She sounds like a wonderful person to know, Laura. As are you. The pair of you together must have been formidable. I'm so sorry you've lost her.

Laura, I'm sorry for this loss. It sure sounds like the world lost a little of its lustre.

Hil, I hope today goes ok.

What a lovely tribute, Laura, I'm sorry for your loss

Laura, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. She sounds like an amazing person.

So sorry for your loss, Laura.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Laura.

I'm sorry, Laura. Pat sounds like a great person to know.

AAloha! Not in Hawaii, but a friend who's been staying at my house just left for Kauai, so. I dropped in again, and started reading back from my last post, in Feb. I'm only on #23466, but I am simultaneously out of time to read on the board and sitting down to finish my taxes and research TENS units. ::pause:: I just finished and filed my taxes. Yay!

Askye, I always relate to your posts about your IC and UTI issues. I had a horrible IC flare last Tuesday. It felt like I was getting stabbed in the bladder with a hot knife. Ugh. I was lucky someone else canceled so I picked up an appt that day with the physical therapist who's been actually helpful with the IC stuff (two were not, this one is). What works for me is massage essentially across the bikini line, which relaxes tension over/around bladder. Then TENS stim on either side of bladder and on the lower back. The second stim on the inside of each thigh helps too. I'm looking into getting a TENS unit because she says a good but not fancy one can be had for as little as $40-50. (It just occurred to me to ask for a prescription, see if I can get it covered by insurance.)

After digging around in Consumer Reports (nothing in there) and here and there, here's the best article I've found on what to look for and it links to recommendations too. [link] TENS targets nerves, that's what works. The EMS works on muscles, IC flares aren't a muscle thing.

Have sent you an email too, I'll send you some concentrated blueberry juice. It's the closest I've come to a magic bullet and maybe it'll work for you. I get mine at the farmer's market, but try it, if it works for you, maybe some health food store can get it in for you. Knudson makes one. Trader Joe's carries a good one.

Thanks Java I really appreciate it.

I don't remember if I mentioned Uribel in my post it's a prescription instead of AZO and it works. Really well and lasts longer than AZO. It was covered by my insurance but some plans don't.

The Ivy League educated recently-out-of-a-uro/gyno-fellowshop doc (that finally was of real help to me where her male partners were not so effective) that I see prescribed it and rec'd it, so I have it, but I find that it causes me more pain than it helps. I prefer over the counter Avo, although the doc tells me to be careful with it. She had a patient who destroyed her liver completely by taking too much of it or taking it all the time, not sure which, but the cautionary tale stuck.