There are several supplements that IC patients have turned to in light of the new research that has linked Elmiron to eye disease, as well as the traditional antidepressants (Elavil, etc.) and bladder antimuscarinics (Detrol, Ditropan) to dementia and cognitive decline. Here is our supplement review as of Summer 2019. FOR BLADDER, GUT & BODY [...]
Being active with IC can seem nearly impossible. It’s hard to find motivation to get outdoors and do something when you don’t feel well, and you are worried about making your pain worse. But our bodies need activity and sunshine. (Hello, vitamin D!) Our families want to spend time with us doing summer activities. And [...]
It's a reality we all eventually face, the dreaded colonoscopy. This vital test is recommended after the age of 50 and can help detect early cancers in the GI tract. Despite its potential life saving effect, many patients go out of their way to avoid the test for a variety of reasons. For some, it's [...]
The Late Spring/Early Summer 2019 Issue of the IC Optimist is jam packed with the latest information, news, research results and summer tips for patients living with interstitial cystitis and pelvic pain. In this issue, we explore the role of infection in some IC patients. We happily announce the 2018 medical care providers of the year. [...]
Interstitial cystitis is a condition that ebbs and flows. Symptoms can be better some days and awful on other days. I have gone for months at a time with my IC symptoms mostly controlled through diet and medication and then suddenly a flare hits out of nowhere. I cannot even begin to count the number [...]
As we move forward into the full-swing of summer, cookout season is at its peak. While having friends and family over for a cookout or attending one you’re invited to can be fun, it can also be challenging when you are limited by your IC diet. Instead of just saying no and missing out on [...]
Our last order of CystoProtek® came with an unwelcome surprise, a new cancer warning on the bottle. Required by Proposition 65, a California based law that requires that any product or ingredient associated with cancer be clearly labelled, the CystoProtek® bottle now says “Warning: Cancer & Reproductive Harm (Prop. 65).” After a week long delay, the [...]
Chances are really good you’ve heard about CBD oil. It’s been making rounds through social media and is seemingly everywhere touting benefits for everything from pain to sleep to anxiety to epilepsy. It has become a huge industry with analysts predicting the market in the United States will reach $1 billion by 2020.(1) But, what [...]
Endometriosis is often talked about by IC patients, because the two conditions co-exist in a lot of IC patients. A study in 2007 reported that 66 percent of patients had both IC and endometriosis while endometriosis.org puts that number higher at 80 to 90 percent.(1)(2) No matter which figures are correct, the connection between the [...]
As an IC patient, Ashley Corby can spend a lot of time in the bathroom. And that’s exactly where she was back in 2010 when a friend signed her up for open mic night. While she had been told she ought to try doing stand-up comedy, she hadn’t actually tried it before. That night changed [...]
