have gone through that is just horrible. My doctor did ask me if there was any trauma that had happened within the past year or surgery because IC can start because of that. I did have an ablation done on my uterus (in office awake) I don't recommend it to anyone. However, I have 2 friends that had it done that way and didn't think it was bad. Terribly painful for me I almost passed out and they had me stay a bit longer---- The ablation worked perfectly though so far. Anyways, off track of the point here...that could have been the on start of it because shortly afterwards I had a UTI or so I thought and just called for a script. I did that a few times maybe 3-4 before the summer where they wouldn't clear up and it was shown that it was IC.

I wish you well and hope this helps for you or anyone else out there.

[irmag40]

LorK- Thank you for responding to me. Like I said I prefer alternative meds but right now I am at a
point where I will do anything to feel better. I will see if I can get another doctor to prescribe the
meds you are on to see if they help me. Thank you again. Irmag