Dr. Hale, Dr. Newman, and all others,
A mother came to me today who has interstitial cystitis for the past 10
years.   She has been "toughing it out" until now since her baby's birth.
  Her new baby is 5 months old, 100% breastfed, but the mom wants to start a
new medication   "Elmiron" which was just FDA approved Sept of 1996. Doctors
say no breastfeeding with this drug.  The mom is pretty miserable and the
only treatment in the past that helped her at all was DMSO infused into her
bladder once a week times 6 weeks.  That gave her relief for a month or so,
but she disliked the treatment, painful, and does not want to do that again.


She and baby love nursing, but mom needs effective treatment.  She has
already tried herbs, lots of diet eliminations, (dairy and wheat just to name
a few over the years), and many other meds.

Is there any hope this drug is compatable with nursing oh wise ones??  Are
there any other suggestions??  I am helping her nurse, pump and store up as
much milk as she can until she begins the medication, then I'll help her wean
herself with the pump unless we learn of another option.
Many thanks,
Jane Bradshaw RN, BSN, IBCLC
Lynchburg, VA