The Better Bladder Book

Bladder problems affect millions of people, yet few are comfortable publicly or openly discussing their symptoms, making it difficult for patients with bladder disorders to obtain the support and resources they need. Those who've been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC) or chronic pelvic pain are often told that there is no cure for their ailments. Indeed, standard treatments used with these conditions are not always effective or lasting. As a result, many people with bladder problems are looking for comprehensive information and alternative options for recovery. Wendy Cohan wrote The Better Bladder Book to give people who suffer from bladder problems more options. She guides readers to bladder wellness by emphasizing lifestyle changes and self-treatment. A week-by-week approach begins with an understanding of the diagnosis, leads to discovering the factors that cause or exacerbate symptoms, and ends with implementing the changes needed to reduce symptoms and recover bladder health. Cohan introduces the book with a description of the anatomy and function of the urological system and the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of typical bladder problems. She explains how diet affects the bladder, including the role of food sensitivities, allergies, and intolerance. She creates handy lists of healthful and harmful foods and offers a selection of diets to try, especially allergy elimination, gluten-free, and anti-inflammatory diets. Optional weekly meal plans are included. Like all aspects of health, bladder health is improved by daily exercise, good rest, and a reduction of stress. Cohan describes the benefits of regular exercise on bladder symptoms, its role in stress and pain reduction, boosting the immune system, controlling inflammation, and alleviating depression. Stress reduction techniques are also emphasized. Finally, Cohan supplies tips for a better night's sleep, including practicing good sleep hygiene, additional relaxation exercises, and the use of calming herbal teas. Cohan's goal is to leave no stone unturned in the quest for bladder health. With the diet, exercise, sleep, and relaxation techniques described in the book, the thorough description of medical treatments and procedures, and the question and answer section and other resources, readers should have all the information they need to start their own journey toward better bladder health.

You do not have to live with constant pain or interrupted sleep When Wendy Cohan, a registered nurse, was diagnosed with the painful, chronic and often progressive disease interstitial cystitis (IC), she experienced firsthand the frustration millions of patients with IC feel when attempting to find effective, lasting relief. Her extensive research and commitment to recovery led to her becoming pain- and symptom-free. She is now dedicated to sharing this kind of life-changing relief with others. A comprehensive, easy-to-understand recovery plan, accompanied by powerful success stories and the resources you'll need to succeed Cohan begins by providing a clear understanding of how a diagnosis is made. She then explores the possible causes of symptoms, providing options for positive changes you can implement. She explains frequently prescribed medications and procedures and then picks up where common medical approaches leave off to discuss: food sensitivities, including the dramatic relief many experience from eliminating the dietary protein gluten, found in specific grains hormonal imbalances that affect women with bladder issues and pelvic pain medicinal herbs, teas and sleep aids that work safely and effectively to promote healing stress reduction techniques that can alleviate symptoms, including pain, urinary hesitancy and bladder and pelvic floor spasms. Cohan's techniques target not just freedom from pain and inconvenience, but also life-long, whole-body healing and well-being. Book jacket.

Painful Bladder Syndrome is a common and highly debilitating condition that Western medicine finds difficult to treat. Blending holistic medical traditions from both East and West, this book guides the reader through the process of managing their symptoms using a simple yet powerful combination of natural techniques, nutrition and herbal medicine.

Take Control of Your Interstitial Cystitis Treatment with this Comprehensive Guide! Interstitial cystitis (IC), also called painful bladder syndrome, is a complex bladder pain condition that can be confusing, frustrating, and debilitating. Successful treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach that often features a combination of medication, physical therapy, dietary and lifestyle changes, alternative medicine, and more. The Interstitial Cystitis Solution has all the information you need, all in one place. It provides scientific reviews and evaluations of potential treatments, along with a helpful treatment plan tailored to your specific symptoms and lifestyle. The information is presented in an accessible way, with real-life examples from the author, who has treated hundreds of patients who have found relief from their symptoms with the holistic treatment plan outlined in this book. This comprehensive guide allows you to take control of your healing and will restore sanity to the insane world of conflicting diagnoses, treatments, and advice.

Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Guide for Clinicians provides a comprehensive update in the pathophysiology, epidemiology, terminology, evaluation and treatment of patients with pelvic pain perceived to be related to the urinary bladder. The volume covers the tremendous evolution during the last decade in our understanding of pain syndromes and their diagnosis and treatment. It is now clear that Bladder Pain Syndrome belongs to the family of pain syndromes, and therefore treatment has moved from the treatment of the bladder to the treatment of a pain syndrome with the special problems this presents when the pain syndrome involves urinary symptoms. Interstitial Cystitis was poorly defined and the interpretation and patient selection differed enormously around the world in many ways, making exchange of information unreliable and confusing. Bladder Pain Syndrome is clearly defined and the result is a much better patient selection. This volume provides state of the art background for making a correct evaluation and diagnosis of patients with pelvic pain and voiding problems resulting in a more focused treatment to the benefit of the patients. The volume also covers the close relationship between different pain syndromes including those outside the pelvis. Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Guide for Clinicians will be of great utility to urologists, gynecologists and all health professionals dealing with patients with pelvic pain.

Many women have been led to believe that a urinary tract infection signals the beginning of a chronic, painful problem that is fated to reoccur despite treatment. The good news is that You Don't Have to Live With Cystitis. Dr. Larrian Gillispie, a female uro-gynecologist widely recognized in the scientific and medical community and one of the few doctors with expertise in the area of pelvic pain, has shown that women can break out of the vicious cycle of cystitis. From the outset, You Don't Have to Live With Cystitis has helped millions of women. This updated edition reflects newly discovered causes and treatments:•Immediate steps to reduce suffering •The surprising role of excercise and lower back problems •Updated treatment and prevention options -- from diet to surgery •How antibiotics may cause hormone problems •Which method of contraception may cause problems •The effects of stress on the uninary tract •Newest treatments for interstitial cystitis •Cystitis in children and during pregnancy and menopause centerPlus •A Complete Guide to Commonly Prescribed Medications •Essential Vitamin and Mineral Supplements •An Anti-Cystitis Diet

This book will offer you practical ways to deal with interstitial cystitis head-on, empowering you to take back your health. Elisabeth Yaotani, who has suffered with chronic pain and illness herself, shares how she has moved from reeling in pain on a daily basis to becoming symptom-free and being able to enjoy her life again. Based on her 12-year journey with interstitial cystitis, which took her to multiple doctors and resulted in her trying out numerous and often painful therapies, Elisabeth shares tried-and-tested strategies to help anyone who is trying to win their own battle with chronic illness. In these pages you will learn: How to find and stop the root cause of chronic disease How to reverse inflammation and keep it from coming back Which foods to eat and avoid for optimal health How to address genetic variants that are affecting your body's natural pathways How to overcome your pain once and for all Chronic disease doesn't have to rule your life. If you want to take control of your health and reclaim your life, this book is for you.

Modern science has shown that the widely held beliefs of clinicians about urinary tract infection (UTI) are wrong. A large body of meticulous, rigorous data, from different centres around the world makes this point. How can it be that doctors continue to practise in contradiction of what we now know? A few clinicians are now changing their approach with gratifying results so it is timely to encourage others to do likewise. Clinical guidelines have achieved such influence that most doctors feel compelled to follow them and may face censure if they do not. Regrettably the guidelines are mistaken and contradict the known science. The inertia of bureaucracy and the fear of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) do not help to encourage reflection. However, things are changing and the future should see new and better informed advice. It is a tragedy that these circumstances are leading to widespread suffering amongst many women, some men and children who experience untreated or inadequately treated infection that may plague them for years. This situation has to change. This book sets out the truth about this neglected field and explains the many errors that haunt the topic. The style makes the message accessible to all clinicians. The story is convincing, because the clinical stories that illustrate the text will be so familiar to practising clinicians, who have been baffled by their experiences. Above all, this book will help you and your patients by detailing an accessible, practical approach to resolving this difficult clinical problem in common practice. The scope of the book will cover: the history of the medicine of urinary tract infection (UTI); the urinary microbiome and what the microbes are really up to; the battles between the pathogens and the innate immune system; the truth about the tests and the criteria used to define UTI; antimicrobial resistance and the importance of Darwinian evolution; the science and ground-breaking research on UTIs; the use of antibiotics; successful treatment; supportive and other related treatments; ethics; the future; and, above all, the experiences of the patients.