Why is it that certin foods can trigger our pain?

[BG0013]

Hey everyone. I was just wondering how is it that things like alcohol and caffeine trigger a lot of symptoms for some of us?

[Richie]

Good question. Is it possible these triggers are triggers becuase they are mood altering? E.g. highs followed by lows followed by tension, then muscle spasm?

Or is it because these substances are irritants in large quantities? eg IBS?

I am interested in this boards expertise, thoughts, theories, ideas. All ideas welcome.

Thank you in advance.

[webslave]

Alcohol and caffeine acidify urine, so that's part of it. Caffeine is a common bladder irritant as well. In addition: "Caffeine in any form--coffee, tea, chocolate or soft drinks--tends to tighten the bladder neck and make it more difficult to pass urine," says urologist Durwood Neal, Jr., M.D., associate professor of surgery, urology, microbiology and internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. "Some of the prostate is made up of smooth muscle, and anything that causes that muscle to constrict will make urination more difficult. Caffeine does this quite a bit."

Alcohol, especially in binges can cause an attack of gout or kidney stones in some men. The effect of alcohol is to cause dehydration, which then increases the risk of uric acid precipitation and acid urine. In smaller doses, some men say alcohol relaxes them and helps with symptoms.

[Gegatso]

I think as far as the alcohol is concerened - it is due to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is the most toxic poison caused by alcohol metabolism. Carried through the bloodstream, it hits the prostate and severe negative things can happen.


Just my thoughts, not medical advice.

[Richie]

Interesting webslave! This would explain why Prelief seems to offer me immunity at times when consuming these triggers.

Has anyone correlated urine acid content to the onset of flare ups? I bet a connection exists for me.

But then, this previous post from David in LA contradicted this? See his link:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRel ... oral2.html

any thoughts on which is right?

[webslave]

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRel ... oral2.html

Please do not quote either Gabe Mirkin or Stephen Barrett, who runs Quackwatch. Barrett is one of those idiots who denied for very long time that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome even exists. I remember that I had an angry email exchange with him in 1998/9 on the issue. Since then he has removed (I think) the pages on his website that poured scorn on CFS.

The article you reference is more rubbish. It states that nothing you ingest can influence the pH of the blood, and that "You cannot change the acidity of any part of your body except your urine." But people with gout and acidosis influence the body's blood pH routinely with simple baking soda.

More: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 000335.htm

More on Mirkin
viewtopic.php?t=1825

[Richie]

Its not my qoute. It just contradicted my line of thinking.

How in the hell do these people get to be Doctors anyway? 8 years of f*#$ing college and they still can't read?

[webslave]

I have wondered many, many times how some of these people can call themselves doctors.

[Gegatso]

Yeah, Quackwatch is one LOUSY site. As a very personal "for example" - I know two people who completely CURED themselves of cancer using Rife machines under $1,000. Thats no bull and not a medical statement, but the way it is. Yeah, the Rife thing *sounds* like a huge joke, but if that is a placebo effect, I'm getting one to use for prostatitis!

[webslave]

I'm not saying that Rife machines (whatever they are) don't work, but people often erroneously ascribe their cures to oddball remedies and forget about all the surgery, chemo and radiation they had as well.

[pvdiamon]

There are times I drink coffee and the pelvic discomfort is worse. Other times, it actually seems to help. My impression is that the effect on mood is quite dramatic, and may be more significant than any direct physiological effect of the caffeine on the pelvic region.

[DavidinLA]

Interesting webslave! This would explain why Prelief seems to offer me immunity at times when consuming these triggers.

Has anyone correlated urine acid content to the onset of flare ups? I bet a connection exists for me.

But then, this previous post from David in LA contradicted this? See his link:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRel ... oral2.html

any thoughts on which is right?

At the time I posted this link, I was not familiar with Dr. Gabe Mirkin. If I had been, I would not have done so. Only recently did I come across his ridiculous "Prostatitis Can be Cured" article, in which it is clear that he lacks an understanding of the condition. I don't expect any doctor to be knowledgeable about every condition, but giving misinformation of the nature in the article is very irresponsible.

I do want to mention that I was only questioning the idea of varying levels of pH in the blood, but did not question changing urine pH levels. Urine pH can be made less acidic through dietary modification and/or the consumption of Prelief with meals.

[LightningTree]

This site summarizes the relationship between pH and oxygen/carbon-dioxide carrying, and suggests subtle pH changes exist within a small range in a fully healthy body:
http://www.chclibrary.org/micromed/00040130.html

Trauma in particular affects this value. I read somewhere that pH imbalance during trauma is one of the top 3 considerations required to keep someone alive.

I wonder if pH can change within the blood supply in a local setting, before it hits major arteries and veins.