Singulair to the Rescue!

[1tuffcookie]

Like numerous IC patients, I'm on more than one medication for my bladder. But the latest addition, Singulair, is the only one that has reduced my bathroom trekks significantly! I'm usually only going 8-9 times during the day, which is almost normal! I'm getting up at night fewer times, too--2 to 4 times. Singulair has also helped my urgency. I only occasionally have to take Urised. Pyridium had really helped with that, but it's not great for long-term use. It was also making me anemic, and I couldn't stand it anymore.

I find this fascinating, because Singulair is an asthma and allergy drug. As you probably all know, many of us (including me) have quite a few allergies. How about asthma? Do many of you have it? I do. But it seems to go in remission for months at a time. It was just starting to come out of a remission when I began taking Singulair. I thought I'd try and kill two birds with one stone. From what I've read, Singulair has helped other IC patients, too. It really makes you think about what causes IC, doesn't it?

More good news: my horrible bladder pain had almost disappeared before I even took Singulair! Until recently, I never seemed to go into remission with my IC--I had severe pelvic pain every day. But I thank God that perhaps 5 or 6 months ago, I noticed it was gone. It was a combination of things. One was less stress, because I quit my full-time teaching job. I believe the medications are helping a lot too: Elmiron, Neurontin, and MSM. It really does take Elmiron months to kick in.

Right now I have a lot of pelvic pain that was triggered by a pelvic exam, (my body's usual reaction to the exam) but I know it'll stop soon. Even if it doesn't, I'd be forever grateful for these months free of the strength-stealing, joy-dampening, agony most or all of you know too well.

Best wishes for health and happiness to all of you!
1tuffcookie (a.k.a. Andrea!)

[Sarojini]

Hi there... :)

I'm so glad you found something that works for you!!!! :)

I am on Singulair for my own asthma, but unfortunately, I did not have the same result with it that you had.. it seems to have little to no effect on my bladder.

We are all so different... it's too bad there isn't just one magic pill that would make IC go away for everyone!!!

:grouphug:

[jaime15]

{{Andrea****
I think it's great when an IC'er finds some sort of relief, even out of the blue! It's great you posted too. You just never know what doesn't help 5 might help 2.
I'm glad you have found the right combo. And I'll pray you have continued success with it!!:kiss:
Oh btw....hate those pelvic's myself..:rant: :yikes:

[tillysav]

Andrea:hi:

Happy for you! :bouncy:

Hope you continue to feel better and better!

Love your name "1tuffcookie". Unfortunately, we ICers can relate...
it's a requirement.:biglaugh::biglaugh: :biglaugh:

[Katrina]

Hi!:hi: Well with the huge ammount of stuff we have in commone...I should right that down and look into it!:) :)

I am very happy you have improved so much!

Keep in touch!:kissing:

Your friend

:cat:

[PikkuMyy]

I, too, have asthma and I take Singular. Unfortunately I haven't noticed that it makes any difference with my bladder. However, I've been taking it for a while. Maybe I'd be worse if I wasn't taking it?

I DO notice a connection between my acid reflux and my asthma. And also between the acid reflux and my bladder. I have noticed a difference that taking Prelief has on my asthma. I believe they are all connected. Studies have shown a direct correlation between some types of asthma and acid relfux. many people when treated for the acid noticed less or no more asthma. Studies have also shown higher acid quantities in the saliva of those with asthma. Obviously if I have acid reflux my urine will be acidic too. So I'm trying to treat my overal acidity in hopes that both diseases will be lessened.

Emily

[blue]

:woohoo: That is great!

[Sarojini]

Hi Emily (PikkuMyy),

I also have asthma and reflux probs... my asthma specialist has suggested adding Nexium to my pill routine because of the association between asthma symptoms and acid reflux, but so far I've refused, as I find taking OTC Pepcid or Tagamet is ok for now. But I think you are right, they're all connected.

Also, I've had the same thought... I've been on Singulair for almost 2 yrs now, and my IC was only officially diagnosed in the last few months. Like you I wonder, how much worse would it be if I was not taking it????

[1tuffcookie]

Hi, everybody! Thanks for your supportive replies! :bouncy: Sarojini & PikkuMyy, Singulair could be helping more than you know. That has happened to me before. I was taking the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra various aches and pains (which I recently discovered were due to fibromyalgia.) It seemed like it wasn't really helping, so when I ran out I didn't get more. Big mistake! The pain got worse, so I went back on it.

Also, I'm wondering what dose of Singulair are you on? I was taking 1 daily at first. But around 5 or 6, I'd start having trouble breathing, plus urgency and frequency. So now I take a second pill around that time, and within an hour I'm much better.

Oh, and I have acid reflux, too! We're not alone.:grouphug: :grouphug:

[Sarojini]

I take 1 10mg pill of Singulair at bedtime every day. I also use Advair 100/50 (fluticasone/salmeterol)-- 1 puff twice a day. And I have a Combivent rescue inhaler, but I hardly ever use it because the combination of Singulair and Advair seems to do the trick pretty well... my peak flows stay up nicely all day.

I also carry an emergency pack of the steroid prednisone around, for absolute emergencies... for example, if I get a cold or flu, my inhalers/regular meds NEVER work, so I end up on oral prednisone to keep my lungs open.

You may be right that the Singulair is helping with my bladder more than I know... that can happen.

:)

[PikkuMyy]

I also take 1 10 mg tablet at bedtime (along with Claritin and a 50 mg Macrodantin for my long-term antibiotic therapy to calm my bladder down from all the UTIs I got). I find that if I forget to take the Singulair for even 1 day, I get asthma during the day the next day. Sometimes that worries me...:(

I might check out some OTC acid pills to see how they help.

Emily

[1tuffcookie]

What's odd about my asthma is that it's kind of like IC: it flares and goes into remission. I used to be able to go months with no breathing problems. But perhaps 2 months ago I started having daily problems with it. I'm not sure why. Could be due to spring pollens. Or maybe a combo of things. I hope it goes back into remission eventually. I really don't like my inhaler, because it makes me dizzy and gives me a major head rush when I use it! :yikes: Does that happen to you?

[Sarojini]

That's interesting...I used to think my inhaler didn't have any effect on me (besides relieving asthma symptoms).

However, the other day I used it at work in the lab before having to do some close work that required steady hands... and surprise, surprise, my hands were SO shaky after using that thing. I guess I just had to be doing something that would make me notice that symptom...i

So yeah, while I don't really notice all that many "head rush" symptoms using mine, it DOES affect me...

[1tuffcookie]

That's interesting. How long did the effect last? What about the flare and remission--have you experienced that with asthma?

[Sarojini]

The real shakiness lasted maybe 20 minutes... but I wasn't completely normal for maybe 45 minutes or so. Quite weird!!

And yes, I have definitely experienced flares and remissions with my asthma. I was horrible asthma wise when I was a kid, but then it seemed to get better. I had several flares in college (spent Christmas Day the year I was 20 yrs old in the emergency room because I couldn't breathe), but about 18 months of daily use of corticosteroid inhalers got it under control, and eventually I went into remission again. In fact, from about age 23 to about age 26, I had almost no symptoms at all... I even let my prescription for rescue inhalers run out at one point in there. I think I used an inhaler maybe once a year, IF THAT MUCH, during those three years. Then, suddenly in October 2001, I'd moved, changed jobs, etc... and had a HUGE asthma flare. Since then I've been more symptomatic asthma wise -- it now requires daily meds to keep it under control again.