• You should have a pelvic exam and make sure cultures are done for yeast, trichomonas and chlamydia. These can cause vaginal infections that can cause burning when you urinate.

Pointers On Treatment Of Infectious Cystitis

If you have a proven infection, try to avoid taking the antibiotics tetracycline, nitrofurantoin and erythromycin. Sulfa drugs, cephalosporin, ampicillin or amoxicillin are preferable.

A one to three-day course of treatment is usually all that is necessary for a simple bladder infection that doesn't involve the kidneys. In most cases, this shorter course of treatment has been found to be just as effective as the longer ten-day course of treatment.

• After you finish your antibiotics, you should always return with another sample of urine to make sure your infection has cleared up.

• Women with repeated bladder infections should have urine cultures done on a regular basis even if they don't have symptoms.

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.

• When symptoms first start drink one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water, one time only.

Alternatives are TUMS, or one teaspoon of potassium citrate four times a day to help make the urine more alkaline.

• Avoid acid foods and large doses of vitamin-C.

Dr. Whitmore notes that foods can affect the urine within 20 minutes. Use only buffered vitamin-C.

• If you have repeated infections, you may want to try acidophilus suppositories placed in the vagina every night for a week, then once a week for six months to a year.

You can use a high quality dairy free acidophilus powder available in any health food store, and put it in 00 gelatin capsules.

Pointers On Diagnosis And Treatment Of Interstitial Cystitis

• A urine culture will usually be negative. A complete blood count, a thyroid function test and a test for EBV and other viruses should also be done.

• Diagnosis is usually made through ruling out other causes and performing a cystoscopy examination under a general anesthetic. Cystoscopy is usually too painful to perform under a local anesthetic.

The cystoscope is a lighted instrument that illuminates the inside of your bladder. The bladder is checked to see if its holding capacity is reduced, and for an over-growth of tiny blood vessels, pinpoint bleeding sites, and ulcers, which point to a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. A biopsy can be also be taken to see if antibodies have developed to bladder tissue or if there is a high mast cell count which indicates inflammation.

• Dr. Whitmore also suggests that you have urodynamic studies.

These types of studies will show how much urine your bladder holds and whether the bladder is emptying completely. They will also measure the flow of urine and test the function of muscles needed to urinate normally.

• If you suspect IC, educate yourself and your doctor about the problem.

I suggest you present your GP and/or urologist with copies of the latest medical research on IC (available through the Interstitial Cystitis Association) and a copy of Dr. Whitmore's book, Overcoming Bladder Disorders. More resources are listed below.

• Treatment of IC requires the help of a sympathetic doctor.

Fortunately more urologists are becoming aware of this complex problem. Dr. Gillespie found that IC was not really one disease but many, all resulting in damage to the bladder wall. Thus treatment must be highly individualized according to the specific causes and stages of the disease.