Prelief

Sister 1 and Sister 2 have both had an evolving relationship with the product Prelief. We have read the package directions which suggest 2 tablets taken before an acidic meal. It also suggests that more can be taken if needed. Sister 1 and Sister 2 both use more. Sister 1 typically uses 3 Prelief tablets. Sister 2 typically uses 2 at the beginning of a moderately worrisome meal, but adds 2 more in the middle of a more acidic food, such as a meal that has tomato as an ingredient or with a reduced acid coffee.

Here is the Prelief advice Sister 2 got from her urogynecologist Dr. Allan Klapper at New York Downtown Hospital. He suggested taking Prelief daily with the same meal every day. For example, take Prelief with dinner every evening. He also suggested continuing to take additional Prelief with other meals that might be too acidic. His suggestion to take Prelief on a daily basis at the same time every day is quite different from the packaging instructions, so we thought it was worth mentioning. It seems like Prelief is very helpful.

Recipe for Pasta without the Sauce

In case you are wondering how to dress your pasta without using tomatoes, here is what Sister 2 ate last night:

Whole Wheat Rotini

Handmade Mozzarella, about 1.5T per serving

Chopped Fresh Basil, about 1T per serving

Olive Oil

Boil pasta according to package directions. (Gia Russa is a yummy brand that only has one ingredient: whole wheat) Drizzle with olive oil and toss. Serve pasta onto the plate and grate mozzarella over the pasta. Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil. Salt and pepper to taste. Mangia!

Cinnamon and Honey Tea

Here's a victory I want to share for those of you who feel the best when you are on antibiotics for a bladder infection. If you are one of the IC sufferers who subscribes to the belief that you have a low grade bladder infection at all times and it is only medically detectable when it flares, then this is for you. I found an IC safe alternative to the cranberry. Try this, I do it twice a day and it has made a huge difference in my pain level, use 2t of cinnamon and 1t of honey in hot water and sip. One cup in the morning and one in the evening. Of course, start lighter to make sure you can tolerate the cinnamon and keep up with the water drinking, but this cleansing drink has been very helpful to me and I urge you to give it a try. I have had more success with this simple tea than the grapefruit seed supplements though I think those have merit as well for cleansing the bladder and urethra of bacteria. Drink up!

HRT Follow-up Appointment

Sister 2 is just back from her follow-up appointment with Dr. Allan Klapper at New York Downtown Hospital. Doctor and patient agree that there is improvement in this bladder with Estrace. What is better is the chronic pressure feeling. The examination left no doubt, as the exam itself was much less uncomfortable than the initial exam one and a half months ago.

When asked about the bladder's ongoing sensitivity to food, Dr. Klapper recommended Prelief twice a day. Another appointment is scheduled for 2 months and Estrace is reduced from every other day to 2x per week. We will give this a try. Just 6 days ago after eating home fries at the diner which had who knows what in it--MSG, ascorbic acid, or paprika perhaps?--there was pain in the evening for three days. So, we are hoping for more improvement. With exercise, impeccable diet, and super-hydration I am able to feel comfortable at this time. That's good news!

Recipe for Mashed Poturnips

Serving Size: 2

5 small Potatoes (Yukon Gold or another good masher)

4 small Turnips

1.5 T Butter at room temperature

1/3C Milk

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cut potatoes and turnips into roughly 1.5" chunks. Place in water to cover with 1/2 rounded t salt. Boil. When the poturnips are pierced easily with a fork, drain off the water. Reduce heat to low. Add butter and milk. Use a potato masher and mash with up and down strokes rather than stirring to keep the potatoes from becoming gluey. Season with salt and pepper.

Variations: Use half and half or cream instead of milk for a richer flavor. Use buttermilk for a sour cream flavor. Or add 1.5 T of cream cheese.

Recipe for Vegetable Broth

Since many packaged broths contain tomatoes, or high levels of salt, or other unfriendly ingredients, we started making our own.

If you are like us, you are eating a lot of fresh vegetables to keep your body alkaline. Save your peelings and parings from a week's cooking in a zip lock bag in your vegetable drawer in the fridge. You can keep everything! Carrot butts and peelings, potato peelings, the leaves and stems from a head of cauliflower, cilantro stems, broccoli trimmings... Since you are going to boil the broth, the quality of these can be lower than what you would normally think of eating. When your 1 gallon freezer size bag is about 3/4 full, you're ready.

Use a large stock pot, and place the veggie bits with water to near the top of the pot. Add some fresh herbs such as thyme, sage, dill, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I use a tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil.

Simmer for about 1.5 hours partially covered. Taste the stock, and adjust seasonings or cook longer to bring out more flavor. Use a slotted spoon to take the chunks out, then filter the rest through a fine sieve. Use the stock to make a vegetable soup, or to cook your rice, or to steam your vegetables. You will love the flavor!

Hormone Replacement Treatment

I went to see a urogynecologist recommended on the Interstitial Cystitis Network website, Dr. Allan Klapper, the Chief of Gynecology and Obstetrics at New York Downtown Hospital. I wanted to see what he would recommend for my bladder symptoms. I was very afraid that he would examine my bladder visually by way of the urethra, but he didn't. He did a manual examination vaginally, and confirmed my report that my bladder was sensitive.

He prescribed Estrace, 1mg every other day taken vaginally. The idea seems to be that the estrogen will cause a reduction in bladder sensitivity. Since my symptoms began with perimenopause, I feel hopeful. I have been taking the Estrace for about two weeks now. So far, I have not noticed a reduction in symptoms, but he said that it would take a month. I will keep you posted!

Recipe for Granola

This recipe came from the back of a package for Let's Do...Organic Unsweetened Organic Coconut Flakes. Thanks! Let's Do!

Serving Size: About 8

3C Rolled oats

1/4C Whole wheat flour

3/4C Coconut Flakes (without preservatives)

3/4C Sliced or chopped almonds

1/2t Cinnamon

1/2C Maple syrup (always choose 100% pure)

1/3C Safflower oil (We used Canola and it was fine)

1t Vanilla

Preheat oven to 300.

Mix oats, flour, coconut, almonds, and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl. In a small bowl, mix maple syrup, oil and vanilla. In three steps pour the liquids over the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

Pour onto a greased baking sheet and spread to cover evenly. Bake for 30 minutes, stir, and bake another 20 to 30 minutes (we did 20) depending on preferred doneness.

Store in an airtight container. Refrigerate or freeze to extend freshness.

Recipe for Bread Maker Herb Bread

When my "healthy" bread started sweetening with raisin juice and adding ascorbic acid, it was all over between us. I had to take control, and so I bought a Panasonic bread maker. This recipe came with the machine.

This recipe makes a "Medium" or 1 pound loaf.

3 C Bread flour

1 1/2t Salt

1 1/2T Dry milk

1 1/2T Butter

2T Dry parsley

1T Caraway seeds

1T Dill weed

1 1/8C Water

1 tsp Active dry yeast

Place the ingredients in the pan in the order presented except the yeast. Place the yeast in the dispenser on top of the machine.

Bake on Basic with Medium crust and choose the smallest size loaf. Press "Start."

Always Believe Your Body, and Always Read Labels: The String Cheese Incident

Nothing against the Interstitial Cystitis Network! They are the hardest working, biggest hearted, wisest people in the world. So, they are the only ones out there with whom to have a conversation and bounce ideas off of, so please take that into consideration as you read on about the String Cheese Incident.

Having been fed string cheese by Sister 1, and having read in the ICN diet that string cheeses can actually soothe a troubled bladder I felt no reservations about picking up some string cheese at my local grocery store. Unfortunately, not long after eating some I felt not only physical pain, but also the psychological pain that sounds like "oh my God, nothing is safe, the rules are constantly changing, nothing works." I have a hunch you might be familiar with that fear.

It took a while for my rational mind to take charge. Well, I thought to myself, I suppose I should compare the label of my hurtful Polly-O string cheese to the Borden string cheese Sister 1 actually fed me. Aha! A-freaking-ha!! The offending string cheese lists vinegar as an ingredient, and the okie-dokie string cheese does not. And that is why I want to say to you ALWAYS BELIEVE YOUR BODY, and ALWAYS READ LABELS. Love, Sister 2

Recipe for Maple Cream

Serving size: 8 to 10

8 oz heavy whipping cream

1 rounded T 100% pure maple syrup

1 C blueberries

1/2 C sliced almonds

Pour 8 ounces of heavy whipping cream into a cold bowl. Whip on high speed until the cream starts to form peaks. Beat in 1T pure maple syrup.

Fold in by hand, using a spatula or wooden spoon, 1C blueberries and 1/2 C sliced almonds.

Serve cold with a drizzle of maple syrup on top.

Recipe for Cucumber Sesame Salad

Serving size: 2

1 stalk celery, sliced

1/2 to 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced (try an unusual variety for fun, Japanese are yummy)

1t toasted sesame oil

1/2 t sesame seeds

salt and pepper to taste

Wondering how to season a salad when lemon, vinegar, and mayo are out? Yeah, we were too! This salad is very tasty.

Simply toss the celery, cucumber, and oil together. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top, and add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Recipe for Shitake, Broccoli Saute

Serving size: 1

1/2 C rice (brown, white, or basmati cooked according to package directions)

1 stalk broccoli chopped

3 fresh shitake mushrooms, stemmed and diced

3/4 T butter (more or less, to taste)

2 dashes of nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste (Nutmeg and black pepper appear in the "try it" column of the 2009 IC/PBS food list, so use sparingly.)

Start the rice first.

Bring water to cover broccoli and mushrooms to boil. Peel the tough outer skin of the broccoli and cut into bite size pieces. Boil the broccoli for 5 minutes, then add the diced shitake mushrooms for 5 minutes more, or until the broccoli is tender. Drain off the water.

Reduce heat to low and add butter, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Saute and serve hot.

Aloe Vera

Desert Harvest produces an IC safe form of aloe vera. I have read research that indicates that aloe vera has a positive affect on mast cells. It is important to take aloe vera in capsule form and avoid aloe juice as the juice is often preserved with citric acid. Desert Harvest has reviews and testimonials from IC patients who have improved their symptomology by taking aloe. Personally, I tried it years ago and am interested in trying it again. I remember thinking I had experienced a reduction in pain but at the time I was less well versed on the diet and perhaps now I would have even better success. Let us know your experiences if you have tried aloe.