DMSO is a standard treatment for interstitial treatment.  It is a sterile
solution installed in the bladder and held for 20 minutes before release.
Learn something new everyday Harv!  Probably more than you wanted to know -
but it is the gold standard treatment for interstitial cystitis.

Becky for 10 years I got DMSO treatments once a month - I installed it
myself at home.  After 10 years they stopped working.  The uracystat - the
stuff I gave you the information on - works for me.  When I talked to the
urologist's nurse last week she asked if your urologist would treat you if
you got it from Canada - it is incredibly sucessful for many people.. It is
not consider a med so I don't believe that a urologist needs a prescription
per se. Sure worth a try - again you can be taught to install it at home and
it has no smell like the dmso and can be easily held.

As for the side effects of the mtx, many people say that eventually the
tiredness and nausea etc wanes a bit after a bit.  Give it a good try as the
mtx works in conjunction with other things so much better.  In my opinion
the few weeks I took it did not bother the interstitial - if nothing else
after a couple of months it might have a positive effect on it.  In any case
it can't be worse than the RA pain - and yes I do have bad interstitial so I
do know.  But 16 years of interstitial is nothing compared to my serious RA
pain.

I did ask before several times but you never answered.  Are you following
your interstitial diet faithfully.  When a couple of my RA meds flared my
interstitial dramatically I completely had to go off all coffee, tea,
chocolate, strawberries, lettuce, citrus, vitamin with food colouring and
additives and I am always off vitamin C and ascorbic acid.  That made the
difference between being able to take the med and prevent joint damage and
not be able to stand the itc pain.  If you aren't you might like to try
that.  Also ask you RD if he will prescribe amytriptiline (I may be spelling
that wrong) for the pain of the interstitial and the RA.  That is commonly
prescibed for both chronic pain conditions.

You might try just putting up with the fatique and the sore throat for a
bit.  A couple of days downtime a week in most of our cases would not be bad
if something worked.  Try giving it time to see if the mtx will work.  If it
doesn't work then maybe it isn't worth it.  But personally 4 out of 7 days
where I am sitting would be great.

Kelly

Donna,
Thank you
Becky

Debbie,
Thanks for the email, I have been of the folic acid now for 2 days, can't
say that it is a whole lot better, but some. I have decided to give the mtx
another try tomorrow, my doctor insist that there are a lot of people who do
just fine with just eating folic acid rich foods, which I am trying to do
and take the mtx. I have to find out if it is the mtx or the folic acid or
both, I want to start aggressively doing something about this diseases. I
will mention to her about the possibility of trying it by injection,
although her nurse didn't that  would matter, but it couldn't hurt to try.
I see the urologist in a couple of weeks, had to get another referral. I
will ask him again about emorion he didn't think that was what I should do
since I have been symptom free for 8 years until now. Will wait and see what
he says.
Thank you to all of you for your prayers and emails I need to start putting
my trust in the lord and now things will work out. As my mom always says
This to shall Pass, I am just not sure what it will pass too!!
Wishing everyone a good weekend,
Thanks
Becky