Vitamin C (Bladder okay but "flash VV flare")

[Hypnogal]

I took about 1000mg vitamin C - bufferred / the crystal powder. Contains NOTHING but the vitamin C. No bladder flare from it. I did get a fairly predictable "flash VV flare" (lasts about an hour), but hey that's no biggie to me if it comes AND GOES. Vitamin C converts to oxalate in the body that's why that happens. Oxalate irritates the VV tissue (in me). :cussing:
I refuse to deny myself vitamin C! Vitamin C IS a natural anti-histamine and great anti-oxidant after all. My final conclusion is - its a keeper, "flash VV flare" and all.

Has anyone else intentionally/knowingly hurt their bladders-had VV because they just refused to sacrafice good nutrition or wanted to take a high dose supplement - regardless of the inevitable (painful) consequences? :toilet: I mean we have to make our choices don't we?

[lisabar36]

Well I can't take it because it will increase my frequency and my pain and I have enough pain already. It doesn't just make my vv flare, it makes my bladder spasm to. I wish I could but I can't. I may try a flinstone vitamin, I hear some tolerate them well. Theres a low acid vitamin C at the ICN shop that I thought of trying. :) Lisa

[Bea]

I buy ester c... acid free at a local health store here, and have no problems with it at all..

the only time I took something even though it caused me pain is when I was preggo.. I did the prenatals..

[futurehope]

I took about 1000mg vitamin C - bufferred / the crystal powder. Contains NOTHING but the vitamin C. No bladder flare from it. I did get a fairly predictable "flash VV flare" (lasts about an hour), but hey that's no biggie to me if it comes AND GOES. Vitamin C converts to oxalate in the body that's why that happens. Oxalate irritates the VV tissue (in me). :cussing:
I refuse to deny myself vitamin C! Vitamin C IS a natural anti-histamine and great anti-oxidant after all. My final conclusion is - its a keeper, "flash VV flare" and all.

Has anyone else intentionally/knowingly hurt their bladders-had VV because they just refused to sacrafice good nutrition or wanted to take a high dose supplement - regardless of the inevitable (painful) consequences? :toilet: I mean we have to make our choices don't we?

Since my IC is here to stay, I have made a conscious decision not to deprive my body of what I consider essential nutrients for my health. This was after having been on a strict IC diet for one year and determining that I still had some bouts of pain, and that the bladder had not healed. I cannot afford to die of malnutrition because my bladder is malfunctioning. And I say "die" because I was beginning to feel pretty bad and I was losing my hair.

Having said that, I pick and choose wisely so as not to deliberately cause myself pain for no beneficial reason.

Everyone here on this forum has to decide for themselves what to do. We all have different pain and different pain thresholds.
Peace.

[Hypnogal]

Right - I'm beginning to realize with the help of my now 4th dietitian (this one is really helpful) that I will have to make some choices and sometimes I will have to choose a little pain. So far, the vitamin C 1000 mg bufferred does not bother my bladder. I am trying new foods now too and I seem to have a new level of tolerance after many years of very limited choices. Since I got my interstim, my bladder is now emptying 100% and no more utis and I am now healing. I'm very excited. Even my VV is improving. All with healing and the treatment of my allergies.

Anyone else hurt as a trade off for better health?

I'm always told my potassium is very low (freq urination can mess up your electrolites if not replenished)...today I ate 1/2 a banana - and NO FLARE. Wonderful. A year ago / before interstim - no way.

Things can change. Always try to be the optimist. You never know.

[Hypnogal]

Had to stop the vitamin C. After a week on it, VV acting up - vitamin C increases oxalate excretion in the body. Also, made my digestion (we'll call it) worse and worse (D)...could not tolerate it.

I'm told I get plenty from my diet - broccoli, blueberries, even carrots have a small amount of c. I also eat brussels and cauliflower regularly. So supplement is out - real food is in.

[muxerr012]

HYPNOGAL!!

You had to stop taking the buffered Vit C crystals???? Oh I am so bummed! I ordered mine and can't wait to try it! Have you tried reducing the dose? What should I do? I do not get ANY fruit and honestly don't eat enough vitamin C rich foods.

What happened that was bad enough to make you stop? I know I need to see a nutritionist at some point, but honestly right now I can't. I have so many appts with docs right now I can't count them all!

[Hypnogal]

Woe, slow down. Re-read my post. I have VV (vulvodynia). Vitamin C increases oxalate in the body and this sets off the VV. That is why I had to stop taking it - and also, after a week on it at 1000mg and then I cut it to 500mgs - I got very bad loose stools (you did ask). The gastro pain / cramping - impossible. Now 3 days off it, doing better.

Be careful - what is right for me may not be right for you! If you don't have VV - and you have IC, it may be fine for you.

Please go back and re-read my post. I did say why I stopped taking it in my post.

[Hypnogal]

1 cup of brussel sprouts or broccoli contains all the vitamin c you need in a day. So does cauliflower. This is not alot of vegetable - I make sure I get that each day. You can too.

Red peppers also contain alot of vitamin C. Blueberries if you can tolerate them / contain some vitamin C. Even carrot contain a small amount of vitamin C.

[muxerr012]

Hynogal,

So sorry, I do get hyper! But I did read your post, twice in fact. I too have VV, but am not so worried about that because my Estrace cream has eliminated that problem for me entirely. No more VV and I only use the cream now once a month.

I know we are all different so I will try the Vit C crystals when they get here. I will start slow. My tummy has been very upset since taking CystoProtek 3 weeks ago. I am slowly back on vitamins again after experiencing the worst stomach pains I have ever had on the Cysto. In the garbage with that!

Last question I promise...To get the full daily amount of Vit C on the veges you mentioned, is that cooked or uncooked? Thanks for all your help!

[Hypnogal]

Its cooked.

Here are the nutritional profiles for some foods high in vitamin C (see serving sizes)...this is also a great website for learning all about nutrition / click around.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=9

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=10

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=50

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38

------or check out all the foods/nutrients...for yourself.

http://whfoods.org/foodstoc.php

http://whfoods.org/nutrientstoc.php

---------------------------
So why do you have VV?

[muxerr012]

I had VV begin in May 2007. I was so sore it hurt to sit and I quit wearing pants and jeans for months! Then I began getting red and swollen down there, got cysts and all kinds of awfullness in that area! I had no idea what was going on and never even heard of VV. I suffered 2 months and went to see the GYN. That's when all this began...The hematuria, UTI's, VV, cystoscopy with hunners ulcers....and down the rabit hole I went. The Estrace cream he gave me was actually for a dx of atrophic vaginitis, but it ended up helping with the VV like there's no tomorrow.

Is that what you meant inyour question? And thanks so much for the nutritional website-good call and one I should have thought to check. I've had to make so many diet changes I just refused to make anymore. Stubborness! I will buy the veges you reccomend and actually I like them all so what have I got to lose? Thanks again!

[Hypnogal]

Uh huh. That's exactly what I meant when I asked and BOY am I sorry you went through all that! Wow, you went 2 months before seeing your gyn? Must have been horrible. I don't have "classic" VV, I have cyclic vv that is due to enteric hyperoxaluria / I don't metabolize/regulate oxalate so too much recirculates in my system and irritates well, "there" of all places! Its only in the front, not under (too much information?) and it comes and goes very very quickly as the oxalate in foods actually passes through the urine. I suspect I got it after antibiotics killed off all my oxalobactor formegenes bacteria - this is like you know, a good bacteria in your body - that regulates oxalate OR its inherited / but I don't think its inherited...no one else in my family has it (I asked/how embarassing!). Here is a definition and a link or two on very important research that will have a CURE/product on the market for htis in 2009!!! It replenishes the lost OF bacteria that I need! So once I get that, I won't have this anymore!!! I post this because not enough people know about it.

hyperoxaluria (hī´prok´slr´ē),

An excessive level of oxalic acid or oxalates, primarily calcium oxalate, in the urine. The cause is usually an inherited deficiency of an enzyme needed to metabolize oxalic acid, which is present in many fruits and vegetables, or a disorder of fat absorption in the small intestine. An excess of oxalates may lead to the formation of renal calculi. Treatment may include pyridoxine, forced fluid, and a low-oxalate diet.

---http://www.oxthera.com/


Mine is not a hormone problem - I'm glad you found relief!!!

[muxerr012]

Hey ouch!!!!!! Just a tip...The Extrace Cream is not just helpful because of the LOW LOW dose hormone. It has specially designed collagen that helps rebuild tissue. My urethra was so torn up it was not recognizable anymore. I actually went in to the doctor and told him I had a tumor or an alien on me down there! It has cured the raw swollen private parts; so if you have that problem too collagen would help you. YEAH for your cure coming in 2009!

[Hypnogal]

Gosh, its just so hard to have a problem..."down there"! I mean WHO can we really talk to about it? We get about 20 minutes tops with a physician of some sort - and then we're on our own. Thank goodness for this forum.

[muxerr012]

Oh you are so RIGHT about that! Amen and thank goodness we can talk about these things here! I can't even tell my own sisters; they don't get it. Most everyone on this site does though! Cheers to us and our freedom to share our stories here and "down there". Stay well.