Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Support Group

I found metrogel to work, ask your doc to test you for bv bacterial vaginosis. makes me feel urgency all the time

Thanks Stefunny! I will def ask my doctor about it! :-)

I feel the same way you do. I have only been taking Elmiron for 10 months, but it is not something that I want to do. I am trying a holistic approach. Went off the Elmiron today and am using Marshmallow root. I am reading the book Along the Healing path by Catherine Simone. She has alot of good ideas that make sense. At least to me they do.

Good! I'm writing down my symptoms (I had a little blood today after I drank my coffe but then it went away) to tell my doc maybe next week I just saw her yesterday and I'm going to try some aloe and she did give me a refill on metro so this infection gets cleared. . . embarassed to leave work for another doctor's appointment, I know, shame on me, but like I said, I'll write it down and tell her soon. . .

what I mean is to see if I also need elmiron. when I saw her yesterday she asked if I had blood and I said no but the truth I realized today is I do sometimes and I just was in denial/ the pyrdium was making my pee all kinds of colors anyway.

Terrrb, I will look for the book that you have. Sounds interesting. What is marshmallow root? As far as I know, Elmiron is taken to repair the bleeding ulcers that I had in the bladder lining. I would think after taking it for 5 yrs. that the lining would be repaired by now? I can't find a doc that knows anything. I was taking Elmiron 3 times a day, then put my self down to 2 a day about a year ago, and now just decided to take it once a day and see how I feel. I finally figured out to take the Vesicare at night instead of the morning. I only got up once last night instead of 6 times! It was SO nice to get some sleep! :)

In response to butterfly (sorry I don't know your name). From what I am reading Elmiron will coat your bladder so that it isn't so irritable. It will not heal your bladder. Marshmallow root is an herb it is soothing to your bladder and it also heals. I have been using it in a tea. You just buy it in bulk and put a pinch in a tea ball. I have only started using it this week. I drink about 3 little cups a day. I think it is helping me. I will know more hopefully in a couple of weeks. I will keep you posted. I am going to buy some aloe vera juice tonight. Someone on here said that it helps at night so you don't get up so much. They said to only buy the Natural 100% so you don't get citrus acid in it. At this point I am willing to try anything. Im with you though about the doctors. they really don't know enought. They really can't heal you they can only give you some comfort with the meds.

Thank you Terrb! You can call me August! Or butterfly if you'd like! LOL Thank you for the information. Did you buy this Marshmallow root at a health food store? I will look for that and the 100% Aloe Vera juice! I will try anything at this point too. I know it will take some time for either one to work, so I will try and be patient. :) Do you know how much we have to drink of the Aloe Vera Juice?

Hi August, I read on here that the woman drank 4 to 6 oz. at night before she went to bed. I went tonight to find the aloe vera juice and everything I found had citric acid in it. I am going to go to whole foods tomorrow and see if they have it there. I did buy the marshmallow root at a health food store. they sell it in bulk, it is really cheap and you only use a pinch. I even save it in the tea ball and use it over a couple of times. Talk to you soon!