Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am writing to see if you or any of your readers know of anything that will help interstitial cystitis. I have a very dear relative who has this affliction and has suffered excruciating pain for many years. Her doctors have told her they do not know the cause nor the cure. She has learned that eating foods that are less acidic has helped some. However, the pain is exhausting. I thought perhaps you or some of your readers may have had some experience that would be helpful.

Mrs. Martin Zacha
Texarkana, Texas

Dear Reader: For years, the late Dr. William Crook worked with Indianapolis urologist Dr. Phillip Mosbaugh to investigate whether the common yeast Candida albicans plays a role in interstitial cystitis (IC). At the time, it was quite unusual for a mainstream urologist like Dr. Mosbaugh to support such an unconventional theory.

In a 1998 pilot study, 15 patients with severe IC symptoms eliminated all sugars, wheat, yeast, beer, and alcohol from their diets and were given Diflucan (fluconazole) for treating systemic yeast infections. Although the diet was difficult to follow, six patients reported dramatic improvement and lapsed back to prior symptoms when the diet was gradually liberalized. Another six in the study were somewhat better, and three were unimproved.

"Expanded interest and research over the past 20 years has resulted in much greater awareness of interstitial cystitis, as well as more confidence and assurance in the diagnosis and better therapies," says Dr. Mosbaugh. We are sending you his summary of commonly used drug, dietary, and surgical strategies. If other readers would like to receive this information, please send a self addressed, stamped envelope to: "Medical Mailbox," Attn.: Cystitis.