I plan to start treatment soon, but want to go ahead and get a few questions answered.  I read that it says when flaring, not to have unprotected sex or sex with spermicide condoms.  What do you use?  Are any other lubricated condoms okay if they don't have spermicide?  Also, what lubricant is safe?  Are any tampons okay...or should I use organic cotton?  I use all non-toxic, chemical free, organic products - including: all personal care products, household cleaners, makeup, laundry detergent, etc.  I also eat a 90% organic diet.  Is there anything else special I need to do or change? 

Hello everyone, I haven’t properly posted in a long time, I wanted to have some improvement before I sent an update. Last year was a really bad year for me with the IC. I had so much pain from September to January that I felt like giving up to be able to find a painkiller that could give me some relief because I was really getting worse after thinking I was improving the year before, but in my heart I didn't want to give up, this is the path I wanted to take, it makes the most sense to me and I want to bring my body back to health not mask the symptoms.

Boaz  put me on Twin Labs magnesium and I'm wondering if I open the capsule or take it whole? I opened one last night and what a mess it made. I can see why it works. Made me a little queasy!

Hello everyone, been some time since I've written. Long story short I have been trying to find a salt water pool to take my 8 month old swimming in since she LOVES the water, unfortunetly this is harder than I thought. In any case I did take her to my friends chlorinated pool and a day or so after my symptoms of urgency, burning and vaginal irriation became so much worse I just knew I had an infection. I went to my doctor, the urine test for uti came back negative but after she did a vaginal swab she said that I have bacterial vaginosis.

Hello everyone, its been awhile since I've written. I am quite frustrated...Okay so my 8 month old daughter loves to swim. My cousin has a salt water pool but she lives over an hr away so we don't use it often. I have so many friends that have chlorinated pools and while I know its not good to use I don't want my daughter to not be able to use a pool ever. Long story short I went in a pool with her a few weeks back and afterwards noticed my symptoms of urgency, burning and vaginal itching got much worse. I knew this time I in fact had an infection.

I have seen different things regarding this.  I live in Indiana, and I'm not sure if I can afford to fly to California for first visit.  Am I able to do all of the treatment via long distance, or does the first visit have to be in person?

Hello everyone

I know it's probably a good idea to start list one before my appointment. However, I can only eat four items on list one (lettuce cucumber salmon and potatoes) I feel a bit concerned just sticking to those foods for any long period of time. I've tried to add in other list one items but it's never worked. How long did you do the diet before treatment? Could you eat all the different foods. I am extremely food sensitive and get bladder pain/urination pIn/terrible pain in my right hand side and vulvodynia if I eat the wrong thing :(

Hello ALL,

I'm currently waiting for some test results to come back to know for sure. I may be treating with 100% natural biodentical hormones to help with my IC. Does anyone else use hormone therapy in their treatment to help with IC symptoms?

How do you tell the difference between a flare or a relapse? A week ago I ate a plain burger and fries at an unfamiliar restaurant. I foolishly didn't ask about how the fries are prepared. That night I had bladder spasms and discomfort.  I've been exceptionally lucky to not have discomfort last more than a day and I certainly haven't  had this level of discomfort.  Until now!  What I'm feeling is very reminiscent of when my IC first began and I'm kind of flipping out about it.   i have noticed over the last few months that foods I could tolerate I no longer can eat.