(Part 3) Top products from r/Interstitialcystitis

Hi! Oh wow, you're the first person who's said they too got it at around 20. Can I ask -- did doctors think it was every single STD in the book (given the age) and treat you wrongly for all sorts of crap? That's what happened to me, was terrible lol.

My symptoms differ with each flare up, but right now I get a sharp or dull pain on the left side of pelvis which then resonates through my back on the left hand side. I get burning sensations / sharp pains in my inner thighs and generally that pubic area feels very heaty. It gets itchy from time to time. After I go to the bathroom, it feels like that area got a workout. Some mornings, it really stings when I go to the bathroom and that stingy / burny pain really just knocks me out. I have to lie down for a bit to get over it. I try to drink tons of water before I go to bed to avoid that.

There's a general idea in Ayurvedic medicine that some bodies are prone to what translates in English as "heatiness". That body type should consume certain foods and drinks that suit it to avoid inflammation.

The Chinese also believe in maintaining a balance of hot and cool, too hot and its cystitis, too cool and another host of issues show up. There is a traditional Chinese drink called "Three Legs Drinking Water" which is normal water with a Chinese mineral that relieves heatiness and cools the body, this has worked well for me in the past: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Legs_Cooling_Water

Basil seeds are a common ingredient in desserts in the Middle East and in India, where it cools the body after heaty or spicy food. You can get these in the US (if that's where you are) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/IndianBlend-T5-V1N4-QIZ2-CA-Takmaria-Basil-Seeds/dp/B004XTDRMM/ref=sr_1_11?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1538429238&sr=1-11&keywords=basil+seeds

Just dissolve it in big glass of water, a tablespoon or so, leave it overnight and just down it. Do it for a few days and see how you feel.

Just wanted to point out these are things that have worked for me, that may not work for everyone, but both are natural and harmless to try.

There's a lot of great information to understanding through the body through Ayurveda or TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). If you ever have the opportunity to visit a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, I highly recommend it because for chronic, autoimmune conditions / inflammation, they have a mapping and understanding of the human body that has truly helped me the most. Not saying do acupuncture or anything like that, but they can recommend adjustments to lifestyle and diet that make a world of difference. Because I can't always follow their lifestyle / diet advice, even though I really should, I can almost always predict when my body will react thanks to what they've told me.

Hope you feel better!

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>Overall I'm interested to hear what the more medically minded people in this sub have to say because it was difficult for me to evaluate some of the claims this book makes.

Unfortunately I am not 100% medically minded but I felt the first half of the book did a good job of explaining the correlation between High ACE and then subsequent poor health.

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>(Side note: This book's explanation of meditation and how it works was really interesting to me and I would like to read more about it. I've been hesitant to add meditation to my daily routine because I find it hard to motivate myself to do something that I'm not sure has scientific backing as I hate wasting time. If anyone knows of a book along those lines, about proven health benefits of meditation and how it works, I'd like to read it. I read "10% Happier" and it ended up just being a memoir.)

Have you ever looked into Jon Kabat-Zinn? He has a really good book that talks about the health benefits of meditation. https://www.amazon.com/Full-Catastrophe-Living-Revised-Illness-ebook/dp/B00C4BA3UK/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=jon+kabat+zinn&qid=1558459638&s=gateway&sr=8-2

His book resonated with me and has helped me through some tough times.

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>I have an ACE score of 3 and am well aware of my trauma's impact on my mental health but I had never considered how it may impact my physical health. I think that was a valuable thing to learn and I'll probably try journaling about it soon. There have definitely been times in my life where I was marinating in stress, and that can't be good on the body.
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>Really curious to know what others think!

I can relate to your comments, and I feel like for the past 4 years since I had my son I have been marinating my body in stress and it has definitely caught up to me.

https://nutritionfacts.org/video/chicken-out-of-utis/ Click on the "View transcript" button below the video if you don't want to watch. It has the benefit of being evidence based.

**Edit to add: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/avoiding-chicken-to-avoid-bladder-infections/

I got my bidet off Woot, but Amazon has them for under $30. You'll want to get a better connector than the plastic one they come with, but it's been a godsend for me.


https://www.amazon.com/TP70-Handheld-Personal-Portable-Capacity/dp/B00O92IF6Q/ref=sr_1_7?crid=7YUMED4AGJKQ is a cheap and easy tester for the portable ones.

https://www.amazon.com/Luxe-Bidet-Neo-120-Non-Electric/dp/B00A0RHSJO/ref=sr_1_4 is what Woot.com had for about the same price, and I love it.

I have this one. I've had it for two years now and so far so good. It gets nice and warm, but not too hot for warmer days which I like. It's easy to store back in it's case even without folding. We did have to change out the outlets in our car to accommodate it because our car outlets weren't 12-volt, so you might want to check that before buying. But for the money I definitely think it was a good buy!

"Uva ursi, or bearberry, is an alternative and natural approach for treating urinary tract infections. This herb contains active ingredients, such as hydroquinone and arbutin, which provide antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties useful for treating urinary tract infections." - link

It's an ingredient in a supplement called Bladder Ease, available on Amazon. I've tried Bladder Ease and seen little-to-no improvement, but many people swear by it.

Here is the info I could find on juniper berries:

"Juniper berries have both antibacterial and antifungal properties. (3, 4) One of the most popular homeopathic uses for juniper berries is using them to prevent or naturally remedy urinary tract infections and bladder infections.

The berries are also a natural diuretic, which helps the body flush out excess fluids from the bladder and urethra. (5) This has the potential to reduce bloating."
source

Um, most brands, as far as my experience has been.

This is what I take for vitamin D: Amazon Brand - Solimo Vitamin D3 50 mcg (2000 IU), 365 Softgels, Value Size - One Year Supply https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079C83Z3L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_evh2Cb25147Z8

Natures Bounty Vitamin B-12 1000 Mcg Tablets, Value Size - 200 Ea https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DYSUQR2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0wh2CbSESDK0B

I have had the same yucky experience with fish oil with lemon. Gross!! I'd been taking Now brand omega 3 from Amazon for years with absolutely zero fishy taste. I only tried the fish oil with lemon recently because it was cheaper. NEVER AGAIN! I'll attach the Amazon link. I promise you'll like it 1,000 % better

Good luck!!


https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Ultra-Omega-3-90-Softgels/dp/B0015L2LBE

https://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-King-Size-MicroPlush-XPressHeat-Controller/dp/B005NZ66KU/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1538688311&sr=1-4&keywords=sunbeam%2Bheating%2Bpad&th=1


I have one of these, I'm almost positive it's the same one. It's the size of my entire back. I can get relief all across my back at the same time instead of choosing one half.

It has an auto off feature that can be disabled, which I do not recommend you do unless you are sure you wont fall asleep.

I have an Anabox weekly pillbox. It's a rainbow! But it's also really functional and makes things much easier.

I do the weekly refill and I've also been trying out using an app on my phone called Medisafe. You can set reminders to take your meds and also track when you'll need to order refills etc.

I've had some luck with random apple juices, but really you're going to be looking at an organic store. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's....

Amazon sales Whole Foods' brand which is called 365.

https://www.amazon.com/365-Everyday-Value-Organic-Apple/dp/B074VG4CMW

https://www.amazon.com/R-W-Knudsen-Family-Juice-Blueberry/dp/B0046HEE8M?keywords=blueberry+juice&qid=1540412592&s=Grocery+%26+Gourmet+Food&sr=1-7&ref=sr_1_7

$20.00 for a 12 pack of liter bottles.

Essentia Water; 12, 1-Liter Bottles; Ionized Alkaline Bottled Water; Electrolytes for Taste; Better Rehydration; pH 9.5 or Higher; Pure Drinking Water; For the Doers, the Believers, the Overachievers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HG9ESG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Bm-XCbXKY273W

Prelief was very helpful to me while trying to get my symptoms under control during and after diagnosis. I would take it right before eating, and I do mean right before...it will upset your stomach and make you vomit if you don't eat within about 15 minutes of taking it... I also use Azo standard Maximum strength for the burning sensations. I provided the Amazon links here...but you can usually find these in grocery stores and pharmacies in the US.

Read this:

https://www.amazon.com/Heal-Pelvic-Pain-Strengthening-Incontinence-ebook/dp/B001FA0O96/ref=nodl_