FAQ/Interstitial Cystitis
Is it possible that my IC resulted from progesterone shots?
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 9:36 PM
Question:
About 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC). The diagnosis was made via cystoscopy with hydrodistension. This was after several months of symptoms ... urinary frequency, urgency, bladder pressure, and intermittent pain.
I tried and tried to figure out what could cause this. Then, I found your website and thought, perhaps ... "Aha!"
I am 52 years old and started menopause in the past couple years. I have also had a great deal of stress in the past 1-1/2 years (my husband died in 2001, two weeks later my father died, I work at Enron ... so you can imagine the job stress, I drank heavily after my losses ... etc.). I started having very heavy non-stop menstrual bleeding in June 2002. After 5 weeks of heavy bleeding, my OB-GYN decided to give me Depo Provera. I took 7 days of pills, then she gave me an injection in late July. Another injection in early September ... and right after that, my IC started. Another injection in early October. But by that time I had done a lot of IC research, and decided to stop the injections.
Do you think it is possible that my IC resulted from the progesterone shots?
If so, what treatment would you recommend? Is it enough to just let the stuff "work itself out" of my body. Would my IC improve after this? Or do I need to to take some proactive measures?
As you know, IC is a horrible disease. It has ruined my life for the past 2-1/2 months. Everything I read about it is so depressing. Chronic ... non-curable ... debilitating ... devastating ... a SSA disability now ...
I don't want the rest of my life to be the way the past 2-1/2 months have been. I'm looking for answers!
Dr. Roby Answers:
This is the worst hormone you could be given. It can take as long as a year to "work out" of your body. The only way I now to effectively deal with it is to use the Progesterone drops I refer to in my sections on asthma and hormones. The protocol is available to physicians at no charge, or you can come here and see us.
Migraines, depression, IC
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Question:
I am a 42 year-old nursing mother. I have been lifelong migraine sufferer. The frequency has increased with age. I always had them around my periods. My periods have always been short, light and irregular. I have really dry skin (except face) and thinning scalp hair. I was diagnosed with IC in my early 20s and accupuncture was the only thing that helped. It has flared up a few times since, one episode was during my first trimester (I had been taking oral progesterone before I got pregnant as prescribed by a holistic NP).
My migraines improved first trimester but came back through second and third (I also had preg-induced hypertension and hypothyroidism). I have been treated with antidepressants off and on for years and feel like I have a bad case of post-partum depression (I was really down during the first trimester and almost aborted). Now my baby is 5.5 months old. I am nursing her, have not started my periods again and I am experiencing: frequent migraines, exhaustion, depression, cloudy thinking. I am taking imitrex nasal spray PRN for migraine, 75 mcg synthroid (1/2 tab QD), zoloft 150 mg QD. Please advise. I have ordered a mail-order saliva prog.,est., and test. test and my MD drew blood to check my hormones and thyroid function.
Dr. Roby Answers:
I see a lot of IC and it is always linked to a hormone imbalance. The most offensive hormone is progesterone. I neutralize the IC symptoms using homeopathic dilutions of progesterone by sublingual drops. These work within 10 to 15 seconds and the pain relief is usually 100%.
See my section on "Hormone Imbalance" on the website. Many types of allergy have their basis in hormone reactions. This is particularly of ladies who experience increasing symptoms as they undergo hormone changes, usually in their late twenties or after the babies are born.
Check out that section and let me know how those characteristics apply to you and then I can get more specific. You may find some useful areas to explore in your search for medical solutions. Areas such as dietary changes, low level exercise and alternative approaches to solving medical problems. Let me know your hormone values and I can make suggestions for your doc. You will want to Progesterone Antibldies IgG and IgM measured as well. I almost always see high levels of progesterone antibodies in IC patients. This will confirm that you are having an allergic reaction to your own hormones.
There is a well recognized phenomenon in dermatology called "Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis" which is similar to IC except with IC the rash is on the inside of the body and with APD the rash is on the outside. Same causative agent however, progesterone.
Is the natural progesterone cream bad for IC and CFS??
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Question:
I was diagnosed with IC in 1994, but had symptoms since I was 17 right after starting birth control pills, which I took for 13 years. After several therapies failed, I used low dose subcutaneous heparin for one year to treat the IC. Since then, I only need it every 3 months for 2 weeks to rebuild my GAG layer. I've been doing this for the past 8 years and it has allowed me to control the IC and have a fairly normal life. Before the heparin, I was unable to leave my home. I have also had fatigue my whole life, but had chronic fatigue for the past year. I tested positive for Epstein Barr. I also was diagnosed with hypothyroidism by my symptoms such as low basal body tempature in the morning, fatigue, etc....and I've been on 30 mgs. of Armour daily since June. I also began using natural progesterone cream (Phyto brand) several months ago. I use 1/4 teaspoon in the evenings from days 12-26 of cycle.
In May I did a saliva lab test to test my estrogen, progesterone, Dhea and testosterone. I was in the normal range on everything and the low/normal range on estrogen. I've been feeling better on the Armour and progesterone cream, but my basal tempature still varies. I still have a lot of fatigue when I wake up in the early mornings and when I don't get 12 hours of sleep daily. My doctor will be monitoring my temp. chart in early Dec. to determine if I need my Armour dosage increased. My questions are as follows: Is the natural progesterone cream bad for IC and CFS?? I also was given long term antiobiotic therapy over the years before I got my IC diagnosed. Do you think I have an intestional yeast infection and is there a natural medication available for treating that?? Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Dr. Roby Answers:
Wow! You have a bunch of problems. Yes, I think the progesterone cream is bad...really bad. In fact with my IC patients we almost always find elevated levels of Progesterone Antibodies (IgG and IgM). We neutralize the symptoms of IC, instantly, by using dilutions of progesterone under the tonue.
See my section on "Hormone Imbalance" on the website. Many types of allergy have their basis in hormone reactions. This is particularly of ladies who experience increasing symptoms as they undergo hormone changes, usually in their late twenties or after the babies are born.
Check out that section and let me know how those characteristics apply to you and then I can get more specific. You may find some useful areas to explore in your search for medical solutions. Areas such as dietary changes, low level exercise and alternative approaches to solving medical problems. I also outline the lab tests needed.
Severe burning sensation in urethra
Wed, 09 Oct 2002
Question:
I have felt a severe burning sensation in my urethra after passing urine for many years now. When it first happened I was given tablets for a kidney infection which cleared it up, however as time has passed my condition has got increasingly worse, and I have spent the last four days in extreme pain. My GP and consultant are at a loss to help me. I have tried every antibiotic and had several cystoscopy's and urine samples and they have all came back clear.
My pain is quite unusual as I find relief when I urinate, but afterwards I have a severe burning pain from the urethra. I used to sit in a warm bath which eased it but it does not help anymore. I am desperate to have this problem sorted as I am very depressed. I drink alot of water and cranberry juice, which also used to help, but this neither works anymore, please can you give me another suggestion as I am quite desperate. Even the strongest painkillers known are failing to ease the problem. I am only twenty years old and am exteremely frustrated, please help. Do you even know if it could be something I am allergic to, could be causing this problem?
Dr. Roby Answers:
I think this is related to hormone changes. One of the many symptoms I see is urinary track discomfort. Sometimes it gets so bad the bladder or urethras actually bled. This is known as "interstitial cystitis". I treat the hormone imbalance with dilutions of progesterone and balance of the hormones. Dietary changes also help.
See my section on "Hormone Allergy" on the website. Many types of allergy have their basis in hormone reactions. This is particularly of ladies who experience increasing symptoms as they undergo hormone changes, usually in their late twenties or after the babies are born.
Check out that section and let me know how those characteristics apply to you and then I can get more specific. You may find some useful areas to explore in your search for medical solutions. Areas such as dietary changes, low level exercise and alternative approaches to solving medical problems.
Patient Responds:
I would firstly like to thank you for replying so promptly to my letter, here in Ireland I would have been waiting weeks for my GP to reply to me.
I have read your section on hormone imbalance and I too, have been getting forgetful lately, and I also have a lot of pubic hair also in the unusual places mentioned.
Is there anything you can recommend or as mentioned in your site a hormonal tablet I could take to help with the burning sensation in the urethra.
Dr. Roby Answers:
Go to your local homeopathy shop and ask for Progesterone 10X. That should help.
|
