Flu-Like Symptoms

[JayCS]

Hiya Yep, and why not? - just using real names is may be a problem…

Well my bladder pain is strange: It comes before I pee, not during. So it’s fairly clear from the start that it’s not inflammatory, confirmed by repeated tests.
It started with my fibro-full flare, so I think it is a muscular problem. I also believe my type of fibro generally is muscular, on the surface anyway. With tendons, nerves involved. That GABA has decreased it, supports it & my fibro being muscular. GABA is a inhibitory neurotransmitter that decreases excitability & muscle tone. Before GABA it hurt 80% of the time, with a pain of 2-5; with GABA it hurts less often & less strong, I think 40% of the time, with a pain of 1-2.
When did yours start, was that point in time connected to other fibro-type-problems?
That’s how I’d decide if it is connected to the fibro. Apart from that I always double-check everything, even if I believe it is connected, because every little information demystifies a bit.
So that’s why I would and I do definitely ask a urologist to check everything s:he can.
I agree if the only thing anyone has for IC is meds - then the diagnosis isn’t helpful. But during a cystoscopy the docs can do something to improve the problems, take out Hunner’s lesions or ulcers and remove fissures of the mucous membranes. Also there are many foods which influence them - maybe the cause of your “cycles” - you’ve eaten something which has irritated your bladder, like - possibly - nightshades, citrus, meat-sorts, dairy - seems like anything which can irritate the gut or anything else can irritate the bladder too. https://www.ic-today.com/wp-content/uploads/Anti-Inflammatory-Food-Chart-for-Interstitial-Cystitis.pdf - This overview only shows possibilities to test according other things I’ve read. I have to avoid a lot of these anyway, cos of GI & cardiovascular reasons - more isn’t necessary, but not possible either.

OTOH I’m wondering why you are thinking about IC if you only have to get up 1-2x per night, and I & my urologist’ve decided it’s not that, altho I (before GABA) had to pee 5-8x per night… Makes me think yours is ‘only’ fibro. In my case it won’t be IC because the pain only comes then, not at any other time.

In my case if it cycles then more like hourly, not days or weeks. And it’s usually there, whilst in your case it seems it’s usually not. Might still be somewhat periodic tho…

Since I have to pee less frequently day & night since GABA, I’d even say it’s completely normal now, it does seem somehow connected to the pain. But the frequency is normal, even if I drink quite a bit in the evenings, whilst the pain is still there a bit.

GABA I came across because it is touted by med-intolerant fibromites, altho docs used to say it can’t help. So I tried it mainly for sleep & muscles, and in the process have realized it is helping much more than that, esp. stiffness and energy/fatigue. It helping my bladder too is just a gratefully received chance finding…
If you feel & think your muscles may be a part of your fibro, then I definitely would try it.

[Justexisting]

Morning- Here in Wisconsin, 6:30am.

I am going to try GABA. Especially since I already have it, because my Fibro is 100% muscular and nerves!! Gabapentin has helped a little, especially when my Sciatica acts up.

How do you take your GABA? When and how much? I know that doesn’t mean that its right for me, I’m just researching.

[JayCS]

Good ehm… evening… (started writing in the early afternoon tho… )
I’m taking 750mg 30 mins before sleeping. After 2x300mg Magnesium (and 20mg of atorvastatin ) and together with 2x330mg glutamic acid and 2x290mg passionflower=passiflora. One study says combine it with 5-HTP.
There are several very different types of dosage I’ve read: 3-4x200-650mg for stress / anxiety, 250-1000mg in the evenings for sleep. Or for anxiety 100mg sublingually and increase from there, as it may habituate. One says don’t take it at all, because if it helps it means you have a leaky brain. But one of the main proponents of that in 2020 conceded that’s just a theory.
The weekend not being that good I wanted to change something, so instead of going even higher than 750mg I decided to decrease the glutamic acid to 1x330mg, and today was really good again. I’ll keep tto hat a few days and then maybe stop it completely, because it’s not mentioned often. I’d rather add 5-HTP which I still have some of, or ashwagandha, even tho it’s a nightshade, which is why I haven’t used it yet after having bought it (as well as being unsure if it’s OK for my thyroid).
As to the leaky brain theory: As GABA-molecules are far bigger than the nano-particles the BBB normally allows thru either there is another mechanism for it, meaning the brain isn’t generally leaky, or it doesn’t work via the BBB. Any way I don’t care - this is the first substance I’ve tried that helps a lot (stiffness, sleep, awakeness, energy, exhaustion, Ache, bladder pain & pee frequency) and doesn’t harm (side effects only 3-5 days).

Oh, on one of the pages that’s helping a lot I’ve found IC/bladder/IBS, however not very clearly: GABA Archives - everywomanover29
Also on that page a tight throat problem is mentioned, so I wonder if it will help my occasional esophagus block… Lower down on the page she says: ‘Everyone’s different, so start low and try.’ She’s the one who recommends opening capsules and using it sublingually.
She also “successfully” challenged the doc who claims it proves a leaky brain: The Anxiety Summit - GABA: Blood brain barrier controversy, concerns, best forms and how to do a trial for eliminating anxiety - everywomanover29

[JayCS]

Hi JE! Have you actually started using the GABA?
After 30 days, it’s still working pretty well for me in 10 areas, JayCS’s Fibro Blog (see summary-thread ∑) - #338 by JayCS. What I’m still trying to improve is that I am still up once for 1-2h every night again, but mainly due to stomach/gut.
I’m playing around with what I take with it. I’ve left the glutamic acid now, as that actually does the opposite. I’m keeping the magnesium. I’m running out of passionflower, but will order it again. I tried ashwagandha once, which burnt my stomach and gut as it’s a nightshade. And am now adding the 5-HTP I mentioned above.

[Justexisting]

Hi Jay!

I did start the gaba, but only a few days ago. I got really sick. Covid was negative. A nasty flu which was horrible with the Fibromyalgia. Anyway, too early to tell with the gaba.

I can handle any pain. Infact I can’t remember ever NOT having pain. Its my normal. Its the fatigue that disabled me. No energy or want to do anything. I live alone now, empty nester. I am off of work Friday noon thru Tuesday morning. I don’t leave my house and spend 90% of that time in bed. This is what I want to fix. I’ve been like this for so long and I have no hope. Hence the name Just Existing.

Hope this finds you doing ok. Take care!
Justexisting