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Katrina
05-11-2005, 01:35 PM
:help: How do you treat your Urgency/frequency? I have some ideas here but we need a lot more. For many the frequency is so bad that it has control. Antispasmodic meds help some...please help us have a big list of ideas!!! :help:

I think it helps to figure out the cause? Do you have a shrunken bladder? Do You have any retention?? Are you having bladder Contractions?? (You may have more than one cause)

Bladder training has helped me but don't do it till you no longer have pain. Remember with the herbs and anything to start with a small amount to test it first.

If your problem is acidic urine there is a lot you can do:
Prilosec OTC or something...not so much for pain but because it is newly non prescription acid reducer
• Water (drinking plenty of water helps with burning pain and helps dilute urine so that it is less harmful to the bladder wall
Extra Prelief (http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/prelieffactsheet.html) or Tums if your desperate
• Drinking baking soda and water mix (about 1 teaspoon baking soda per glass) I personally will make capsules of baking soda with capsules from the pharmacy. This can cause gas so the water is important or a non prescription gas meds.
Taking alkaselser Gold



If you have severe retention consider learning to self cath.
If your problem is retention or bladder contractions practice relaxing the pelvic musscles. When you go to the bathroom and go...wait and relax and message your urethra with a tishue or something.
Use a topical analgesic, alternate heat and cold,
o Marshmallow root (althaea officinalis) helps sooth irritation and inflammation, can help spasms
Catnip (nepeta cataria) eases menstrual pain, soothes the nerves, and as a sleep aid.
http://www.algonot.com/ Algonot-Plus®: Algonot, LLC, is the maker of a line of nutraceuticals specifically designed to help with the symptoms of IC, chronic prostatitis, and arthritis. Their latest products, CystoProtek and ProstaProtek, combine the original Algonot-Plus formula with sodium hyaluronate:
o Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) mild sedative, reduces inflammation, relieve menstrual cramps, can help bladder spasms http://www.ic-network.com/cgi-bin/ustorekeeper.pl?command=goto&file=Foods-Tea.html
cornsilk tablets are unreal!!!!! Good for burning but may up your frequency. Are mild dieuretics
Lavender Oil (the sent is a great for relaxing but to rub on bladder can also have a calming effect. Good for spasms)

• Moisture (Moisture helps relax your pelvis is calming to your bladder)
Warm Baths (NOT HOT!!!!) No bubble bath or strong soaps, please! Soft soaps, perfumed soaps, bath salts & bubble baths can be very irritating to an IC patient. However, you can put baking soda in the tub for extra comfort. SITZ Baths Definition: A sitz bath (also called a hip bath) is a type of bath in which only the hips and buttocks are soaked in water or saline solution. Its name comes from the German verb "sitzen," meaning "to sit." I recommend: (a tub divided into two …one half is filled with hot water and the other cold. With part of the body on one side and than switching and back again in quick succession) Recommended 3 times a day for 20 min each
Warm wash cloth

THANKS!!![/CENTER]

work it
05-11-2005, 06:03 PM
Katrina, thanks for the wonderful extra stuff that I can try to help with the pain ect.

~*~Christine~*~
05-11-2005, 09:05 PM
If you have severe retention consider learning to self cath.

I've been considering that just yesturday but am scared of the pain from the catheter.
I had a hydro not even 2 weeks ago and it did squat for the retention and the messaging of the urethra only does so much
Thanks for the tips : )

Katrina
05-12-2005, 05:32 PM
I agree that messaging the urethra only does so much. I often find it a mirracle to cath myself during flares. Christine, do hydro's ever help retention for you??? I do think that cathing sometimes is something my urethra hates...knowing when that might be I think just takes time. If everytime you use a catheder it is painful have you ever tried asking for a pediatric catheder??

~*~Christine~*~
05-14-2005, 01:17 AM
I had a hydro about 2 weeks ago and it helped a bit with the retention but not as well as I hoped.
I agree with you about the catheters irritating the urethra; I find that they cause a strong burning sensation for the longest time
I did ask about having a smaller cath used during instillations after the first was very painful and my uro said that the one he uses is small enough :rolleyes: