Holiday and Birthday Gift Ideas
The BEST IC/BPS & Pelvic Pain Books
The best way to take care of yourself is to know your body and what’s going on with it. Having a good understanding of IC and its treatments is a must for patients. Some of our favorites resources include the following:
– IC 101: It’s Not Just a Bladder Disease
– Breaking Through Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Holistic Approach
– When it Hurts Down There
– My Mom Has Interstitial Cystitis
– ICN Guide to Managing Flares in print or in PDF
– ICN Guide to the IC Diet
– Issues of IC Optimist magazine in print or in PDF
– IC cookbooks: the IC Chef Cookbook (print or PDF) or Confident Choices.
IC Wellness Coaching
We offer both 30-minute and 1-hour coaching sessions related to IC, PFD, pelvic pain and wellness. By talking over the phone, on Zoom or on Skype, patients can spend time with an IC seasoned professional who can help them learn more about IC and its related conditions. The coaching sessions are designed to help patients become their own best health advocate in order to have the best quality of life possible.
For Women
From dry sensitive skin to estrogen atrophy, give your female friends some comfort with these fabulous products. Medicine Mama’s line of products are very popular with women struggling with Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, especially if they are unable to use topical estrogen. Made of organic oils, Vulva Balm V-Magic is a popular favorite, providing both protection and moisture. Their new Vulva Wash is ideal for those who react to most soaps.
– Medicine Mama’s Vulva Balm
– Medicine Mama’s Vulva Wash
– Enchanted Rose Organic Vulvar Balm
– Velvet Rose Personal Lubricant
A Sampler of IC Friendly Beverages & Foods
Coffee lovers are often heartbroken to learn that their favorite cup of joe could be irritating their bladders. There is hope. For patients who have to avoid all traditional coffees, DandyBlend® is our absolute go to. This instant herbal coffee has a fabulous flavor and can make both hot lattes and icy frappuccinos. If you’re looking for real coffee and/or trying to reduce caffeine, their half-caf works beautifully. Bella Rosa has the lowest levels of chlorgenic acid in the industry! Of course, Tylers and Simpatico are also popular!
– Dandy Blend – our favorite, new herbal coffee that is rich, flavorful with no bladder irritating ingredients.
– Bella Rosa Low Acid Coffee. Comes in decaf, half caf and regular
– Colorado Mountain Jams & Jelly – Low Acid and tasty too!
When Sitting is Painful
Tight pelvic floor muscles and stressed nerves can make driving and sitting very uncomfortable. The ICN offers two fabulous chair cushions used by thousands of patients!
– SUNCOULD Pelvic Pain Travel Cushion – Our favorite cushion by far, the design works for any “crotch” pain, fabric is very high quality and, best of all, it folds in half with convenient handles to carry to work, the movies or in your home.
– Waffle Chair Cushions are ideal for patients who have pain in their glute muscles and/or around their sit bones. Comes in two sizes.
Heat or Cold Packs
Heat can help relax tight pelvic floor muscles while ice can help calm and soothe nerves. These are great gifts for any one who is struggling with discomfort.
– BodiHeat Instant Heat Packs – These are very affordable and our “Go To” when driving long distances or flying. I won’t go on any long trip without them because my pelvic floor almost always begins to spasm a few hours into the trip. BodiHeats take about 30 minutes to heat up and will last for 10 hours or more. Let cool and then toss in the trash. Note that these should never be put directly on skin. Put them on cotton underwear or a tee shirt.
– Gingerbee Heating Pads – These microwavable pads are a true workhorse. I sleep with one almost every night, sometimes around my neck for TMJ and other times for my pelvic floor muscles.
An ICN Membership
The ICN offers various levels of membership that are more affordable than you might realize and provides great IC resources. With memberships ranging from $25 to $100 per year, you get magazines, various helpful guides, fact sheets and a medical record file. An ICN membership is a great way to support the mission of the IC Network, receive our IC Optimist patient magazine and receive the latest news and research. You’ll read it before your doctor has the chance to read the journals!
– $25/yr Guardian Membership (read everything on-line)
– $50/yr Champion Membership (Print magazines delivered by US Mail)
– $100/yr Hero Membership (Print magazine + IC Chef Cookbook + IC101)
IC Friendly Supplements
With the only oral medication FDA approved for IC/BPS now linked to retinal disease, many patients have transitioned to a variety of OTC supplements which, according to the American Urology Association guidelines, offer fewer risk of adverse events. If you’re not sure what the supplements do, check out our “How To Select A Supplement” Buying Guide first. You’ll find suggestions for urinary tract comfort (and flares), pain suppression, chronic UTI prevention, gut health and for vitamin and mineral supplementation. Volume discounts are available too!
– Bladder Builder
– Bladder Rest
– Bladder Smart Low Acid Multivitamin
– CystoMend
– CystoProtek
– PEAORA
– Prelief
– PRVNT