Low oxalate diet for VV and Vulvodynia

[Briza]

It is sometimes suggested that a low oxalate diet may help with pain and/or burning in the vulva or vagina. The following sites might help:

vulvar pain foundation

http://www.vulvarpainfoundation.org/

oxalate in foods chart (low, medium, high)

http://www.seekwellness.com/incontin...alate-diet.htm

national vulvodynia association:

http://www.nva.org/

Vulval pain society

http://vulvalpainsociety.org/

and this is copied from Dr. Glazer's Vulvodynia website ( I think he wrote the vulvodynia suvivor's guide?)

http://www.vulvodynia.com/

7.13 Low-oxalate diet_

A low-oxalate cookbook is available from the Vulvar Pain
Foundation (address in "Resources"), and there are websites (also in
"Resources") that list the oxalate content of many foods.

Some women use calcium citrate -- 500 mg, three times a day -- to
help bind the oxalates and prevent crystal formation. This doesn't
necessarily LOWER oxalate levels, but it may reduce the pain. If you can't
tolerate (or can't find) calcium citrate, calcium carbonate (such as is
found in TUMS) seems to also work, albeit for fewer people. Usually,
magnesium is taken as well (up to 1500 mg/day), to avoid constipation and
to help with calcium absorption. Some controversy exists as to when the
calcium should be taken. Clive Solomons argues that the calcium should be
timed to one's oxalate peaks; others argue it should be taken 20 minutes
before eating (for maximum absorption); still others feel it makes no
difference. Please note that many women have achieved success with the
diet regardless of whether they have had urinary oxalate levels tested and
without taking the citrate at specific times. The importance of *some
kind* of citrate supplementation to the low-oxalate diet is not disputed
by any of the different groups supporting the oxalate theory. Length of
time until pain reduction on the diet varies greatly, with some women
reporting improvement after a week or two, and others requiring six months
or more to see progress.

Reducing your oxalate intake may not curb your pain, even if your
problem is oxalate sensitivity. The amount of uric oxalate is determined
not only by dietary intake of oxalate but also by the ability of your
intestines to break down the oxalate.

There's been some discussion of a "good" bacterium, "oxalobacter
formagenis", which is being studied at the University of Iowa as something
that helps break down oxalates. As many women report that their pain was
triggered by antibiotic use, some have wondered whether the destruction of
oxalobacter formagenis through this kind of treatment is the source of
their problems.

Some women following the low-oxalate diet also make use of some of
the nutritional supplements listed in the next section

[andreamarie]

I know I have high oxalate levels

I did a twenty four urine test for my gastro because I have Crohn's. He told me I had a high oxalate level and to stay away from coffee, beets, chocolate and a few other things I never eat anyway. This was before the V diet came out. I don't have V but have intense itching right under bladder wall. I was on Calcium citrate already and started drinking more water. Gastro told me to take it after meals to bind the oxalate. I also spoke to a friend who's a nephrologist because high oxalate levels can lead to kidney stones. He said to do what gastro said. It never really helped itching but I kept doing it even during long remission because of possibility of kidney stones.