urethral pain success

[Dianne]

Well, at long last I have a success of sorts to report. Thanks to the posts about almond milk I decided to try it. The relief was immediate, like in about an hour. I couldn't believe it and have waited to tell anyone for 10 days lest I jinx myself but it's still working, in fact better than anything I've ever used in 9 years for urethral pain. It hasn't helped the bladder as much (maybe some) but my urethral pain is totally gone as long as I drink at least 4 oz. every 4-6 hours. I'm off Cipro too which I hadn't been able to get off in months because it helped a little to decrease inflammation. I can really tell when the almond milk starts to wear off so I know that's what's keeping it at bay. I'm drinking about a liter a day of the Blue Diamond Almond Breeze vanilla. It's a little hard to find. Our local health food store has it and also Safeway chain grocery store but that's only places in this town of 30K. Safeway has been wonderful to me and have in fact ordered 3 cases for me which will arrive Tues. I was even more shocked to discover cathing doesn't hurt now either. Unbelievable! I'm so grateful to those who posted about this. Thank you. The nurse in me is puzzled though over what the exact mechanism of almond milk is and why it works. Does anyone know? I thought maybe it altered the pH but I've checked that out myself and that's not it. I'm intrigued. If anyone sees any articles on this, I'd love to see. Did someone just try it and coincidentally notice it helped? How did this get started?

[vm]

Wow. You've got me wanting to try it.

[BobbieB]

I need to find it....hope I can....that's the worst problem I have....at times....thanks. BB

[ICNDonna]

I think I'll give it a try too. I'm so glad you are getting some relief.


Donna

[havingsuccess]

I want some to. I hate that urethral thing. Thanks for sharing!!

Success

[BobbieB]

I called a health food store close by...about 30 min. away...they have the almond milk....I'm going to buy some....and hope it works for me....If I could get that part of this problem fixed, I would be in ok shape...I think it's something I eat sometimes, that causes it...and was really watching every little thing, but that's so hard to do...and then when I eat something that's kinda "iffy"....I have this urethral burning and weird feeling especially when I bend over....?? does this sound familiar?

[tigger_gal]

Diane
thats great I am so happy for you. a quick question what if almonds make your bladder hurt? I know that sounds stupid.. but it is almound milk.
Brat

[Dianne]

Beats me. Nuts are something I can't tolerate either. I don't understand any of this. I've read the ingredients a million times trying to figure it out but I can't. That's why I wonder who discovered this. I still can't lie down without severe (bladder) pain in about 4 mins. but upright I'm better (bladder) and urethral pain TOTALLY gone whether up or down which means I'm having some good hours in the daytime. Nights are still a nightmare but when you get a break during the day, it's just more bearable in my case.

[dawn217]

I'll run right out for it! This is my only - and worst symptom of IC!

[buana1]

I'm curious about your urethral "pain". Is it an actual pain or burning or a sensation of still needing to "go"?

It's hard for me to know where different sensations come from, but I often have this feeling like there is still urine in my urethra. Any pressure on my urethra makes it worse and the only way to relieve it is to go again. Sitting in a chair is often the worse. I tend to sit on the edge of a chair to keep pressure off this area. It's often not a strong sensation, just annoying. But then again, it can be very uncomfortable.

This whole almond milk thing intrigues me. Think it might work with what I've got going on?

[dawn217]

my symptom sounds like yours, except mine is always worse after I go, for some time. And it's much worse when I bear down or relax all of the PF muscles.

[ICyuck]

I can't remember who originally posted about Almond Milk but a big thanks to her. I know that I chimed in at some point and said "me too" for those who found relief. I thought I remembered reading several people found that almond milk helped them? Maybe someone could try to do a search on this?

I don't remember ever reading any studies about it, and for the life of me I don't understand how or why it works but it really helped me before the Elmiron kicked in (I keep the Almond milk boxes in my storage cabinet just in case, a backup I guess) and if I ever have to go off Elmiron (knock on wood) I plan to drink Almond Milk all the time.

I'm glad to hear that other people are being helped, too. Maybe someone will do a study on it someday and see what it is that helps.

Love, ICY

[ICyuck]

P.S. Forgot to add, my IC seemed to be centered at the base of my bladder (according to the biopsy reports) and in the urethra also.

So maybe that's why I got so much relief from almond milk, maybe it helps that part of the bladder or the urethra mostly.

Seems worth trying, unless you are allergic to almond milk or have another reason for not trying it.

Love, ICY

[Iris]

Hi, I checked in our local Safeway store but could not find it. Do you have to ask them to get it in for you Diane, and also where is it located in a regular store? I looked in the natural section and it was not there, and I looked in the dairy and could not find it. So far no luck, I have not checked in a health food store yet. Any answers would be helpful, thanks Iris hi

[Dianne]

It's in the specialty food or organic food section like by the soy milk and rice milk alternatives. It's on the shelf, not the fridge section. It comes in plastic square milk cartons 1 liter in size with blue writing on it like what you see in the left upper corner here: http://www.bluediamond.com/retail/br..._showcontent=0 Safeway was already carrying it here but it sells out the day it arrives so I special ordered 3 cases. As for urethral pain, mine is precipitated the worst by "sucking in" like when you pull in your abdominal muscles. The place it most grabs me is the base of the bladder where the urethra starts. The external opening is more exacerbated by what I eat or drink but nothing has touched the upper neck of the urethra type pain til now. To the person who asked, I can't tolerate elmiron. I have no idea if this coats things. My dream would be that with continued use it might actually help the bladder too. Last night when the bladder burning started, I lay in pain til almost 4am and then got up and drank some and actually got a few hours sleep after that so that's one instance where it helped bladder too. I think health food store would stand the best chance of being in stock. There is another brand too called Pacific someething but I'm afraid to change anything so I'm sticking to Blue Diamond.