Cipro and symptom relief

[dminton]

Does anyone else out there find that Cipro beats bladder symptoms better than anything? And this is without any infection present! I wish someone would start researching what Cipro does that relieves bladder pain, like finding that it has anti-inflammatory properties, or something else similar to that but unrelated to bacteria.

I say this because back 7 years ago when I had my IC come on like gangbusters out of nowhere, my uro at the time wanted to treat it like an infection because he "didn't want me to get into the gray area of IC". I ended up taking Cipro (no infection was ever found, just white blood cells and some red blood cells, which is common for me) for 3 weeks and went into a one-year remission.

My current uro let me do that for only one week last summer, and it enabled me to go on a camping trip, but when I stopped the Cipro, the symptoms came right back.

Now, since I have some on hand, I have started taking one 250 mg. tab after intercourse (with the thought of it being to prevent infection, but what I really want is symptom relief!) and every time, I feel better for a good 24 hours afterwards.

Of course, we can't go around downing Cipro because we don't want to become resistant, but my point is, there is something going on here that needs to be explored!

Diana.

[Katrina]

most antibiotics do have anti inflammatory properties...I beleive Cipro is one of the better ones since it is commonly given for my kind of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This is known and one of the struggles with UTI's that aren't cultured but just treated with an antibiotic...because many feel better while on the antibiotic.


I believe I have read something in the past about the anti inflammatory properties of anti biotics in a medicine without the rest of the stuff...don't remember the rest but maybe someone else will.

What meds so far have you tried for symptom releif?
:grouphug:

[dminton]

Katrina,

That's interesting about the inflammatory bowel disease and Cipro. I'd say that really supports my point! I wonder why we don't hear more about Cipro and IC? If they prescribe it for bowels, why not IC?

So far, I've tried Elmiron (3 yrs.), pyridium (sometimes works surprisingly well, other times not so well), DMSO instills (worked the first time with a 6-month remission, didn't work after that), anti-inflammatories (don't do much), instills with marcaine/lidocaine (work to some extent but not as well as I would expect, and not for long, and the cath hurts), Duragesic patch and another time Dilaudid, (both of which were amazingly ineffective), small doses of Vicodin ES throughout the day help me stay sane, Lyrica (increased pain), Zoloft (increased pain), Zyrtec and Singulair for two years (no effect whatsoever), Tums every now and then (surprisingly effective but also cause intestinal distress), Ditropan (didn't do much for pain), Cystoprotek (made my skin feel prickly), herbal teas (used the wrong ones and got into big trouble), increasing estrogen levels (helps), and I can't think of anything else at the moment. The only things I haven't tried are the heparin instills, and hydroxyzine. Hydroxyzine just hits me funny, makes me feel odd, so I never gave it a fair shake. Also, I try to stick to some semblence of the diet.

Diana.

[Katrina]

My thought is since Men get Inflammatory Bowel Disease...and people loose blood at times because of it it is taken more seriously and thus doctors beleive the benefits of long term antibiotic therapy out way the risks(which there are many). When antibiotic therapy is done for IC it is normally done with the possibility that there is a UTI and the treatment will be short term. I don't know if there is an bacterial cause for so many but many do get some relief (even if it is short term) from the therapy.

I know my long term antibiotic therapy is no longer beneficial for my IC....for whatever reason it is no longer working on my symptoms for IC at all.

Tums make you constipated? I noticed you tried some Herbal treatments. I wrote a paper for remedyfind that came out today on alternative treatments for IC...kind of a starting point and most was herbal or vitamins. http://www.remedyfind.com/newsletter_archives/Jan_06_InterstitialCystitis.html
I think my editor or publisher was a bit behind since this was the January newsletter coming out on the last day of January lol Some of the herbs have anti inflammatory effects....I believe the ones that do were noted in the paper....I sure hope that somehow you find something that works for you!!!

[dminton]

Katrina,

I really enjoyed looking at the nutritional supplement article that you wrote. It makes me wonder if sometimes the simplest things can be the most powerful? Makes me want to brew up a cup of chamomile or licorice root tea right now!

I'm sorry that the antibiotics no longer help your IC.

Tums doesn't make me constipated; it sort of aggravates me the other way. My intestines are very sensitive to changes in pH, but my bladder loves things alkaline!

Thanks again,

Diana.

P.S. Do you know what the action of peppermint tea is? I wonder if it is actually beneficial to the bladder, or if it simply does not aggravate me, so it just feels healing?

[Romans8:28]

Cipro does have anti-inflammatory properties. My urologist believes many IC patients are actually misdiagnoised chronic infection patients. He treats all his baldder symptoms patients with antibiotics first. Most get better, the rest he treats with IC treatments, instills, elmiron, Elavil etc.!
I have to take Cipro for another chronic infection, but it REALLY irritates my bladder!!
We are all so different!!!

[dminton]

Hi Romans,

I wonder why your uro thinks many IC patients are misdiagnosed if he/she does not find infection present? Does your uro think that the bacteria are hidden in the wall and not coming out in the urine? Or maybe they don't have bacteria at all, but the antibiotics reduce the inflammation and then the body goes into remission, like mine did for a year after taking Cipro.

I'm sorry Cipro is an irritant for you! How frustrating. Many things that help other parts of me are bladder irritants, too.

Diana.

[MarthaF]

There are many of us who have found that we actually do have an infection, although the typical lab culture does not find it. We have found that using a lab that does a broth culture can usually isolate a bacterial species that other culturing has not found. Some bacteria take better methods to grow and a longer period of time - a broth culture is used to accomplish this. There is only one lab in the country that does this type of culturing - Uniited Medical Lab in Chantilly, VA. Usually they isolate a species known as Enterococcus and they will do a senstivity test to tell you and your MD which antibiotics will treat this kind of infection. Cipro is one that is usually effective, however, it takes longer (several months) of treatment to completely eradicate the infection. In most of us the bacteia have been there a long time and burrowed into the bladder wall, or formed a biofilm.

Feel free to send me a private message if you would like more information on this kind of diagnosis and treatment. I can also give you the name of a practitioner who can help you. She is a former patient, herself, who was treated and cured using this method. It is not an accident that an antibiotic alleviates your symptoms, but it must be the right antibiotic used for the right amount of time.

Martha

[Romans8:28]

Thanks, yeah the Cipro thing is frustating :headbang: Especially since for me it is long term maybe even lifetime...,!!!

My doctor also feels that culturing techniques available are not sufficient. I have been researching both biofilms and mycoplasma infections and the research is amazing. Many of these things have already been linked to PID, ureathral syndrom etc. (I have posted some of that research in a thread in this section.) My doctor has many patients, actually most respond to long term antibiotic treatment. I wish before an IC diagnosis is given some of these difficult test, culturing etc. would be available to us. I also feel that before a person is labeled with a incurrable disease, they should be allowed to try antibiotics first!
I am also thankful for my IC treatments. My IC & the chronic infection was left untreated for too long and is now very complicated!
I also take hydroxizine with the Cipro that is the only way I can even stand it.
I do rescue instills w/ presrvative free meds every 5 days
and have pain meds.
I also use a lot of natural meds. ( I love your article Katrina and printed it out!!!)
diet
I just stated on 10mg Elavil. I had bad leg ache/cramps at night but found it is helping without the side effects if I take it during the day. Weird everyone says it makes them sleepy, it keeps me awake???? :rolleyes:

[emilyrose197377]

When I took antibotics for uti especially cipro I have noticed it helped my burning pain and inflammation from IC. But I would never take antibotics unless I had an infection. Unfourtnely I am on my 14th uti.

[Katrina]

Thanks Romans...that means a lot! :)
Diana, I will look into peppermint tea...I know it has been mentioned on the Alternative board in the past but not having a good day of it today....if I forget a search of of that board should say something. :grouphug:

[Romans8:28]

Katrina :)

Emilyrose
I agree and used to HATE antibiotics, but have learned the very hard way that not all infections show up on dip sticks or cultures! At one point I told my doctor "You will NEVER put ME on anitbiotics without a postive culture!" When i could no longer function from the kidney pain, I changed my mind! Now I get to live my life with a biofilkm infection in the calcium (My kidneys are full of stones etc.), in my kidneys!
We as a group should REALLY push for better culturing, test etc.They are out there but science has not caught up with medicine and won't untill someone makes enough noise!!!!

[Katrina]

I peppermint can help people sleep...and anything calming has a chance of also calming our nerves and pelvic muscles.
This is what I have on peppermint soothing effects on the stomach...An anti-spasmodic (that may be why it helps!) and a crminative, useful for relieving indigestion, nausea, and intestinal gas. a mild sedative.