Taking Quercetin only

[CST]

I had been taking Cysta-Q for about three months and felt that it helped me, almost from the first few capsules. Unfortunately, I can't afford it, being on a fixed income. So, I just bought a Quercetin/Bromelaine supplement, quite a bit less expensive for twice the pills, but won't know for awhile if it's going to be as effective. The Bromelaine comes from pineapple. Cysta-Q had papain in it (not sure if that's related to bromelaine), but I'm hoping it works as well. Anyway, I see some people on here have gotten good results from Quercetin only ( that's supposed to be the active ingredient in Cysta-Q). I'll let everyone know if the Quercetin only helps me or not. The expense factor is a problem for many of us with IC. If anyone else has had experience using just the Quercetin, good or bad , I'd love to know how it's going for you.

[Linda Harringto]

:) I have been using Quercetin (Non-Citrus) along with M.S.M. Glucosamine for about 4 months now and I consider myself to be in remission. I have my fingers crossed because the discomfort I had before taking this was almost unbearable. Best of Luck

[Paininthe*.*]

Linda, what dosages are you taking of your supplements? How long before you started feeling a difference?

[CST]

wow, that certainly gives me hope. When you say "non citrus" I assume you mean without the Bromelaine. I'm somewhat allergic to vitamin c so I'm hoping something made from pineapple doesn't irritate me. The papain in Cysta Q didn't bother me - that's made from papaya, right? (there's so much info out there, it's hard to keep up)
Bromelaine among other things is supposed to act as a softener of connective tissue, so maybe it'll help with a stiff, scarred bladder along with the quercetin. Anyway, great to hear you had such a dramatic improvement on quercetin. I think there's definitely something to it.

[Linda Harringto]

The Non-Citrus Quercetin is 500 Mg (I ordered this from a local health food store. They did not happen to carry the non-citrus. The M.S.M Glucosamine does not state any certain mgs. I take one each in the morning and one each in the evening. It seems to me that I started noticing I didn't have the horrible pressure that I lived with every day guess: about a month. I was just like all of you for so long........praying for some kind of miracle. I have to work full time and I was so scared about what my future would hold because it was agony to try to live a normal life. So, for right now I have had no repeat of the horrible pressure or pain of any kind. I eat everything I want to. I truly pray this may help someone out there..................:smile tee

[Ginny]

I also take the non citrus. I was afraid to take the one you are talking about because of the pinapple. I think it does help. My problem is taking all the meds and supplements everyday.

Ginny

[bunnykinb]

Where is the MSM glucosimate found out, online or health store? I don't think GNC has it in California.

I take Cysta Q right now, but yes, it is expensive along with copays for DMSO. YIKES.
Thanks.

[soccermom32]

I also take Quercitin and MSM with glucosomine.

I agree, it works! I recently stopped my herbal stuff for 1 week of detox after an acupuncture session. It turns out without the stuff I get crampy again. I started back yesterday...

[Vampireness]

Soccermom, I'd like to discuss some holistic methods with you, I've sent you a PM.

Vampireness

[bunnykinb]

Does the quercitin help with urethral burning?

[Vampireness]

Have you tried Cornsilk?

[bunnykinb]

I have tried cornsilk tea. Awful stuff. What type of cornsilk are you talking about?:)

[devastated]

Bunny,

Please let me know if you find anythin to help you with the urethra burning. And i promise I'll do the same! That is my biggest symptom and I havent found anything to work for that specifically. :help: I believe the burning is what causes my urgency sometimes.

[Vampireness]

I have tried cornsilk tea. Awful stuff. What type of cornsilk are you talking about?:)

I was talking about the ones from Nature's Way I think. They come in drops and stuff and I wouldn't buy the one with alcohol but alcohol free, and I've read that it helps with burning.

Bunny,

Please let me know if you find anythin to help you with the urethra burning. And i promise I'll do the same! That is my biggest symptom and I havent found anything to work for that specifically. :help: I believe the burning is what causes my urgency sometimes.

Sorry to hear about your struggle. Does Prelief or baking soda help? Pyridium, once in awhile helps too.

[bunnykinb]

The Urocit-K did not help at all. I am currently taking nortriptyline but may ask my doctor for Tofranil. If you view a thread under Antidepressants, you will see comments by people who have taken Tofranil which is in the same family as Elavil but without the weight gain. I want to find out if anyone has taken it more than 4 months. Elavil helped my burning within 2 weeks of taking it; however, after the 3rd month, I started getting extremely hungry and could think about food only while sleeping and working. I couldn't stand it anymore.

Right now, I am taking CystaQ which doesn't seem to help on the 4th month for whatever reason. When I get burning, I take Urelle and switch off between that and pyridium. I also take 1/2 a vicadin when it is really bad. I drink my water, rinse off the urethra with water and still no help.

[devastated]

Thanks for the replies. I am also taking UroCit K and I dont really know if it is working or not. I havent seen any significant improvement since I been on it so I dunno, I am to scared to linger off incase i accidently eat something that will trigger anything. I wish i knew though, hate wasting money. This hole IC bisness has put me in a hole!

I am also taking an anti-depressant Zoloft. I was wondering why my doctor didnt give me something like Elavil, it seems to be more common.

[bunnykinb]

Please do check the thread about Tofranil antidepressant in the antidepressant section. I am comtemplating asking for this. I just refilled Elavil again because my burning is awful.

[Vampireness]

Has either of you checked for yeast or tried Magnesium at all?

[bunnykinb]

I definitely don't have a yeast inf. I haven't tried magnesium either. What does that help for?

[devastated]

What makes Trofanil better than Zoloft? Zoloft is only for depression i think.. i dont think it helps with pain.

And I deffinetly dont have a yeast infection either. It is terrribleee burning in my urethra.

[Vampireness]

I know Cornsilk is one thing that could help. Bunnykinb, did you try Marshmallow? Yeast can be present in urine too, so that was checked as well huh?

Update: Magnesium helps with bladder spasms not urethera sorry, I went to read the post again from another thread.

[devastated]

I will look into that Vampireness, thank you~

p.s. I love that picture. A prisoner in my own body.. thats what I tell myself everyday =[

[Vampireness]

No problem I hope it helps, Devastated. Yeah, I think alots of us relate to the picture, sadly.....

There is a thread on here, that suggests MSM gel for uretheral spasms, but not sure about burning and I have not used it before. I guess it would be worth a try to see if it reliefs, the burning.

Vampireness

[NicoleB]

you're right, some people have had success with MSM gel for urethra burning. it didnt really do anything for me, but then again, MSM is more for inflammation. i have mostly nerve pain, so i guess thats why it didnt work? i dont know.

i take cystoprotek and i think it may be helping, but its hard to say because i've also switched around my meds and started TENS all at the same time. all i know is that SOMETHING is working.

for those of you talking about quercitin, i know that they often use bromelain and papain to increase the absorption of quercitin, because on its own, it is very poorly absorbed. if it doesnt hurt you, i'd say stick with it.