No More IC Pain with Simple Remedy

**LadyBug** · 10-15-2009, 06:27 AM

Note from ICNDonna: Please be sure you talk with your doctor before trying this.

Hi All, I haven't logged into IC-Network in years, but wanted to come back to tell my success story. I suffered with IC for years before being diagnosed by Dan Shoskes at Cleveland Clinic in Westin, Florida. He prescribed Elmiron and I took it for 1 year with no results. He also prescribed Quercetin which helped a bit, but the most effective remedy for me at the time was the IC diet. I avoided acid foods and drinks for years, and then a couple of years ago I starting taking magnesium for leg cramps. The leg cramps went away and so did the IC pain. I experimented stopping and starting the magnesium and definitely found that when I took the mineral I no longer had ANY pain. That was two years ago, and with my doctor's (new doctor) approval I take 500 mg of Magnesium daily. As long as I take it I can eat anything I want. I spent the summer enjoying homegrown tomatoes, drinking a glass of wine with dinner, and enjoying fruit again. I still don't drink citrus juices... can't do it as it's too scary. But I eat spaghetti with tomato sauce, and may experience a slight irritation but it goes away quickly, especially if I take an extra magnesium tablet. My doctor approves whole heartedly and even tells his other IC patients about magnesium. I wanted to share it with the IC-network with the hopes it will help you. My IC was mild non-ulcerative... just so you know.

***ICNDonna*** · 10-15-2009, 07:09 AM

As with any other supplement, I urge anyone following this protocol to first discuss it with a medical professional. About the only people who may have a magnesium deficiency are those who have chronic diarrhea.

Donna

**lonely sole** · 10-15-2009, 07:24 AM

Thanks for sharing your success story - and may your pain free days continue indefinitely !

**maryla** · 10-15-2009, 07:30 AM

ladybug,

How long were you on it before you noticed a huge difference in pain and other IC symptoms? Oh one more thing, do you taken it orally or instill it in yur bladder?

I'm going to check with My PCP and see what he thinks. I have real severe IC. But that's not saying that it may not help. It just may take a little longer.

Thank you for sharing and that is wonderful news!!!:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: keep us posted.

Hugs and blessings

**LadyBug** · 10-15-2009, 07:45 AM

Note from ICNDonna: Please talk to your doctor BEFORE trying this! If you are among those who should not take it due to medication interactions or other possible problems, it could have serious consequences.

Hi Ladies,
Thank you for your replies. I absolutely recommend that anyone doing this talk to their doctor, though I wouldn't wait to try it if it takes a while to see your physician. You can talk to him/her on your next visit. My doc tested me for a magnesium deficiency and didn't find one. He told me it was harmless to take it, but my case was mild compared to what I've read here. My theory is that magnesium neutralizes acid and I think that is why it works. After taking the magnesium for the first time after 3 days the pain was gone, so really, really fast. Now if I miss a day, I can take the tablet and I'm better by morning if experiencing pain. I can usually go about 3 days without the pill before my symptoms return. I haven't missed a dose in months, and with the exception of eating my favorite spaghetti at my favorite Italian place, I've had no problems in over a year. And I only had a very mild irritation after eating the spaghetti and took an additional pill and it was gone. Please let me know if this works for you too. I'm very curious to see if it helps, and it is such a simple remedy. I think it was an answer to my prayers!

**Eastshield** · 10-15-2009, 07:49 AM

Wow! That sounds promising. I recently had to stop the Elmiron due to mild hair loss although I'd taken it for several years without symptoms. I've been worried about how I would do without it. Even with several treatments each year, I still need something that acts as maintenance care. I'm going to check with my doctor to see if I can try the Magnesium.

Is there any particular brand you prefer? There are also different types of Magnesium supplements (Citrate, etc.). Which type do you take?

**LadyBug** · 10-15-2009, 08:26 AM

Oh and I take it orally... Magnesium Oxide 500 mg.. I buy it at GNC, but it's available at any grocery store or pharmacy, health food store, etc.

**maryla** · 10-15-2009, 08:31 AM

Ladybug,

Is that the amount per day you take?

thank you again for sharing.

Hugs and blessings

**maryla** · 10-15-2009, 08:36 AM

After reading your post, I thought back on the days that I get chelation treatments on how The next day my urine's ph is higher and I don't have as much pain on those days. One of the ingredients in the chelation mixture is magnesium???? Hummmmm maybe we have something here.

My husband is out buying me some as we speak. I pray it helps!!!!!! I'm at my wits end with pain!!!!!

Thanks again, hugs and blessings

**Eastshield** · 10-15-2009, 08:37 AM

Thank you LadyBug! I've done the responsible thing and already put a call into my urologist. He's fantastic about calling back so I should hear back by tomorrow morning. He's in surgery this afternoon. There's a GNC right in town near where I work, so as long as the doc says it's okay, I'll pick up some tomorrow. I'll let you know how things go.

**LadyBug** · 10-15-2009, 08:37 AM

Mary - the major sympton I had with IC was the burning after urinating and muscle pain in my groin. I experienced urinary frequency for a long time, but trained myself to get over that with what I would call bio feedback. When I started the magnesium I was not experiencing the frequency. How I trained myself was as follows: When I would feel the urgency to go, and then go and it only be a dribble, it was very irriating, emotionally and physically. Since I meditate, when the urgency came, I would tell myself to calm down, take a few deep breaths and say inwardly that I know my bladder is not full and I'm not going until it is full. Basically that is what I did, just didn't allow myself to go until I knew my bladder was full. It was fairly easy, as I hate going to the bathroom, as I'm sure you can all relate! Anything to delay the pain was good. It was really mind over matter, but it worked and the urgency went away after a few months of this mind training. Hope this helps too. Ask me any questions, I'm happy to answer.

**LadyBug** · 10-15-2009, 08:44 AM

I take 500 mg daily. :-)

***SharonA*** · 10-15-2009, 08:46 AM

LadyBug...I am really happy that you have found something that seems to be helping you. I hope you continue to do well. I love hearing from people who are doing better.

I do want to let everyone reading this know that, like LadyBug, "My IC was (is) mild non-ulcerative." I get the same response and benefits taking an occasional Prelief for IC symptoms.

As far as not waiting to talk with your doctor before beginning any supplement, I do not agree with that. It is very important to talk with your prescribing doctor (or the very least, your pharmacist) before adding anything to your list of "medications"...prescribed or OTC. There is always a possibility that any of these can interfere with other things you are taking. To be on the safe side...talk with your doctor first.

**maryla** · 10-15-2009, 08:55 AM

My thoughts were since I already do get a huge dose in my chelation treatments once a week, which are by my PCP recommendation and at his office. I really don't see the harm, also magnesium is not fat soluable. On the days I do get chelation he doesn't want me to take my others supps, like my b's and c's because, I'm getting a lot of those as well. So, I will talk to him when I go in next week and just not take it the days I have chelation.

hugs and blessings

**LadyBug** · 10-15-2009, 09:10 AM

Dear Mary - I really hope it works for you!!! I just can't believe I suffered for so many years, and it is heart wrenching for me to see others suffering here in their posts. Taking magnesium has been an absolute miracle in my life to the extent that I don't even think about IC much anymore. Visiting IC-network again has brought back those memories of pain and devastation. It's been in the back of my mind for months to share this remedy here, and if it helps even one person then I will be so very grateful!