As some of you know I had my 2nd bladder surgery 2 weeks ago.......well......I'm still having pain from the bladder sling surgery.....pain like from the original one! So I saw my Urologist yesterday and he wants to wait 3 weeks to see how I am then....(I see another 3 month wait coming!) So I'm still off work because my surgeon doesn't want me to lift with this pain.UGHHHHH!!!!!!!

I'm on 90mg of Cymbalta now. I have to take it with Carafate so that it doesn't irritate my bladder. I'm not having to take as much Lyrica for my PN and hope to totally off Lyrica in the next few weeks. My dr. is going to raise the dosage to 120 on my next appt. Are there others who's being helped by Cymbalta?

Also, Does anyone take Metanx? My Podiatrist asked me why I wasn't taking Metanx and said it's helped lots of people with Neuropathy. He gave me a presciption for it and I got it fill but haven't had the guts to try it yet. I don't want it to give me bladder pain.

I hope everyone is doing ok........Sorry I haven't been online much but will try to be better now........

YOUR POD. NEEDS TO LOOK IT UP SIDEEFFECTS SOME PEOPLE TAKE IT
FOR PER.VASULAR PROBLEMS BUT YOU HAVE ALREADY HVE BURNING
IN YOUR PEE THAT'S ONE OF SIDE EFFECTS. wISH THIS WOULD END FOR
YOU...hUGS sUE

I'm so glad to see you posting. I had noticed you weren't posting and I thought maybe it's because you were doing so well that you forgot us. I'm sorry to see that's not the case.

Mrs. D will be along shortly to tell you about Metanx. It has been suggested for me also.

I sure hope things improve for you.

Billye

My speculation as to why more people aren't using Metanx is that many of the savvy supplementers realize one can get what's in Metanx over the counter for the most part (except for, possibly, the methylfolate--as Mrs. D has said, I believe, that is now enitrely prescription).

Moreover, many of us would rather take our B12 apart form other vitamins for maximal absoprtion.

Nevertheless, if one has good insurance, and the co-pay and overall cost is less than that of ordering the Metanx components seperately through one of the on-line purveyors, it might be a good choice.

I don't see how Carafate can help your bladder.

Carafate is used to coat the stomach and prevent gastritis, or erosion from say damaging drugs like Prednisone. It is not much used anymore, since treatments for gastritis have changed over the years.

It is not significantly absorbed (minute amounts are).

I don't see how Metanx can hurt the bladder. None of the ingredients change pH of the urine. I can see how high dose Vit C may affect it, or alcohol, both are bladder irritants.
This article lists foods that may irritate the bladder:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bla...roblem/WO00122

This article suggests using B6 other than hydrochloride. The amount of HCL in a pyridoxine supplement is minute..I fail to see how that hurts the bladder.
The B6 in the Metanx is pyridoxal phosphate--activated B6.

The other two vits are in minute amounts, not much is likely to get to the bladder either.
http://www.ic-network.com/bev/oct99.html

Good Morning All!
I originally took the Carafate to coat my stomach and Esophagus for the Barrett's Esophagus but later noticed that it seemed to be helping my bladder when I take meds that usually bother it. So since then I've taken it with those meds.
As for the Metanx......I guess in a few weeks after I get the bladder surgery situation settled down I'll try it and see what happens. My insurance does cover it......at $25 a month so not sure that's cheaper than buying the stuff individually....like Glennj mentioned.
I swear it's trial and error so much of the time it seems.......it drives me crazy! LOL Hugs to all!

Roxie, sorry about the baldder surgery - hope this one works better!

With the meds you are still on - is the IVIG helping at all? Are you still receiving it? And hows the port?

Sending good thoughts

blocks the absorption of many drugs:

from http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/sucralfatesus_ad.htm

It has not been tested for everything... but its blocking nature is why it is not used frequently today.

Hi Roxie... I bet you are getting tired of having your bladder messed with... What about Urelle? Have you tried that? I don't know what MrsD thinks about that, but I have had good luck with it...
Cathie

HI Cathie!
For the most part my bladder seems to be doing pretty good. The pain I'm having is in the nerve that's beside the bladder......where the sling was hooked into. Now even with the dr. having loosened the hook I still have pain. I'm afraid that I'll have to have another surgery to remove the sling all together. It's always something!!!