Theory of potassium in diet and IC

[Indy]

Hi. I have had this disease 10 years but it has come back with a vengence since 3 bladder infections in November.

Anyway, the IC Diet is based on testamonials and not scientific. I have actually gotten worse since going back on it. I have researched and found that telling us to beware of bananas because of the potassium but to eat potatoes, honeydew and all other vegetables makes no sense!

Just 1/4 cup of honeydew (who eats 1/4 cup of anything) has 3 times the potassium of a banana. A potato has almost as much.

I actually had a flare from eating a bag of snow pea pods and carrots at a baseball game (trying to be good) because I had eaten a potato the same day and that was too much potassium.

I am now testing this new theory and rereading my food charts from the last 3 months to see what I ate on my good days. I will keep you posted.

[Lyn40]

I never really understood the potassium theory either. This does take time to figure it all out. I will be interested in hearing what you have learned.

Lyn

[ICNDonna]

Potassium deficiency can be extremely serious --- it is one of the essentials in our diets. One of the problems we face with IC is that it can be difficult to get enough when we can't have some of the potassium-rich foods, such as citrus and bananas.

I have a friend whose mother was hospitalized with stroke-like symptoms, which turned out to be a potassium deficiency. And I had to be given IV potassium to stabilize me before I could have surgery several years ago. I actually take a potassium supplement --- a prescription ordered by my physician to ensure that my level stays at a safe level.

I think potassium gets a bad rap because of the potassium sensitivity test, where it is instilled directly into the bladder and pain with this test is considered to confirm an IC diagnosis.

I think of potassium this way --- if I have a raw spot on my skin, I wouldn't think of rubbing salt on it --- that would be painful, but if I put the salt on an egg and eat it, it doesn't cause that raw spot to be painful. By the same token, putting potassium directly into a raw bladder can cause pain. Eating foods with potassium do not usually cause bladder pain unless there is something else present that is a trigger.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[blue]

I thought it was acid that we are trying to stay away from!