Lindsaypsl,
I know one common side effect of elmiron is hair loss. I have been on elmiron for a few months and have experienced this myself. I also experience migraines if I miss a dose. I myself have not had any weight gain. There are a few other side effects like heartburn, nausea, and a few I can't remember. I started taking the aloe vera capsules along with the elmiron. I'm hoping the two combined will really show a difference. Good luck with what ever you choose to try!

Thank you all for answering my questions. I read where to buy prelief and as soon as I am up and about I will go look for it. I was referring to Elmiron side effects. I wanted to know what I was in for. I just started taking it 2 days ago. I already take Topamax for migraines so I refused to take the Elavil he prescribed me.

Thank you again for answering my questions.

My urologist recommended taking Aloe Vera capsules (in addition to the Elmiron) and, though it is by no means a cure for me, it makes a noticeable difference - very soothing.

That is wonderful news. Thank you for sharing this information; will order the tablets and give them a try. I however seem to have more of the chronic pelvic pain and bladder spasms...! I don't like taking medication, I believe more in self-help and natural supplements.

Doctors know so little about IC, and no one seems to think about the fact that alot of IC patients have other medical issues and have more than one doctor prescribing medication.........medication is one of the leading causes of an IC episode.....they just wreak havoc on your bladder and pelvis....I can actually tolerate most food it is the pills and over the counter medications that kill me...........
I have had this since age 17 teen...it didn't get bad until I was around 32 and believe me I have kept journals; done lots of research; gone to support groups; talked with other IC patients and I am a nurse so I do have a basic knowledge of the how each body system works.

I have seen these tablets but shyed away from purchasing them because it can really start costing you when you start purchasing so many thing out-of-pocket....it gets expensive as you know but now that I have actually heard that they are helping you I will give them a try.

I ordered them and took them, it didnt work for me, caused me to flare up, I wish with all my heart that I could find SOMETHING to work. LauraK

I want to echo the comments from LHG about how important it is to get the right kind of aloe for IC. I tried aloe vera juice and drinks, but they actually caused flares, and I realized that the citric acid added to them was defeating the purpose. I tried Desert harvest Aloe, but it didn't seem to help. Then I hit on the Healthy Harvest Aloe, and it immediately provided me with significant pain relief and I am sooo excited about it!! I have gone through a 90-capsule bottle, taking three capsules, three times a day and it is working wonders. You might not need as much, but my IC is severe and I've got Hunner's ulcers, bleeding from the bladder, and all kinds of horrible stuff, so my bladder is a mess. This is the first thing that has really helped except for Ditropan, and even Ditropan doesn't help during a flare. We're all different but Healthy Harvest Aloe is definitiely worth a try!!!

That's great to hear, Veeneck! Glad you got some good results with the Healthy Harvest aloe capsules!!! I've still got my IC under control by taking these capsules. And, I'm only having to take one capsule twice a day now. The aloe capsules, along with Prelief tabs with my coffee, has drastically helped my IC problem. I plan to take this product for life, for I don't want to risk having the severe, painful IC symptoms again. Oh...I only take these capsules & Prelief tabs; I no longer have to avoid certain foods or drinks that flare IC.

This is really interesting! I started on a line of products designed to cleanse the body of toxins and alkalize the body - ironically, the cleanse product is aloe based. I've have noticed significant relief in my symptoms after doing the first cleanse. I spoke with a nutritionist about the products and how it effect patients with IC and she has said they have reported significant improvement in their symptoms and to just keep on doing what I am doing b/c it seems to really help! When I do get a flair, I can usually control it with Pyridium and making sure I take my greens product (has barley powder and wheatgrass in it and is very alkalizing). I don't mind sharing the products if you want to know about them, just send me a message.

I read all of the comments about the Aloe Vera capsules through the Healthy Life Harvest website and it sounds very promising!! Thank you for this post! How much would it cost for a month's supply of tablets? My urologist also said that it's a good idea to take Elmiron and the Aloe Vera capsules and see if they work together or if the Aloe Vera works better without the Elmiron.

I just purchased these last week and I'm excited to get started on them. I have also tried aloe vera capsules by another manufacturer and they did nothing. I'm glad some of you are having success with Healthy Life Harvest and I'm hoping for good results.

I have taken the Healthy Life Harvest aloe now for about two months, and I am really sold on it. It really does help. When I ran out of them my symptoms returned in a hurry, and when I started again they eased. I did have a brief flareup after being stupid enough to drink a Coca Cola on one hot summer afternoon... sure was refreshing, but so not worth it. I think that one still must watch the diet carefully when taking these or anything else, the bladder needs a chance to heal and if you keep pouring acid on it, it won't heal even with the aloe. That being said, I plan to take about nine of these a day for at least six months, in divided doses of three each, watch my diet and hope for the best. This is the first thing that has really had a noticable effect on me. Aloe products from other manufacturers have not helped, and the ones I got at the health food store gave me diarrhea. So for me, it's Healthy Life Harvest and a lot of hope and prayer!

Lajeana21...If you go to the the Healthy Life Harvest website, you'll see the prices for these capsules. I buy 3 bottles at a time and they last about 8 months because I only need to take 2 a day now. I never took Elmiron but for me the Elmiron would have cost a lot more per month than the aloe vera capsules. I never took Elmiron because it's a blood thinner, which I can't take, and it does the same thing as the aloe vera, which is repair the lining of your uterus. Let us know what works for you, ok? And, good luck!

Jaeanne123...Good luck with the aloe vera capsules!

Veeneck...So glad to hear that you are having good results with the aloe vera capsules! You are correct in that you should continue to watch your diet (acidic foods & drinks) so your lining can heal. I didn't add any acidic foods/drinks back to my diet until after I'd been taking these capsules for 1 1/2 yrs. Then I slowly added coffee back to my diet, but I take prelief tabs with it. I drink nothing but water otherwise (something I've done for years). As for food, I can eat acidic foods now but not without taking prelief with it. Should a food cause me to flare, I just double up on my capsules for a day or two. But, yes, you are 100% correct in that you should let your lining heal for a good while before adding acidic drinks/foods back to your diet, and even then don't overload your system on a regular basis with acidic foods/drinks. That's very important!!

Keep the updates coming. I love hearing how Healthy Life Harvest's aloe vera capsules are helping others besides myself. Thank goodness I stumbled upon this product; otherwise, I'd still be in sooo much pain 24/7!

Hello all,
I am new here, I just signed up today and I have read all about your recommendation on the Healthy Life Harvest Aloe. I just wanted to share with you that I tried that original formula a few years back and it did work for me, but not as well as I had hoped. But then I spoke with a VERY knowlegable man at Healthy Life and he explained how thier AVC-100 might be a better fit for me since I was so acid. I cannot remember all the reasons why but he gave me a 30 capsule bottle to try since I had been such a long time customer and IT WORKED! I could NOT believe the relief I got from it overnight, ALL and I mean ALL my symptoms where gone and I called him the next day and gave him the biggest thank you of my life, I can now enjoy my 2 children and wonderful loving husband with NO IC problems, I do have to take 5 capsules per day (2 after lunch and 3 after supper) but it is so worth it to me. I love this company and when I came across this site saying how wonderful it was I just had to tell my story. I belonged to another IC support group for many years but is was getting way to negetive and scientific for me so I started looking for a new place online and I stumbled upon this one, I like a site that has real people giving advice that really do know how I feel. I pray every day that this product keeps working and that my IC does not come back, and so far it has been gone for almost 2 years. Thank you LHG for your story I hope mine helps too.

Julie

Thank you so much for sharing. I just ordered some. How many should I take a day? My stomach is sensitive so I dont want to overdue it but I also want it to work.

Bbopp33, I am extremely sensitive to herbs & prescriptions med, and this brand of aloe vera capsules does not bother me nor give me any side effects of any kind. At first, I took the dosage recommended in the directions ( 2 tabs 3x a day). I can't remember how long I stayed on this dose but I wrote exactly what I did in my posts here so you can read that in this discussion. Eventually I cut back to 1 tab 3 x a day for awhile. But for over a year now, I've been taking only 1 tab in the morn & evening for maintenance, along with using 3 Prelief tabs when I drink my coffee. I'm still having great success with this protocol!

Good luck and let us know if these capsules work for you. Just make sure you buy the Healthy Life Harvest brand and not another brand because even the ingredients in their capsules don't irritate the bladder, like the other brands can do.

Again, good luck~*