Hopeful

[HeatherP]

I just found out I have IC 5 days ago. I started fasting yesterday. I have only had water and some carrot juice yesterday afternoon, and this morning I had an egg because I was feeling really weak. So far I haven't had any noticeable improvement, and I was wondering how long it takes to flush out the bladder.
Any advice?

[Mrs. Peel]

Welcome to the ICN forum, Heather. I was diagnosed earlier this month, though I started the IC diet as soon the the doctor told me he suspected IC.

There is at least one thread on alternative treatments, and many of our members are approaching their treatment holistically.

It would be help us understand your needs if you would tell us a little of your bladder history and how you came to be diagnosed with IC.

IC isn't something you can flush away like an infection. Your sore bladder needs to heal as any wound would, and the best thing to do is find out which foods and drinks will irritate it so you can avoid them. Please be patient. An IC bladder heals very slowly.

Here is a link the IC diet list. Most of us start with the "safe" foods and start trying the others as our symptoms lessen.
IC Diet List (http://www.ic-network.com/diet/dietcheatsheet.html)

Drink lots of (preferably alkaline) water. And welcome to a very loving group of men and women who have been where you are now.

[Briza]

Hi Heather:hi:
Welcome to the board. I am sorry about your diagnosis but with diagnosis comes treatment, self help stuff, learning about the diet, some lifestyle changes, all of which can get you to a very manageable place living with IC.

Mrs. Peel is right...if it WERE so easy to get rid of IC by fasting alone then none of us would be here;)! She gave very good advice about the diet...it is usually necessary to do an elimination diet to determine the foods you can tolerate and the foods that cause you problems. There are two links in my signature below that will take you to info about the diet. Please take a look at them. The diet can take some time to work, sometimes months but some people do see a difference much sooner than that. And anything that you can do to help your bladder by eating only things from the "usually ok" column for a while will pay off in the long run, even if you don't notice a difference right away. It pays to treat your bladder kindly:) Your body needs food to help the bladder heal and eating the right foods can help you feel much better, much moreso than fasting. EAT, girl!!:) I hope it wasn't your dr who recommended that you fast????

Were you prescribed any meds to help control your symptoms??...there are many treatments AND self help stuff that are very successful alone or in combo.

There is every reason to be hopeful that your symptoms will improve with the right diet and treatments. I am glad you found this board...much support and many experiences you will find here. Take care!

[ICNDonna]

Please check the IC diet list and put yourself on a safe, nutritious diet. Fasting will not help and it can cause some serious problems.

Donna

[carried_cub]

I second Bri...welcome and get some dinner in you! If you tell people here more about your symptoms, how you're feeling after your diagnostic method and your lifestyle/preferred diet, there'll be more self-help tips. You're not the only member I've seen listed from Hawaii either and I bet someone will help you out with resources.

But if it were me...(and you're not a vegetarian)...and I were really on Maui...right now...I'd eat up a plain piece of fresh grilled fish. And a croissant from the bakery in Paia. And...sigh. :-)

Be patient and feel better!

My top advice (and I remain on the diagnostic circuit...cysto/hydro currently on 23 Jun) for right now:

-- stay calm, rest and take care of yourself
-- try one self help thing at a time...don't turn everything upside down at once, maybe one thing a day
-- ice. heat. maybe both. sometimes at the same time. ahhh.
-- rinse w/ cool water after peeing. all natural/organic/some kind of baby wipe after other bathroom visits
-- baking soda, Tums and Prelief really can help; you might have to order Prelief off the web though
-- BT2008 gave me good advice in an old thread called "Elmiron before formal diagnosis?" far better than this, take a look around
-- eat a bit even if you don't feel like it...work on safe calories first and then safe nutrition and it will mesh after a bit.
-- in your area, many people/stores seem to like healthy, natural, organic holistic fresh type products. that doesn't automatically make them bladder friendly (soy, for some people, for example). some may be very good choices for you. keep an eye out.
-- be honest about your symptoms and how you are feeling...with yourself, your dr and folks you ask for help...don't be embarrassed and if you are happy w/ your medical care, that's wonderful, but if you aren't, keep looking b/c you deserve the respect! :-)