Re: bladder infections

[Guest guest]

> Hi Ladies, It has been a long time since I have been here as I

have

> overcome the vv problem for the most part. Today I am asking a

> question for a neigbor. She is having recurrent bladder

> infections. I remember reading on the board last year some time

> about something purchased at the health food store that helped. I

> beleive it bound up the free sugar molecules so that the bacteria

> could not feed on them and grow. Does this sound familiar to

> anyone? I tried looking via the search window but did not come up

> with anything. Would appreciate some help. Thank you.

My gyno told me to use D-Mannose. http://www.healingtherapies.info/D-

Mannose.htm It is made of sugar molecules but has no effect on

diabetics. I was told to use 1/2 tsp of powder in water daily to

stop the chronic UTI's I get. I must say, last month I only had some

problems as my period started so I hope it does the trick. He said

many of his patients love it and stop having the monthly (some had

several a month) UTI's.

Lynn

[Guest guest]

Thanks and Lynn for your quick replies. It was the D-

Mannose I was thinking of and just could not remember the name of.

She has been drinking cranberry juice so I will remind her to use

the capsules instead because of the sugar.

As far as my success with VV, the road has been long and full

of experimentation and I feel the cause for me was multi faceted. A

big part of it was that I developed a candida allergy from having

multiple yeast infections and also became allergic to many yeast

meds, more specifically propylene glycol, an ingredient in them. I

also was premenopausal and experiencing changes in my hormone

levels. Things finally started to turn around when I was treated for

the yeast allergy by Natasha Volovsky (sp?) at Dr. Metzgers office

in San , Ca. At the same time I eleminated 9 foods from my diet

that I had reacted to for 6 weeks. I feel Wheat, egss and corn were

the worst culprits. I can now eat any of them in moderation. I

still try to stick to a low carb diet just because I feel better in

general if I do. Progesterone is also a big problem for me and

anyone who experiences an increase of symptoms before their periods

should consider this. An increase in progesterone will always give

me a yeast infection which starts the problems going again. The

answer to this is an increase in estrogen in some way: topically,

orally, or by vaginal insert. The years I was PRE menopausal we

were always guessing with the hormones. Now that I no longer have

periods, I take .65 mg Premarin(estrogen) daily and use an Estring

vaginally. Neither one by themselves does the trick.(An estrogen

cream maight do the same as the estring but I like it casue you put

it in and forget it for 3 months) And I initially used a

testosterone cream topically on my vula but I haven't been too

consistant with that since I have been feeling better I know that

Premarin is not considered the best choice by some but it is the

only one that does not trigger severe IBS symptoms for me. Because

I still have a uterus I take progesterone for 10 days once every 3

months to counteract the possibility of uterine cancer. I will

almost always get a yeast infection when I do this but a couple of

Diflucan take care of it. I can deal with this once every 3 months

considering I had been on Diflucan months on end before.

Progesterone also makes my IBS flare and makes me mentally crazy. I

take one slow release Prozac right before I take the progesterone

and this helps both. When I tried to take the estrogen and

progesterone together everyday, I had constant itching and burning

and was actually making my symptoms worse. There are times when I

feel a little itchy now and then but have not conected those times

to any foods etc. which I probably could if i kept a food diary.

Also, there are times intercourse leaves me a bit itchy and if I

insert a boric acid tab afterwards I will feel better. In general I

try to eat healthier and take some good supplements. As you can see

I am not " cured " but have found a way to keep things balanced most

of the time. I am now working on the IBS. My advice to all of you is

to hang in there and try every thing you read on this board that

seems to fit your symptoms. I don't think I would ever have gotten

better if it weren't for the information I have gathered here

through the years. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE!!! The doctors in

my town were clueless 8-10 years ago when all this started for me.

Sorry this is long but thought I should tell the whole story.

God bless all of you. Hop

[Guest guest]

, I have been told by a gal who has MS and who goes the " natural "

route, that it is a known fact in that circle (and she said in medical

circles) that diet CAN and does improve MS and Lupus and other diseases of a

comprimised immune system origin. I worked with her many years ago and she

rarely had any symptoms - and was relgiously faithful to her diet. Perhaps

you can find something on the internet or a medical library about this.

Dusty

Re: bladder infections

YOU WROTE;

I have had vulvodynia a very long time. In fact, I was one of Dr.

Reid's (Southfield, MI)original patients. Years ago, I endured two laser

surgeries and interferon injections (and many 3-hour waits in his waiting

room). Many of those who sued him (which resulted in him returning to

Australia) were in my support group. My vulvar symptoms preceded any of my

symptoms of interstitial cystitis, fibromyaligia and MS. My neurologist

argues that my burning pain is due to MS nerve damage, but then why is it

reduced when I watch my diet carefully?

Sorry, I know that you didn't expect such a long answer.

in MI

[Guest guest]

The Gerson Therapy which is a diet therapy has had great success with Lupus

and Malignant Melanoma. You may want to check their website. It is a diet

therapy and cured me of malignant melanoma eleven years ago. I am just not

willing yet to go that route for the vulvodynia. It is a serious but well

worth it program. I know from personal experience that the program has cured

the incurable. Their website is www.gerson.org if you are interested.

Kay

> , I have been told by a gal who has MS and who goes the " natural "

> route, that it is a known fact in that circle (and she said in medical

> circles) that diet CAN and does improve MS and Lupus and other diseases of

a

> comprimised immune system origin. I worked with her many years ago and

she

> rarely had any symptoms - and was relgiously faithful to her diet.

Perhaps

> you can find something on the internet or a medical library about this.

>

> Dusty

>

> Re: bladder infections

>

> YOU WROTE;

>

> I have had vulvodynia a very long time. In fact, I was one of Dr.

> Reid's (Southfield, MI)original patients. Years ago, I endured two laser

> surgeries and interferon injections (and many 3-hour waits in his waiting

> room). Many of those who sued him (which resulted in him returning to

> Australia) were in my support group. My vulvar symptoms preceded any of my

> symptoms of interstitial cystitis, fibromyaligia and MS. My neurologist

> argues that my burning pain is due to MS nerve damage, but then why is it

> reduced when I watch my diet carefully?

>

> Sorry, I know that you didn't expect such a long answer.

>

> in MI

>

>

>

>

>

> *****END OF MESSAGE/REMOVE WHEN REPLYING*****

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders

> to search our archive or view our files.

>

> ***

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kay, I Read the book and tried the Primal Defense which made

me intolerably worse. Different things work for different people

and even the same people at different times. Tried it at various

doses and could not tolerate it at all. What has worked most

recently for me is an adaptation of Van Vorous' plan(helpfor

ibs.com)and taking Zelnorm. This is interesting since she advocates

eating bread at the beginning of meals and not too long ago I was

not tolerating wheat. Go figure!!! I still don't eat tons of wheat

or other breads but if I want to have a salad, which normally gives

me a lot of intestinal pain, I can get by with it if I have some

bread first. She also advocates eating mainly soluble fiber which

works well for me. Thanks for the tip though. I know the Primal

Defense has helped others.