My husband and I have been desperate to find some sort of relief for my bladder and urethra pain, other than neurontin which is used to block the pain signals to the brain--often used for epileptic patients. My issues are not that I have to run to the bathroom constantly, but that I feel like I have a severe bladder infection 24/7 and constant urethritis. This has been occuring since July '09. I haven't been able to get a hold on it yet. I have tried antinflammatories, marshmellow root tea, samento which made it worse, candida treatment, steroids, etc.It is my belief that my bladder pain is somehow related to my Lyme Disease, whether it be the Lyme itself or a co-infection. My husband was recently skin tested for various allergies and in conversation with another patient found that D-mannose help with her bladder pain. She suffers from Lyme as well.
"D-Mannose is a simple sugar. Simple sugars are made up of only one or two molecules and are processed so quickly in the digestive system that the pancreas does not detect them as a sugar that requires insulin for it to be absorbed into the blood stream. It should not affect one's blood sugar level, though continued monitoring of glucose levels in your blood while taking this product is suggested."
"Urinary Tract Infections are treated safely and quickly without the use of antibiotics. The problem with traditional antibiotics is that they kill bacteria indiscriminately. There are over 1,000 species of "good bacteria" in the human body - each with their own "job" to do. D-Mannose treats urinary tract by causing the bacteria to be flushed right out of your body. No bacteria, no infection."
Interestingly enough, labs often do not consider you to have an infection if a urine test shows you to have less than less than 10,000 E.coli per cubic millilitre. However, E.coli can double their colony size every 20 minutes in the right conditions. I have not tested positivel for E.coli, although I wonder if the tests are wrong. I have read where the E. coli can live in the lining of your bladder and can still not being detected.
The claim of Waterfall D-Manose is that it offeres relief due to a cleansing effect of
D-Mannose on the bladder, combined with the D-mannose known anti-inflammatory properties. After taking the product for 2 to 3 months, most bladders are very close to being completely back to normal, whether the problem has been bacterial or interstitial.
The problem with me, is that I already ingest so much medication that everytime I add or change my protocol, I have to get reorganized it all. So, once I get all my medications scheduled, D-Mannose will be added to my protocol. I will keep you posted.
13 comments:
Mark and I are praying for you and are believing for the best.
You really should watch/listen to David's sermon yesterday. It was about suffering/pain and hope/seeing God.
love you and see ya thursday!
Maria
Dear Marti,
(sorry for my English, I’m a French speaker)
I stepped upon your blog while I was looking for D-Mannose information. I also have Interstitial Cystitis (and IBS) and I wanted to share with you what worked for me. I was diagnosed with IC two years ago. I’m 23 now. It was the hardest thing because IC is so overwhelming but I promised myself that I would never give up. I did what every IC patient does when they have IC. I tried the IC diet, I took tons of different pills and went under painful procedures.
A year after that, I realized I felt the same and I was still in the worst pain ever. I decided to throw away all the pills I was taking and looked for my own answers. A friend of mine once talked to me about going vegan. At first, I thought it was a joke but after doing some research… a plant-based diet didn’t seem so wrong. I cut dairy products and meat products. I started buying organic products. I started eating small amounts of fresh, whole organic fruits (even though the IC network banishes them), LOT of greens, vegetables, leafy greens, green juices, green smoothies… and started a whole new journey.
I saw a big difference within weeks. I know diet alone isn’t the answer to Interstitial Cystitis but since I had IBS… it made a huge difference in my IC. I started participating on vegan forums and met people that resolved some health issues. Some had Chronic fatigue, Thyroid issues, Heart issues, Cancers, Lyme disease, Fybromalgia, Endometriosis, Crohn disease, Colitis, Arthritis… and so much more… and well, I learned that all these conditions were reversible and that the body has the power to heal itself if you give what it needs.
I was referred to True North Health Center in Santa Rosa, California. I met amazing open-minded doctors there…(most were naturopaths) and I learn to take care of myself. I spent a month there and at that time, I was really desperate. I met 4 patients that had Lyme disease and 6 that were there to resolve hypertension. I also met a girl of my age who had Crohn disease. I read that you have Lyme disease too so I felt the need to share with you this information. These people had amazing results and most of them are symptom-free now. First of all, True North is a place where you can achieve 3 things : Water fast, green juice fast and healthy living. You don’t need to go to True North to start a healthy living (low-fat, no oil, no processed food, etc.) but it’s a nice way to get motivated. I did a water fast there for 2 weeks and it was the hardest thing ever… but it was worth it. It did help a lot my IC and IBS. Water fast is very powerful…but I don’t recommend it to everyone and it has to be supervised.
I met one lady who had Lyme disease. She did 2 or 3 fasts of 21 days (in a 25 years period). She was in symptom-free since and didn’t have any symptoms. If you are interested, I kept the email of my other friend who also have Lyme disease. He did few water fasts and has been symptom-free too. I know he does few other things to keep it under control. I have his facebook if you want to talk to him. Maybe you would like to hear about his story.
As for me, after my fast, I started doing pelvic exercises such as stretching, trigger point therapy, yoga, self-massage, relaxation, … and these have helped me tremendously. Today, I’m 85-90% better and I have more control over my IC symptoms. I try to give others support… and I try to share my experience to everyone because it’s a positive one. If you are interested, you can contact me anytime!
I do strongly believe everything is possible.
PS : This is NOT a publicity at all… but I’ll give you the address of True North (if you are just curious and want to read about it)… http://www.healthpromoting.com/
I wish you the best on your healing
Eli
Eli, can I get your email address. I am very interested (very interested) it what you have told me. I have a couple of questions. Please, if you don't mind, send me an email at paschalltwin@yahoo.com. Thanks, Eli, for caring enough.
I came across your post looking for info on D-mannose too! Did you post a follow-up and I just missed it? How did it work for you IC? Has anything else worked for you? Thanks so much and best of luck!
I can't see if my first message worked so I'm trying again- how did it go with the D-mannose for you? Thanks!!
Danielle,
It made my bladder feel funny, gave me urgency so I haven't taken it since. But I think I am ready to try it again. I just have to find it in the piles of medicine I have tried over the years. I plan on trying it again. If you want to keep in touch with me, you may email me at paschalltwin@yahoo.com. Have you taken it? I have heard nothing but good things about it, so it may have just been a bad day for me, and I blamed it on the D-Mannose.
Danielle,
One thing that I think has helped some is electrodermal screening. I also went to a conference recently where they talked about a Zito or Zido test that can scan your body and tell you what is going on. The electrodermal screening was able to tell me what pathogens I had and where. My biggest complaint right now is my urethra burning (ouch!) It can put me in a really bad mood. The electrodermal screening says that I have lyme in my urethral area. I don't know how you would find someone who does electrodermal screenning, but if I were you, I would type in the state that you live in and either electrodermal screeing or zido test. You may contact Dr. Lee Cowden and see if he or someone who works with him would know who does the zZdo or electrodermal testing in your area. I am thinking aobut haveing the Zido test.
Thanks for the response Marti! You sound like me- there have been so many supplements and medicines I've tried that seemed to increase my pain/urgency the day I tried them, and so I stopped using them. It's so hard to be 100% sure that its the supplement. I've realized a lot of the natural things touted for IC are also diuretics, which is why they tend to increase my frequency/urgency. I've never heard of electrodermal screening though, maybe I'll check it out!! Thanks!
Marti,
Did you try the D-Mannose again? Did it work to relieve your IC symptoms? Did anything else work?
No, I haven't. They have me on a new treatment. I am seeing Ruth Kriz in Virginia. She suffered from IC for years before finding out it was an infection that could not be cultures. Go figure! We are not surprised, are we?
I will start it again this weekend and let you know what happens. My concern it that I read that it is a form of sugar, we don't need to feed the bacteria if it is. Keep in touch. If you want my number, email me at paschalltwin@yahoo.com.
Hi there - my 38yo husband has chronic IC (we think because he had cancer treatment / radiation in his 20's) and has found through his own experimentation that taking pyridium daily is his key. Even his urologist was surprised, but was supportive. It's benign and he's been on it for three years now taking 2 pills daily with no side effects except bright orange pee and almost complete pain relief. On occasion when he has a flare sitting in the bathtub works. Hope that helps.
Hi there, i am 20 and was diagnosed with IC 4 years ago. I spend most days having problems from IC. It has however been getting worse.. i dread the painful treatments with cathers etc. however i was recently told of D-Mannose from my Doctor.. I want to know if you've had any success, i don't want to try anything that could make it worse.. i'm tired from crying in pain.. would be wonderful to just live normally for a bit.
Kim
It definitely didn't make it worse, but to be completely honest, I was not consistent on taking it due to the other treatments that I take--too many. It is worth a try.
Post a Comment