joining the IC family!

[pebble]

After seeing my uro today, the diagnosis is official. so hello! I'm newly diagnosed. I should be starting Elmiron soon..anyway. I'm Allie, 24, live in California In addition to IC, I've had IBS-D (seven years), Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (both diagnosed about a year ago).

I sure hope it STOPS at that list of four! for a couple months I felt like I had a persistent UTI, so finally went in for a cystoscopy. this hurt SO darn much, I almost fainted and they couldn't really finish it. The next week they did a cystoscopy with hydrodistention under anesthesia, and got a better look. so here I am. In fact, my urologist even TOLD me to seek out an IC website/community! I already joined this one, but I guess I'm just doing my patient homework right now

I do have one question about a sort of alternative therapy she proposed.

GARLIC? someone explain what injecting garlic into the bladder once a week is like, whether it helps, whether someone who has a low pain tolerance (couldn't do a cystoscopy while awake!) would have a problem with the catheter and whatnot... thanks!

so glad to have you all for support!

[greeneyes]

I wanted to say WELCOME, I can't answer your question about garlic being instilled into the bladder, I've not heard of it.

[irfran]

Welcome. I have never read anything about garlic being instilled in the bladder but I have read that a DMSO instillation makes you smell like garlic.

[ICNDonna]

I think your doctor meant DMSO, which some think makes you smell like garlic for 12 to 24 hours. I have never heard of garlic being instilled into the bladder.

My first few DMSO instillations were painful, but after the first few they did help. There are other instillations you might want to consider before turning to DMSO. I suggest you discuss trying other options before going to DMSO.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[greeneyes]

I had 7 or 8 DSMO treatments and never smelled like Garlic....I have read where some do.

[Mothergoose]

I smelt really bad for about a week. Not that I could smell it, but my family could, good thing they love me.

I don't think most people smell this long, but I was to hold it in my bladder for I think an hour, but I ended up wiyh it in my bladder for a lot longer, due to retention issues. So maybe that is why I had an oder for longer.

MG

[pebble]

I guess she was thinking of this DMSO, but she did actually say it was garlic (and also some kind of numbing? I'm not sure!) I think I'll hold off on that, and see how I do on the Elmiron first. thanks for all the advice

[Mothergoose]

The thing is the elmiron can take mons before it starts to help and the DMSO can help the symptoms in the mean time.

MG