questions about DMSO/heparin

[jeanniebug]

My uro wants to try..I thought he said DMSO..but now I'm seeing info on Heparin too. Whichever it is, he said I would smell like garlic afterwards. Do both DMSO and Heparin produce the garlic smell? The catheters hurt me alot so I was glad to see advice to ask for a pediatric catheter on the other threads..which I will do! Also-how long does this garlic odor last on average? I can live with it if it helps the pain, I was just curious. I will also be sure to ask exactly what he is putting in my bladder. He is doing 1 treatment every 2 weeks for a total of 3 treatments to start. Thanks! :angel:

[Dixiefireball]

I take daily heparin treatments at home and heparin treatments don't leave a garlic odor.
I don't know to much about DMSO. I only had one of those and that was my last!
But
Many people do real well on DMSO.
I just do better on Heparin and marcaine treatments.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda.

[Sarojini]

It is possible that your doctor will make a "cocktail" that includes BOTH DMSO and heparin. Many doctors do this... often the cocktail also includes sodium bicarbonate and a steroid like cortisone.

But, generally, only DMSO makes the garlicky odor. Heparin alone will not. After a DMSO treatment I usually smelled for the rest of the day; however, my husband told me I smelled more like cooked corn with a hint of garlic than just pure garlic. He did not mind the odor, which is good because for the first few hours it was pretty strong... our whole house would smell just because I was sitting in there. The good thing was, the smell was gone by the next morning.

Just remember we all are different in how we metabolize these things... you may smell only for an hour, or you may smell for a few days. It's impossible to tell until you try a treatment and find out for yourself.

Good luck :)

[Katrina]

All I know is I only smelled for a few hours. I hope things go well f or you. :grouphug:

[JessicainArkans]

I only carried the "garlicy" smell for about an hour.
The medication cocktail the Uro have me had DMSO ( this is the anti- inflammitory that makes this oder), Marcain (for reduction of pain), Solucortef (another anti- inflammitory) and liquid Elmeron.
The series took about 6 weeks to complete but I did not seem to have a good outcome, I had more pain with the treatments so stopped them and moved on with other treatments.
Take a Tic -Tac or some gum to spare the poor receptionist the smell of the Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) while writing your check, then treat yourself to a Chai tea or something yummy that will not hurt your bladder, I usually had a hot carmel shake to make the day worth while and came straight home to take a warm bath because my Urethra was so inflamed, it really helped the pain!!
Most of good luck in you endeavor to rid yourself of this horrible pain!
Much love,
JessicainArkansas

[ICNDonna]

I have DMSO instilled once a month. At first it was very painful, but after the first few it's not too bad. Some people don't have pain even at first. I do have lidocaine instilled first and I do suggest you be sure either the lidocaine or a similar substance is put in before the DMSO.

I don't always have the smell, but if I can taste it, I know the smell is there.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[kadi]

Hi, I had a series of 6 DMSO cocktail treatments this summer (DMSO, heparin, marcaine, solu-cortef & sodium bicarbonate). My friends tell me I didn't smell. I'm glad, but I could taste it that night & sometimes the next day, so I'm not 100% sure they're not just being nice. I have the treatments on Friday afternoons so I can rest & be sure I don't stink by Monday when I go back to work! It's been worth it -my pain is considerably less than before the treatments, though not 100% gone. BUT-- I'm now able to wear loose slacks & take 4 yoga classes a week without flareup, so the treatments have given me back two things I really missed... My energy level is also better and my flareups seem to be shorter... I'm hoping this will continue...

Wishing you better days soon!

[songbird7]

Maybe I'm strange but I love the smell that comes out after holding in the DMSO. Also I LOVE the smell of garlic.

[Sarojini]

:) :) Songbird, you and my husband have something in common! He LOVED the smell that came after my my DMSO's! He said it smelled like slightly garlicky corn, and he loves corn and garlic. He used to like it when I would climb into his lap the evening after a DMSO (I always did it because I never felt very well and wanted a cuddle), and he would sniff my head and didn't even mind kissing me on the mouth despite the DMSO breath.... at first I always said, "God, Honey, how can you put up with this stench!" and he'd say, "I LOVE it!" It took a few times for me to realize that he actually wasn't kidding :)

[Ginny]

Everyone gave you some good info. It's the DMSO that produces the garlicy smell. I had 32 DMSO treatments which included heparin and other things. I never once smelled like garlic. I asked my husband if I did thinking I might not smell it but he might. He said no.

Ginny

[jeanniebug]

My dh is being spared right now because he's deployed overseas in Korea. But I talked to him last night after my DMSO and told him that yep, good things he's not here because I sure do smell like garlic. Know what he said,"I wouldn't mind it would just make me hungry." :rolleyes: Men....

[bunnykinb]

I had a heparin instillation just this past Thursday. The catheter was a pinchy painful. I was told to hold it in for 2 hours and I thought no way since I usually have to tinkle every hour. But, luckily, it has been very hot, so the body absorbs the liquid. And, I did hold the heparin for 2 hours. I would say the overall treatment wasn't bad at all. I have to go in a month from now. I really hope this treatment does the trick.

Take care,
bunnykinb