Questions about drinking water

[Shelby101]

I have been drinking Evian, but it is so expensive. Has anyone tried culligan? Or does anyone have other ideas? I was diagnosed in Dec 07 and have too much to learn. My Dr put me on Atarax, Amitriptiline and Urelle. I am following the diet & am suppose to start Elmiron this Friday. I think I am doing ok. It seems to be getting a little better. I am nervous about the Elmiron & how I am going to react to it. Any comforting support would be greatly appreciated. Thanks:confused:

[SharonA]

:welcome: to the ICN... :)

I don't know what part of the country you are in but can you find Ozarka Natural Spring Water? I do fine on that. When you look for bottled water, make sure the label says "Natural Spring Water". Then look at the ingredients part. There should be nothing listed except "water".

It sounds like you have a good doctor who is trying to help you. That is very important. I hope the Elmiron helps. Just remember that it can take up to 6 - 12 months for you to get the full benefits from it.

:) :) :)

[mary124]

I drink Culligan water at home and even at work-I fillup my gallon jugs at the convenience store. I have no problems what so ever.
As to the Elmiron - you got to let it work sometimes it takes up to a year.
I have been on Elmiron for over 10 years, and have had no problems with it.

[leelee88]

Hello and Welcome..

I do fine on spring water any brand as long as it says spring water only.. I also do ok with filtered water..

[Tracie]

I sometimes get spring water from the dollar store, or I buy my grocery store brand spring water

[sandberg4]

I drink Aquafina. It goes through a reverse osmosis filter.

[theclownster]

I drink spring water and am very careful to read the fine print on the labels. If it says "minerals added to enhance taste" or anything about minerals, I cannot drink it. Dasani water is the worst for me. Most of the time I drink Ice Mountain water and have apsopure water delivered to work and home and can drink that. My husband and I bought a water cooler a couple of years ago at Home Depot on clearance and it's only about $6 to have a five gallon jug delivered to my house (which is cheaper then getting it from the store). You have to pay a deposit on the jug they bring it in, but once you pay your initial deposit, when they deliver the new you give them the old jugs and it cancels out the deposit. (I hope that makes sense). I believe apsopure is a Michigan based company, so I'm not sure if it's available everywhere. It's similar to Culligan water.

I hope that helps. Good luck finding something you can safely drink!

Take care,
Jennifer

[mlzippy7]

My doctor told me to only drink distilled water.

[Shelby101]

Thanks everyone for your input. I tried the Culligan. My husband and I own a business and we have a Culligan water cooler there. The Culligan rep got me one for home for only $5 per month since we have the one at the office. I have been drinking it now for two days and no problems so far...yeah! Thanks for the info on natural spring water. It's nice to know choices when out and about and I need a bottle of water. I am doing pretty well, I guess. I started the Elmiron yesterday and I sure hope it works. I have read so much on this sight some things really scare me. I am terrified of having to live like this the rest of my life. I feel so alone, like no one at work or family can truely understand what I am going through. I feel like I don't want to keep talking to them about it because I don't want them to think I am a real whiner, but it just hurts so bad sometimes. I don't even know any of you, but am so glad I can share my feelings here to others who understand. Thanks!

[lan]

Hi Shelby - Most of us feel much better once we find a treatment plan that works for us. I feel much better now than when I was diagnosed one year ago. I am glad you found this network. Although my family meant well, no one can uderstand how miserable bladder pain is unless they have experienced it. I am keeping you in my thoughts and hoping that you will be feeling better soon. Linda

[muxerr012]

Hi, I just started Elmiron Jan 26th of this year and I too was very afraid to take it. I'm doing fine on it though so far, and I now realize this may be my only hope to heal my bladder. I'm glad to take Elmiron now and am just hoping for the best. It's all you can do and my URO/GYN is the smartest guy on the planet so I trust his direction. Well actually it was more like a demand that I take it, so I trust him in this.

As far as water I drink Ozarka natural spring water and it is much cheaper than Evian. I get mine on sale for a case of 24 at $4.99.

[GriffsMommy]

It sounds like you have already gotten your water problem taken care of but drinking filtered tap water is usually fine as well. My pelvic pain specialist had it written on the handouts that he gave me at my first appointment to never drink unfiltered tap water. I can't drink it anymore anyway because our city water tastes like crap! I used to buy bottled water for work and he was the one who said to me that I was spending too much money on water when I already had a water filter built into my fridge. He guided me to what type of water bottle to buy and then I would just fill it up from my fridge at home and take it to work with me. It did save me money and considering how much we all spend on dr visits and meds every little bit helps. Since I'm on disability now I just make sure I fill up one of the bottles before we go anywhere so I have water with me in the car and don't have to pay for bottled water when out and about.
As for the Elmiron, I was on it for 11 months and didn't see any improvement but also didn't have any problems. I know reading some of the side effects you read are scary but there are plenty of patients who don't have any side effects at all. You just have to give it time to work. I really hope that it works for you and you start getting relief.
It is hard for family to understand what you're going through since they have never been through it. That's why this sight is so great because we all "get it" Good luck to you with the Elmiron :grouphug:

[llwd]

I've been taking Elmiron for 2 1/2 months with no side effects. I too was scared to start it after reading about all the potential side effects.

Lori