Solving the IC Puzzle have you read this book?

[lorenab]

Has anybody read the below book? Is it worth buying?

Solving the Interstitial Cystitis Puzzle: A Guide to Natural Healing".

Your thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated.

[ICNDonna]

If I could buy only a few books, I'd start with "The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide," written by Dr. Robert Moldwin, it's an excellent resource to learn about IC. "Confident Choices," written by an IC patient, Julie Beyer, is extremely helpful in managing an IC diet, and "A Taste of The Good Life," by IC patient Beverly Laumann is also an excellent reference book, as well as good information about diet and IC safe recipes.

Donna

[lisabar36]

I have the interstitial cystitis survival guide, I purchased that years ago and I love it, its full of great information! I also have the taste of a good life which I have found very helpful with my diet!

[ICNDonna]

This person is saying she has a "cure" for interstitial cystitis. I wouldn't spend my money on any cure promises. Believe me when I say that if there were a real cure out there, we would all know about it. I assure you it would be extremely difficult to make a cure secret!

Donna

[leelee88]

I have to agree with you Donna.
I am sure if she had a cure for IC. The "secret" would be out by now..

[Claredale]

When I first started researching IC and would read about "cures" etc. and talk to my doctor she would definitely advise me to read the Survival quide and Headache in my pelvis. I truly know how wonderful it would be for there to be a cure, and I am sure my doctor would be the first one to tell me, plus all of you of course! The way IC is, there is not any certain remedy that works for all of us. Some of us aren't food sensitive, others are very. I used to think my flares were related to stress, but that isn't always the case. I have found that I no longer ovulate do to continuous birth control, I don't have "flares" anymore. I still have pain, but nothing that lasts for very long and is controlled taking a pain med.

I greatest wish is that there will be a cure some day. I am so happy for the people that find meds, change of life style, treatments, etc that work and they can finally be in remission and I hope they stay that way forever!

Hugs, Tracey

[gopher7895]

I read that book but wouldn't recommend it. The author made me feel like if I did what she said and didn't get better it was my fault and I wasn't doing it right. Her whole thing was if you alkalize your diet you'd be healed. I tried the strict diet for a week. I just about starved and felt awful. She had some weird things in there I'd never ever consider. I remember something about drinking grapefruit juice for a liver cleanse (I totally can't tolerate grapefruit) and a coffee enema. No thanks! There were mentions of herbs that I found interesting but other than that there wasn't anything helpful. Dr. Moldwin's book is the best I think.

[DFree]

I am reading Solving the IC Puzzle right now. There are some strange suggestions in it, but there are also some very interesting things in it about alkaline diets. You just have to disregard the stuff that does not fit for you and take in the good information. I would read it if I was you. I also have Dr. Moldwins book The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide and it is very helpful, but I got more information about the alkaline diet out of Solving the IC Puzzle. I recommend reading all you can about IC you never know when one idea out of a book might be the right one for you.

[sweetangel2080]

I would try it, but it experimental so maybe try the survival guide first - it is the best IC info I have read.


Re the alkaline diet - well I think it may be gaining more interest as am in the UK (fairly behind in meds normally) and they are trialling this diet with IC patients!!

[Katrina]

I think it is possible to find the info she beleives without her book....and I think it is only one piece of the puzzle...getting down to finding what is at the root of your own puzzle ...which may be more than one thing is the best help you can get.

[ihurttoo]

Has anybody read the below book? Is it worth buying?

Solving the Interstitial Cystitis Puzzle: A Guide to Natural Healing".

Your thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated.

My thoughts....if you want to read it, I would try checking it out from the library instead of buying this one. Even if your library doesnt carry it, most library's can borrow a book for you from another library, and it is completely free! In this case, that's what I would do, and save your money for one of the other books, like "The IC Survival Guide" by Dr. Robert Moldwin. (It truly is the IC Bible!)

As far as THIS book goes, as several of the others mentioned, she has several ideas that ARE good, BUT, the author also has several ideas that I found to be definately not mainstream AT ALL in the IC community. Furthermore, many of her theories, were just that.....theories, but had yet to be proven by any conclusive scientific research. (You can put the title of the book in a search engine along with "Customer Reviews", and that should take you to several sites where readers describe the book, and rate it from 1-4 stars. That will give the opinions of what a wide range of the readers of the book thought. (Most of the reviews of the sites I saw were NOT GOOD, and presumably, since this was a book written for IC patients, one would think that IC patients had written these reviews!)

So, my conclusion is, that you still might find SOMETHING of merit in this book that you can take and apply to your own situation, however, I certainly wouldnt spend the money to take that chance to find out! PLEASE check it out at a library first, if you are still curious! But, the BEST book I have personally ever read for IC would STILL be "The IC Survival Guide" by Robert Moldwin.

[dreamy]

I havent read it but I get the gist of it through researching. I get the point of what the books about. I understand theres many ways to help symptoms of IC. It gets confusing though. How many things can we possibly take? Theres just so many different things said to help. Im sure the books good though.

[karen10]

I did get the book. There are some useful things to learn, and definitely things to think about, but like others said, what puts me off is the claim to a "fix" or "cure." You have to take that with a grain of salt. But, don't "throw out the baby with the bathwater!" :smile tee She does make some good points. She just really believes (like many people who have crossed over from conventional to alternative) you can find ultimate health with proper diet and nutrition!

[Bad Cat Beta]

Wheeew-this is going to ruffle of some feathers. Moderators and the like who may have a problem with some of this info can contact me for verification. Please note that I'm reporting behavior-not judging the person-people constantly change so that makes to sense.

I think it's a bit negligent for those who haven't read the book or went through the protocol to state opinions about it. "Puzzle" it's a good place to start for getting relief by your own observations. It also doesn't just accept statements like "there's no cure for I.C. we don't know a lot about it"-it's strives for end to this state by inquiry-the most important components of the book appear to be from the feedback put forth from patients. It's very frustrating when your "legit" remedies and cures can only come from a menu from Phizer. This book expands your options without negating traditional approaches that are appearing to work for people. It is surprisingly balanced.
I came to book via a search on Amazon-there were no used copies, feedback was impeccable and comprised of many "thank yous". Looked like a winner.

Long before I ever heard of the book, I was PHing and could easily direct correlation between my urinary acidity and symptoms. Lemon juice with Pineapple on the side anyone?-strikes fear in me just to type of those words. The heart of the book is based on the opposite-creating a condition where your bladder is not in contact with acidic conditions-Simple-your bladder has been scalded by an acidic internal environment-the reason for the environment-that's the kicker-for some it's just the way they've been treating themselves via diet/lifestyle and those people seem to be "cured" pretty quickly when they turn it around. As the book points and easily seen-there are many contributors-histamine levels, stress, etc.

The book is an important piece of the puzzle. Following it's protocol, which is based on the contention that acidosis is the the main cause of I.C., I was able to become absolutely A-symptomatic. This protocol is not easy to follow-especially if you have co-existing food sensitivities. The protocol literally saved my life and gave me another year to function enough to keep researching.

The control and or alteration of symptoms gives you a lot of information as to what may give pain or relief. What's most important is that it made it very clear that I.C. is a horrible, life-destroying symptom of a greater problem and that it could manifest (beat on another organ/system) in many of the co-existing conditions which I see appearing here and in myself.

Being alkaline for a few months and then getting burned by trying to introduce a new food is pretty traumatic but insightful as all the other co-existing conditions flared as well. In regards to the co-existing conditions that so many of us have in common-it's not coincidence.

I see a big fault in the book's recommendation for use of sodium bicarbonate as a long-term alkalization-it will actual turn the other way. Lots sports medicine types use it as such but when you look into life-threatening acidosis with the experts, their first recommendation is to stop sodium bicarbonate-it's used in acute situations. For me, the protocol proved to be a relief-giving acidic buffer. I couldn't get passed the first stage of the protocol (strictest) because of my level of acidity and food sensitivities. The first stage cannot be be reasonably maintained forever-hence it's a stage.

The long and short of it. With out intaking the buffers I saw my constitution fly back to the the acidic state and along with all those lovely co-existing symptoms. It was clear to see that I was just buffering and not really addressing the root cause of the acidity. I.C. or not, this is very hard to find. It was a clear that I had some type of (and since I've been diagnosed with) metabolic acidosis. Next step is "what type?" in my case is appears to be Lactic acidosis. At a deep level the acid it's not being addressed by the body as it should (probably the liver). The body strives to keep the blood alkaline (so you can stay alive) and will take Calcium from the skeleton and push acid into tissue-etc. I've been internally scorched. Also explains my osteoporosis at age 35. Please don't be scare by this-this is a just a personal story.

The Survival Guide: I have not read it and will not comment on it. I don't doubt at all that it is helping people-plan to get to it myself. I did find it's author within the first year and half of my I.C. symptoms-the visit was short and uninvolved-hence I went undiagnosed-"Ahhh-I don't think you have it-take hot baths-see you in three months". I was already pretty destroyed at this point. That revered opinion let me off to Stanford to be included in a pelvic-floor study-it's not I.C. that's one's eliminated-man.

I'll give you a first hand story of how referring to someone's protocol as "the Bible" is dangerous. It implies infallibility and law. Criss-crossing the country at the cost of my job, marriage, house etc. I encountered many urologists at the finest institutions who were very capable of diagnosing my I.C. They all asked about I.C. and I would answer, "I saw doctor Robert Moldwin-he I didn't think I have it". His visibility and focus on I.C. gave that short sentence a great deal of weight. It amounted these doctors not doing a distension test. Yes, these doctors should have thought for themselves-it's amazing. 6 years later at 117lbs at 6'3. A small, well respected clinic did the test (given the same info I had been reporting all along) and there appeared that familiar bladder dragged on the street pic. Very bittersweet-finally had my answer but at this time it had cost everything. I immediately found this site the day after diagnosis-the Survival guide was soon found. I saw the author and literally flew out of my chair. That said. This site has helped with relief of symptoms a good deal-and many have probably come by way of Dr. Robert Moldwin in some form.

A year later, I had my first unexplained flare since diagnosis-it was a long one and things were looking grim-no sleep for weeks(turned out to be the iodide in salt-shaker was mistakenly refilled with the wrong stuff). Out of desperation, I made an appointment with doctor Moldwin hoping he had some new information to turn things around. I'll stop here. I have since been in one his recent studies related to diet. The questions asked were very thorough and I was delighted to see that direction-very in sink with what you see from the I.C. community getting help from. I know it will result in relief for a lot people.

All said and done, I pretty much fall within the stats regarding diagnosis of a male with I.C.

Back to the puzzle-my personal experience led to very good means of keeping the flares down and/or away. It's allowing me to type this. This existence is artificial in my case. Without the buffers, I'm done for. Again bittersweet-the book-led to the discovery of a life-threatening metabolic condition which is just starting to be addressed.

I'm not sure about the population on the site but I never really felt too good since adolescence and just sucked it up. Even, when I can say my I.C. is officially cured that previous compromised state won't fly anymore.

Some notes on "weird stuff": many things from Heel homeopathic have helped (a German company that states what there product does or on the bottle)
After diagnosis a doctor recommended a product of there's called Reneel. It knocked out my I.C. symptoms almost completely. It's in a milk-based tablet so I couldn't continue. I know of few women who function just because of it. No bad side effects but after this period of discovery I'm very wary of anything that may be used as band aid. I've had my asthma and allergies(emergency room grade) cured by a homeopath and have also had my I.C. symptoms eradicated but they were traded for intolerable bowel symptoms-(intolerable at my current weight). Finding a good, traditional, homeopath is very, very difficult in this country. Many alternative caregivers claim to give it-it's not the same the standards of diagnosis and the quality or remedies is very different.

I do recommend the coffee enema-hold the milk and cream! Look it up!

Sleep is still not the best-inevitable typos-please forgive me!

Relief to all!!!!!!!!!!

Good night!

[noirjezza]

With all rights and regards, as well as the stipulations posted by Bad Cat Beta, I'm afraid I must agree.
EVERYTHING must be looked at with a critical eye. Not only practionners claiming holistic (alternative) medicine is the best approach, but also those claiming that allopathic (traditional or Western) medicine is the only way to be treated.
I have read both the "Survival guide" and "Solving the puzzle" and I do find helpful information in both. While I appreciate the relief that allopathic treatment has given me, I am tired of being treated as only a sick bladder. Besides trauma- is there any illness that does not encompass the entire body? I challenge you to think of one (go beyond what you know- i.e. Alzheimer's as a brain disease- well, what about the studies showning that nutrition, inadequate immune system, etc also contribute to the disease... sound familiar?)
I think that "Solving the puzzle" challenges you to really look at your lifestyle, your choices, your medicine, yourself.
The bad part is that we are discussing a disease that on both sides (allopathic and homeopathic) is not well understood. It is the blind leading the blind, unfortunately the patient ends up being the guide-stick.
If you read "Solving" you will recognize that the author, still has flares- however, they are less severe and she feels that she has a better understanding of her body- I see no harm in that, nor do I think she is claiming a 'cure'. She has a plan to return to with her flares, one that doesn't involve caustic medications and synthetic materials. That prevents her IC from ever really getting out of control. She is conscious of the disease, it is part of her- her whole body not just her bladder. This is only my interpretation of the text.
Someone else's plan may include going back to an MD; hopefully regardless to which path, it is the right choice for them.
Do you ever just have a gut feeling? One that says, "I should or shouldn't be doing that?" I knew that I shouldn't drink coffee with my diagnosis, but I did. I ate all sorts of things I shouldn't have. I had a flare. I went to an MD, he treated my sick bladder- but he forgot the rest of me. I still feel like I am looking for answers. My gut tells me (and it is an educated gut:)) that some whole body addressment needs to occur to really manage the disease. It is not about a band-aid for my bladder.
I think that we would all agree that this is a COMPLICATED disease...
I am using the "Solving" diet. It has been a little rough- I detoxed before I got sick, detoxification is always a little rough. It is forcing me to listen to that inner voice. I want to learn to trust it.

[NewLife]

I am in the process of reading this book. Prior to reading this book, I never thought about acid-alkali imbalance. The outcome of my study of this book so far: I ordered pH testing strips and intend to test myself daily for a couple of months. I also keep a food diary. If I see any correlation between the acidity of my urine and my symptoms, I will definitely incorporate some of the dietary changes that the author suggests and see if that makes a difference. I firmly believe that wisdom can come from anywhere and I think it's best to stay open-minded, study different sources and try what you personally intuitively feel good about. That said, I also started Elmiron as soon as I was diagnosed despite horror stories about the side effects--intuitively, it felt like the right step to take. So...if your intuition tells you to read this book--read it! and vice versa :) Maybe this book was placed in your path for a reason.

I know many people will say that the author's observations are not backed by research. I am closely familiar with the business side of healthcare research and can tell you this: someone needs to sponsor those expensive research studies. You can't patent the acid-alkali diet, nor can you make much money by selling this concept. Book sales amount to nothing compared to drug sales. Therefore, no one will invest millions of dollars in researching the diet's benefits. This is not a drug that a pharma company can patent and sell for $400 a month ;) Therefore, I don't think that the fact that something has not been researched should stop one from trying it.

[deedle]

Amen to that! I read everything I can get my hands on! I search the internet weekly (or more often). I take everything I hear or read and weigh it against what my intuition is telling me. Your body knows what is good for it and what is not! We just don't listen!

I don't want to just cover up my symptoms... I want to get to the root of the problem. Someone who just hands me a bunch of pills and says "here, take these the rest of your life" is not the type of doctor/professional I want to be treating me. I'll try most anything once I research it and feel it makes sense. How healthy do you want to be? What are you willing to do to get there?

[strobers]

I agree as well. None of us should have stop investigating ways of beating this disease. Embracing traditional interventions and minimizing or dismissing other possible treatments, which may lead to remission, is short-sighted and irresponsible. Unfortunately there are a lot of people that still cling to the belief that their doctor knows best. Ultimately, however, we are the ones ultimately responsible for our own health.

[Bad Cat Beta]

In reading everyone's posts it had me wondering what myself and everyone else expects a cure will look like, where it will come from or where you will go to get it. This is just coming about because of guiding nature of expectations.

Can't answer but I think anyone with a truly investigative nature and the proper technical abilities and comb over this sight and get a great picture as to what is going on.

Too deep? :)