Hi Ladies,
I thought I'd talk about Interstitial Cystitis a painful bladder condition which I've had on and off since the early 1990's. After being misdiagnosed by Urologists I bought a book. I found a doctor doing state of the art treatment in Beverly Hills for this condition. I called out there and she gave me a name of a doctor back East. I was doing everything wrong I found out, because this is a condition where ulcers form inside your bladder and have to be treated just like stomach ulcers. This means no cranberry juice! I was put on a strict diet and would have done anything to alleviate the pain. The diet consists of no chocolate, caffeine, aged cheeses, smoked meats, red meats, spices, vinegars, fruits, alcohol, mayo, mustard, tomatoes or anything acidic. I learned to substitute carob chips for chocolate. Only 2 fruits are allowed, pears and watermelon. Pear juice is OK too but no other juices. Vanilla is OK, milk is OK but no yogurt because it is fermented. Nothing aged or fermented. Nothing to drink but water because anything carbonated makes it worse. In addition I had to go for treatments where the doctor put a solution inside the bladder and I had to hold it for awhile and then release it. I was also told to take Tums, and when the pain got really bad to take a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water. Yuck, but I have to say it worked! Now, it's back again, not as severe. I wanted to share this and see if anyone else has this and see what works. I'm interested in hearing from others who may be experiencing this.