New to this website

[kkem]

I was diagnosed a little over a month ago after 5 months of agony thinking I was having recurrent UTIs that were drug resistant. After going through 2 urologists locally, I finally went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The doctors there did not diagnose me with IC either and just put me on Cipro for two weeks. The culture they did there showed Klebsiella. I had already been on antibiotics for 4 months! Anyway, I finally went to another local doctor who is a urogynecologist and he did a PST test and I was positive. Since then, I have been taking Elmiron, and having bladder instillations, 3 the first week and then 1 a week for 6 weeks for a total of nine. I have just had my seventh one. I have been very careful with my diet and already feel a lot better. I just got the IC cookbook, A Taste of the Good Life, and I am confused that a lot of the recipes include black pepper. I thought that was a no no.
Also, I have read that many IC patients take Prelief with every meal. I bought some of this. Should I be taking this even if I am only eating bladder friendly foods. Another thing, I have not had sex with my husband for 5 months and now that I feel a little better I am terrified of causing a flare! Any advice???? Thank you.

[Snowden1]

kkem,
Wow sounds like your doing all the right things quickly. It is great you are seeing improvement. As far as diet, I think everyone is different. I can't tolerate even gala apples or pepper. I am extremely diet sensitive. However, some people don't have trouble with pepper etc. I don't use Prelief before my safe foods (chicken, brown rice, some green veggies). I do try to use it if I think something may set me off, but usually I am avoiding many things. I don't try coffee. I think there is a website that tells what foods Prelief helps with - they give a percentage. I know tomatoes was one that Prelief did not help much with (I forget the percentage).

Maybe someone else knows where to find that list. I just don't remember which site I saw it on. Maybe it was the actual Prelief company site. Anyway please keep us informed on your progress.
Teresa

[Snowden1]

Yep, type Prelief in google. Go to the company I think AKPharma. Then when you get to their site the catagory is food acidity (something). It is on the left hand side and it gives you the percentage of how Prelief helps for what food. Sometimes you need to take more for different foods. Hope this helps.
Teresa