Skeptics Corner

For Those Who May be Skeptical …
The frustrating part of educating people about this method of treating IC successfully is that many people do not believe in Chinese or alternative medicine. I am Jane, whose story you have read under “Patient Success Stories”. I am the world’s biggest skeptic and was a true believer of, and someone who totally trusted in, Western medicine, until I developed IC. Read my story (Jane in Los Angeles) and then come back here.

I have heard people say “Oh, I tried acupuncture and it didn’t work.” Or “I have tried all kinds of herbs and they didn’t do any good.” Or “I am taking Elmiron (substitute any or all of 10 other drugs or procedures) and it seems to work”. People might ask why Dr. Brizman is not officially recognized for her work in treating IC. Until she is published she will not be. Her work has been described as anecdotal. When she has finished her research and published her findings then things will change. Read about her research in the Section “Who Is Dr. Brizman”.

If you are visiting this site then you must be searching for an answer and you must be somewhat open-minded. You have choices. You can continue to search for a miracle. You can keep visiting sites where you can share your misery with others and feel “good” about the fact that there are thousands of others suffering like you. You can continue to take the medications and treatments you are taking which obviously are not working. Or you can take a step and investigate something that has provided positive results for many people. There are many testimonials from people at various stages of their treatment with Dr. Brizman which prove that there is something to her methods. These are not anecdotes. These are real people who have gone and are going through a course of treatment guided by someone who really understands what she is treating and provides a method to help the body to fight the disease. Not everyone takes the time to share their success with others. I hope when you get to the stage that you feel like it, you will add your story to this site.

As we have said before, this is not an easy process. There will be many ups and downs and you should conservatively estimate that it could take up to two years to become symptom-free. Some people move quicker than others, but it is better not to focus on the short term. When the symptoms are tone, as long as you follow a sensible lifestyle, then it will last. The treatment will not cause other problems and side effects down the line, because it is healthy and non-toxic. We don’t think there is any other treatment out there that is so consistently helping people for the long term. It is not a quick fix. It is a logical and managed course of treatment that works.

You have choices. We have done our best to offer you a great one. Only you can make the right one for yourself.

Tags: Skeptics

Family Support

Recently a patient came to me and asked me to write something about the hardships of family with regard to her relationship with family members. I thought, what a great idea!

There are so many issues relating to this problem. The first, and most critical I think, is that the person suffering with IC is so often misunderstood. Those who do not suffer from this disease find it difficult to relate to it in such a way that they can truly understand the daily misery that is endured by those who do. So often, especially after many doctors visits and many negative examinations, the IC patient begins to be viewed as a hypochondriac.

When the ICer eats in a different fashion from others or cannot participate in the same activities at the park, or on vacation, or even in a daily routine at home, she is often misunderstood. Family members may often ostracize her and reflect upon her poorly. They may say things that are very hurtful, meaning well but not understanding the difficult burden of pain and discomfort she carries with her at all times. This heaps more shame on the person already devastated by IC. Sometimes this shame and guilt can be much too heavy for one person to bear.

An additional strain occurs at nighttime, when normally a couple retire and have sex. This may be something that is far too uncomfortable for the average person with IC to even contemplate. This only serves to further the guilt that has been accumulating over time for these people, because they feel that they cannot be there fully for their spouses.

Family members want the best for each other, so, naturally, the thought is for the sufferer to take a medication to fix the problem and, if it does not work, to try another one. If someone is sick, the natural thought is that surely health can be restored. Lots of people live with irritable bowel syndrome and they function fairly normally. The presumption then is that it should be the same with an “irritable” bladder. Generally people do not understand how painful or uncomfortable this syndrome is. This is a disease that, unless you have had it, cannot really be understood.

Even morphine does not take the pain away from these poor people. Morphine! So imagine how uncomfortable the condition must be. Think of a time that you were stuck in traffic in the middle of the day, your bladder was full to capacity, and you could not stop anywhere to alleviate yourself. Imagine having to withstand that feeling for one hour past the point that it was already at its peak when sharp, prickly sensations started to set in. Do this and only then you MAY be able to get a tiny glimpse of what some of these people go through every moment of every day of their lives.

Along with this pain and discomfort, there comes the hardship of trying to lead a normal life and do the daily tasks that one has to do to survive. When a family member interjects a comment lacking in compassion, especially one which, may infer that this disease is “in your head”, life becomes just too much. When your sick family member has sought out help from non-conventional medicine, please try to empathize with their choice. Understand that it is not because they have gone against the norm with the intent to rebel, but rather they are struggling to survive. They are looking for hope when all else has failed. They are not resigning themselves to the misfortune that they have been dealt in their life. It actually has taken great strength to continue the fight when everyone insists there is no battle to fight. This disease cultivates strength that most of us will never know. Try to wear your empathy as close to the surface as possible at all times, so that your good intentions can never be misunderstood. It is so important.

Please read this and try to close your eyes and imagine how difficult it would be if you were in the shoes of your sick family member. Be grateful that you were not cursed with this horrendous disease, and be there for your loved one. If you are a spouse, I suggest that you also get help for yourself if you need a hand dealing with the difficult issues that face you with this illness. It is sometimes quite hard to be strong on behalf of another. However, we all have our turn being weak in this lifetime. So, remember to give your love and support with the same generosity and grace that you would expect to receive if you were struggling with this awful condition.

I hope this helps.

Dr. Brizman

Tags: Family Support, Interstitial Cystitis & Family

Commitment to Treatment

The following section details Dr. Brizman’s requirements to ensure your full commitment to treatment.

The Interstitial Cystitis Program (courtesy of Dr. Brizman, BOMA-Med)

We would like to welcome you to BOMA-Med’s Interstitial Cystitis Program and outline a few important points prior to our formal acceptance of you as a patient into our program and your acceptance of us as your caregiver.

Dr. Matia Brizman, Ph.D., M.T.O.M., L.Ac. D.Ac & C.H. is a Doctor of Acupuncture, licensed acupuncturist, and is nationally and State board certified in acupuncture and Chinese medical herbology. She specializes in the treatment of Interstitial Cystitis with the application of Chinese Medicine. As you already know, this is a very complex illness, which is difficult to treat. For this reason we need to work together as a team to treat this problem. In order for this to work, we must share the understanding that without patient compliance to the program, there is little that can be accomplished in the way of treatment.

Treatment will begin with a comprehensive consultation to assess the history and present health status of each patient. After the initial consultation, a specific dietary regimen will be implemented and other prohibited factors will be outlined. As treatment commences, you may get cold or flu symptoms which are referred to as die-off. This is the result of the toxic matter being released by the yeast and or bacteria during the cleansing period of the program.

As the process continues, die-off can last for quite a while in some patients and an insignificant length of time in others. The severity and duration of symptoms fluctuates dramatically from patient to patient. Some patients experience alleviation of symptoms immediately, while others struggle through the beginning stages. As time continues with treatment, symptoms will continue to lessen in severity and duration, and will occur less and less frequently. Although many of the items on the program restriction list seem benign to you, you must adhere to them. Many things, which may seem harmless are not, such as peroxide and ammonia in hair color products, cold and flu medications, allergy medications, topical antibiotic ointments, birth control pills, antibiotic therapy, anti-fungal medications, other herbal products, vitamins, certain sleeping aids, etc…; this also includes any physical modalities such as massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, etc… unless discussed and approved by Dr. Brizman.

Patience, diligence and commitment are key to speeding your progress. Please have respect for the program and do not compromise it by not adhering to it to the letter. Anything else will be time and effort poorly spent. Generally speaking, at the end of one year, you will feel as if you have significantly improved. After that point your symptoms will continue to dwindle. At that point, certain foods will be added back into your diet until you are completely back to a “normal” diet. Having said that, however, it is our recommendation that certain restrictions are observed for the rest of one’s life. For example, over indulgence in alcohol and sugar will never make for good health. This is something that forming new dietary habits will hopefully encourage after you have completed treatment.

During treatment, you may feel sad and depressed and often your sugar cravings will increase. This is because the yeast and or bacteria inside your body is sending signals to your brain to continue feeding them so that they can survive. No matter how difficult it is, you must tell yourself, it is them or you. One of you will win. Remember, if it tastes sweet to you, it tastes sweet to them. You must win! Many patients literally sob at the onset of treatment because it is so difficult to kick the sugar habit. As incomprehensible as it seems, at the end of treatment, it will seem like a bad dream. You will have an entirely different perspective on health and your dietary habits.

The medical community in general would love there to be a magic “pill” to fix this problem. This is neither the philosophy upon which Chinese medicine nor Dr. Brizman’s work is based. Her approach to this illness, as well as any other complex disease, is to individualize each treatment. Her methods are deeply rooted in the fundamentals of Chinese medicine, but the application of those methods has been modernized to fit the model of IC. It is because of this that she is having such good results with her treatments.

Dr. Brizman has been developing her work since1995 when she started her internship. Having a very strong interest in research, her goals have been focused on keeping her work private until such time as she could commence a formal research project.

However, many attempts at formal research have proven unsuccessful , and consequently, she has continued with her own private research. Her plan is to publish her completed body of knowledge through teaching when the work is at a fully developed stage. She feels this is the best way to pass on this body of knowledge in the most responsible and prospectively helpful manner.

Keeping her formulas and methodology private is her way of preserving her work and its integrity in the meantime. This will prevent incorrect applications of her formulas. By this it is meant that the process from start to finish must be delivered correctly month after month with constant formula changes being delivered at the appropriate times. Without the appropriate application, not only will the process not work; both Chinese medicine and its ability to treat this disease will get a “bad wrap”.

IC is not the same disease in each person. There are different patterns related to various causes and the history of the individual. Do not be alarmed if your regimen seems quite different from that of someone you know going through the program. Follow-ups will be weekly until your symptoms are stabilized, then the follow-ups will be spread to every two weeks, then every three and so on.

All dietary, supplement, and other outlined restrictions must be complied with 100% of the time in order to continue as a patient. These restrictions and guidelines have been established over the course of time and are based upon a compilation of experience. Not adhering to the program 100% will render the treatment ineffective, as any of the prohibited foods, supplements, or other modalities may interact with your regimen in a most negative way. Consequently, if you choose to partake in any of the prohibited items or modalities, we see no reason for you to continue the program as we can no longer be responsible for your care.

Tags: Commitment to Treatment, Your Commitment

Long Distance Treatment

If you do not live in or near Los Angeles!…..

You do not live in Los Angeles and you are wondering if you can be treated by Matia and receive the same quality of care as her local patients? Absolutely! The majority of Matia’s patients are not local. The first appointment MUST be in the office, after that it will continue over the phone.

Dr. Brizman assigns entire workdays to phone consultations and follow-up appointments where each of her patients is carefully tracked to assess their status. She is also reachable in an emergency by email, which is checked on a regular basis.

Herbs are mailed via Federal Express 2 day air when possible to keep the costs down. They are sent out the day of or after consults.

The only component of the process missing from a long distance treatment plan is the acupuncture. However, this is not the major part of the treatment. Actually, there is another missing component; you do not have the pleasure of seeing Dr. Brizman in person for every visit.

Don’t worry about being a long distance patient. You will be treated with the same level of care and compassion as her local patients.

Tags: Long Distance Treatment

Traditional Treatments

Many urologists, though in most cases sympathetic, do not understand IC. They do not know what causes it and certainly do not know how to treat it. Often it is misdiagnosed because the symptoms are not standard. Many more than the approximately 700,000 people in the U.S. reported to have IC probably have the disease. Diagnosis is confirmed by performing a cystoscopy, the insertion of a flexible tube and viewing device into the urethra, which together with hydrodistension (filling the bladder with water) can detect glomurations (hemorrhages) or ulcers on the bladder wall.

Most of the medications administered by the medical profession mask the symptoms and, in some cases, can cause severe side effects. Visit many of the support networks associated with IC and you will find hundreds of desperate women grasping for a solution, for anything that might ease their misery. Many people forced onto disability because they cannot work. Women left by husbands and boyfriends because they are unable to contribute to the relationship. Women whose idea of success is that they can finally self-catheterize in order to instill some chemical into their bladder once a week or once a month.

Apart from some of these treatments being barbaric, there are numerous cases where the patient’s health has been irreparably damaged by the treatment. Sometimes the treatment seems to help, but often it is temporary and when administered again and again it ceases to work.

Tags: Interstitial Cystitis Traditional Treatments, Traditional Treatments

Related Diseases

Though specializing in diseases of the bladder and colon, Dr. Brizman does treat many other diseases, and particularly those related to IC.

These include:

Bowel problems either constipation or diarrhea.

Epigastric problems (Either acid reflux or ulcer).

Chronic Fatigue.

Vulvodynia in women (a medical term meaning vaginal pain).

Vestibulitis, and basically any other kind of chronic vaginal discomfort.

Painful periods in women and other menstrual irregularities.

Fibromyalgia.

Mitral Valve Prolapse support.

Tags: Interstitial Cystitis Related Diseases, Related Diseases

Recipes

Some of Matia’s patients who can cook have given us a few of their recipes. Many thanks from those of us who cannot cook. Additional recipes gratefully received

Please check the recipes carefully for ingredients, since everyone is at different stages and some ingredients may not be appropriate for you yet.

The sections are divided as follows:

Soup
Fish/Seafood
Meat/Poultry
Pasta/Rice
Vegetables
Miscellaneous - Snacks/Bread, etc.
Dressings and Sauces

Special Meals

Sorry, there is no dessert section
Soups

Francesca’s Zucchini Soup

Ingredients Check with Matia for ingredients Serves 4 1 kg courgettes - any size and colour (I use 500g) 250g potatoes (suitable for mashing), peeled or scrubbed 2 cloves garlic, peeled & crushed ( I used powder) 1 medium onion, peeled & chopped 30ml olive oil 150g soft cheese (I didn’t use this- still very creamy due to courgettes but you could use any cheese) Handful fresh summer herbs of your choice, chopped 1 ½ pints water (or mild-flavoured stock)

Method Wash the courgettes and chop them into chunks. Cut the potatoes into cubes (smaller than 1 inch). Heat the oil gently in a large pan. Add the onion and garlic. Gently cook for about 5 minutes, to soften. Add the potatoes. Stir. Cook gently, covered, for about 15 minutes, until about half-cooked. Add the courgettes and stir. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Add 1 1/2 pints of water - just enough to cover the contents of the pan. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.Remove from the heat and liquidise the soup. Add the cheese & herbs. Season to taste with salt & pepper.

Time From Cupboard-To-Table About 40 minutes. (Most of this is waiting, so actual preparation time is about 15 minutes)

Francesca’s Black Nero Cabbage Soup (Italian cabbage)

Check with Matia Note: you can use kale or Savoy cabbage, too. Probably also chard.

Ingredients Serves 4 1 large onion 500g potatoes 200 - 300g black nero cabbage 1 litre vegetable stock 3 cloves garlic (I used powder) 1 tablespoon fresh herbs, chopped, e.g. thyme 30ml vegetable oil 200g cooked cannelloni beans or butter beans (optional, but very nourishing without them)

Method Peel the onion and chop it roughly. Peel the garlic and crush it. Heat the oil in a large pan and sauté the onion and garlic for 5 minutes. Wash the potatoes and chop into 1 cm chunks. There’s no need to peel, unless you want to. Add to the pan and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the herbs and stock. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Wash the cabbage and chop it. Add to the soup and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes. Liquidise the soup, if you prefer. Then add the cannelloni beans or butter beans. Heat through.

Rita’s Asparagus/Broccoli Chicken Soup
3 cups chopped asparagus
2 cups chopped broccoli
2 stalks celery- chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion ( if tolerated)
1 small can chicken broth
2 chicken breast halves- cut into chunks-sprinkle w/salt
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 teas. basil
1/8 teas. pepper ( if tolerated)
1/8 teas. garlic powder
2 tbsp. olive oil

Place asparagus and broccoli in just enough water to cover. Cook until tender. Pour everything( water included) into a blender and blend until smooth. Put back into saucepan. While veggies are cooking, sauté chicken in oil, add onions and celery and cook until tender. Add this to the of vegetables, with broth, salt, basil, pepper, & garlic powder.

Stacy’s Chicken Soup

Boil up a chicken cut in pieces in a large pot 3/4 filled with water. Remove the “scum” as it cooks, and then put in onions, celery, parsnips (if you can tolerate them), lots of fresh dill, salt, and pepper. Let it cook a couple of hours.

Strain everything so that you are left with the broth. Cut the chicken and veggies in pieces in put back in soup. You can add rice or whichever noodle you can handle.

Joy’s Chicken Soup

Sauté chopped onion or leek, garlic, celery, and carrots in olive oil, dill and salt until onion is translucent. Add water or chicken broth (whichever is OK for us). Add chopped potato. Simmer until done. Add more salt as needed to taste. I sometimes add chicken and put spinach leaves in a bowl and pour hot soup over spinach.

Katie’s Cauliflower/Broccoli Soup

Sauté onions or leeks in olive oil and add roughly chopped cauliflower or broccoli (you can chop up and use the tender parts of the stalk as well). Add enough water to just cover the veggies and simmer for 20 minutes. Blend in food processor saving some unblended bits of veggies to add back in for texture. Add salt to taste and any herbs you are allowed. You can vary this recipe by adding a carrot, potato or any other veggies you like to the pan at the beginning. If you want to serve to other members of your family you can add a dash of milk or yoghurt to their portions to make it even more creamy. I make a large pan of this and freeze it in portions so that I always have a meal to hand if I get in late from work. Blending the soup thickens it without adding any grain products.

Carolyn’s Roasted-Potato Fennel Soup
Serves 10 to 12

4 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled and quartered
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 cups chopped yellow onions (4 onions)
4 cups chopped fennel bulb (about 2 pounds)
3 quarts chicken stock or water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes, until cooked through. Sauté the onions and fennel with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stockpot on medium heat until translucent, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the roasted potatoes (including the scrapings from the pan) and the chicken stock. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until all of the vegetables are very soft. Allow the soup to cool slightly. Pass the soup through the largest disk of a food mill or chop coarsely in batches in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Taste for salt and pepper.
Reheat and serve hot.

* For those of you who have graduated to milk, you can add 1 cup of heavy cream prior to pureeing the soup.

Fran’s Chicken Soup

Put a large pool of olive oil in the bottom of the pan and sauté onion and a small amount of garlic. Add a whole organic chicken breast with bones in. Add about two inches of water and let that simmer on low for quite a while. Then add about 5 cups of water and keep simmering until all of the chicken falls off the bone. Remove the bone. Add more water as it cooks away. I tend to put in all the vegetables I can eat closer to the time I want to eat the soup. I keep adding fresh vegetables each time I eat some. Add salt to taste. Whatever spices you can tolerate can be added as well

I also always have a large pre-cooked bowl of brown rice in the refrigerator. I make it in the microwave and add it cold to the soups and stews which cools them down so they are always ready to eat……fast.

Lisé’s Steak-and-Potato Soup
Serves 4

The hardest part of this soup is slicing the steak into thin, thin slices–but you can skip that step if you buy a package of pre-sliced “beef for stir-fry” from the supermarket or sliced beef for bulgogi from an Asian market.

3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 pound sirloin steak, cut into 1/8-inch thick slices about 1 1/2
inches long and 3/4-inch wide, or 1 pound pre-sliced beef (see headnote)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 large onion, chopped
1 pound baking potatoes (about 2), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 pound green beans, ends trimmed (if you can eat them)
2 cups water
1 quart canned low-sodium chicken-broth (Trader Joe’s is okay - no chemicals & preservatives) or homemade stock
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper (if you can tolerate)

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderately high heat. Add half the steak and cook, stirring frequently, until well browned, about 2 minutes. Remove the steak with a slotted spoon. Repeat with another tablespoon of oil and the remaining steak. Remove the steak from the pot and toss all of the steak slices with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Reduce the heat to moderately low and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pot. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, green beans, water, broth, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pot with a spoon to dislodge any brown bits. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Return the steak and any juices to the soup. Make sure the steak is well browned before removing it from the pot; those brown bits left on the bottom are essential for flavoring the broth.

Nicole’s Potato Leek Soup (I also used to use this as a sauce)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 large leeks ( white part only) chopped
Stir in 3 medium baking potatoes peeled and thinly sliced
5 cups chicken stock

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft ( approx 30 min) pure until smooth. Season with salt. To thin add more chicken stock.

Karla’s Quick Chicken Noodle Soup

1 can Healthy Valley chicken broth (now, try this only a little at first because it has some pepper in it and turmeric and may bother some)
1 can Valley Fresh chicken (has only chicken, water and salt)
Angel hair pasta (I just added about a handful-broken into thirds. I use DeBoles organic. It is organic durum semolina and organic Jerusalem Artichoke flour)
Small bits of veggies (I used califlower, but broccoli or asparagus would be good too)

Bring chicken broth and canned chicken to boil, add in rest of ingredients. Simmer until done. mmm…just like Campbell’s! (well, actually, better!)

Julie’s Cauliflower Soup

Take whole cauliflower (add salt, 1.5 cups of broccoli, green onion, garlic, basil, thyme and chicken for flavor). Reserve 1/2 the cauliflower until the end. Cook that part for just a few minutes and puree everything. Simmer the pureed soup for a few minutes and voila!

Catherine’s Garden Vegetable Soup

1/2 cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves minced
3 cups fat free broth - chicken, beef or vegetable
1 1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup diced zucchini
(plus any other vegetables allowed - just have to add more broth)
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

In a dutch oven, spray olive oil. Sauté onion and garlic over a low heat until soft - approx. 5 minutes.
Add broth, cabbage, herbs, salt and bring to a boil. Lower heat. Simmer covered 15 minutes or until veggies are just tender. Add zucchini and heat an additional 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

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Fish/Seafood

Melissa’s Shrimp Primavera

2 lb of shrimp
stalk of celery
broccoli
cauliflower
2 green zucchinis
1/4 sweet red pepper
Sometimes I add spinach and red cabbage for a change

Cut up veggies and steam all together with the shrimp in olive oil. Use garlic, dill and basil to taste. Serve over pasta noodles sprinkled with grated mozzarella or muenster cheese. The above can be made with browned hamburger or chicken replacing the shrimp.

(This is something that we made and enjoyed way before IC)

Chris’s Sea Bass & Scallops

Broil sea bass with butter and salt Sauté two cloves of garlic with one tablespoon of light olive oil, and one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add a little rosemary and put the scallops in for about five minutes (they will cook fast) and pour over the broiled Sea Bass - very easy.

Gayla’s Tuna

1 can of tuna (packed in water and nothing else). Add chopped green onion, finely chopped red pepper (if you can tolerate it), basil (I have processed fresh basil with olive oil on hand in the fridge at all times), homemade mayo, yoghurt

I have the entire can on top of 2 slices of 100% rye or spelt bread. Sometimes I add dill instead of basil and asparagus when it is in season. Sometimes I spread onto sliced bread, but add cheese on top and make into melts in the oven.

I keep this mix on hand in the fridge for snacks when I need some quick protein.

Elise’s Dover Sole

Take about 1-2 lbs of sole and in a casserole dish put some olive oil on the bottom (this is like a fish lasagna of sort). Put a layer of sole and then sauté up whatever veggies you like, leek, yellow zucchini, etc. and place another layer on top of the sole. Place some cheese on top of that and so on until you have a stacked fish and veggie lasagna with cheese on the top. I like provolone, it has a nice bite to it. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until the top is nice and brown and bubbly like lasagna.

Joy’s Dover Sole

In a saucepan I melt butter and sauté fresh basil, salt, and chopped garlic. (you can use olive oil instead of butter). Pour some of the mixture into baking dish, lay sole on top and pour the rest of the mixture over it. Bake or broil it until done, not very long at all. Maybe 8-12 minutes. After rinsing your fish try to get as much of the water out as you can (pat dry, etc.), otherwise the fish will stay rather soggy.

Adrienne’s Shrimp Snack

De-shell shrimp and dip in egg, flour, egg again and flour again. Drop in pot of canola oil and cook. While still hot sprinkle with garlic and salt. Really yummy and crunchy. Probably not the healthiest but a nice change.

Gayla’s Salmon or Tuna Loaf

6 ounce can of salmon or two cans tuna but any cooked, leftover fish will do (I try to use lots of fish to keep the starch down and protein slightly higher)
1 cup cooked brown rice (you must pre-cook first)
1 egg
Fresh or dry minced dill (use as much or as little as you want)
Pinch sea salt
2 tablespoons minced celery (I use minced cauliflower greens in place of celery)

OPTIONAL

Grated cheese of choice
Dollop of yogurt (also good on the side as a dressing)
Small amount green onion or chives
1 chopped asparagus stalk (if you can have this)

Flake the fish and mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
Press into a small loaf pan and bake at 350F (180C) for 25-30 minutes

This is really good hot or cold so great for taking as a lunch as it can be
pre-made and refrigerated.

Michelle’s Seafood Salad

Melt some butter in a skillet and add 3 cloves of chopped garlic and 2 tbsp chopped onion. Sauté for a couple of minutes. Add about 1/2 cup of baby shrimp (I buy the big frozen bag at the store) and cook in the butter/garlic/onion mixture until the shrimp are soft. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. I pour mixture on top of a salad mix and some cut up veggies (cucumber and green pepper).). Tastes like real dressing.

Adrienne’s Tuna Snack

Chop up some onion, tomato and celery. Add some salt and then garlic powder and mix a couple of teaspoons of yogurt. I know all of you can’t eat yogurt, but when you can you’ll like this if you like tuna.

Adrienne’s Scallop Medley

Chop up yellow squash, leeks, bok choy, zucchini, and put it aside. Put some bay scallops in a pan with butter, salt, garlic, oregano, and basil. After they cooked a while, add the vegetables and cook them together for a bit. Boil some spelt noodles. careful not to over cook them. Delicious!

Melissa’s Dill and Garlic Cod

Chop up a few cloves of fresh garlic. Pour olive oil in pan. Begin to sauté cod. Season with dill and time. When you first flip cod, put some garlic on top. Season this side as well. Flip cod a few times until cooked. Good with tilapia too.

Melissa’s Basic and Garlic Red Snapper

Same as above, just with basil and thyme instead.

Jane’s Easy Salmon

This is an easy and delicious way to cook salmon.

Put salmon in tin foil with vegetable oil and dill and bake in oven for 30 minutes. Around 250 degrees

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Meat/Poultry

Melissa’s Meatballs

1 lb of hamburger
1/4 cup of water
1 egg
1 tsp of garlic
1 tsp of basil
1 tsp of dill

Mix above ingredients all together and form into meatballs. Fry in olive oil in pan. Put grease dripping in a pan and add some water, warm this up. Mix up about 2 T of flour and 1 cup or so of water and add to the mixture and slowly bring to a boil to form a gravy for over the meatballs. I serve this with a mixture of steamed veggies and some rice or pasta noodles.

P.S. Adrienne gave me the idea of baking chicken wings in the oven on tinfoil until crispy and then making fried rice with veggies. We really like this too. I eat that a lot too. We also do a lot of fish (Talapia) on the grill with the salad dressing mixture that we are allowed over it. It is very very good fish. Also turkey burgers we grill and then I have them leftover for lunch. I may gross you out but Matia said that oysters are fine and I fry them in egg and flour as a snack. I love fried oysters. They are expensive but hey you need to eat something and when there is so much that we can’t have.

Melissa’s Kabobs

Place veggies on a stick and brush with butter and olive oil mixture and grill. We used zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, red, orange and yellow sweet peppers, yellow squash. You could also add meat like beef or chicken too. Raw cut up potatoes brushed with butter and olive oil and grilled are very good too!

Chris’s Beef Pot Pie with Flaky Crust

Filling: Beef chuck, Yellow squash, green beans, zucchini and a small amount of new red potatoes.

I cut the chuck roast into small chunks and dust with a little flour. Sauté with a little vegetable oil till lightly brown, but not cooked through. Put the beef in a crock pot with a bay leaf, basil, two cloves of garlic. Cover the beef with water (about four cups) and put the crock pot on low for about four hours. I take the beef from the stock and place in a pie dish and sauté the green beans, yellow squash, and zucchini in a little oil and salt. I make a roux with butter and add the juices from the stock pot (strain), thicken and pour over beef and vegetables.

Crust: 2 cups whole wheat flour - unbleached
1/2 cup Butter
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 cup water

Cut the butter/cold into the flour, add salt, water and knead and roll out to circle shape and put over beef and vegetables. Cook at 450 degrees for 30-45 minutes until crust is brown. I think it is a perfect medley of carbs, protein and vegetables. I eat it with a big salad.
Rita’s Roast Pork Loin

Top Loin Roast, boneless
Fresh or dried Basil
Fresh Garlic
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil
meat thermometer

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place roast on broiler pan. Brush with olive oil. Cut small slits all over, just big enough to place a clove of garlic and sprig of basil in. Do this according to taste. ( I use a lot ) If you want, you can sprinkle dried basil on the roast instead. If you can tolerate Rosemary, it is delicious, also. Rosemary is very pungent, so don’t try it unless Matia says it’s ok for you. Sprinkle roast all over with salt and pepper. Place thermometer in center of roast. Bake uncovered, until thermometer reaches 170 degrees. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

Rita’s Beef Stir Fry

Round steak, cut in thin strips
Oil
Salt, garlic powder and pepper to taste (pepper if tolerated)
Sliced bell peppers and onions (onions if tolerated)
1 cup water or broth

Sprinkle meat with spices. Put in a skillet and cook in a little oil until well browned. Add 1 cup of water or broth and cook on medium heat until the liquid in pan is dark and flavorful, about 10 minutes or so. Add a little more liquid if you need to and make a thin gravy, using whatever kind of flour you can have. Sauté the bell peppers and onion in a little oil and add to the meat. Serve over rice or pasta.

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Michelle’s Crunchy Chicken Casserole

2 cups COOKED chicken
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup homemade mayo (egg and oil)
1/2 cup shredded provolone, mozzarella or one of the other cheeses
we can have if you can tolerate it
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

Homemade mayo–I got this from Rita on the message board a ways back, thank you Rita: 1 egg, 3/4 cup canola oil and a little salt. Blend together in a separate bowl. Bread crumbs (croutons)–cut up spelt bread into small squares and dip in melted butter. Lay them out on a cookie sheet and cook at 350 for 20 minutes. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix all ingredients together except 1/2 cup bread crumbs and cheese. Spoon into 1 quart casserole dish. Then sprinkle cheese and remaining bread crumbs on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Adrienne’s Stuffed Chicken

Take chicken breast and slice in half. Roll chopped green pepper, onion, and/or whatever veggies you like in the chicken. Add a 1/2 slice of whatever cheese you are allowed. Add some breadcrumbs to keep the cheese from oozing out. I used spelt and just chopped it up into tiny crumbs and it worked pretty well. Roll up and use toothpicks to hold it together. Put salt, garlic or whatever spices you’re allowed and pop in the oven until baked.

Shannon’s Oven Baked Chicken

Split chicken breasts with bone and then put flour, salt and garlic powder on them. Bake over 45 minutes. If the flour does not brown take some of chicken juice and pour over flour to moisten.

Rita’s Chicken/Collard Wraps

Sauté small pieces of chicken breast. Add chopped celery, onion, bell pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, basil; whatever is safe for you. Take a large leaf of collard green. Place chicken mixture in the middle of it and roll up like a burrito. You can’t roll the stem end up, so just leave it open. Secure with toothpicks. Place in a skillet and pour a cup of chicken broth over it. Steam for a few minutes.

Nicole’s Turkey Pot Pie

Pie Crust:

Amaranth:
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup arrowroot (this is in question)
1/2 tsp salt (optional) 1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup water\r

Spelt:

3 cups spelt flour
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1/2 cup water

In a large bowl combine one of the flour mixes above with the salt. Add the oil and blend thoroughlyl with a pastry cutter. Add the water and mix the dough until it begins to stick together. Divide the dough in half.

Filling:

2 cups cooked cubed turkey
2 cups cooked cubed vegetables
1/4 cup turkey gravy

Turkey Gravy:

3 tbs. rye of spelt flour. 3-4 tbs. turkey drippings. Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring for a few minutes. Gradually add 1 cup water while stirring mix. Cook until thick. Add salt if desired.

For the spelt crust put one half on a floured pastry cloth and put into pie dish. For the amaranth press half into pie dish and add mixture. Lay top half on top and crimp edges together and prick top of crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Lisé’s Prime Rib

Makes 1 - 10 pound roast
Makes 15 servings
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Ready in: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

1 (10 pound) prime rib roast
10 cloves garlic, minced (you could use garlic powder if you can’t eat garlic)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper (if you can tolerate)
2 teaspoons dried thyme (check with Matia before you use this herb)

Place the roast in a roasting pan with the fatty side up. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Spread the mixture over the fatty layer of the roast, and let the
roast sit out until it is at room temperature, no longer than 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Bake the roast for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and continue roasting for an additional 60 to 75 minutes. The internal temperature of the roast should be at 145 degrees F (53 degrees C) for medium rare. 4 Allow the roast to rest for 10 or 15 minutes before carving so the meat can retain its juices.

Lisé’s Herb-Baked Chicken

3 pound whole broiler-fryer chicken
3 heads garlic
1/4 cup whole fresh thyme or rosemary (check with Matia)
6 medium carrots (you can always let your family eat these…)
4 medium stalks celery
3 medium baking potatoes
3 medium onions
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or rosemary (check with Matia)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Remove organ meats from chicken. Rinse chicken well with cold water and pat dry. Cut off tops of garlic exposing the individual cloves, but don’t remove the garlic skins. Place whole cloves of garlic and 1/4 cup whole fresh thyme or rosemary inside chicken cavity. Tie drumsticks together with string and place chicken breast side up in a roasting dish. Roast uncovered for 45 minutes. Cut carrots and celery into 1-inch pieces. Slice unpeeled potatoes into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Peel the onions and cut into wedges. After 45 minutes, remove chicken from oven. Arrange the vegetables around the outside of the chicken. Melt the margarine and stir in the thyme or rosemary. Drizzle margarine over the chicken and vegetables. Cover and bake another 45-60 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink or a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees.
Makes 6 Servings

Adrienne’s Mediterranean Yogurt Chicken with Blackened Onions.

Serves 4

Ingredients

For chicken:
1 cup DANNON®Plain yogurt
4 chicken breast halves (8 oz each, bone-in, skin removed)
2 large onions (approximately 3/4 pounds)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
For sauce:
1 cup DANNON®Plain yogurt
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon onion puree (half of small onion grated on box grater)
fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
salt to taste
(I didn’t use the cumin, pepper, cilantro leaves, or rosemary leaves)

Directions
1. To prepare chicken:
Place chicken breasts and DANNON Plain yogurt in large, non–metal bowl. Peel onions and dice into one–quarter inch squares. Add rosemary leaves, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate 3 to 4 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 375° F. Place chicken breasts covered with yogurt and onion mixture in heavy shallow baking pan. Bake 20 minutes. Prepare sauce (see below).

3. Remove pan briefly from oven and drizzle 1/2 teaspoon oil over each chicken breast. Place pan under broiler for 5 minutes until onions begin to blacken and chicken is cooked to desired doneness. Serve immediately with sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, if desired.

4. To prepare sauce:
In small bowl, mix DANNON Plain yogurt, olive oil, cumin and onion puree. Add salt to taste. Set aside.

Karla’s Salisbury Steak

1lb hamburger
1 egg
1/2c bread crumbs (I took Nicole’s saltines and made bread crumbs out of them–worked great)
1/3 - 1/4 cup chopped onion (vary to taste)
1/3 - 1/4 cup chopped green pepper (vary to taste)
salt - to taste
flour
beef broth

Combine hamburger, bread crumbs, egg, chopped onions, chopped green pepper and salt. Shape into patties and then flour the outsides. Fry in pan 10-15 minutes on each side (or until brown). Add beef broth and chopped onions. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, turning once. Remove patties and set aside. Combine 3-4 tablespoons of flour in either water or any left over beef broth. Add to drippings (on low heat) and stir until thickened for gravy. (you may have to add more, depending on how much beef broth has been added)

Nicole’s Beef Jerky

Thinly slice lean roast. Place in a bowl add chicken broth or beef stalk just enough to marinate. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Place in fridge for one hour. Place beef strips on baking sheet. Place in oven at 200 degrees or lowest setting for 8-10 hours.

Karla’s Chicken Dish

Cut skinless/boneless chicken into strips and fry in a pan in canola oil. Add chicken broth (I found and bought some Healthy Valley brand. They make chicken and beef broth. The chicken has turmeric in it, but Matia told me to just try it and see. It hasn’t bothered me yet and was very tasty) bits of asparagus, red onion, cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli, basil and salt. Simmer in the the skillet for maybe another 1/2 hour and at the very end, add in just enough flour and water combined to make it a tiny bit thick.

Michelle’s Breaded Pork Tenderloins

Breadcrumbs;

Cut up little squares of bread and toss with melted butter, olive oil and whatever spices you like. I use a little garlic and onion powder, salt, pepper, and basil. Then you spread them out on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until they are toasted. I use them as croutons on salads or when a recipe calls for bread crumbs, I use a rolling pin and crush the croutons into small particles to bread things with. Another thing I use to bread things is those brown rice puffs. With a rolling pin I crush the rice puffs into tiny pieces. Pound out a pork chop so it’s really thin, dunk it in egg, and then these crushed up rice puffs and fry it in canola oil. My husband loves this! He eats on a sandwich, and I just eat it plain but it so good!

Michelle’s Beef/Veggie Stew

Brown some ground beef in a BIG skillet, and then add chopped up onion, green pepper, celery,
cabbage and potatoes (but you could do any veggies you want). Then add about a cup of water (you could use beef broth to give it more flavor), season it, put a lid on it and cook it for about 15- 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. You can freeze leftovers in small batches for lunches or have it for snacks.

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Catherine’s Beef and Broccoli

Thin strips of round steak
1 tablespoon of oil
1 stock of celery - cut Chinese style
1/2 Spanish onion cut into large pieces
can of beef broth
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup water or more
Spelt flour - enough to mix with additional water for gravy

Brown beef in the oil in wok. When cooked, add water. Add onion and celery. Cover and let cook till veggies are just tender. Add broth and salt. Mix up a couple of tablespoons of flour with water until it is a runny paste-like consistency. Place a sieve in the centre of the boiling ingredients and pour flour/water mixture in stirring quickly to avoid lumps. Lift sieve out and stir all ingredients. It should have thickened. Meanwhile, steam your broccoli - leave crisp AND have cooked brown rice at the ready.

To serve:

Place spoonfuls of rice on a plate. Ladle the meat etc. overtop. Place broccoli on the very top.

Catherine’s Beef Stew with Potato Dumplings

1/4 cup Spelt flour
3/4 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 bay leaves
2 lbs. beef - cubed
2 medium onions - chopped
2 tablespoons oil
2 cans beef broth
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or fresh minced)

In plastic bag combine flour, salt and pepper. Add meat. Toss to coat. In Dutch oven cook meat and onion in oil till browned. Stir in broth, water, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours or till meat is almost tender. Remove bay leaves.

DUMPLINGS

1 egg
3/4 cups dry Spelt bread crumbs (bread toasted in oven not toaster - crisper and easier to make into crumbs with rolling pin)
1 tablespoon Spelt flour
1 tablespoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 1/1 cups finely grated raw potato
Additional flour

In a bowl beat egg, add crumbs, flour, onion and seasonings. Stir in potato. Mix well. With floured hands with the additional flour, shape into 1 1/2 inch balls. Dust with flour. Bring stew to a boil, drop dumplings into stew. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes (DO NOT LIFT LID!). Serve immediately.

Karla’s Goulash

Cook (2lbs) hamburger, (3 cloves) garlic, (1/2) green peppers, (1/2) red onion onions and salt (to taste) together. After hamburger is cooked through, add in 2 cans of beef broth and 1 cup of uncooked brown rice. Then add in two tomatoes (diced) and 1/2 tsp basil. Cover and simmer for another 45-50 minutes (to cook rice).

Karla’s Mild “Chili”

1lb ground beef
1/2 onion
3 cloves garlic
1/2 green pepper

1 can tomato paste (Contadina - ingredients: tomatoes)
1 cup water
2 cans beef broth (Health Valley)
8 small or 4 large tomatoes, cut up in pieces (more or less to personal taste)

Brown ground beef, onions, green peppers and garlic til browned. Add in tomato paste and water, stir until thinned. Add in 2 cans of beef broth and cut up tomatoes. Add in basil and salt to taste. Simmer for 1 hr.

(recipe can be doubled)

Pasta/Rice
Alyson’s Lasagna

Sauté ground turkey in garlic.
Sauté 3 onions, 2 leeks and 1 package of sliced mushrooms in olive oil with garlic. Add green and yellow squash and sauté till soft.
Mix all the above together
Steam some broccoli, cauliflower and spinach (if you can tolerate it)
Boil the lasagna pasta (you will only need 4 pieces)

Put 2 pieces of lasagna in the bottom of a casserole dish
Spread a layer of the meat on top
Spread a layer of spinach
Put 2 slices of provolone cheese (or mozzarella)
Repeat starting with the layer of lasagna pasta

Pour about a cup of the water from the steamed veggies into the casserole dish. This will help keep the dish moist. Bake with lid on for 10 mins (to melt cheese), then take lid off and turn to broil to brown top.

Eat and Enjoy!!!

Kim’s Shrimp Pasta

(You can substitute olive oil for the butter)
Fresh or frozen shrimp is fine as long as it’s peeled and deveined, and for those of you who can’t
tolerate wheat, I’m sure you could try rice noodles. To start off, I get the water boiling and then chop up A LOT of fresh garlic and fresh basil. Once I put the linguine on, I heat up a pan with butter (I use a stick for
four people–I have a big fat tooth) and sauté the garlic in it, adding the shrimp towards the end. When the pasta is done, I throw in the butter/garlic/shrimp, along with the fresh chopped basil, toss and lightly
salt.

I have yet to find a person who does not find this simple dish to be delicious! I usually serve it with steamed broccoli or a salad of greens/bell pepper/avocado.

Shannon’s Fried Rice

Cook about half a cup of fried rice. Sauté a lot of celery, mushrooms, onions, and cooked chicken or pork in a little olive oil and salt (this way the meal has more veggies and proteins than carbs). Once the veggies are tender and the chicken/pork is warm, add the cooked fried rice and sauté it together for about 5-10 minutes. Beat an egg and pour it over the mixture and STIR CONTINUOUSLY for 5 minutes (important: once I sautéed it less and I think the egg was still a little raw, which can be irritating, and not good for you in general). Add salt to taste and pepper if O.K. (I add a lot of salt).

Melissa’s Veggie Pizza

I use French Meadows Spelt Pizza Crusts. I found them at the health food store. They are very flat (have no yeast of course). When you bake them they get very crispy. I put grilled chicken pieces, zucchini, pepper, broccoli and cheese on it with some of the salad dressing we can use (olive oil, dill, garlic and basal) on the crust for some “sauce”.

Joy’s Rice

Sauté the uncooked rice with onions, garlic, celery and carrots and other approved spices before you boil it. It adds a lot of flavor and tastes almost toasted.

Alyson’s Pizza

Make the dough by using 1 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Mix together then add water (small amount at a time) while mixing. When the dough is not soggy/sticky but not dry i.e.: not crumbly it is ready. If you put too much water in and it is soggy and sticky, add a handful of flour and knead with your hands. Roll out and place on to a pizza tray.

Base: Mix ½ cup olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, crushed garlic, pepper (if tolerated) and fresh basil (if tolerated). Spread onto the dough.

Toppings: I put a layer of spinach on top of the base so that it cooks and doesn’t dry out. Then I put a thin layer of cheese on top of the spinach (I use mozzarella cheese (grated) but use the cheese (or cheese combinations) you can tolerate). Don’t put too much on or it will be greasy. I then add a layer of onions and ground turkey (I sauté the onions and ground turkey together first in olive oil, salt and garlic). If you can eat tomatoes you can add slices to the top.

At a heat of 400 this usually takes about 30-40 min. to cook depending on the thickness of your crust.

Karla’s Asparagus Ravioli

Cook asparagus and chop into very fine pieces (about 2 bunches). Chop up mozzarella, provolone or any other type of cheese tolerated. I used 5 pieces. Mix together and set aside. Can add basil or cooked onions, if desired and tolerated.

Pasta:

3 cups flour

4 x-large eggs

2 tsp olive oil

salt

Put 3 cups of flour on pastry board or counter top. Make “hole” in the flour and add in rest of ingredients, stirring with a fork in the middle until well blended. Continue stirring while adding in flour, slowly. When dough is no longer wet and there is about 5 tablespoons of flour left, start kneading. Knead for 10-12 minutes. When finished kneading, use rolling pin to roll out dough. Dough will be very tough to roll out. It may help to roll dough onto rolling pin and using fingers, knead it against the pin to stretch and then continue rolling out on board. Roll out until pasta dough is at least 1/16″ thick, occasionally flipping over and dusting with left over flour.

Cut dough into 2″ x 2″ pieces. Take a teaspoon of stuffing and put in the center. Fold over and pinch edges to seal. Set aside to dry out or you can cook them right away.

Heat 4-5 cans of chicken broth. I use Healthy Valley. When it comes to a boil, drop in raviolis and cook until desired tenderness (5-10 minutes). Serve hot.

With this I served sautéed pieces of chicken in olive oil and basil as a side dish.

Note: stuffing can be altered. You can use cooked ground chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, ground beef (then boil in beef broth) cooked fish or any other combination you can think of. If you can eat potatoes, make mashed potatoes and add cheese and onions, then stuff into raviolis.

Enjoy!

Michelle’s Pizza Crust or Homemade Taco Shells

2 cups flour (I use 1 cup white and 1 cup either brown rice or whole wheat, just to be a little healthier).

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. butter

1/2-3/4 cup warm water (start with half cup and then add more to get the ball of dough consistency that looks right)

Mix all together with hands until you get a ball of dough. Then let sit in a sealed container for about 20 minutes. To make pizza crust, roll out dough on floured surface with floured rolling pin until the size you want. Then I put the dough on my pizza stone and put the toppings on. For sauce: I have only found one brand of tomato paste that the only ingredient is tomatoes so I buy that kind and mix a little bit of that with water, season it and it makes a great pizza sauce. Then I top with lots of veggies, ground beef and mozzarella cheese. Then I pop in a hot oven for 10 minutes or so

To use them as taco shells: After letting the ball of dough rest for 20 minutes, break off small balls about the size of golf balls and roll out on a floured surface. Then put your already cooked ground beef inside. Fold one edge over to match with the other side. They will actually seal if you dab some water with your finger on one of the edges first. Fry in hot canola oil about 30 seconds on each side and you have a taco! Then I cut open the sealed edges with a knife and fill with veggies and cheese. It doesn’t quite taste like a taco without the taco sauce, but I still love these anyway.

(Karla’s Variation)

Substitute 2 tbsp olive oil for butter.

I put in dry ingredients, mix with spoon. Then I take a pastry cutter and cut in oil. Next I add water and mix into dough. I then put it in an oven proof bowl, pour a little olive oil over the top, cover it with a cloth and then turn oven on warm, letting it sit for about 20 minutes until it rises (or until the rest of my toppings are chopped up).

I use Contadina’s tomato paste. It is pure tomatoes, nothing else. I mix it with water and basil. I fry hamburger (with onions/garlic if tolerable) I then cut up whatever I have, usually, more tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, ochre, spinach whatever available and sounds good to you.

So, take dough out of oven, will be warm and slightly risen (if you use wheat flour, if spelt or other type, may not rise) spread on pizza stone (If you don’t have one of these, oh my gosh, get one!) then spread out the tomato sauce you’ve made, then hamburger mixture, then other ingredients and then provolone cheese on top. Bake until crust is done, usually 10-16 minutes @ 350.

I also use a variation for no tomato pizza. Make pizza crust as directed. next mix olive oil (onions/garlic if tolerated) and basil. Spread over crust. Then put on lots of fresh spinach and then cover that with provolone cheese. I call it “white pizza”.

IC Quiche Recipe:

2 deep dish pie crusts (I get a kind from Whole Foods which has basically just wheat, oil, salt)
3 cups mozzarella
2 bunches of scallions, chopped
2 or 3 cups of broccoli (depending on taste)–I use frozen broccoli
1 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
2 cups half and half

Pre-heat oven to 375.

Grate mozzarella, chop or defrost broccoli (and squeeze out extra water if using frozen), chop scallions, and combine all in a bowl. Beat eggs in a separate bowl, then add half and half and salt.
Pour egg mixture into cheese and vegetable mixture. Stir thoroughly. Pour half of mixture in each pie shell. Cook, uncovered, at 375 for 60 to 75 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes.

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Vegetable Dishes

Melissa’s Scalloped Potatoes

4-5 medium potatoes peeled and sliced
3 Tablespoons of butter
2 slices of Provolone cheese
2 cups of warm water
3 Tablespoons of flour

Place sliced potatoes in a buttered baking dish. In saucepan over low heat
melt the butter and then add the flour and stir. Add the warm water and
then the cheese. Pour this mixture over the potatoes and bake at 350
degrees for 1 hour.
Alyson’s Veggie Casserole

Sauté onions, fresh crushed garlic and leeks in olive oil.
Steam spinach, bok choy, and any other leafy greens.
Boil 1/2 cup pasta or rice
Put the pasta into a casserole dish.
Lay 2 slices of Provolone cheese on top
Pour the sautéed mix on top
Drain the veggies and place on top.
Lay 2 more slices of Provolone cheese on top
Bake in oven for 20 mins.
Eat and enjoy!!

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Rita’s Spring Vegetables

Yellow squash
Zucchini squash
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Leeks ( if you can tolerate )
Salt and pepper to taste
Dill ( to taste ) I use fresh
Canola oil - as much as you like

I don’t have amounts of everything because I modified this from one of the dishes at the Whole Foods Market. I read the ingredient list and made it at home, leaving out foods we can’t have. It is easy to make. Just use as many vegetables as you want and put everything else in according to taste.

Cut squash in lengthwise pieces, not too thin. Cut broccoli and cauliflower in bite size pieces. Chop the leek. Steam everything lightly. They need to still be crunchy after cooking. Cool the veggies in ice water to prevent them from cooking any more. Drain and put in bowl. Chop the dill. Add salt and pepper and toss dill and oil with veggies. This dish tastes wonderful cold and will be great for summer.

Elise’s Leek-Fennel and Cheese Casserole

Take about 2 -3 cups of leeks and fennel and cut into small pieces steam until soft to touch. Take about 4-5 eggs and mix with 1-2 cups of cheese (provolone or muenster). Put all this together and mix well
and add salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste. Add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and put all of it into a casserole dish and bake at 350′ for about 1/2 hour or until brown on top. You can even add some extra cheese on top for extra oomph!!!

Lisé’s Garlic Oven Fries

4-5 Idaho or Yukon potatoes
1-3 tablespoons olive or canola oil
1 tsp or to taste garlic powder
Salt to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Scrub potatoes clean. Cut into wedges (I cut mine into about 1/2-inch wedges). I leave the skins on, but you can peel them if you desire.. Put potato wedges into a plastic bag and pour olive oil over them, then add garlic powder and salt. Close the bag and shake it up until all the wedges are covered with the oil and seasonings. Pour the potato wedges out onto a baking sheet and pop in the oven for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of your wedges. They will be a little brown on the outside and soft on the inside when they are done. These are scrumptious!

Melissa’s Fried Squash/Zucchini/Onion

Slice them up and dip in egg, flour, garlic and salt mixture. Fry in olive oil until both sides are brown.

Melissa’s Yummy Chard

Use any kind of chard: green, red, rainbow, etc.

Cut up a few fresh cloves of garlic. cut off stems. Cut leaves into manageable pieces. Sauté garlic in pan. Put heat on low, add chard. In 3-4 minutes, sauté the chard and try to evenly cook it, and get the garlic and olive oil evenly distributed. I recommend a sizable spatula for logistical reasons. DO NOT OVERCOOK!. Add sea salt to taste (not much!). This is great over brown rice as a side or as breakfast. Chard is amazing for nutrition. Seriously, it is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.

Melissa’s Yummy Bok Choy

Cut up a few fresh cloves of garlic. Wash and cut up bok choy, including stems. Boil 1/2 in. water in pan. Once boiling, turn heat down and throw in bok choy. Cover with lid. Boil the bok choy in the water for ONLY 2 minutes. DO NOT OVERCOOK!. Dump bok choy into colander. Don’t rinse. Heat olive oil in pan, sauté garlic for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and throw in boy choy. Very quickly, stir around and try to evenly distribute olive oil and garlic. Sea salt to taste (not much). May also be served with brown rice. Incredibly nutritious.

Rita’s Cheesy Squash Bake

2 pounds yellow crookneck summer squash or zucchini
2 beaten egg yolks
1 cup plain yoghurt
1 tbsp flour
2 stiff beaten egg whites
1 1/2 cups shredded muenster cheese (6 oz). You could also use cheese slices
1/3 cup breadcrumbs - homemade yeast free of course
1 tbsp butter, melted

Slice squash to make 6 cups. Cook, covered, in a small amount of salted water until tender. Drain well, sprinkle with salt. Mix together egg yolks, yoghurt, and flour. Fold in egg whites. IN a baking dish layer half the squash and half the egg mixture, and half the cheese. Repeat layers of squash, egg mixture and cheese. Combine butter and crumbs, sprinkle around edge. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

Carolyn’s Zucchini Fritters

1 pound zucchini, cut in 1/4-inch cubes
8 scallions, thinly sliced
1 T. olive oil
1 c. mozzarella (or other cheese of your choice), diced
2 tsp. fresh dill, finely chopped pepper (if tolerated)
4 eggs, separated
1/4 c. flour
Oil for frying
Pinch of salt

Sauté zucchini and scallions in olive oil until brown but still firm. Place in bowl and stir in cheese, dill, and pepper. Add egg yolks and flour to zucchini mixture and stir until just blended. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with salt until stiff peaks form, and then gently fold into zucchini mixture. Drop 1/4 cup of mixture into hot skillet with a thick layer of cooking oil. Fritters are done when the outside is brown and the inside is moist.

Makes 12 to 14 fritters.

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Lisé’s Artichokes

Rinse it off. Pull all the little brown leaves off. Trim the bottom of the artichoke until there is about 1/2 inch left on the step. Trim all the sharp points off the leaves with kitchen scissors. Then trim a good portion off the top leaves (where the artichoke opens up later after it is cooked. Steam it in a big pot of simmering water covered for about 45 minutes. When it is soft, pull it out of the water and drain upside down to get all the extra water out. The outer leaves tend to be tougher, especially the ones towards the bottom. You might want to ditch these before you start. Dip the leaves in butter and scrape the soft inside off with your teeth. Once you are finished with the thicker leaves and are getting towards the really soft inner leaves, pull them all out (be careful - it is HOT inside). The what you have left is the fluffy part that covers the artichoke heart (it’s kind of flowery looking and silky). Yank all that off and scrape out with a spoon. What you have left is the most delicious part of the artichoke. Quarter it, dip it in butter and enjoy! You can also microwave them in a much shorter time.

Nicole’s Artichokes

Add one frozen on bag artichoke hearts, 12 oz is what I use. Put in blender. Prepare the artichoke if it is fresh. Rinse it off. Pull all the little brown leaves off and the one layer of outer leaves. Trim the bottom of
the artichoke until there is about 1/2 inch left on the stem. Trim all the sharp points off the leaves with a kitchen scissors. Then trim a good portion off the top leaves (where the artichoke opens up later
after it is cooked. Steam it in a big pot of simmering water (covered) for about 45 minutes or until soft, you can microwave them too. When it is soft, pull it out of the water and drain upside down to get all the extra water out. Scrape the soft part of each leaf with a spoon and then discard the leaves. Once you get toward the center you are at the heart. Be careful it is hot and it may be sharp if you missed some leaves. Once you get to the center you can put the whole piece into the blender. You want around 3 cups. This is much easier with frozen artichokes.

In a pan sauté the garlic with butter. I love garlic so I use 8 cloves. You can use less if you like. Make sure to use a low heat so you do not burn the garlic or the butter. They should be soft and toasty. Then take a half a stick of butter and put it in the blender. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Now blend it all together until it is a creamy texture spread on toast or dip with your favorite chips. I have also put it on top of pasta. Just a spoonful melts on to it and adds great flavor.

Carolyn’s Cauliflower Purée

1 head (1 3/4 lbs.) cauliflower, stem and tough stalks trimmed, florets roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1-2 cups chicken stock (or water, although stock is preferable)
3 tbs unsalted butter, softened
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Combine cauliflower, garlic cloves, and chicken stock or water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until cauliflower is very tender, about 10-20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cauliflower to a blender or food processor. Process until smooth. (You’ll probably want to add a little of the cooking liquid.) Add butter, and process a few seconds more. Season with salt and pepper, and serve hot.

Karla’s Potato Cakes

2 tbs. finely chopped onions (optional)
3 medium potatoes, cooked, mashed and chilled (2 cups)
2 lightly beaten egg
1/4 cup flour

In a skillet, cook onion in 1 tbs. putter. Drain onions, reserving dripping in skillet (refrain if onions irritate). Combine onions, mashed potatoes and egg. Shape into six 3-inch patties. Dip in the flour. (I will sometimes also add the flour into the actual potato mix). Add 3 tbs. butter to skillet. Heat over medium heat. Add potato patties and cook about 5 minutes on each side or until desired brownness. Serves 6

Karla’s Rice Cakes

2 cups of cooked rice
1 egg
Approx. 1/2 cup of potato flour (or enough to cause rice to cake together)

(these are approximations because I just put stuff together).

Make patties and fry in butter until brown on both sides.

Lisé’s Zucchini Patties

Zucchini Patties
2 cups grated zucchini
2 eggs - beaten
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup flour
1 cup shredded mozzarella
salt and pepper

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Heat oil in medium-high
skillet. Drop zucchini mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls, and cook
for a few minutes on each side until golden.

Lisé’s New Potatoes with Chicken Stock

1-1/4 lbs. small new potatoes, scrubbed
1 Tbs. unsalted butter or margarine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/8 tsp. salt optional
1/2 tsp. dried dill, or 1-1/2 Tbs. fresh dill, chopped

Place potatoes in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover saucepan and steam 8-10 minutes or until tender. Remove from steamer basket. Melt half the butter in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Sauté potatoes 4-5 minutes or until just crispy. Add stock and remaining butter. Simmer over medium high heat 5 minutes or until liquid has thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley and dill and toss.

Prep: 5 min, Cook: 20 min.

Lisé’s Baked Zucchini Fans

Yield: 12 servings
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 small cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons soft breadcrumbs (you could use your spelt or other ok bread)
12 small zucchini

Sauté onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil until tender. Remove from heat; stir in breadcrumbs. Set aside. Cut each zucchini into 4 lengthwise slices leaving slices attached on stem end. Fan slices out, and place in 15×10x1-inch jellyroll pans; brush zucchini fans lightly with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Sprinkle each zucchini fan lightly with 1/2 teaspoon breadcrumb mixture. Bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes or until crisp-tender

Nicole’s Stuffed Zucchini

4 zucchini squash
1-cup saltine cracker crumbs
Shred one slice of mozzarella cheese for each zucchini
Two garlic cloves chopped very fine or garlic powder
1/4 tbs. salt

Cut off stems of zucchini. Cut them in half and length wise if they are long. Scoop out the seeds and chop 1/2 of it. Mix pulp with cracker crumbs, cheese, salt and garlic. Grease baking sheet Place zucchini cut side up and fill them with the pulp mixture. Bake for 45 min.

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Catherine’s Roasted Garlic

Trim top off bulb to just expose garlic cloves
Place the bulb (or several) on aluminum foil with all four corners brought up and twisted to look like Hershey kiss
Sprinkle with olive oil
Roast in a 350F oven until soft - about 45-60 minutes (do not let garlic burn)

To serve: squeeze garlic to remove cloves

I like to have one bulb per person. I used to use crackers, but, now will use toasted Spelt bread cut into squares - no butter required. Squeeze 1 clove per bread square and spread with knife. Delish! And on cooking there is not a strong garlic taste whatsoever - it’s almost sweet.

Miscellaneous - Snacks, Bread, etc.

Chris’s Waffles

2 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 3/4 cups milk (skim)
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Beat eggs. Combine with the dry ingredients together until smooth and pour into hot waffle iron.

(Editor’s note: You may want to check with Matia regarding the recipe above as it contains milk)

I also do oriental dishes without the soy sauce, and sauté shrimp/chicken and vegetables with oil, garlic, salt, a tiny bit of sesame oil and put over rice noodles - pretty good.

(Editor’s note: I would substitute olive oil for sesame oil as sesame oil is from seeds - not allowed)

Alyson’s Snack

Take 2 egg whites, 1 cup shredded cheese (I like provolone but you can use whatever you can eat), 1/2 tsp garlic powder, pinch of salt, trace of black pepper (if you can tolerate). Froth the eggs, then add everything else and mix together.

Take one onion finely chopped, 1/2 bag fresh spinach, pinch of salt, 2-3 finely chopped garlic cloves (or powder if you like) … sauté all in olive oil till soft. Mix this in with the egg and cheese mixture. Brown 6-8 slices of bread under the grill (cut off the crusts if you like). Turn over bread and spread mixture on (not too thick or the bread will burn before your egg has cooked). Grill till brown.

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Jeanne’s Irish Soda Bread

4 cups whole wheat flour (or regular unbleached wheat flour)
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup butter
1 1/4 cups raisins or currants (I skip this ingredient because of sugars)
1 egg, beaten
1 3/4 cups buttermilk or
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt and 1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon honey or molasses ( I use a scant amount of honey although you can skip this too)

Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Cut in butter until it reaches a coarse meal consistency. Add raisins. Combine liquids separately. Add to dry ingredients. Mix until soft dough forms. Knead gently until smooth (about a minute). Then you can either shape into 2 balls or put the entire mixture into a loaf pan. If using the balls - flatten slightly and cut an X 1/4″ deep in the tops with sharp knife or scissors. For the loaf pan cut an X into the top of the loaf. Place on greased cookie sheet, or in case of loaf just place in oven, and bake at 375 degrees. 35 min. for the two rounds or about an hour to 1hr 15 min. for the loaf.

This recipe is from “Whole Foods for the Whole Family” LaLeche League International Cookbook. Make sure it is cool before you slice it. It is rather difficult to slice so I cut it a little thicker. It toasts really
well. Just don’t forget to add the butter to the ingredients as it makes
the crust easy to chew.

Jeanne’s Buttermilk Biscuits

2 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. soda
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup buttermilk

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix dry ingredients well in bowl. Pour oil and milk into measuring cup (do not stir together). Pour all at once into flour. Stir with fork until mixture cleans sides of bowl and forms a ball.
Knead until dough looks smooth (careful not to overdo it). Pat or roll about 1/2″ thick. Cut with unfloured biscuit cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 min., or until golden brown. Makes 16 medium biscuits.

I use a hamburger press to cut out hamburger bun size biscuits to have with sandwiches or burgers.
Carolyn’s Spinach and Mozzarella Rolls

These rolls are reminiscent of pizzeria fare.

For the stuffing:
olive oil
1 lb. baby spinach
several garlic cloves, minced
salt
mozzarella, thinly sliced

For the rolls:
3 cups whole wheat flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup spring water
1/4 cup olive oil

To make the stuffing, heat a small amount of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until lightly browned; add spinach (working in batches, if necessary), and sauté until wilted. Sprinkle with salt, and set aside.

To make the rolls, mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the spring water and the olive oil. Add the liquids to the flour mixture, and mix with a spoon or with your hands until a ball is formed.

Using a rolling pin, roll a handful of dough into a circle. Top with some spinach and mozzarella slices, and roll up, sealing the seam with your fingers. Continue until all dough is gone.

Lay rolls on a non-stick baking sheet, and bake at 350F until rolls are firm or starting to brown, about 30 minutes.

Rita’s Kamut/Spelt Bread

1 cup Kamut flour
1 cup Spelt flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup + 1 tbsp water
1 egg

Mix try ingredients, add oil, water and egg. Stir until just blended. Pour into a greased pan (I use a 9″ pie pan or 9″ cake pan or muffin cups )makes about 8 muffins). Bake at 400 degrees, about 20-25 minutes.

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Barb’s Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

I use the spelt/kamut bread recipe that Rita gave us made in a cake pan.

I split one slice of the bread in half lengthwise then put a small amount of olive oil into a nonstick skillet and put in one half of the slice. Then I put in cheese (I like provolone) on the slice and then top it with the other half slice of bread. I grill it until the bread is brown on both sides and the cheese is melted. It is so yummy.

Rita’s Spelt Tortillas

2 1/2 cups spelt flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp melted butter
10 tbsp. water

Mix flour and salt together. Mix butter and water, then stir into dry ingredients until just mixed. Scoop it up in hands and shape into a ball. Knead it for 2 or 3 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes - very important, as letting it rest will make it easier to roll out. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Flatten a little with your hand, then roll each piece out on a lightly floured board, flipping over every few strokes. Cook in an ungreased, hot frying pan on each side. Mine turned out the best when I used medium/high heat. Tip: lift up edge of tortilla, and if the underside is bubbly and lightly browned, it is ready to turn.

Conversion for other flours:

Whole wheat 2 cups ( I haven’t tried this one)
Kamut 2 cups - very good
Millet 1 cup millet and 1 cup whole wheat (I haven’t tried this one)

Michelle’s Rice Flour Bread

3 cups brown rice flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive or canola oil (you can use melted butter here)

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and liquid ingredients in another. Then pour the liquid into the dry and mix together. I then form the dough into small, round biscuits and put them on a cookie sheet. Bake for 40 minutes. They are very crumbly biscuits) not like real bread. Pop in oven for one minute before eating.

Nicole’s Saltines

2 cups spelt flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup water

Combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Add oil until it is thoroughly mixed in to form small crumbs. Add water two tbs. at a time, mixing well after each addition. Knead the dough on a lightly floured board for 1-2 minutes. Divide the dough in half and roll each half out on an oiled baking sheet with an oiled rolling pin to about 10″ by 14″ rectangle. The dough should be very thin, about 1/16″ to 1/18″ thick. Cut the dough in 2″ squares and prick each square 3 times with a fork. Sprinkle with additional salt if desired. Bake at 350 degrees 10-15 minutes. Turn over for 5 minutes more. Makes 2-3 dozen wafers.

Nicole’s Rye Pancakes

2 cups rye flour
1 tsp baking soda
3 tbs. canola oil
2 1/4 cups water

Mix together the flour and baking soda. Combine the oil and water and stir them into the flour mixture with a wire whisk, adding a few more tbs. water to make thinner. (This batter may thicken as it stands and may require the addition of more water after some of the pancakes have been cooked). Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium heat and pour batter. Cook until dry around the edges and flip.

Nicole’s Burger “Buns”

There is something about the yeast-free bread on a sandwich that just does not cut it. I had the idea of making pancakes for a bun. They are soft and they don’t crumble apart. Here is what I did:

1 cup spelt flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup water
1 egg
1 tbsp melted butter

Whisk together. Grease pan with canola oil. I use a spray between pancakes. Pour mixture into pan. Sprinkle with garlic and onion powder. Let bubble until it creates a crust wall then flip. This makes about 6 pancakes. I like to make them ahead of time and heat them in the oven while I make the burger, but ifyou can’t wait you can do both. I put garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion powder in the burger too, then grill. For a topping I used some butter and avocado. I mashed in a bowl and spread it on the pancake. You can also melt your choice of cheese on the burger. This was good. I served it up with a side salad or grilled summer squash. For those of you wanting to gain weight, here it is. It is so fattening and filling you are found to feel full after.

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Natalie’s Pretzels

1 tsp. salt
4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 egg (beaten)
Salt

Mix dry ingredients together. Add water. Mix together until dough forms into a ball. Divide into golf ball-sized balls. Roll until about 12 inches long. Shape into pretzel form. Lay on cookie sheet. (Iused an air bake cookie sheet). Brush with egg and sprinkle with salt. Bake about 15-20 minutes until golden brown at 425 degrees. Makes about 24 pretzels.

Catherine’s Bruschetta Bread

1/4 cup Spelt flour
3/4 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 bay leaves
2 lbs. beef - cubed
2 medium onions - chopped
2 tablespoons oil
2 cans beef broth
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or fresh minced)

In plastic bag combine flour, salt and pepper. Add meat. Toss to coat. In dutch oven cook meat and onion in oil till browned. Stir in broth, water, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours or till meat is almost tender. Remove bay leaves.

Julie’s Eggs Benedict

Hollandaise*
3 egg yolks
Melted butter (clarified)
Sea Salt

*(This is tricky. You have to whisk it under very low heat. Lemon juice is added, but not for us).

1 poached egg.

Boil water, and take the pan off the burner. then when the water is resting, drop the egg in gently and let it sit off 4-5 minutes. Remove it and trip any “strings” off the egg.

1 piece of toasted spelt

Place poached egg on top of the spelt toast. Pour your hollandaise on top and bon appetit.

Michelle’s Potato Rice Sponge Bread

6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup potato starch
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a bread pan with canola, olive oil or butter. Separate eggs. In large bowl, beat egg whites until mounds form. In another bowl, beat egg yolks until light, creamy and fluffy (about 4-5 minutes at high speed). Then sift together the flour, salt and baking powder in a separate bowl. Sprinkle about 1/3 of the flour mixture over the egg whites and fold together gently until well mixed. Repeat this 2 ore times until you are out of flour. Carefully6 fold beaten egg yolks into flour mixture until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 45-50 minutes. Cool a while before removing from pan. Yield = 1 loaf.

This bread is really good with a lot of butter and is not quite as many carbs per slice because of the eggs

Michelle’s Yogurt Muffins

1 ¾ cup flour (I used brown rice)
1 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
1 large egg
¾ cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup water

Adjust rack to center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees. In bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, & salt; set aside. In larger bowl, cream butter and egg. Beat in dry ingredients alternating with yogurt a little at a time starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Oil bottoms of 8 muffin tins. Spoon in batter. Bake about 25-30 minutes or until light brown.

Madeleine’s Spring Cabbage Snack

Cut into strips and deep fry for few seconds until hard and crispy. A little greasy but just like the crispy seaweed you get in Chinese restaurants..

Jane’s Matzo Rolls

I had these at a seder I went to. They are delicious.

1 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1 1/2 cups matzo meal, or flour if you can’t find
4 eggs

Bring water, salt and oil to a quick boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add matzo meal. Stir well and return to heat for 3 minutes on low flame, stirring continuously. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix vigorously after each egg. Oil hands and take approximately 2 tbsp of dough. Shape into a ball. Put on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes or until nicely brown.

Karla’s variation on above:

I added grated provolone cheese and powdered garlic to the batter. Next, when plopping spoonfuls down, I used about half, put some asparagus and tomatoes (raw) in the middle, squished them down and then plopped some more batter on top to cover. Baked normal time. (You can also add chicken, onions, lettuce and tomato). They were very good. The following day, I cut one in half and put a piece of chicken in it for a sandwich. Twas really good.

Gayla’s Spinach and Zucchini Frittata

8 eggs
Pinch salt
Butter and /or olive oil
An entire bunch of spinach
Zucchini
Cheese (optional)

Preheat your oven to 325-350 degrees.

Lightly beat 8 eggs. Add a pinch of salt. You could also beat in herbs like basil or dill.
Wash spinach and flash wilt in a pan and a bit of water. I’m not sure if this is necessary but I wasn’t sure so I went ahead. Use a large fry pan without a plastic handle. Something that can be put in the oven. Add a bit of butter or oil and fry your zucchini lightly on a medium low heat until they are soft. My heat was too high and this resulted in my frittata having a crust that was too dark. Add your spinach followed by the egg mix. I whisked mine around in the pan very lightly just to spread the spinach out evenly. Cook in the pan for about 3-5 minutes. I then added a light sprinkle of cheese. Transfer to your preheated oven and cook anywhere from 10-15 minutes until egg is cooked through. Remove from oven and run a knife around the edge to loosen it up. Place a large plate over-top and flip. Serve with a piece of spelt bread, a large salad, veggies etc.

Teresa’s Hot Pockets

Dough:

3 cups of flour
1 tsp baking powder
Roll it out pretty thin

Mix just enough water in to make a nice dough.

Filling:

Green peppers, onions, your choice of meat. I use chicken and shrimp. Just whatever I have. You put this mixture on the dough. Then you add mozzarella or provolone cheese to the filling and roll it up. Put a little olive oil on each one. Bake at 350 until they are done. You can use whatever veggies you can have. I just like using these. They are really yummy.

Lani’s Frittata

I keep on hand a dispenser of olive oil infused with a few garlic cloves and basil, for flavor. I use it for any pan sautéing for spinach, or zucchini or any allowed vegetable.
Microwave a whole cauliflower, broccoli or whatever vegetables you want till tender. Chop into small pieces. Sauté a few cloves of garlic in that olive oil mixture I keep on the sink. Beat 6 eggs till frothy add vegetables and garlic. Pour it into a greased (with olive oil mixture I keep on sink) large pie plate. Grate your preferred cheese. I use mozzarella (maybe 1/2 cup). Preheat the oven to 425. Bake in the oven for 25 - 35 minutes till the top is golden brown and firm. Don’t over bake. It’s fabulous and can be taken anywhere. You can eat it all week if you make one big enough . That’s it. Enjoy. ( I also am somewhat sensitive now so I found rice pasta and cooked as directed. Do not let it get mushy. Drain and add olive oil mixture, or butter or both. Mix in some of those chopped vegetables, its great!

Karla’s Snack

French Meadow sourdough bagels (if wheat is intolerable, they make a spelt bagel also)
Contadina tomato paste
Provolone cheese.

Split bagel in half, spread tomato paste and top with Provolone cheese. Place under broiler and brown cheese until desired.

Karla’s Yeast/Dairy-Free Bread

A yeast & dairy free recipe especially for sufferers of Candida albicans yeast, gas, heartburn, digestive upsets, nausea, indigestion, food allergies

3 cups whole grain flour (preferably organic)
2 1/2 cups (~ 600 ml) distilled/purified water (substitute almond milk and it tastes almost like cake - let it sit in sun for a while)
1 tbs (non-aluminum) baking powder (Featherweight or Rumford)
1 tbs Olive Oil
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. sea salt

Batter Preparation and Cooking:

Place in greased and floured 9″ x 5″ loaf pan or 9″ x 9″ cake pan. Bake at 400 F (pre-heated oven) 35 minutes. When bakers pick comes out clean and top is lightly browned, bread is ready to cool on rack. Let cool in pan for at least 1/2 hour.

Note1: For a lighter bread, use 3 cups unbleached white VitaSpelt flour or use 1 1/2 cups unbleached white VitaSpeltÒ flour mixed with 1 1/2 cups whole grain flour.

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Dressings/Sauces

Chris’s Red Pepper Dressing

Burn the skin of the red pepper over a gas burner and put it in a plastic bag for about three minutes, then just peel the skin off. Sauté a little garlic and then puree it with the peeled red pepper, and add more olive oil, salt, and any herbs you can tolerate

Alyson’s Ranch-Style Dressing

1 cucumber, grated. Put into a colander and sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt. Put into fridge for about 3 hours. Drain juice and add about a cup of yogurt. Mix together with about 1/2 tsp. of garlic powder. Serve COLD!!!

(Please check with Matia on the yoghurt, mint, pepper and garlic)

Elise’s Red Pepper Sauce

Take about 3-4 red peppers if you can eat them and sauté with leek or onion in a lot or some olive oil until soft. .Add salt and pepper to taste. Then put the mixture into a blender with some chicken stock and puree, then put it over spelt pasta or veggies. Its really good over spelt pasta.

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Gayla’s Homemade Yoghurt

Gently heat 2 cups of any kind of milk on the stove to just below the boiling point but do not boil. Generally a skin will form on the surface. You can remove this.

Remove from the stove and set aside until the milk is lukewarm or on a thermometer measures at 110 degrees F. Mix in 2 tablespoons fresh plain yogurt (this is your starter culture). The yogurt must not contain sugar or any other ingredients and a live bacterial culture must be present. Most plain yogurts purchased from a health food store will have a live culture but if in doubt check the side of the package.

Place on top of a towel and let this mixture sit (with the lid on) in an undisturbed place for several hours until it thickens up (3-12 hours).

Temperature is important. The mix must stay just above 80 degrees F. If your kitchen is cool and a consistent temperature cannot be met, place a lid on the pot and wrap the entire thing in towels. Alternatively you can place the pot into an oven that is set to the lowest temperature possible and keep it there during fermentation (watching temperature doesn’t exceed 110 F is important here).

Once the yogurt has fermented you can pour into new containers (sterilize first) and place in refrigerator for a maximum of 2 weeks.

Try straining through cheesecloth to make yogurt cheese (great on sandwiches).

Rita’s Mayonnaise
2 eggs
1/4 teas. salt
1 cup canola oil

Mix eggs and salt in blender until just blended. Pour in oil very, very slowly while blending. It doesn’t take very long to get thick. You will know it’s ready when it doesn’t swirl anymore. It will get a little bit thicker after refrigerating. It will keep for a couple of weeks when made with lemon or vinegar, but I don’t know how long it will last without them.

Nicole’s Cucumber Relish

2 tbs. water
3 cucumbers
Salt
Fresh ground pepper
2 tbs. fresh dill, finely chopped

Peel the cucumbers and then cut them in half lengthwise. Remove seeds with spoon and discard. Shred the cucumbers in a food processor or by hand. Salt them lightly and put in strainer. Press lightly with your hand and return them to into a bowl. Add water and dill and mix. Makes 3 cups.

Nicole’s Hollandaise Sauce

3 large egg yolks
Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
1 1/2 sticks of melted butter that is not too hot, you don’t want scrambled eggs.

Put the yolks and seasoning in blender and pulse. With the blender still going, add the butter slowly through the top.

For anyone growing lemon basil I like to brew a cup ahead of time like tea and place it in the fridge to chill. I use 2 tbsp of the water and it gives the sauce that lemon flavor. Great with tuna or spread on top of fish.

Nicole’s Emulsified Oils Salad Dressing, Marinade or Sauce

You can use any herbs you are able to tolerate that mix well together or are good on their own I like to use the following:

Fresh thyme, oregano, rosemary, lemon basil, garlic, salt and pepper

Take all herbs and put into ball or loose into oil of choice. Put on low heat until herbs begin to seep in to the oil. You will see the color change. Be careful not to burn the oil you will need to start over if it is burned. Add fresh garlic loose and finely chopped red pepper if tolerated. Put them in separate pan if not using tea ball to make separation easier. Let cool. Take the garlic and mash it with a fork or puree it. It will mash very easy. Take out ball or pour herbs through colander to strain. Add garlic and pepper back into mixture and serve.

Karla’s Pesto Sauce

Put about 1/3 cup olive oil in a small saucepan, depending on amount of pasta. Add chopped basil, garlic powder and butter. Heat for a few minutes and pour of pasta.

Karla’s Mayonnaise

2 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons water
1 scant teaspoon salt
1 cup canola or pure olive oil, not extra virgin

Heat the egg yolks and water in a small skillet over very low heat, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan constantly with a spatula. At the first sign of thickening, remove the pan from the heat but continue
stirring. Dip the pan bottom in a large pan of cold water to stop cooking. Scrape into a blender, blend for a second or so, then let stand uncovered at least 5 minutes to cool. Add salt if using. Cover and, with
the blender running, drizzle the oil in very slowly at first, down the center hole into the egg mixture. Transfer mayonnaise to a clean container and chill immediately. This will keep for at least 7 days refrigerated.

Karla’s Creamy Alfredo Sauce

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup liquid (chicken broth or anything else you can tolerate) season to taste: salt, pepper (if tolerable)

1/2 - 1 cup any white cheese cheese that is tolerated, broken into bits to melt quicker. I use white American.

In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until a creamy paste. Slowly pour in liquid and stir constantly until a thickened sauce. Add in cheese until melted, season to taste. Pour over: broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, spaghetti, potatoes, chicken or shrimp

Nicole’s Tomato sauce

4 lbs. plum tomatoes
4 tbs. olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tbs. chopped fresh sweet basil
1 tbs. chopped fresh oregano
1 tbs. chopped fresh thyme

Scald the tomatoes in boiling water for two minutes, and then slip the skins off. Puree them in food processor or blender. Sauté garlic in oil in large saucepot. Add pureed tomatoes and spices. Simmer the sauce stirring frequently for 45 min to one hour, very thick.

Lanis Chicken Soup Sauce
Chicken soup is a good base product for any sauce. Since I can’t find one that doesn’t have something in it that I can’t have, I made my own. Not as good, though, since you need a lot of chicken to make a rich soup. But you can boil a lot of chicken (one whole chicken & more chicken parts) in enough water and add garlic, celery, carrots, any vegetable you are allowed. I add a few large dried basil leaves too. Cook chicken till real tender. Remove chicken and do whatever you want. (Shred or chop or re-bake in the oven with some olive oil and garlic powder. If the soup is tasty that’s fine otherwise cook on a low flame and boil it down to make it richer. I freeze the soup in small container to eat or take some for use with a vegetable to purée as a sauce.

Special Meals

Nicole’s Thanksgiving Meal

Spelt Stuffing 4 servings

8 slices Pacific Bakery spelt bread
1/4 cup onion or leeks
3 stalks celery
1/2 tea thyme
1 tea rosemary
1/4 tea basil
Salt ( just a sprinkle)
Water
3 tbs. butter

Toast bread and crumble in a bowl. Add spices, chopped celery and onion. Fill with water just so it covers and absorbs the bread. Add butter and place in oven 350% 10-15 min

Turkey

After you clean the turkey and get rid of all the liver and goblets, place the turkey in the pan breast up. Pre heat the oven at 400.Cut slices of garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt and pepper and stuff them under the skin all over. Also you can rub the turkey on the top of the skin. It will be flavored more if it is under and on the skin. You will need enough to cover it generously. Pour 1/2 chicken broth or water on the pan. Place the thermometer parallel to breastbone deep in. Let it reach 170-175, the leg will be 180. With a baster pour the juices all over the turkey every 20 min to avoid it being dry.

My Stuffed Zucchini recipe that is posted on the site would go good with this. Potatoes and Rita’s Spring Vegetables would be great. For an appetizer you can make my artichoke dip. I always make my self some ice tea out of cinnamon or lemon basil. It is real good and I don’t feel left out that way. I just boil the leaves in a pot and pour them in a picture and place in the fridge.

Catherine’s Breakfast for Busy Women

Needed: egg coddler

For those who rush in the a.m., try the night before mixing up:

1 egg white (I use Simply Egg Whites, so 2 tablespoons = 1 egg white) (authors note - check for any added ingredients) OR for those without cholesterol problems you can use 1 whole beaten egg finely chopped onion and celery finely chopped meat of your preference (chicken, beef - cured meat not allowed for us)
grated mozzarella cheese

Depending on the size of your coddler (mine is small) you can judge how much of the ingredients will be correct. Fill the coddler up to less than 3/4 full as on cooking it rises.

Put your ingredients in the fridge covered with Saran. The next a.m., coat the inside of the coddler with a little butter, put the ingredients in, screw on the lid, place the coddler in a pan of hot water, making sure it reaches half way up the coddler. Set the timer for 15 minutes. Boil. You will be amazed how much you can accomplish in 15 minutes in getting ready to start your day. Meanwhile, your breakfast is cooking.
When you screw off the lid the ingredients will have risen, and be cooked, with the veggies not mushy. The cheese is yummy! Enjoy!

Tags: Interstitial Cystitis Recipes, Recipes

Abroad

CANADA

CATHERINE

It was a bright, sunshiny day at the lake. My husband and I were at a cottage for a week in August of 1997 and were enjoying our vacation. I felt like I was experiencing a urinary tract infection, but, it was mild, so I drank cranberry juice and soldiered on.

When the symptoms increased, I saw my doctor and had a urine culture and sensitivity done. It came back negative. He put me on a course of antibiotics anyway and I did seem to feel better. The symptoms recurred and more antibiotics were prescribed (I haven’t had them since..). I asked to be referred to a urologist and traveled 1 ½ hours to see him. He catheterized me to investigate and it was pure agony. Why he would do this when I told him how sore I was is beyond me. The ride home was a treat - not! He eventually sent a letter to my family doctor to say I had an ‘irritable bladder’. As this doctor did not look at me once during our conversation and he was deaf in one ear and couldn’t hear out of the other, I was less than impressed.

I asked my G.P. for a second chance with another urologist. Thankfully he agreed. Now, this man was wonderful. He told me right off that he thought it was interstitial cystitis, but, that the only way he could be sure was with a cystoscopy under a general anesthetic. I truly do hate anesthetics, but, wanted answers. I was booked and the procedure proved him correct. This was in April 1998.

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if the western medical profession had closer links to the eastern medical profession?

For that 8 months before diagnosis I suffered terribly with urethral spasms. It got to the point where if I dropped something on the floor, it was agony to bend over to pick it up. Ditto every time I sat down. The urologist gave me a prescription for Buscopam which helped the spasms, but, traveling in a car seemed to set them off. Isn’t that fun?

I was told that Rimso 50 treatments (DMSO) would help my symptoms. I wanted to believe the urologist. I had to believe him. I was desperate. What choice did I have? And so, crazy and maddening as it seems to be typing this, I endured a treatment once a month (sometimes more) for the next 5 years. Being catheterized, having the DMSO instilled in my bladder, and having to hold it there for an agonizing 20 minutes. Oh, I tried telling myself ‘at least it’s not chemo’ and ‘there are people worse off than I am’, but, deep down it was something that had me so upset I dreaded the impending appointments and likened them to a torture chamber.

One evening when I couldn’t start a stream and felt I was about to burst, and was in tears with the pain, my husband took me over to the Emergency Dept. (I phoned to say I was coming - they knew me from being there once a month) so I could be catheterized. It was a 10 on the scale of 1-10 in agony. Just as I arrived they brought in a man on a stretcher that had had a heart attack and he was their priority patient. When he was wheeled by me I thought to myself that he had passed away, but, knew they would try to do all they could. Meanwhile, I paced. I had taken another Buscopam on the way over and went into the washroom and turned the tap on and prayed that I could void, even just a little. I did and went out and told my husband we were going back home. A nurse was chasing me out into the parking lot to say they could help me now, the man was deceased. Bye, bye..

That night I searched the internet. I knew there had to be someone out there who could help me. I don’t know how I found Matia, call it fate, call it my stars all being lined up in a row.. whatever..my life changed from that day on. My first contact with Bomamed was with Jane. She was extremely helpful, insightful, and contacted two other Canadians asking them to e-mail me. One lady did and I was in touch with her to find out her story and we’ve gone back and forth.

What a wonderful woman Matia is! She’s so personable, patient, and caring. Talking to her, you just know that she understands how you are feeling and goes out of her way to help you. I felt like I had been saved! There would be life with IC!

I started on her diet. This program is not for the faint of heart, or to be entered into lightly. Your will power HAS to exceed your breaking point.

The next 6 months of herbs, phone consultations, and dieting was extremely difficult. No, more than extremely difficult. Added to that, I live in Canada and paying in U.S. dollars was expensive with the exchange. FedEx loves me. I paid U.S. FedEx and then had to turn around and pay FedEx Canada as well. I’m expecting a Christmas card from them this year!

It’s been so worth it. What Matia has done for me is give me my life back. I’m off the 4 times a day Buscopam. I haven’t had a DMSO treatment since December 24th, 2003 (Merry Christmas to me in 7 days!) It’s almost my one year anniversary. I haven’t consumed alcohol in about 1½ years, so that will not be part of my celebrations. I have had spasms twice in the past year. Ironically, the last episode was just last Saturday evening. It lasted for 10 hours and was quite bad. I had two Buscopam in that 10 hours and it eased it a bit. I’m hoping these do not rear their ugly head again. I don’t know what set them off, but they have left again.

I haven’t been a saint with my diet since Matia has told me she thinks I’m well on my way to recovery. I’ve been extremely fortunate. I’ve gone through her treatment program quite quickly and with excellent results, but have to take each day as a new beginning.

The only glitch in the cure process was a trip to Mexico in March of this year. Matia told me not to eat any of the vegetables offered at the hotel, even though it was a 5-Star hotel. That week sent me spiraling down into constipation hell. It took me a couple of months to get straightened out again. If I were to do it again, I think I’d rather tempt the fate of the IC gods, and eat the vegetables.

I’ve tried to keep my sense of humour the past 7 years. No one likes a moaner. I named my disease Icabod. It’s ‘icky’ and it’s in my ‘body’. My closest friends will ask me how Icabod is doing and it takes a bit of the sting out of the medical terminology. My husband has been a phenomenal support. I couldn’t have done it without him. He’s stuck by my diet and done it along with me as much as he could stand.

My urologist is very interested in my progress and I’ve told both he and my G.P. to have any of their IC patients call me. Sadly, none have. You have to be a believer…

“My name is Catherine, and I’m a chocoholic”. It’s really hard to stay away from it, even though I know that sugar is ‘white death’. And so, I take it day by day, trying to be strong and on track. I am so thankful to know that Matia is just an e-mail away with my enquiries and concerns. When she was born, God must have decided that he had a special mission for her life. I’m just glad that mine has crossed paths with hers. She’s an angel! Because of her research I have a long life to look forward to now, and I don’t have to dread anymore DMSO! Thank you Matia, from the bottom of my heart!

P.S. Losing the 25 lbs on your diet is a bonus!

GAYLA

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Heal My Body, by Gayla Sanders (Reprinted from an article in Soapboxgirls, and online magazine) - Toronto, Canada

I used to think I was a healthy person. Sure, I drank too much cola and smoked the occasional cigarette, but I had been a vegetarian since the age of sixteen, didn’t eat in fast food restaurants, rarely drank alcohol and generally believed that it was okay to indulge occasionally as long as it was in moderation.

From the age of twenty-three I’d noticed a few odd problems that were all dismissed by my doctor. I had chronic headaches, severe allergies that were getting progressively worse every year, extreme debilitating bouts of vertigo that came on just as mysteriously as they left, and strange rashes and breakouts on my stomach, arms and chest. At times I felt like a bit of a hypochondriac wondering if I was being overly critical about what could be “normal” occurrences due to the aging process. Doctors had no explanation for my problems, and passed them off as “nothing to worry about”. Twenty-three was also the year I stopped taking the birth control pill against my doctor’s advice that the pill was safe. My family physician was at a leading women’s hospital — how could she be wrong about women’s health? Yet I just ‘felt’ that something wasn’t right with my body and I determined that it was time to stop taking the hormones. Seven straight years of altering my body chemistry seemed long enough.

Several years passed, and while I felt that certain problems were increasing exponentially, I did what the doctors said and dismissed them. One day after five months at the most stressful and emotionally and spiritually draining job of my life I took a week’s vacation with my spouse. During the course of the trip mysterious problems developed that seemed to come from nowhere. I had the constant need to urinate, but when I got to a bathroom I couldn’t go. This caused endless problems during the trip since we were traveling around and wanted to see and do things where no bathroom was in sight. I also developed an extremely itchy rash on my legs, arms and stomach that I assumed had been caused by the sun, yet I had been very careful about my sun exposure and had worn a very high sun block.

Upon returning home I went to a new doctor recommended by a friend thinking it was merely a bladder infection (I’d never had one before) and that I just needed a doctor’s confirmation. The doctor did some tests, took my word for it and assigned me a week of antibiotics, which I took against my own better judgment. When the first course made no improvement and my symptoms worsened, I was prescribed a second round. By this time I was in agony. I had a sharp, dull pain in the lower left side of my abdomen, I had the constant need to urinate with no relief, and getting to and from work during a snowstorm was becoming a stress-inducing battle. I tried all the common herbal remedies for bladder infections — which only contributed to worsening my symptoms. I cut out coffee, pop, and all kinds of other junk foods and diuretics with no luck. A second round of antibiotics with no relief proved that something else was going on with my body and I needed to investigate further.

The next 6 months went by very slowly and painfully. I went through a variety of stressful tests until I was eventually recommended to an urologist. During this time, the tests also indicated I had cysts on my ovaries accounting for the sharp pain in my abdomen. After a three month, wait the urologist put me through another series of painful and invasive tests over the course of a few months. During that time, I did a lot of my own research, but without a doctor’s confirmation I just didn’t want to admit that it was as bad as it was. There aren’t a lot of bladder-related problems and I only had symptoms for one ailment — a disease called Interstitial Cystitis. With a name like that it had to be bad and I didn’t want to admit that at 26 years of age I might have a ‘disease’ that doctors knew nothing about and for which the symptoms could potentially be alleviated, but for which there was no cure.

The day I went in for my diagnosis was a memorable turning point. The urologist sat me down in his office and very coldly informed me that while I didn’t have all the symptoms — namely bleeding cysts in my bladder, my bladder capacity was about one third the size of a normal bladder and I probably had Interstitial Cystitis. His course of action was to begin with putting me on a two-month course of antibiotics ‘just to be sure’ there wasn’t any bacteria in my body despite the fact that I had been through extensive testing on several occasions. If that didn’t work he would follow up with a bladder distension (an invasive procedure in which they stretch your bladder with water) and a lifetime prescription of Elmiron® — a drug that alleviates some symptoms in approximately half the people who take it, and which, if it worked, I would be taking for the rest of my life. When I asked the urologist about the safety of taking a two month course of antibiotics his response was, “Don’t you want to get better?” despite the fact that I had already been determined to be infection free and antibiotics had only served to worsen my condition. When I asked about my reduced bladder capacity and what I could do to improve it (I was already dehydrating myself in order to avoid constant bathroom stops), his reply was that I should “drink less water”. Eventually he just got up, walked out without saying a word and never came back — leaving me sitting there wondering what had just happened. The doctor’s office never bothered to call me to schedule a follow-up appointment for any of the procedures he mentioned. They just wrote me off without saying a word.

That day, on my way home, I looked at the antibiotics prescription in my hand and decided that I couldn’t put my body… my life, in the hands of a doctor I didn’t like or even trust. I felt that it wasn’t asking too much that I be allowed to ask basic questions of the person in whom I was counting on to advise me regarding my health without being treated like a disobedient child. Since he was supposed to be the best, I felt it was time to explore other options — I turned to alternative health.

As soon as I got home I called around asking friends if they knew anyone who could recommend a naturopath. I had never considered an alternative health practitioner prior to this for financial reasons. Alternative health care just isn’t covered in my part of the world. However, I decided that paying for good treatment wasn’t a frivolous way to spend my money and it was time to give it a chance. In the end I chose a naturopathic doctor from the phone book who specialized in women’s health. When I first walked into her office I was a mess. I was psychologically and spiritually destroyed because I had also been grieving the very recent deaths of two extremely close friends. The dry winter heat had aggravated my already sensitive skin leaving me with a red, blotchy face. I looked physically toxic (my liver and kidneys were overloaded) and I was emotionally drained and tired from dealing with this disease. Yet that first appointment was amazing because for the first time I had hope that I was doing something about this and that I might get better. I asked questions and she answered them. She was friendly, articulate, compassionate, and most importantly she treated me as an equal and as an intelligent adult who had a right to be engaged in a dialogue regarding my own health. I was astounded. I had never experienced this with an MD.

I stayed with this naturopath for well over a year. Her help was vital in my healing but it wasn’t enough. She helped me gain a better understanding of why this had happened to me. She helped alleviate a lot of my secondary symptoms and lead me on the path to a better understanding what I needed to do to get better. However, in the end I realized that I had come as far as I could with her leading the way. She didn’t have an understanding of exactly what was wrong with me and what needed to be done to overcome it. And I was so sensitive to everything. I can understand how frustrating this disease can be for someone who is treating it. Sometimes the symptoms seem irrational and appear to happen for no reason. In one second I would turn from bad to worse. The biggest problem had manifested itself in the bladder, but that wasn’t where it started. My whole body was messed up.

January 2001 marked my second anniversary with I.C. I was really tired and distraught about what my next course of action was going to be. I was determined that this year I would get better. But I didn’t know what to do. I’d had allergy and sensitivity tests yet I knew I was still eating things that were making me react. I couldn’t travel down the street without prepping myself, let alone getting out of the city. I felt like a 27 year old stuck in the body of an 80 year-old woman. I was tired of turning down invitations to go on trips, visit friends who lived across town or stressing over simple things that most people take for granted such as sitting through a business meeting. I was tired of focusing on the pain in my bladder and organizing my day around my good times and bad times (I was always better in the late date than the morning). I was tired of keeping a mental map of what routes in the city were most ‘public bathroom friendly’. I had bathrooms systemically categorized and cross-referenced in my head according to quality (is the bathroom clean or disgusting?), accessibility (is the bathroom free or do I need to make a purchase?), quantity (will I have to wait in line or are there multiple stalls?) and location (how far is it to the next bathroom, is it on route to where I’m going?). Trivial information such as this became vital in keeping my sanity intact.

A friend alerted me to a book she was reading called “Eating Alive” by Dr. Jonn Matsen N.D. In basic terms his book follows the premise that disease starts with inefficient digestion. Over the last few years I had learned to pay attention to my body. I knew that my I.C symptoms were greatly influenced by what I ate, and I knew I had serious digestive problems. On my first trip to the family physician two years prior, I mentioned that everything I ate made me sick to my stomach and that I was bloated all the time regardless of what I ate or how much I ate. She insisted that I was a vegetarian and that I just “ate a lot of beans”, despite the fact that I had been a vegetarian for over 10 years and had never had this problem. I read Dr. Matsen’s book and his follow up “The Secrets to Good Health”. Both of these books do an excellent job of explaining how our entire body functions in coordination with our digestive processes. I followed the diet he lays out with my own modifications based on known sensitivities, and I started taking supplements to improve my liver health and to remove yeast and toxins from my body. After the first three months I felt a definite improvement in my physical well-being but I still had all kinds of I.C symptoms. Again I had reached a plateau where I felt I had come a long way but I needed some guidance to take me further.

At five months I found BOMA-MED from an interview with co-founder Matia Brizman D.Ac., L.Ac. about her practice and how she treats Interstitial Cystitis. I liked what she had to say about I.C., and how she thought people came to this disease. It followed along with my own theories, and made me feel assured that I could trust my care in her hands. She works from L.A. but because she takes long distance patients I was able to begin treatment. The first thing she did was alter my already limited diet significantly. I was shocked when she listed off the things I was still eating that were irritating to the I.C patient. Things that I knew to be healthy, and are to most people, were doing me more harm than good. Matia treats every patient uniquely, which is a relief since we are all different and came to I.C. in different ways.

I have been in treatment under Matia for seven months and I still have I.C. It took me 28 years to get to this stage, so I imagine it will take my body quite some time to improve. I know that I will be better eventually. The results in the last seven months have been astounding. Almost every single symptom is gone except for the bladder problems. They have basically left in the order they arrived. There was a time when I couldn’t lay flat or turn my head in a certain position or the world would frantically spin like a nightmare merry-go-round. That is completely gone. My allergies have also cleared up. In the past, the month of August was a write-off due to extreme allergy symptoms that left me weak and broken down. I went through this past August with almost no symptoms AT ALL! I can vacuum the rug without breaking out into a fit of sneezing, hacking and itching. My bladder has been a lot better. I went on a short trip in a car outside the city – something I never would have done before. I still have bad days, but I usually know now when something makes me sick whereas in the past it was a frustrating mystery. My sensitivity has decreased. I no longer react in a heartbeat.

It isn’t all sunshine and roses. I have to maintain incredible will power in order to keep to the diet. I am not allowed to eat anything sweet – sugar aggravates I.C. symptoms and that includes fruit and sweet veggies such as carrots or beets. The list of foods I can’t eat is much greater than the list of foods I can – making eating outside the home an impossible task. That combined with no alcohol makes socializing difficult. So much of our social world revolves around food and drink and the habits we form around them. Avoiding them within a social context is a test I try to avoid. Stress still sets me off so I have to be careful at all times to avoid stressful situations and force myself to take it easy and relax as often as possible. I am extremely sensitive to the sun and have to be careful to avoid too much exposure to it. My whole world revolves around my health right now. It comes first and foremost before everything – a self-consciousness that is necessary, but difficult to maintain.

As cheesy as it sounds, I can see the positive side to all of this although I’d rather not have gained my insights through such extreme experiences. I have obtained a knowledge of self and the workings of my body that few ever experience. I am hyper aware of my body and have come to trust my actions in doing what it needs. I have gained a hyper-sensitivity to smell that is both incredible and annoying simultaneously. Although I am still ill I feel I am actually in my physical prime and it is growing exponentially. I have been forced to concentrate on my physical self in a healthy way that is separate from vanity and appearance. Most importantly I will never make the same uninformed mistakes, and I will never be allowed to deny when something is wrong with my body because I’ve been through something that will always keep me focused and my actions regarding my body in check.

**The disclaimer part. I have only begun to scratch the surface regarding any of the topics discussed and I am not a certified health practitioner. These are merely my own personal experiences. It is important that if you have a health concern that you talk to a reliable, certified health practitioner.

U.K.

JENNY

Dear Jane,

I wrote to you a few months ago asking for advice on IC, not knowing where else to turn to. You very kindly replied immediately and answered all my queries regarding Matia. You also put me in touch with two other patients who live in the UK too, and am now in regular touch with.

This is really just an update to tell you how I’m doing. After broth culture tests sent to US came back positive, I contacted Matia and have now been treated by her for approx 6 weeks. I can only describe my rapid improvement as just short of a miracle. Whilst I have the odd ‘burn’ type feeling, most days I’m completely symptom free. I stick rigidly to the diet and medications, and feel life is worth living again. Perhaps I’ll have set backs, as I’ve been told, but my overall health is just so much better!

I wanted to send you my very sincerest thanks for taking the time to respond, and reassuring me that I was indeed doing the right thing in taking that first step.

I hope you are continuing your good health and keep reaching out to others - it brings hope where there was none, and is so much appreciated.

With very best wishes

ANONYMOUS

14 mths ago I made the trip to LA from the UK. I’d suffered from numerous UTI’s over the last 20 years and developed symptoms known as IC about 2 years ago.

I was in constant pain and tied to the bathroom. I rejected investigative procedures from urologists and decided to embark on Matia’s program.

The treatment process was far from easy. Months of yo-yoing up and down, a good day here, to then have a bad few. The anxiety of whether this would really work for me, or whether I was beyond Matias program. I was tempted at times to call my Dr and beg to be pumped full of painkillers. I kept a diary of good days (hours too!) and bad, to try and find a pattern. Any question Matia had for me, I could answer in great detail.

About 6 months ago I noticed when Matia asked me specific questions (urine flow/colour etc), I had to admit that I hadn’t taken note, and had actually forgotten.

Fast forward to my appointment last week and I spent most of it discussing how to deal with the pressures of my new job. There was little mention of IC.

I don’t often think of my bladder now. I ride horses for a living (having given it up due to IC), something not exactly suited to an IC sufferer! I am no longer a victim but someone who has taken back their life, and a much healthier one.

My advice is to stick to the diet religiously (it will save you from other more life threatening dis-eases in the process) and take the recommended pills/herbs seriously. Try (although hard) to remain positive that you will get better and remember that having been made aware of Dr Matia Brizman you are one of the lucky ones.

U.K. and BRUNEI

PAM

I have been a long distance patient of Matia’s for nearly two years.

Previously I had followed the usual Western medications and theories on IC the reasons for its development and supposed cures. However I knew deep down that the answer lay somewhere else and I began searching the Internet and reading as much as possible about IC. Through this searching I came across an interview Matia had given and her approach to IC.

Up until this stage in my life I had never really thought much about alternative medicine. In fact I never thought much about medicine at all. I have always been very healthy, a vegetarian for over 20 years and an aerobic instructor. However I had little faith in the medication I was taking and was desperate to get well. So the very next day I made the most important call in my life to Matia.

I was bowled over by her understanding of IC. The way I felt, the fear, the confusion and the isolation. Matia explained the treatment and the diet. She also gave me the address of Jane and Alison’s website. I was inspired when I read about patients who were symptom free and living life to the full. I was determined to be well. And so I embarked on my treatment with Matia.

I remember one of Matia’s first e-mails to me. Her words were “We will do this together”. She has been with me every step of the way. Even the times when I would doubt that I could be well again. “Hang in there, it will be alright” these were the words I read and reread.

It was a long road for me to travel but today I really feel I am there. I have very few days where I even think about my bladder. I am still fairly careful with my diet, but that really isn’t a hardship. I eat very healthily and am slowly introducing new foods. This year I have traveled extensively, something I wouldn’t have believed possible a few years ago.

For anyone contemplating treatment as a long-distance patient can I dispel any doubts you may have. I was living in Borneo when I first started treatment with Matia (I have only just returned to the U.K.). Matia and I used to joke I would win the long distance award.

I hope my story gives hope to those of you who are suffering from this awful disease.
You too can get to where I am today.

Tags: Overseas, Success Stories

Miscellaneous

ILLINOIS

JOE (not real name)

Before I met Matia, I was very ill for over a year. I had Atrial Tachycardia (irregular heart beat), palpitations, acid reflux problem, muscles/joint ache problems, constant headaches, fever/chills, bladder irritation, etc. My life was a nightmare. I remembered that life was not worth living, and that I prayed for my health to be better everyday. I’ve seen so many Western doctors, tried so many different medications, done many medical procedures, but nothing really helps me. I was constantly ill. My first experience with IC was in November of 2002. I remember feeling so much pain in my bladder, thigh, ankle, lower back, etc. After seeing several doctors, who didn’t know what I have, I decided to see a Urologist. I got my bladder examined (cystoscopy), and the doctor told me that I got little sores in my bladder wall, and so he told me that I had IC. At the time, I didn’t care what I had after going through what I have gone through. Quite frankly, I was happy that someone finally told me what I had.

I didn’t know what IC was and so I decided to do some research on IC before taking Elmiron, which was prescribed to my by the Urologist. I was in constant pain due to the irritation that I feel in my bladder area. I couldn’t sleep many nights, and so the only thing that I could do was to pray that someone can help me, and one day my prayer was answered. I stumbled upon this website, and read through many success stories about Matia, and decided to give Matia a try. Thank you to the folks who put this website up. I’m half Chinese and Vietnamese, and so I didn’t have any problems trying out herbal medicines. Quite frankly, I would rather try herbal medicines because they have little or no side effects.

I first talked with Matia in April 2003. She was a very nice lady who is very compassionate with her work. It was very rare to find a doctor who knows what your going through, who listens to you, and who really cares about how you feel. After speaking with Matia, she told me that I have too much bacteria in my body and what I needed to take to make my immune system stronger. I decided to stop taking all Western medicine and take what Matia told me to take. She told me to eat healthy and follow the types of food that I should eat within this website. It was very hard to be on a strict diet, but after a couple of weeks, I noticed that my IC symptoms were starting to get better. After my second session with Matia, she told to take something else for my acid reflux problem. At the time I was taking both items, and I noticed that I was feeling better everyday and that I was able to eat better. After three months of taking the over-the-counter items Matia prescribed, she decided to send me the “special” herbs. After taking the herbs for a couple weeks, I felt better (more energy, less palpitations, less bladder irritation/pain, etc.).

It has been a year since my first appointment with Matia, and I am still talking to her (every 6 weeks), and I feel like I am getting my life back together. Matia continues to listen to me when I discussed with her my symptoms, and she would provide me with different herbs to ease my pain. I must admit that I am not where I want to be, but I am getting there thanks to Matia. I appreciate all the things that she have done for me because without her I would still live in pain. I hope to fly out to Los Angeles soon to meet her so that I can thank her.

I feel like I am starting to wake up from the bad nightmare that I have before I met Matia…and enjoy my life once again.

KARLA

My story starts like everyone else’s, a story of pain, confusion and unobtainable answers. Maybe some of you can relate.

I’m not exactly sure when the pain started, as it seems like I’ve always had it. I never had many urinary infections, when I was young, so I didn’t really correlate the two. My horse fell on me at the age of 17, causing much internal damage, I’m sure. I started on birth control pills at an early age to regulate my periods and was on antibiotics as a small child for sore throats. I had an extremely difficult pregnancy and delivery. Mostly, I have never eaten healthy and my diet has always consisted of sugar, lots and lots of sugar. I’m sure, the combination of all of the above, contributed to IC.

The first negative experience I had with a doctor, was an OBGYN when I was pregnant. I constantly complained of pain, the entire time I was pregnant. Every exam, the answer was, “Oh, It is normal”. I left that practice after my son was born, I still had the pain and this doctor told me, it was all in my head. I went to another OBGYN for pain a few years later. After years of trying to diagnose my problem, she finally told me I had PID, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, a sexually transmitted disease. I had been married for 10 years at this time and told her so. She told me to go home and question my husband, that obviously, he had had sex elsewhere and had transmitted the disease to me. I left that doctor also, still not finding any answers and still in pain.

When I was about 26, I woke up one night, in the middle of the night with all of these strange symptoms. I had an excruciating headache, tingling up my spine and into my head, my heart was pounding and had palpitations, my hands were numb, my legs were numb, I could see stars and I would, at times, not be able to move. I was scared to death. My husband took me to the emergency room. After a thorough exam, I was told I had “panic attacks”, to take “this” (Valium) and go home and just relax. I took a few and it didn’t help, intuitively, knowing it wasn’t from panic. I even went in for an MRI, to rule out MS. This went on for approximately 8 months. Some days were worse than others. Some minutes were worse than others, but I got through it, never really seeing a common denominator to any of it. Eventually, all of those awful symptoms, my “central nervous system disorder” as I called it, sort of subsided. I still, however, had the horrendous pain.

A few years later, I was still taking birth control pills. One night, after being off for the normal week of my period, I took my “start up” tablet. Within 30 minutes I had all of the “CNS symptoms” back, after not having them for years. While I didn’t panic, as it felt “familiar” and I hadn’t died from it yet and I doubted I would, it was very distressing to have them back again. I went to bed, with my husband checking in on me every ½ hour. I awoke with all of the symptoms gone. That night, I took another birth control pill…30 minutes later, symptoms returned. I stopped taking the pill. These symptoms returned on several more occasions. Two more were when I took Ampicillin and Keflex, both antibiotics. The last few episodes, happened right after eating Pillsbury Sugar Cookies. It took several times of eating these and having the symptoms return, before I figured the association.

I finally found a urologist who specialized in IC, through my current OBGYN. I had had a partial hysterectomy, due to the abdominal pain two years prior and he was going in after the ovary that was still intact. After years of going through many urologists, who didn’t know what was wrong with me, this doctor not only believed me, she diagnosed me. However, over the next 12 years I was on constant medication. I have been on antibiotics (including injections of Gentocin for a week straight at varied times), antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxers, antispasmodics, Elmiron and many, many years of pain medication. I also had DSMO treatments and bladder distentions with many overnight stays in the hospital. I have to give this doctor credit for one thing…she gave me pain medication when I needed it, which was almost daily, and she really cared about me. I don’t know if I would have survived the pain, without her.

I poured myself into my work and my business. I worked such long hours, I didn’t have time to cook and so I continued to eat sugar, dyes and foods full of antibiotics and preservatives. I did anything to keep my mind off of the constant pain and allow myself to collapse into bed at night to try and forget the pain, not realizing that all of the time, I was still contributing to the IC with the way I ate and the constant antibiotics. At this time in my life, I had a continuous bladder infection. I finally had to give up the long hours, my body; physically, emotionally and psychologically just couldn’t take it any longer.

A few months later, while being on 7 medications at one time and still in so much pain, I sat down one night and did a search for IC. I came across this website and starting reading the entire site. It fit right into my new pattern of life. I had slowly started changing my traditional values and philosophy of life. My dogs were now on a healthy raw diet. I know about herbs, Bach Flower Essences, crystal healing, Reiki, and Animal Communication. This was a doctor who practiced Chinese medicine, totally natural AND specialized in IC. There are no coincidences in life. I was led to this site and instinctively knew this was where I was supposed to be.

The night of my first consultation I was so excited. The minute I spoke with Matia I knew this wonderful lady could and would help me out of this black hole. I also knew it was not going to be easy. She told me we would work this out together and that she would always be there for me. She told me she would help me get off of all of my medications and not have the pain any longer. I’ve never looked back and I’ve never questioned any of this for one second. After talking to Matia, and listening to her explain how all of the things contribute to IC, all of the symptoms I had, all of those years ago, were understandable. Birth control pills, antibiotics and sugar, all contributed to my body breaking down. I was not some hysterical female who was having panic attacks.

I was right, the first few months were most difficult. It was February and Valentine’s Day was approaching. All of the TV commercials were about chocolate! My son came home with Dairy Queen, I almost bit his head off. My husband came home with homemade chocolate chip cookies from his mother. He also got the brunt of my anger. My body was going through withdrawals and the yeast was screaming to be fed. But, I never gave in. Matia told me that someday, sugar would be like a toxin to my body. I am to the point that if I smell anything with sugar in it, I get nauseated. Again, Matia was right.

I have been with Matia for 10 months. I am off ALL synthetic medications. While I understand the limited diet is difficult, I have found I love eating again. I am still on the very strict diet. However, each time there is a problem, Matia is quick to come to my aide, knowing what I need and working it out. The good days are now outweighing the bad by far. I used to only dream of this, now I am living it.

While Matia and her herbs have turned my life around, I have also recognized that this is not just about diet and herbs. This is about balance. My entire life was out of balance. I was addicted to sugar, I overworked myself, actually, I overdid a lot of things. I am working on this daily and I am becoming increasingly aware of coming back into balance. I find I am heading towards a healthier, happier lifestyle with the loving help of Matia and her staff. I cannot thank each and every one of them enough, for giving my life back to me…actually, for giving myself back to me.

TENNESSEE

MIRANDA

In November of 2004, when I was 21 years old, I contracted what seemed like another run-of-the-mill urinary tract infection. I’ve been prone to UTIs throughout my life, and this one was no different - I had burning upon urination, horrible pressure, frequency, bladder soreness, etc. I tried to get an appointment at my doctor’s office, but because it was around Thanksgiving and going into the hectic holiday season, they could not squeeze me in. Instead, the receptionist said she would have the doctor to phone me in a prescription and pain reliever at my local pharmacy. The prescription was for a round of Levaquin (broad spectrum antibiotic) and a bottle of something similar to AZO-Standard, which numbs the urinary tract. I only took the prescription for Levaquin because I’d already been using an over-the-counter urinary analgesic to counter the burning (didn’t help much, though).

I felt a little better upon finishing the Levaquin, in that I no longer had to take the analgesic tablets because my burning was gone. But I still had terrible pressure and frequency. This time, I visited a different doctor, who was kind enough to fit me into her schedule. She found a trace of white blood cells in my urine and gave me another dose of Levaquin to get rid of it. It didn’t help. By this time, I was getting really frustrated because now it was Christmastime, I was finishing up with final exams in my college classes, and I was also working insane hours at my job on third shift (I worked with people who had behavioral problems, mental disturbances, or sometimes just severe mental retardation; it was a scary, stressful, and dangerous environment). This doctor was persistent in trying to find out why I had pressure, still, and all of these other problems. She put me on Doxycycline for my third round of antibiotics, and then a week later, she did a pelvic exam. This
doctor found that I had yeast and bacterial vaginosis, so she gave me a prescription for Diflucan and an antibiotic for the vaginosis, called Metro-gel, which is used internally.

The Metro-gel burned me terribly, and it was all I could do now at night to sleep after using that particular antibiotic. I still had pressure, frequency, etc., but now I also had vaginal soreness and pelvic pain/soreness. I held on to the belief that it was just the yeast or whatever bothering me, and soon I would be better. I returned to the doctor after using all of that stuff…she still found yeast and the Metro-gel was not effective against the bacterial vaginosis. This time, she prescribed another antibiotic, Flagyll, to kill the vaginosis, and gave me more Diflucan. The Flagyll made me burn even more than using the Metro-gel, internally…Flagyll is a pill. It was horrible. I took all of that. Finally, I guess the doctor realized that I was serious when I said something was very wrong…she didn’t give me anymore antibiotics, but instead prescribed out of not knowing what else to do, a Diflucan, without the other drugs. Taking the Diflucan alone made the pressure in
my pelvic area subside, and I was incredibly relieved. That was the most difficult symptom of the time, and I’d had it for two months by the time I got rid of it.

I found out about IC when I was typing on a search engine, looking up ‘frequency’. I still had frequency and pelvic pain, along with a sore urethral/vaginal area, although I no longer had pressure. This disease, Interstitial Cystitis, came back. I read that there is no cure…I was terrified. My doctor referred me to a urologist, who did not really want to do the test for IC because he said if I had it, it was a mild case. I was voiding 3-5 ounces at a time. Apparently, some doctors feel that in order to qualify for a diagnosis of IC, a person has to use the bathroom around 50 times a day. At about 15 or 20 voids a day, I guess he didn’t think I came close enough. He gave me some meds for overactive bladder, to see if that would help…it didn’t.

Needless to say, I didn’t return to any of those doctors. I went home, got on the computer, and found out about Bomamed and Matia Brizman. I was skeptical at first and the diet seemed extreme, but I was pretty desperate. I debated about if for awhile, then I decided to go to church. They were having a healing service that evening. I hoped to glean something from it. You know what the message was on? It was about how if you want to receive healing, you have to change what you’ve been doing. Not exactly what I WANTED to hear, but I guess it was what I NEEDED to hear, because that was the push I needed to call Bomamed. I called in March 2005, had my first appointment in April, on my birthday, of all days! I did not get my usual birthday cake because I was now on this strict diet…
The diet was a nightmare for me at first. No cakes, no cookies, nothing good. I used to love eating junk food, fast food, etc. Now I had to cook all my meals at home. It was a sad time, in the beginning. Plus, I was impatient…I wanted to be better NOW. Chinese medicine is slow because I guess when you have damage, it takes time to repair. As for the die-off symptoms, I got a cold that lasted for about 3 days. Mine wasn’t really too bad. I think I also had, and still have, a lot of vaginal discomfort from die-off or treatment. Things slowly started to improve. I noticed that with starting the diet and switching to ONLY spring water, my pelvic pain and bladder soreness went down a good 80%. My frequency also leveled out, although I did experience a relapse back in June ‘05 with it…I think now it was just die-off, and it only lasted for one day. Still, it was a little hard to handle.
Now it is August 2005. I have NEVER cheated on the diet, and I am happy with my new eating habits. I look forward to making a complete recovery. I have had amazing progress: I no longer have urethral spasms, pelvic pain is completely alleviated, for the most part, and I void AT LEAST 10 ounces!! Sometimes, I void up to 16 or even 20 ounces. My bladder feels much more calm. In fact, the only things that really bug me now…I feel soreness inside my urethral area, and my urethra feels weak, like when my bladder gets filled up, the urethra has trouble supporting the weight of the urine or something. Matia and other people who are in treatment have assured me that it is just some tissue that probably hasn’t yet healed, but I know that eventually, that will be gone, too. I also still have some vaginal irritation.

I’m very thankful to Matia. She has a wonderful staff in Raquel. Plus, there’s a really nice support group for Matia’s patients. Most of all, I am thankful to God for all the life I’ve had and yet to have and for giving me a chance to have it restored. I think miracles can happen, still, if we just have the patience to wait. For me, I feel like I’ve had a miracle. As for IC being incurable, that is a statement made by man. Man is not the ultimate authority on human life.

I will continue to update this story until I am completely recovered. If someone out there is having problems with their bladder, please give Matia a good chance to work on your illness. It might take awhile, but you’ll overcome it.

JOHN

John is a trial lawyer in Tennessee. He was a college athlete, and rugby player. He had years of discomfort misdiagnosed as prostatitis, for which he was treated with antibiotics. It would recede for a while and then come back. At one point it came back and did not go away. His symptoms were frequency and a nagging, sharp pain in his lower back and prostate area. He would go to the bathroom and not be able to urinate. He was miserable. A doctor did look around but only found inflammation which he did not think was IC, and again antibiotics were prescribed. The doctor did not suspect IC because it was thought to be primarily a women’s disease.

John went everywhere looking for relief. From a branch of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, to UCLA, to Columbia Medical Center. He had all sorts of terrible tests done. His prostate was massaged, drained and he even had surgery on it. Nothing helped. He was still miserable. A urologist in Nashville finally did a cystoscopy and diagnosed IC with Hunner’s ulcers. This was in 1998 or 1999. He was put on Elmiron. John did see a gradual improvement with Elmiron.

In 1998 or 1999 John found Matia and came out to Los Angeles to see her. She has supervised him ever since. When he comes to Los Angeles he has acupuncture treatments with Matia. She monitors his progress and adjusts the herbs as necessary.

John said that he did not totally follow the regimen but he got much better after he did what Matia told him, He tends to cheat on his diet. He knows that if he were stricter he would be doing so much better. However, even his bad spells are better than his best days before. John has a great deal of confidence in Matia. He knows that everything she does, if it does not make him better, is not going to hurt him. She has always been very kind to him.

FLORIDA

ADRIENNE

When I was diagnosed with IC in August of 2001 I thought my story began then, but now I realize it started years ago. I had always had difficult periods so when I was seventeen I was put on birth control pills to help with my heavy bleeding, cramps, and headaches. That was 15 years ago.

Nine years later I was told I may have endometriosis so I had a laparoscopy done which proved that I did have minimal endometriosis. Right after the laparoscopy I thought I had a urinary tract infection. I had had so many of them before that I just thought that was what it was. I was put on Cipro and it didn’t go away in one day like the times before. After taking the antibiotics for seven days the pressure and urgency hadn’t gone away. This time I just waited for a week or so without anymore medications and it went away on it’s own. At the time I had no idea what it was, but since it went away I just forgot about it. Shortly after that I was put on the pill continuously to avoid having my period, because I had so much pain during my period from the endometriosis. I asked and asked if this was dangerous. Over and over I was told it wasn’t.

For six years I was on the pill continuously without having a period. In those six years I was the sickest I’ve ever been with headaches, severe allergies, and of course urinary tract infections. Needless to say I had taken all kinds of antibiotics, had steriod shots for different things, and was putting synthetic hormones into my body over and over again…and not having a period to top this all off. I should’ve known this was bad for me. In May of 2001I went off the pill completely and that’s when I started feeling the agony of IC. I had pressure and urgency all the time. I urinated often, but not a lot of urine came out. I again thought I had a urinary tract infection. I took Cipro again and it didn’t help at all. I thought I had something else. So, I went to another doctor. She thought I had a yeast infection. By the way, all of these tests had come back negative. But, they kept giving me antibiotics. I kept taking them thinking that they knew best. I finally told my gynecologist that I needed some serious care that something was wrong and it wasn’t in my head. He took me seriously and sent me to a urologist in the end of July of 2001. Off I went to the urologist thinking this doctor was going to make me better and take this awful feeling of pain and constant urgent feeling of urinating away. The uro said he thought I had IC and wanted me to start on the IC diet. He also wanted to set up a cystoscopy and hydrodilation. I agreed without doing any research first. That was a dumb move for me, because these two procedures actually made me worse! After this surgery I had pain in my bladder and my urethra. Pain I had not had before and it was terrible!! It felt like something was grinding in my urethra and my bladder kept me up at night with pain, which I found out later….the pain was from my bladder having spasms. I went back to him and he was of NO help at all. He just put me on Detrol LA and told me to stay on the diet and just try to not get stressed out. That was it. His only advice. I even got a second opinion and he said the same thing.

I was depressed, confused, lost, in pain, and felt completely alone. I knew I had to take this into my own hands. I decided to do some more research. I joined a site for IC. While I was on this site I read a message on a message on a board about an alternative doctor someone was seeing. I emailed that person and she told me all about Matia. I was hesitant to try it at first, because I knew that she would have to treat me long distance being that I don’t live in California. But, I took a long look at my alternative. I didn’t want to take medications for the rest of my life that might not work and I didn’t want to be miserable forever. So, I decided to try Matia’s approach. That was in September of 2001 and I thank God everyday that I decided to go through with Matia’s treatment. She had brought me to a point where I felt a million times better in only 4 months! I am now entering my seventh month of treatment and I rarely have any bladder symptoms. When I do, they’re very slight and not the horrifying pain and pressure I felt just seven months ago! I have also recently started going to the bathroom at night only one time instead of the 3-4+ times I used to go before this treatment.

If you have IC and you’re struggling with the pain, the depression, the pressure, the sleepless nights etc.., please listen to me when I say that nothing else had helped me and no other doctor had any suggestions that were worth trying. Matia is very caring and patient. Just what a medical professional should be and she alone has diminished my IC symptoms along with other ailments I had and I know in the end I will be free to live my life without the symptoms of this dreaded illness, thanks to her.

Update
Here’s an update: I’m now a year and a half into treatment and am happy with my progress! I had extreme fatigue where I would not be able to even stand in my kitchen and cook and now I have enough energy to teach kindergarten all day long and then move furniture around in my classroom afterwards….heavy furniture I might add! That leads me to my new found strength! I have been so incredibly weak and am now able to not only lift everyday things without struggling, but like I said move furniture and work out using light weight or no weight on machines three times a week or so! These are HUGE gains for me!

I’m not always feeling 100 percent where fatigue is concerned, however I have MANY more less fatigue days and moments than before and MANY more energetic days now. As far as my bladder goes, well I don’t have very many symptoms anymore. If I have endured a lot of stress, worry, anxiety, etc., or have a lot of emotional die off then I have bladder symptoms….same kind of thing: pressure, feeling like worms are crawling around in there, even level 1-2 pain which only lasts for a day and sometimes not even a full day, and just plain old discomfort. But, if I’m rolling along in life doing quite well where stress is concerned then I’m feeling nothing in my bladder! I don’t go to the bathroom very often anymore I think I only go about twice a day during a work day where as before I was having to go every hour and a half and when I began treatment I was going constantly. During the night I get up once to go to the bathroom and I even have nights here and there where I don’t get up at all!

I’m still going through some tough die off, but I physically feel a million times better and ….I am beginning to feel NORMAL again.

JULIE

Summer 2002, I suffered what I thought was a UTI while studying abroad in Europe. I knew something was wrong when I had to pee what seemed like every minute of the day. My bladder also felt like a 50 lb. weight and ached all day long. There was even an instance or two when I lost control of my bladder before finding the bathroom. I felt so ashamed.

When I returned to the states, my gynecologist prescribed Cipro and Ampicillin for the “UTI”, but neither antibiotic worked. Later, I saw a urologist who offered to fill my bladder with water and give me a prescription for a drug that would alleviate the constant pressure in my bladder. I finally realized that western medicine did not have a “fix” for my condition. I was devastated.

That evening, I stumbled upon this website, I read Dr. Matia Brizman’s philosophy on IC and body imbalance and decided to join the SuccessandInterstitialCystitis discussion group to learn more. I took some time to talk to a few members and read as much as I could about the treatment process. I started Matia’s diet Thanksgiving weekend of ‘02. Thanks to this diet, the pain and pressure in my bladder tapered off within one month. Because I was thrilled with the results, I decided to follow through with Matia’s herb treatment (I’m a long-distance patient). I have been treating for almost 3 months with Matia. At this point, my frequency has gone from 10-12 times a day to 4-6 times a day and 4-6 times at night to 0-1 times a night. It is truly a miracle.

Though I feel the closest to normal these days, I know I still have a ways to go. I thank God for Matia’s dedication to treating patients of IC and the wonderful support I’ve received on the discussion group. I also thank Jane and Alyson for creating this website.

Update

It is Spring 2007 - 5 years since I began treatment and about 2 years since I’ve taken my last round of herbs. I’d like to say that I’m back to normal now, but that is hardly the case. I am in a better place than I was before I started having IC symptoms. Allergies, slow digestion, and chronic eczema are no longer a part of my life. What a lovely by-product of this treatment which I had only hoped to help my bladder. My outlook on life is clear and positive. My energy levels are high and most importantly - I am no longer conscious of my bladder. A few years ago, I’d said that I’ve forgotten about ever having IC and I still feel the same. I’m hiking and doing yoga and enjoying life. Matia is a gem and I am thankful for all that she has done for the IC community. Stay positive everyone!

ARIZONA

MARSHA

First of all, let me say I have had IC for 6 years. It came on suddenly and violently. My main symptoms are burning pain and spasms in my bladder, urethra, clitoris, fatigue, back pain and leg spasms. I told Matia, I would be a tough case. Doctors just wanted me to take pain meds, antidepressants and have bladder installations. I knew there was another way out there to be “healed”, not just “medicated”, so I prayed, and God led me to Matia’s site where the stories of others who were actually having success motivated me to give it a try.

I had to wait about 5 or 6 weeks to start, because Matia was leaving on vacation and thought it would be best to wait until her return. Meanwhile, I started on Neurontin to tide me over until she returned.

The first week was about what I expected– increased symptoms, up and down which scared me, but Matia said to hang in there and it would get better. Sure enough, the next week I noticed my symptoms becoming less and less.

By the third week, almost all my symptoms were under control and now we are beginning to cut back on the Neurontin. My heart rate has dropped steadily for three weeks in a row, I’m not cold anymore, my appetite is back, and I feel like living again. I even was able to go grocery shopping, cook dinner and walk two blocks with the dogs. Before treatment, my life was lived between the bed, couch and bathroom, with a box of Kleenex to catch my tears.

I know I have a LONG way to go in my recovery, but I am encouraged by the success so far and Matia’s ability to “zero” in on what the problems are for me, and she manages them. She is also very good at communicating with me and is more accessible than my doctor in town.

IDAHO

ERIKA

My interstitial cystitis came on very suddenly, but now I am convinced it had been developing for years prior. December of 2003, I developed the worse urinary tract infection ever. I woke up and went to urinate and noticed I was bleeding. I didn’t think much of it but called my physician to see if I could be checked later that day for a UTI. I never made it to my appointment as within minutes of calling I began having really bad bladder pain, urgency, frequency and started bleeding really bad. I rushed to the immediate care center and the doctor said I had a UTI and gave me a prescription for Macrobid and Pyridium. I was so scared as I had had 2 UTIs prior to this, but they were no where near as bad as this one.

Well after a week on the Macrobid I still felt a lot of pressure in my bladder, so I went back to the doctor. I was told that I had no white blood cells in my urine, but still had traces of bacteria. The doctor told me it was like my immune system wasn’t fighting the infection off. I was put on Cipro for another 14 days and told to call back if I was still in any pain after that. Well it never cleared up. In fact the day after I completed the antibiotics the urgency and pressure was back. I ended up going to my gynecologist who sent me in for ultrasounds, thinking maybe I had some cysts causing pressure on the bladder. Well all the tests came back negative and that is when she told me the pain all seemed to be related to my bladder and she suspected IC, a very puzzling, painful disease. She told me that I needed to find a urologist who was familiar with treating this incurable disease.

I went home and got on my computer, searching for anything about this mysterious disease that I had never even heard of before. The information I found was devastating. IC was a chronic, debilitating disease that had no cure. The more I read up on it the more depressed I became. I didn’t feel like eating, the pain kept me up at night and all I wanted to do was cry. A few weeks later I lay in bed praying for help for this disease. I had set an appointment with a urologist, but was dreading the visit. I got up went to the computer and typed in three words: Interstitial Cystitis and Hope. I found exactly what I desperately needed - HOPE.

I have to admit I was very skeptical at first, after all my reading, here was a site that offered so much hope, despite all the information to the contrary. There were people on this site stating they were feeling so much better, and were getting their lives back with the help of an acupuncturist in California. I read the entire website, but thought I can’t do this, the diet is impossible and everything I have read prior about IC is so devastating and without hope. Well I gave it a few days and then asked my husband and mother to check out the site. Both came to me telling me I had to try it. I decided they were right, I wanted my life back prior to IC. I called and spoke with Jane later that week and she gave me the encouragement I needed. She told me I was doing the right thing, and said to start the diet right away. I started that day and have been feeling better ever since. and menstruation. I no longer have the terrible urgency and frequency. I still have some pain now and then, but it is tolerable and only lasts a day or so, not non-stop days as in the past. Other things have improved as well. I used to have terrible migraines once a month; I have not had one in the last 9 months. I used to take 3 prescriptions for my seasonal allergies, this year I took nothing and was without symptoms. I was allergic to eggs, broccoli, bananas, and cauliflower and have been for over 10 years. Now I can eat them without any allergy symptoms. I can’t say enough about how improved my overall health is. I still am having problems with yeast infections though, which I think have contributed to a lot of my health problems. Matia is working on that though, and I know it will just take more time. Matia says that it takes a lot of patience to get through this and I am learning to have that kind of patience, as the results are worth it. The diet has become so much easier as well. Matia said to look at your meals as medicine for your body and you will change the way you feel about what you eat. You will be more aware of the things you are eating.

I thank God I found Matia. She is a wonderful practitioner of health. I am so thankful for Jane and Raquel as well. All three of these women offer so much hope to those battling with this devastating disease. They offer hope…when all else is lost. If you are considering starting this program, don’t procrastinate … let the path to health begin now!

MICHIGAN

ANNMARIE

My name is Annmarie. I am 29 years old and have been with Matia for a little over three months. My story began at a very young age. I was born with an anatomically malformed urinary system; my ureters weren’t implanted correctly in my bladder and the valves that prevent backflow of urine in to the kidneys weren’t working (actually a fairly common disorder in females). I was in and out of the hospital with severe bladder and kidney infections all the time for the first four years of my life. Needless to say, I was pumped full of antibiotics during this time and was put on prophylactic courses of antibiotics for three plus months at a time. I had surgery to correct the problem when I was four and it completely took care of the kidney infections and the bladder infections gradually improved until I stopped having them in about sixth or seventh grade.

My freshman year of college, my gyno put me on the pill to help with my irregular and excruciatingly painful menstrual cycle. It did what it was supposed to in that regard. After about six months of being on the pill, my bladder started acting up on me. I would have horrible bouts of pain, bladder/urethra spasms, urgency and frequency. At this time in my life, I had also begun drinking alcohol, having sex and eating horribly. I was a fairly typical college freshman. I think it was a combination of all of the above that started me on the path to IC.

My “UTIs” (as the docs labeled them) were increasing in frequency fairly rapidly. Once I got one…it didn’t want to go away. I would go to the doctor, he’d put me on antibiotics, I would be better for a bit, and then the symptoms would come back. This went on for quite a while. Finally, my doctor put me on a prophylactic dose of Macrodantin. I actually stayed on Macrodantin for a full year before I got the guts to tell my doctor he was nuts! It did help reduce the frequency with which I would get the infections, but it certainly didn’t take care of the problem. At this point, I was getting infections (or what I thought to be infections) at least once a month. I would hurt so badly I would sometimes just sit and cry. I would be in the bathroom every five to ten minutes and there were times, especially at night, when I would just set up camp in the bathroom. This would last a couple of days and then lessen to the point where I could actually function. I was sick to death of going to doctors. Sometimes I would just take AZO or Uristat and wait it out and sometimes I would go to the doctor and get an antibiotic. Either way, the pattern was the same. The antibiotics weren’t really helping at this point, but I still felt better emotionally and mentally if I was doing what the doctor told me to do.

I then decided to go to graduate school for physical therapy. It was a high stress time for me. The first two years of grad school, the pattern remained the same. I would have an intense flare-up every month or so, but then I began to notice that I would have mild pain at random times as well. Then things just gradually and steadily worsened over the past few years. The flare-ups were even more intense and becoming more frequent and I began to have that underlying level of pain at more regular intervals. I went through all the regular channels. My family doctor sent me to an urologist who did a cysto, urodynamics test (pure misery) and hydrodistension. He then proceeded to tell me that though there were signs of chronic inflammation and that the neck of my bladder was red and raw, that I didn’t have IC. He said I had spastic bladder and put me o Ditropan, which did absolutely no good. I went back, he changed me to Detrol, which still did no good. He then added Elavil. The Elavil actually helped with the pain somewhat, but I was only on 15 mg and I was having to take naps at work to make it through the day. I took myself off all these drugs and went to see an urogynecologist. He did a potassium test in office and confirmed my suspicions of IC. He then said “good news, you have IC but we can fix it.” He proceeded to hand me a prescription for Elmiron and told me that it has a 90% success rate and no side effects (ummm…who has he been talking to?) and also upped m Elavil. I took the stuff for three days and said screw it. I decided I was not willing to start taking more meds to try and mask the problem.

During all of these trips to and from doctors, I had been planning my wedding (married July 2002!). I was scared to death that I was going to be in pain at my wedding and on my honeymoon. I was in so much pain at this time that I would just curl up in the fetal position and cry and pray for relief. I was taking AZO like crazy, it was the only way I could function at work. The bladder spasms were awful. I was scared to go to the bathroom because I knew how much it would hurt. I was taking prescription pain meds so I could sleep at night. I had researched IC and treatment options and I was pretty hopeless. I then stumbled across this website one day. It was the first time something actually made sense to me. I talked to my husband (fiancé at the time) and we decided that when we got back from our honeymoon, we would investigate Matia’s program further.

I got through the wedding and honeymoon by taking AZO around the clock. When we got back from the honeymoon, I emailed Jane to ask her some questions. She was very supportive and encouraging. After some thought, I decided that it was what I wanted to do, what I needed to do to be healthy and my husband agreed.

I started following the diet as soon as I got home from my honeymoon and I had my first appointment with Matia in late August. The progress I have made has been incredible. I haven’t had a bad flare since mid September and for one month now, I have had very mild pain only. I can go three hours (more at times) without having to go to the bathroom and I can sleep through the night without waking. It’s nothing short of absolutely amazing. If I never got any better than this, I would be thrilled. But, Matia and I are forging ahead to get me 100% completely healthy! I have complete faith in Matia and her ability to help me heal. If it weren’t for her, I am quite sure that I would be on the road to disability. Matia is not only guiding me on the road to recovering from IC, she is leading me down a path toward optimal physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

KENTUCKY

DONNA

The year was 1990 …we were in Hilton Head on vacation with friends. One day while sitting on the beach I instantly felt pain like I had not experienced before. The pain was so intense, I honestly thought I was not going to make it back to the room. I immediately went to the emergency room…the diagnosis…..massive bladder infection. At that point, my life took on changes that would have far reaching effects.

Upon returning home, I was in the urologist office at the least once a month if not more. I was always in constant pain and was literally living on antibiotics. I tried to talk with him but his theory was the antibiotic would eventually work. I had enough Cipro in me that had there been an Anthrax scare back then I could have probably “rolled” in it and still been safe.

Finally after approximately 6 years of this fiasco, I decided to switch doctors. My new urologist immediately ran a series of test to make sure there were no tumors, etc., that could be the root of the problem, and then it was back to Cipro. He finally diagnosed me with IC, which I had no idea what it was. I was started on Elmiron, and about 5 other medications to combat this “illness.” I immediately came home and got on the Internet, reading anything and everything I could find about my new found problem. I actually began to have a “good” day every now and then, but they were few and far between. As a last resort, my urologist did bladder infusions….how fun those were! About this same time I read about Matia but decided not to pursue it, but rather go with the “conventional” medicine.

My biggest mistake was not calling Matia immediately, because after the pain of the infusions subsided, I still was dealing with the pain from the IC. After much thought, I took the big step and called her. Immediately I had a sense of “calm” that I had not felt in years. She assured me that if I was willing to “commit” to her, she felt confident that she could help me. (At this point, I think I would have walked on cut glass if it would have eased my pain). She sent the needed forms to be filled out and thus my journey with her began. She explained that diet was so important (which had never been explained to me before). This was a HUGE commitment on my part because I LOVE sweets and fruit. I had problems with the first batch of herbs that she sent. I broke out in gigantic welts all over my body. We stopped all treatment and waited for these to subside. Here again she reassured me that we would get to the bottom of the problem. We then started out again on different herbs and to put it simply, “what a difference a day makes.” I am so much better. Now my good days are many and my not so good are few. I still have flares from time to time but we address them as they occur. I have all of the confidence in the world that together we are making this work. Hope is a wonderful thing to have and I get that from her. I have been working with here about 5 months now. I know I will still have some “bumps” along the road and it is going to take time but I know that together we will conquer this horrible thing called IC.

I encourage any of you who are reading this website and are not currently working with Matia to “take the leap,” ……she is but a phone call away. For me it was the call that changed my life….it will be for you too.

COLORADO

SUSAN

I was one of those gullible people who believed their gynecologist when he said “You can stay on the pill all the way into menopause.” I was on the pill for 26 years. What a mistake! I liked being on the pill and had no problems with it, but it has caused much anguish in my life for the past year and a half.

I am one of the lucky ones in that I have a mild case of ic. I do not capitalize ic because I refuse to give it that importance. The word “I” is always capitalized and that’s what is important!

I went to three gynecologists, two urologists, one holistic doctor, and an acupuncturist after my symptoms began. Although each helped me a little in some aspect of my illness or at least eliminated other causes for my symptoms, no one knew what the problem was or how to fix it. Suffice it to say – Western medicine doctors do not have a clue how to diagnose or treat this disease. I now find their beliefs and statements about ic incorrect, uncaring, and cruel. Here’s what they said to me - “You may just have to live with this problem”; “It’s all psychological, there is some unhappiness in your life manifesting itself in your bladder”; and “I don’t have time to help you”. No wonder I went through a little depression! Matia’s words to me on my first appointment were “I can get you over this fairly quickly”.

I have been Matia’s patient for 8 months and my symptoms have drastically reduced. I now have a lot of days with almost no symptoms at all. My symptoms are/were burning, urethra spasms and knot feeling, funny electrical feelings, constant feeling of needing to urinate, and cold hands and feet. I never had pain or burning in my bladder nor did I have frequency. I did not have burning from the potassium test and during the hydro distension test I held a normal capacity. Due to not having these symptoms, I was continually misdiagnosed. Again, Western medicine does not understand it is different for everyone and it is not just the bladder that is ill. By comparison, it is uncanny how Matia understands this disease and can interpret your every symptom. Matia believes I will improve quickly because I have no other major problems except the ic; because I did not do many of the Western medicine treatments or taken many antibiotics in my life; and because I have always been a healthy eater. I don’t have a yeast problem and Matia does not believe I have a lot of bacteria either because the burning reduced so quickly. I quit the pill over a year ago and now my cycle is about every three weeks, so we are working on getting my hormones back in balance.

This is how the treatment is going for me. 1. It is hard to stay on the diet but I quickly realized how much better I felt, so it is worth it. Again I am lucky because I can tolerate some foods that others cannot such as potatoes, green peppers, onions, cream of wheat, coffee in the morning, etc. 2. I have learned to be patient. Chinese medicine is very slow but very healing. I tell Matia I am getting better inch by inch. 3. I have good days and bad days. After several days of feeling really good, bad days are scary and depressing. That’s how this disease operates. I relish the good days and know that I will have more of them as treatment progresses. Even the bad days are great compared to how I felt before I began treatment. 4. There are days when I am tired of “the fight” and I just want to be normal again and eat normal again. On those days I try to occupy my mind with other things and not think about my illness, but it is hard. 5. I have anxious feelings. After hearing Western medicine’s “We don’t know what causes it and you can’t get over it”, I still get scared about having this disease. Matia says the anxiety will just disappear when I no longer feel symptoms. She is so right because the anxious feelings are almost gone. She is so confident about her treatment.

I have written about my experiences and my symptoms hoping someone will say “That’s exactly like me”. I have written about my treatment and my food tolerances so you understand that not everyone has the same problem, the same healing time, or the same food restrictions. I have written about my feelings because it is an emotional disease and treatment and no one understands unless they too have ic (except Matia). If you are reading this website trying to decide if you should consider Matia’s treatment, stop wasting time and call Boma-Med. I promise you will not regret your decision.

I am returning to my normal life and my happiness through Matia’s wonderful Chinese herbal medicine.

OREGON

JOY

In June 2001 I had my first UTI. I went to the doctor, checked positive for bacteria, and I was given an antibiotic. I believe I got the bacteria from a hot tub the previous week. Within a day the symptoms were gone and all seemed back to normal. The following September I noticed the same symptoms: frequency and my bladder felt “funny”. I went to the doctor and she took a urine sample, which showed some bacteria. She gave me the antibiotic Macrobid, which did nothing. The symptoms remained. The doctor gave me another course of antibiotics, a sulfur drug. My symptoms increased over the next week. They included: bladder pain, major frequency, sore inner thighs, and lower back pain. Basically my whole pelvic region felt like it was on fire. We tried one more round of Amoxicillin and Pyridium, still nothing changed. My doctor mentioned Interstitial Cystitis and referred me to a urologist.

In the few weeks before my appointment I learned everything I could about IC. I was also interested in finding a natural way to treat whatever it was that I had. That is when I found Jane Peters, the co-author of this site. She told me about Matia Brizman of BOMA-Med and her experience with traditional Chinese Medicine. After seeing the urologist I was told that I either have a mild case of IC or a severely damaged bladder lining. He mentioned Elmiron. The possible side effects of hair loss, ear ringing, and that it might not even work ruled that drug out for sure. I researched and compared Chinese medicine with traditional alternatives. For me, it seemed so much cleaner and healthier. I knew that I could not live with the constant pain and discomfort that I was feeling. I would much rather treat my body in a natural way, with food and herbs. After talking with Matia I was given hope and encouragement that I could improve with her treatment. I believed that she could help me with whatever bladder disorder I had, instead of masking the pain while my situation became worse.

I began Matia’s IC treatment in mid-October of 2001. I follow a strict diet designed for IC patients and I take herbal supplements prescribed by Matia according to my symptoms. I am a long distance patient, so I do phone consults every 2 weeks and she sends me my herbs as needed. Since my symptoms are mild compared to most, I have been able to feel results right away. Over the last 4 ½ months I have had many ups and downs, but I definitely feel like positive change is happening to my body. My frequency has backed off a little, I still go to the bathroom more then I used to, but not every half hour like I did when this all began. I have bad days where my bladder burns and the pressure makes me very uncomfortable, but I can function through my day almost like normal. When I have good days I can go on 3-mile hikes, the movies, and shopping with out the stress of pain or finding a bathroom immediately. I feel like I have more control over my life than my bladder does. When this began I was losing myself to the constant bladder pain and the depression of feeling my life had been destroyed. Being able to have days when my discomfort is mild gives me so much to look forward to and the hope I need to continue to improve. Even though I have not met Matia in person, I do not feel like my treatment is not as thorough. She takes the time to listen to me as I describe everything that I am feeling. She answers all of my questions and addresses all of my concerns. She is available when you need her and is understanding and supportive of your pain and discomfort. I am thankful that I have found her.

Update, June 2002

I am approaching my 8th month and I have noticed a significant change in my body. I have gone 3-4 days with barely any bladder discomfort. I still am aware of my bladder and sometimes when it is full I feel some irritation, but for the most part my discomfort is very mild. When I do feel bad the irritation only lasts a few days and I am usually able to keep that under control with a few herb changes that Matia advises. I notice when I am very tired and dehydrated my symptoms feel worse. My frequency is almost normal, I drink lots of water so I tend to urinate more. My energy level is great and my immune system is strong. I have had no colds or flu bugs all winter and spring. I am confident that my bladder is healing and that I will continue to feel better.

Update

I have been in Matia’s care for 22 months and I am doing great. My discomfort is mild most of the time. 3-4 times a month my irritation and pressure will only last for 1 or 2 days. I no longer will have intense discomfort that lasts for a week at a time. My daily routine is much like it was prior to IC. I do not have to schedule my activities around my pain and frequent trips to the bathroom. I sleep through the night. I am comfortable traveling and I do not fear being far from a bathroom. My diet is still limited, but I do enjoy eating tomatoes and I drink coffee. At this point in my treatment I feel like I my symptoms are completely manageable

STEPHANIE

Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am recovering from IC. I wanted to post my story so that others who are in a similar situation as I was several years ago—feeling hopeless in my search for relief and answers about my illness—can find hope that there is relief, there are answers, you are not the only one going through this suffering and it’s CERTAINLY not “just in your head” as some medical professionals were leading me to believe.

As I recall the situation I was in eight years ago when all this started, I am surprised at how painful these memories still are for me. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was a very real and terribly difficult time for me, both physically and emotionally. My illness started out as a routine bladder infection. I had a couple bladder infections that same year and the antibiotics seemed to do the trick. But this last bladder infection proved impervious to the antibiotics and after (literally) months of trying different antibiotics there was no improvement in my condition. In fact, I was much worse. In addition to trips to the bathroom at least every half hour, I also suffered joint pain, a low grade fever and the pain in my bladder and uterus area was alarming. Managing my normal daily routine was becoming impossible. Daily I would sit at home and stress about whether I should go to the emergency room, or not. My Western doctor was stumped and sent me to several specialists including gynecologists, urologists and other internists. I had more tests and procedures than I can count or name. All coming up inconclusive or worse: positive. I made the mistake of letting one doctor do an ANA test (to screen for autoimmune disorders) —which tested positive—and now insurance companies won’t touch me. I did have bacteria in my cultures, but antibiotics were not working. I was told my condition could be anything from Trichomoniasis to Lupus…and IC, but none of the doctors could find my cure.

Completely fed up with Western medicine and desperate to feel better, I turned to alternative medicine. I saw acupuncturists and chiropractors who had the best of intentions—all stating they felt they could help me, and even though I sometimes had a reprieve, my symptoms always returned. I remember feeling completely scared and hopeless as one acupuncturist threw up his hands and suggested I go back on antibiotics!

I was living in Los Angeles during this whole ordeal, and ironically enough it wasn’t until I moved to Portland Oregon that I learned of Dr. Brizman and Bomamed. A friend of mine from LA worked with a woman who had similar symptoms as mine, and was seeing Dr. Brizman for treatment. I browsed Bomamed’s website in total amazement. I completely related to the descriptions, symptoms and stories. My first conversation with Dr. Brizman was a similar experience and I was so relieved to learn that many of the other ailments I’d been enduring (psoriasis, OCD tendencies, memory loss, non-existent sex life…much to my husband’s dismay) could be related to IC, as well as the correlation of likely causes (terrible diet, 20 years of birth control pills, mono). I was a little skeptical about the efficacy of a long distance treatment, but was desperate and miserable enough to give it a try.

It’s been a little over three years since I first started treatment with Dr. Brizman, and despite my complete lack of self-discipline (I have an undying love of fast food, chocolate, and certain beverages that are definite no-no’s), I have stayed faithful in taking the daily prescribed herbs and supplements and have seen an incredible improvement. While I’m not yet 100%, I am convinced I would be by now if I had strictly followed Dr. Brizman’s diet. I had a breakthrough a couple months ago when I was delayed in sending in my herb order and ended up going a month without any herbs…and I was symptom free! I am now taking smaller doses and fully expect to be 100% in a very short time.

In writing this, it’s not been easy revisiting my past. The pain, confusion, self doubt and loss of hope I experienced made the first part of this decade the most unhappy time of my life. I’m glad it’s passed. I am healthier and in better shape now than I have been in over 15 years, and now I have the chance to share my story and give hope to others who are experiencing the devastation of IC. Bomamed is your pathway to health. It won’t be easy, but it works and I’m living proof!

NEVADA

JANE

Thirteen months ago I began working with Matia Brizman. I had debilitating bladder symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, frequency that was intolerable and was considering going on disability. I have worked for 13 months with Matia…weekly telephone consults. She is brilliant at reading an individual’s symptomology.. Basically, every week, I tell her what my symptoms are and she suggests various herbal formulas.

The herbal formulas have been right on the money. My body has responded. I’m enjoying health that I never could have imagined. I did not go on disability. My professional speaking career is booming. The only symptom that I still have is slight frequency…very slight. If you are at the beginning of the program, I encourage you to be patient and believe in the process. It does work! There is no one else in the world (and I mean in the world) that knows this disease like Matia. I shudder to think where my life would be had I not met her.

IOWA

MICHELLE

January of this year. 2002 was the beginning of my IC so in that regards I guess I am lucky I haven’t had this disease that long. I’m 23 years old and just got married last July. I am a teacher and live in Iowa. Anyway, my symptoms started out as urinary frequency, urgency, burning urination, painful intercourse, etc. After many rounds of antibiotics for suspected UTIs (even when my urine came out clean) and tons of doctors later, I had no answers of why I was sick. By February I assumed I had IC because of all the research I had done on my symptoms, but no doctors (including urologists) even knew what that was when I asked them if I had it. I endured many tests that all came out normal except for an abnormal thyroid test that my doc said not to worry about. Even after one of the urologists performed a cystoscopy, he said my bladder looked “fine”. I had also done a lot of research on a systemic yeast overgrowth and how it relates to IC and I thought that might be my problem. I have never had to worry about gaining weight–all my life I have eaten anything I wanted and always stayed around 100-110 pounds at 5′7”. So needless to say I have consumed a VERY high sugar diet for as long as I can remember. I had also been on birth
control pills for about 4 years and taken many antibiotics so I had all the predisposing factors.

In April I finally sent my records along with a letter stating that I thought I had IC to a urogynecologist who specialized in IC and he called me one Saturday and said that yes, I had IC and I was a classic case. He wanted me to come in and go through all those terrible tests so that he could actually diagnose IC, but the next day I found Matia’s website and decided not to go see this doctor and go through those tests. I didn’t need to have it written down on paper that I had IC.

In March, after finding the yeast theory, I changed my diet, went off The Pill and started taking antifungals and acidophilus which did help a little, but I was kind of scared because I didn’t know if treating myself was the best idea. So I am very excited that I now have Matia to guide me through this recovery. Matia also believes that my IC is totally related to yeast . . . it was nice to have a doctor not laugh at me when I mentioned this theory for a change!!

Update - 6 Months

I’m doing very well. I would say I’m 80% better than when I started with her in April. When I started I had terrible frequency, urgency, pelvic pain, burning, painful intercourse, fatigue, migraines, etc. Now I only pee about 6 times a day which can be considered normal, have no urgency, no pelvic pain, no migraines and have enough energy to get through the day without getting tired at all! My only urinary symptom I have left is some residual burning in my bladder, but this only starts in the evening (when it used to be all day) and is less intense than before. And I have had 2 days that I didn’t even have this so I was technically IC free those days! I only get up one time a night to pee and sleep very well.

My other problems that haven’t cleared up quite yet are pain during intercourse and I have not got my period back yet since I went off the Pill in March. Matia says it will come when my body is ready which
I hope is soon because my husband and I want to start having kids once I get better. I also usually have ragweed allergies August-October where I’m totally miserable, but this year I didn’t have a single allergy symptom!! Matia says it’s because people with healthy immune systems don’t have allergies so my immune system is starting to get strong again.

Update - 8 months.

I am still continuing to do really well. I had my period finally! The best part was I had no PMS or horrible cramps during the period which in the past years I had always experienced with every period. I guess those things are due to a yeast overgrowth and since we are getting rid of the yeast, PMS slowly gets better. My bladder is also still doing well. I have had some more IC free days and the only bladder symptom I have left is some burning and that only occurs in the evenings. I’m still pretty bloated, but that is the yeast again which we are working on. Only urinate one time at night. The mornings are the best for me. In the past couple weeks I have been able to go from the time I get up until about 1:00 in the afternoon without peeing! That is six hours! I’m very excited about my improvement and am even starting to enjoy our diet that we must adhere to because I know how healthy it is for us.

Matia is a wonderful healer and I thank God every day that I found her. I can actually feel my bladder healing as the weeks go on. Good luck to the rest of you that are her patients! You are in my prayers!!

Thank you to all of you who are part of the Yahoo group . .I have read all your posts and they have helped me tremendously! This website saved my life!!!

Thank you again,

Update

I just wanted to update my story and let everyone know I had a healthy baby boy in May, 2007 and my bladder held up just fine. I had a very uneventful pregnancy with no morning sickness and no problems really at all. I also had a normal vaginal delivery with no problems there either. I still eat very healthy and do not consume sugar, alcohol, or many processed foods. I have been IC free for a number of years now and I can thank Matia for everything—my health, a great pregnancy and birth experience, and my healthy baby. She truly is the most intelligent, compassionate doctor I have ever seen!

TEXAS

E

Before I begin to detail this incredible journey I wish to highlight that this is a testament of my “almost there” bladder-related story, and my “very there” in so many other ways story (to be addressed later). But first to elaborate what the “almost there” bladder means: from the beginning of my treatment with Dr. Brizman I kept a journal in which I would rate my days of bladder free symptoms: 100% obviously being no symptoms, 98% one mild symptom, not lasting long at all, 95% — 2 maybe 3 mild symptoms lasting around 10 – 15 minutes then gone. And so I would go down the percentage scale depending on the amount, duration and intensity of symptoms. Now the majority of my days is 100%. Once in a while I will have a 98% day and seldom I get a 95% day. I have not had anything less than 95% for a long time now. Do I believe that in due time I will experience 100% all the time– yes!! And in case you are wondering why I am writing my story at this point and not when all my days are 100%, the reason is that I am so exhilarated (understatement) by my progress over the last two years that it warrants sharing it with others who are either contemplating treatment with Dr. Brizman, or are already on their journey and are needing encouragement and support. Many of these stories were so inspiring to me during my treatment that I read them numerous times, especially on the days when my symptoms flared. I hope that my story will help to inspire, hearten and reassure others who are encountering IC that they too will heal.

My bladder history (I’ll try to be brief) is similar to many others who have been diagnosed with IC: as a child I had numerous bladder infections for reasons unbeknown to my doctors and urologists. I was on antibiotics so many times that I eventually developed an allergic reaction to one of the mainstream antibiotics usually prescribed for bladder infections. I had 3 bladder biopsies (painful) and all in vain. The results gave no clues as to what was going on. As I got older I still got infections but they started to become more sporadic: probably only 2 or 3 per year. Then in 2006 I got three infections within a space of 6 months. Antibiotics yet again! (I was also under a lot of stress at work during this time). However, the third infection did not seem to want to clear up, so I was sent to an urologist who decided to put me onto a milder antibiotic for a month (despite that fact that at this point my urine was showing no signs of bacterial infection – odd I thought) and he told me to check back with him once the course was done. I felt no relief, and I was confused about this particular “UTI”. It felt very different to all the others I have had throughout my life. Eventually the diagnosis was done (by the urologist) – IC. I was devastated to put it mildly. I had done some research on this dis-ease and what I read was not pretty. I found out about an IC support group in my area (they treat with allopathic/western medicine) and I phoned them only to realize that this dis-ease is more ugly than I initially thought. And nobody seems gets better!! “It’s a life-long dis-ease,” my urologist told me, and the women I spoke to at the IC support group confirmed this statement. I hit a depression – a bad one (no, I don’t usually get depressed – so this was one more thing I now had to deal with). My urologist believed that one of my problems is that I have a small bladder and he needed to stretch it (under anesthetic) and then I would proceed with Elmiron (allopathic drug of choice for IC) and DMSO treatments. I made the appointment and ended up canceling it (just as well because once in treatment with Dr. Brizman – I realized that my bladder can actually hold 3- 4 cups of liquid – yes I measured it J). Luckily for me, the majority of my friends are allopathic doctors, so I phoned them to ask advice. The first one told me, “Oh, I know the dis-ease, my mother-in-law has had it for years and she is very miserable — and yes, she has been doing the DMSO and the Elmiron and no, she has had no improvement”. My other MD friend told me, “What your urologist wants to do seems very drastic – first try something gentler, use the drastic route as a last option.” These conversations were my saving grace. The first confirmed what I had read about western treatment options for IC – they don’t produce the results I was searching for. The second phone call encouraged me to keep looking for a gentler, yet exceptionally effective approach to healing. The search began and I stumbled across Dr. Brizman’s website at 2 AM one morning. Upon reading about her approach to treatment and the results of her patients, I knew I had found the light in what at first seemed like an endless dark tunnel. For those of you who watch Oprah – this was what she would call my “Aha moment”. I trusted my gut feeling and scheduled my first appointment with Dr. Brizman in November 2006. The best move I have ever made and not one moment has passed that I have regretted entrusting my health to her. My initial symptoms were urethritis (something I had never experienced in all my bladder history of UTI – this was totally new to me and it was exceptionally uncomfortable), frequency, urgency, pain when my bladder was full or even slightly full, a constant feeling of “a dripping tap” in my bladder, strange sensations in my feet, and the most annoying constant dull urge. I also had to use the bathroom a couple of times at night. I started the diet in November of ’06 and within the first month of being on the diet, I was sleeping through the night. As the days and months progressed so did many of my symptoms start to diminish. My depression began to lift (pretty quickly once I started treatment and noticed results). I was on my healing journey, but like all journeys there are twists and turns and turbulences along the road. There were some good days, some OK days and some pretty bad days. On the bad days I would feel the depression wanting to sneak back in and I would start to doubt if I would ever get to this point of writing my story. My husband gave me some really good advice on bad days. He said: “Stay focused on the solution and not on the problem”. So that’s what I did. When I felt symptoms return, especially after having a good day, I would remind myself that I was working on the solution and this flare would pass, just like others had, and more good days would be on my pathway. When birthdays, and hence cake came around, or dinner parties and everyone was eating anything they desired whilst sipping a glass of wine, and I could not indulge, it took a lot of will power and strength to not sip that wine or eat that cake or chocolate etc. “Focus on the solution,” became my mantra and this got me through wishing I could be “normal” and eat and drink anything I desired like others do. I remember when I was diagnosed how, “Why me God? What have I done to deserve this?” was trespassing my thoughts all the time. But now I know. Being diagnosed with an awful dis-ease, going through some form of denial and eventually accepting that my body was not functioning the way it should, led me to finding a truth inside me that I now believe is my destiny. Not a great way to come upon this truth, a milder awakening would have been great, but IC seems to be what God (or a Higher Being – whatever your preference is) believes I needed. Had it not been for IC, I would not have met Dr. Brizman and encountered not just a healing, but also inspiration to embark on my newfound life’s purpose.

Throughout these last two years I have had plenty conversations with Dr. Brizman, and still to this day every time I speak with her I am still “blown away” at her knowledge on the human body. She never ceases to amaze me. Everything I have asked her (and I have asked a lot) she has a profound answer. Her expertise goes far beyond just bladder health. Dr. Brizman has shown me how intertwined our bodies are: mentally, emotionally and physically. I could write a book on how I have progressed (not just my bladder) under her guidance and treatment, but considering this story is already very long, I will now have to be selective with some examples (which will be hard to do) on what all Dr. Brizman has done for me: just before I was diagnosed with IC, I got weeping eczema only on my baby finger and only on one hand. I went to my doctor as well as a dermatologist who said I was allergic to the soap I was using. This really baffled me because I wash with both hands and all ten fingers – so how come only one finger was allergic and not the rest? Turns out the bladder meridian runs through the baby finger. Dr. Brizman told me that as my bladder improved so would the eczema. She was right: bladder got better, eczema went away. Before bladder days I treated the eczema with all sorts of OTC and prescription creams for many months and to no avail. I started treatment with Dr. Brizman for my bladder and my isolated eczema heals!! Again before IC, I would wake up every morning feeling congested, this too healed. I was diagnosed with IBS as a young child and have battled with it for many, many years. When I told my urologist who diagnosed IC that I have IBS he said, “We have noted that many people with IC also have IBS but we have not made the connection.” Now I ask, “Why not?” If there is a pattern, why has allopathic medicine not addressed this? So many little things that ailed me (that I never ever associated with dis-ease) got better. This brings me to expand on how effective Dr. Brizman’s approach to healing is. What she has shown me is that when we are diagnosed with dis-ease it is not isolated to one organ, because the body is so intertwined. Thus her treatment does not treat symptoms only, but focuses on whole health: mental, physical and emotional. As you might have noticed I (like many others) write dis-ease with a hyphen because I now believe that “disease” is just that: an un-“ease”, a disharmony, something not in sync with the whole. It makes sense that when one part of the body is symptomatic (in this case the bladder) the problem is not only there. Our bodies (cells, organs, tissues, blood, neurons etc) are all designed to support, heal, and strengthen the body. I recall hearing from my ob/gyn that she has come across many patients who have opted to have their bladders surgically removed hoping to find relief from IC, only to be disappointed. They still get “phantom” pain. This statement emphasizes the depth of Dr. Brizman’s knowledge on this ailment. She recognizes that IC will not heal if only the symptoms are dealt with, that this dis-ease goes far beyond only one organ, that IC is not only located to the bladder but to the body being unbalanced and has thus stopped supporting itself. Knowing this, I now believe that those poor women who have surgically removed their bladders and now have “phantom” pain, points to the reality that IC is not only bladder related, and more intervention on assisting the body to find its inner strength to heal itself is needed. I honestly know that Dr. Brizman provides this remedy. I totally believe that in many illnesses our bodies have the capabilities to heal itself, to return to its genesis of balance. Earlier I mentioned that when I started the diet, I wished I could be “normal” like others and eat and drink anything my heart desired, and now because of my enlightening journey with Dr. Brizman I realize that I am “normal”. I think I am more “normal” now than I have ever been. On this pathway to discover the harmony and balance of my body I have also discovered the perfect harmony of nature and realized that Mother Earth has provided the best dessert on this earth. Better than any pie or any chocolate (before IC days I would eat a slab of chocolate every night – for real!). This heaven-on-earth dessert is called fruit. Phase one (the most difficult) of the diet (nothing sweet) really prepares the palate to appreciate God’s given dessert. The sweetest of all. When I took a bite of my first strawberry in months, I was elevated! I never knew strawberries tasted so incredibly delicious, and bonus – it does not make you fat like chocolate does and it has so many anti-oxidants!! What a fantastic way to eat – sweet and nourishing all in one go. No human-made product (pie, ice-cream, etc.) can top that. This revelation made me think about how far away we have pulled from nature and how this has become the root of so many illnesses and dis-eases. I started to read extensively on nutrition and diseases, and found many, many links. My passion for correct eating and body balancing increased so much that many of my friends and family were coming to me for nutritional eating advice. I finally had my answer to “God, why me?” and “What have I done to deserve this?” My newfound life purpose was at last clear to me: I am now in the process of studying to become a certified nutritionist and embarking on a PhD on Holistic Health.

In closing I want to take this opportunity to say, “Hang in there”. Yes, it is a tough journey: it reminds me of a movie that starts at the end. A movie that opens with the result of the preceding action, and at first we don’t understand, but as the film plays out and we see what led up to the situation the character is in; we eventually “get it”. You too will get your answers and your healings. What helped me along the way was to think about it this way: by the time the body becomes symptomatic (frequency, urgency, pain etc) the dis-ease has already been brewing for quite a while. Looking back now I realize that the eczema, the UTIs, the night-sweats (which by the way have also gone now J), the emotional flares, the IBS where all the preceding events that eventually erupted and peaked into IC. This journey was like watching that film that starts at the end and begins to unravel backwards as time goes on. The ailments (as listed above and there more) were the first to start to get better (which makes sense now, as they were the fist to start ‘festering”) and then eventually when the rest of my body was strong enough again to help my bladder, it (my bladder) could then take that major, major leap onto the wellness path as well. Once Dr. Brizman had cleaned out all the preceding “scenes” (movie analogy) then the whole picture came together, and the end (the bladder which improved the last) justified the beginnings (the frustrations of the diet, the twists and turns of this dis-ease etc). I know that this whole body improvement, and the discovery of my newfound purpose would not have occurred had I not got IC, which ultimately led me to Dr. Brizman. I speak my truth when I say that had it not been for Dr. Brizman’s unfaltering care, incredible support: especially when I was fearful, her genuine concern, her dedication, and her incredible, incredible knowledge I don’t think I would be writing my success story. I thank God for her everyday!! Truly!

NORTH CAROLINA

BARBARA

I have had IC for eight years. I was 54 when my symptoms started. I woke up one morning and had IC. As I look back I remember that I had had frequency at times, mostly in the mornings for several years prior to the onset of IC.

I tried all the usual treatments and medications that are available for IC. Nothing really helped much. My main symptoms were frequency, burning, irritation and pressure. About a year and a half ago I started Dr. F’s long term antibiotics. After four months I could stand the yeast no longer. Even taking anti fungals and adhering to a yeast-free diet I still had a big problem with yeast. After that I took Biotic Silver for 16 weeks, no change. I then took Diflucan for 28 days. I got a vaginal yeast infection the last week I was on Diflucan. I had been trying to decide about starting treatment with Matia. Camille had told me about her prior to my starting the antibiotics. ( Thank you Camille).

In February of 2002 I started with Matia. I am going into my eighth month with Matia. I have had some improvement but still have a way to go. I will stick it out and stay until I am well.

It has been a long and a difficult road for me. I have been on my own in my struggle with IC. I am so grateful to have found such a caring doctor that I have found in Matia. I thank God for her.

MARYLAND

ANONYMOUS

I received the email regarding Oprah. I hope that she does the show and does it in a mature, compassionate and informative fashion.

I’ve had this horrible condition for about 10 years. I was suicidal for many of them. However, I have been helped immensely during the last 2 1/2 years by Dr. Matia Brizman in L.A. She is a Dr. Of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Boma-Med clinic. I know that the NVA focuses on pharmaceutical research and traditional western medicine practices however, I must say that none of that ever helped me - only made me much much worse. I encourage you and others in the NVA to talk to Dr. Brizman about her methods of treatment. She is truly a remarkable woman and healer.

Please do not put limits on what NVA will explore in order to help women with vulvodynia. Dr. Brizman literally saved my life. And now I am able to enjoy my life again and live with minimal to NO PAIN!!!! I NEVER believed it could happen. Again, Dr. Brizman SAVED MY LIFE. I am sure that she could do the same for at least some of the other brave women out there struggling with this. In fact, I think Dr. Brizman should be on Oprah!!! She has the most comprehensive and practical knowledge of ANYONE I have ever met regarding vulvodynia. This includes each and every one of the 35 (yes, 35) MDs who I have seen for help with this horrible condition.

SOUTH DAKOTA

LISA

Hi Friends,

I thought I would take a moment to share my amazing success story with all of you who are at the beginning of your journey on the road to recovery. My story begins when I was a child. I remember feeling the burning sensation very young. As young as 5 or 6.I constantly felt pain through my young teens and through High School. During my senior year I had to leave my friends and attend home school because I was missing too many classes and we needed to find out what was wrong with me. Six months later, I was diagnosed with IC.

My journey to recovery began in 2004. When I started seeing Dr. Brizman. I was living with pain everyday. And no joke my pain was CHRONIC, and HIDEOUSLY painful, which lasted hours!!! I peed razor blades. Sex hurt like a bitch too. That was the real icing on the cake.

So I met with Dr. Brizman in 2004 and started taking her magical herbs and began the diet, which was no small feat. I mean, I am a serious chocoholic and love love love sugar. But, the bladder didn’t lie and it was obvious that sugar = pain. Harsh. But one must rise above temptation in pursuit of a pain free life.

I began to notice a difference in my pain probably after 6 months of treatment. And the first 6 months were no walk in the park. It was haaaard. But I ALWAYS 130% believed in Dr. Brizman and her plan. NEVER EVER did I have a doubt! And let me add that I come from a family of Western Medicine: my father, his brother and my mom’s brother, my uncle, are all pharmacists. So skepticism was always around my corner, but never was I deterred.

After a year of treatment things really started to improve. I could eat more. I wasn’t missing work. I could go pee multiple times at work, instead of holding it in all day in fear of the pain that would come. I could have sex with out being bed ridden for days after. I finally felt normal.

By the end of my second year of treatment I was simply a new Lisa. Still super funny, but lighter as a person. Stronger and happier, duh. It was the first time in my life I felt like this and I knew I had to make a change. I broke up with my tool bag boyfriend, and with in 6 months I was living in Barcelona, Spain.

I went to study Spanish for 5 months and ended up living there for a year and a half. I’m not articulate enough to describe how blissfully happy I was. Even in Europe I continued to have appointments with Dr. Brizman and my herbs were shipped to me but I was taking less and less. By the time I got home I was no longer taking them. I still feel GREAT.

In conclusion, if it wasn’t for Dr. Brizman, I would never have followed a dream of living in Europe or accomplished one of my major goals in life (to speak fluent Spanish). I would have never fallen in love in a romantic foreign country, and I would never have imported my sexy Spaniard to the US to begin our lives together here. I found true happiness thanks to Dr. Brizman.

Be strong my friends.

Tags: Success Stories

New York

RAYANNA

Hi, my name is Rayanna. I am 8 years old and a patient of Matia. My story starts when I was a baby and had a respiratory virus. The doctors gave me Albuteral and Pedipred (a steroid) to help me to breath. Unfortunately those drugs compromise your immune system.

When I was 3 and started to potty train, since my immune system was not working like it should, I was susceptible to UTIs which I started getting every 3-4 months. The doctor ran tests to see if there were any problems that were causing them but there was nothing abnormal so after two years of several infections he put me on a low dose of daily antibiotics. The problem was I now started to get what we thought were infections and vaginal rashes but my labs came up normal. The doctor just decided it was an irritation in my urethra and kept me on the antibiotics.

After two years my parents decided that I had enough antibiotics and took me off. (Around that time my mom found Matia and became a patient because she was having UTI symptoms and no infection). I was alright for about 6 months and then I started having burning in my bladder and the feeling I had to go to the bathroom even when I just went. I was tested many times and no infection.

My mom started having me work with Matia around Thanksgiving (2003). It took a few weeks for me to feel much better but once I did I just kept getting better and better. I am on a fairly strict diet and can’t have sugar or treats. The diet is hard, but as my mom keeps telling me it won’t be forever. Since the herbs started working I have only had one bout of feeling bad and we feel that was from eating too many things that contain sugar. It’s hard being 8 years old and having to say “no” to all the sweet things people put in front of kids. Unfortunately the antibiotics have damaged my bladder and it needs time to heal. My mom sent my urine in to a special lab to be tested and Matia says it’s the cleanest lab she’s seen come back. You see the antibiotics kill everything good and bad in your system and as a result they also hurt my bladder.

Several good things have happened since my treatment started. My rashes are gone. I also used to complain that my bones ached all the time. My bones feel better too. I eat lots of vegetables and I know when I grow up I will be healthy because I know how important it is to eat right and limit my sweets.

This was a very scary time for my family and me. It’s hard to hear the doctor say there is nothing out there to make you feel better but I know there is and her name is Matia. We prayed for someone to help us and she was our answer to prayer. If you have problems like mine, please give Matia a try. She will take good care of you and make you feel better. It will take some time, as I am learning, but I know I have time on my side and one day I will be completely healed.

“Written by Rayanna’s Mom, M.J., whose story also appears here.”

M.J.

IC started for me during Christmas of 2002. (It had been brewing before that but I became symptomatic around Christmas). I had what I thought was a UTI starting, and because we were going away for the holidays I thought I should get it checked out. They saw things in my urine so they prescribed antibiotics and off I went. Well they didn’t work as they always had in the past so I just thought I needed a stronger prescription. When I got back and called, they said there was only one problem, I didn’t have a UTI, the labs came back normal. That was crazy, something was wrong. I still had frequency and the constant urge to pee, especially at night. I had discomfort after I urinated that lasted for many hours. I also felt some burning, itching, soreness etc that came and went from day to day. I went in to see the doctor and he said I had a prolapsed bladder. Could this be causing my symptoms, maybe, maybe not, he wasn’t sure so more antibiotics, Ditropan for a while and then Detrol. It seemed to help with the frequency but the uncomfortableness was getting worse. We then discussed surgery. I was also craving sugar like crazy. I had always loved my sweets but this was getting worse.

I started to look to the Internet to find answers. Every time I put my symptoms in, back came this disease IC. I asked my doctor and he immediately said “NO” and wanted to try other things. I just couldn’t figure it out and the more I read on the IC sites the more frightened I became. I knew in my heart it was IC and the prospect for treatment was hopeless. In March, after 3 months of going back and forth about what to do I just prayed to God, not for him to take it away, but for him to lead me to someone who could help me. That night I found Jane and Alyson’s site which led me to Matia. It was an answer to my prayers. I started the diet the next day and threw away my birth control pills, I had only taken these for two years and it was for painful periods not anything else, so out they went. I started with Matia about 3 weeks later and I have been on the road to recovery since.

I am now in month 7 of treatment ( 8 months total ) because I started the diet a month before. I have to say I am feeling great. Matia thought it was antibiotics, sugar and the birth control pills that led me down my path. Pretty quickly after I started the diet I started to feel a little better so I knew I was on to something. Matia told me she could turn this around fairly quickly and she did. Each month I felt a little better. I had good and bad days but they kept going better. The amazing thing was that each month she was so right in her description of how things would go. My uncomfortableness was less each month and the times I felt bad after I urinated decreased. My frequency improved and it got less and less. I still had good and bad days but they became good and bad times of the day instead of all day. One thing I did that was so helpful in this treatment was to keep a journal of the days and pain. It really helped me to stay positive, see my progress and describe my symptoms to Matia.

Today, I feel almost normal, a twinge here and there but I could easily live like this for the rest of my life although I truly believe this will go away too. Other things have gotten better also and what’s really amazing is I didn’t ask for help with them. My constipation is better, no cottonwood allergies this whole spring/summer, cold hands are gone, my cramps/bloating that caused me to go on the pill in the first place have been gone since I started treatment, my night sweats went away and guess what, no more problems feeling like I had a prolapsed bladder. Matia says when you have a healthy immune system these things don’t happen and she is SO right.

The diet is ok, I can eat and drink everything on list 1 and 2 and I find I don’t mind at all. I think other people feel worse about it than I do. I know I will never go back to my old ways of eating and I am trying to turn things around for my family to spare them problems later in life. I also believe there is another plan God had for me in getting this disease and finding Matia. Not only was it to see how I was living, change my health and draw closer to him but it is to help my daughter Rayanna who probably has the beginnings of IC as I write this. Matia is now helping to get her back to health and out of pain.

I started this journey not know anything about Chinese medicine but I now completely believe in its ability to heal. I share my story with anyone who will listen and know I am going to come out stronger and balanced both physically and spiritually. I thank God for Jane and Alyson for starting this site and Matia and her staff for helping me to feel better than I ever though I could. I also am so grateful for my husband, family, friends and and my support group because they have encouraged me every step of the way. If you are thinking about starting, please talk to Matia. She knows this disease and will give you everything she’s got to get you on the road to recovery. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. She’s only a phone call away. God Bless!

DEBORAH

My name is Deborah. Let me start off by saying that Matia is an angel. I cannot stress enough how much better I feel since beginning my treatments. About 14 months ago I was literally suicidal. I went from being the happiest person alive to wanting to die literally overnight. The only reason I am still around is because of Matia. Not only is she the kindest and sweetest person with a tremendous heart, but she also has so much patience. It’s unbelievable!!! She also has the ability to give you your life back. That is extremely powerful. Many doctors claim they can help you with drugs and intrusive procedures, and ultimately end up hurting you even more. There is a profound difference between someone that claims they can help you, and someone that does help you!! Matia is that person!! Matia not only helps you, but she is honest with you!! If she cannot correct something she will tell you flat out. Although, I believe there is a cure for any disease. I believe there isn’t anything in the ground that God created that cannot cure any disease or ailment.

I have learned so many lessons and received so much information while walking this path. I use the term walking because this is not a path you can run down. It is a slow healing process that teaches you many lessons, lessons that you may have closed your eyes to in the past. Lessons you will treasure for the rest of your life.

The most powerful tool in the world is information. Information enables you to be happy, healthy, successful, and in control. The more you know the more in control you will be. Matia gives you much of this information. I cannot begin to tell you how much control I now have over my life. Before getting IC I allowed everyone to control me. Which I feel is one of the reasons I got IC in the first place. I went against my own instincts, and allowed other people to make decisions for me.

I no longer allow this I to happen. I have learned to use the word NO. I not only allowed them to control my health, but I also allowed them to control my mind. I was very passive, and never ever fought back. I also had the tendency to give up easily. I no longer do any of those things. If someone hurts my feelings, I let them GO!! I do not feel the need for someone like that in my life.

Now let me tell you my story with IC. I have been diagnosed with IC, a devastating disease, which steals you of your health, happiness, and unfortunately your life as you knew it. I have read about people that say they would rather have cancer, or be paralyzed. I also felt this way a year ago when I first felt my bladder pain, but I no longer have those feelings. I am beginning to realize that this condition is reversible. It is not forever. It is only temporary. As long as you have the patience it takes to heal, and get through this very tough treatment. You can recover from anything as long as you have the patience to get through the bad times. That’s all this is, is a bad time. Not a bad life, or eternity, just a bad time. It will come to an end. Everything is reversible, when you find the right people to help you. Matia is that right person! There is no one else that understands this disease like her, PERIOD!!

The IC started brewing when I was eleven. I had developed a fever of 105. I went into the hospital for five days, and was put on an IV of antibiotics. Since that horrible day I have had to deal with all sorts of health problems. I had mild bladder discomfort when I would get sick. I had minor fibromyalgia, and I would have to get up 2 or 3 times a night to go to the bathroom. During the day I was not uncomfortable, only at night. I would have to sleep curled up in a ball. I never slept out, because any little thing would wake me up. This is how I lived my childhood. Very uncomfortably. Then when I was 26 I got a minor yeast infection. The only catch was that I never heard of yeast infections. The doctor I went to did not know what was wrong with me, and so I started to live off antibiotics not knowing what else to do. Anyway, years later I realized all I had was a yeast infection. Oh well!! I am not sure how long I took antibiotics for, but it was probably two years. I took Cipro, of all the drugs to take. No doctor ever told me how dangerous this drug was. Eventually a nun told me about a nutritionist. I went to him and he told me I had the immune system of someone with AIDSs. He put me on a very strict diet. He told me that I would have to eat this way the rest of my life!! Well needless to say that brought on tremendous depression. I tried the diet for a while but eventually depression gave in, and I started to eat junk food. Well that of course made things worse. And I knew I had to find someone to help me. I began to search for information on the internet. That is when by chance I found Matia’s website. Thank God!!

Matia told me in the sweetest voice, Deborah you are going to be healthier, and happier than ever before. Of course, at the time it did not make me feel any better because when you’re in so much pain nothing anyone says helps. I began treatment right away. When I first started treatment with Matia I was so angry at myself for letting this happen to me. I could not believe how I did not listen to myself. I am 35 years old and all I ever wanted was to have children. Now I may not be able to, because I also have a prolapsed uterus. Anyway, I started treatment a year and a half ago. Since then I have had many ups and downs. I feel so much better than I did a year ago. I had severe bladder pain, I think I had ulcers but I am not sure. I also had severe fibromyalgia, and TMJ. I was extremely dehydrated, and had very dry skin. My hair was falling out in clumps. I had very bad vision. I would see black spots. My eyes were extremely dry and red. I also aged about 5 years or more. My skin was very red. My skin became very sensitive, and raw. I had stomach pain, and maybe ulcers. I had IBS and colitis. Bad breath, and aching joints. My uterus dropped, and maybe my bladder. I had vulvodynia. And had been extemely nauseous.

During the last year a lot of these symptoms have gone down. My fibromylgia is almost gone. My skin is a little bit better as far as moisture goes. My hair does not fall out anymore. My bladder pain has gone down. Sometimes I don’t feel my bladder at all. My stomach is so much better. It used to keep me up at night, and now I hardly ever feel it. My colitis is getting better. I still have a very long way to go before I am 100% better. I know that a year from now I will be a very different person. I do not have to sit and wonder if I will be better I just know that I will.

I will write an update when I am feeling even better. I want everyone to know how I am progressing. I feel that once I am better I will be so much stronger physically and spiritually. I know that I am better off for having IC because it has taught me so much. I learned to be independent, and to listen to my own voice. My instincts are my best friend. There are many people in the world who are much worse off than myself. I pray for them, and am so grateful for my second chance. I believe everything happens for a reason.

When I was so sick and looking for answers I went to numerous doctors (who by the way could not help me), and there were times that dealing with the nurses or secretaries was impossible. They would be inconsiderate, and have no compassion, or just simply not give you the time of day. This is not the case at Boma-Med. The staff is unbelievable. They are so sweet and kind. They have an enormous amount of compassion, and tons of patience. They do not make you feel like you are bothering them, or act like they don’t have time for you. The office manager’s name is Raquel and Jane is Matia’s right hand person. They are both great!!! They do not blow you off, and are understanding with your situation. These are the kind of people you want to deal with when you have such a horrible disorder. When you’re so sick you need compassion, and heart. They have both!!!! God Bless Deborah!!

E.J.

It is 6:30a.m. in the morning and I have just woken up and am getting ready to go workout at the gym

My name is E. J. I am 41 years old and have been living with I.C. for several years. I am now symptom-free 99% of the time. I owe my newfound life and restored health and happiness to Dr. Brizman. Here is my story.

A few years after the birth of my daughter, I began experiencing a variety of health problems. This was quite alarming to me because up until this point I was an extremely healthy, athletic, and energetic person. It started with hair loss. The hair on my legs stopped growing. I started losing my eyelashes and my eyebrows and soon the hair on my head began to thin dramatically. I got all kinds of tests done. I went to the top hair-loss specialist in NYC. The tests came back inconclusive and the specialist had no answers for me.

Shortly thereafter I began feeling extremely exhausted all of the time. It got to the point where I could barely get up in the morning. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and spent the next year in bed. I found a nutritionist who specialized in CFS. I followed her diet, took herbal supplements, and recovered most of my energy.

Within several months, however, I began experiencing problems with my bladder. Frequency and urgency were my initial symptoms. I assumed that I had a urinary tract infection and went to my doctor. Even though the tests came back negative, my doctor prescribed antibiotics. This went on for about a year. My tests always came back negative, and my doctor still prescribed antibiotics.

Soon, the antibiotics were no longer working. Then the symptoms began getting more severe. The frequency and urgency were coupled with intense bladder pressure and extreme pelvic pain. Even walking short distances caused me great discomfort. Every time I urinated, my urethra felt like it was on fire. Within a few months, I was having great difficulty urinating at all.

My quality of life was rapidly deteriorating. I was getting up in the middle of the night so many times that I began to sleep in the bathroom. Most nights, I did not sleep at all. In the day, I was in the bathroom every 15 minutes—and that was a good day!

My wardrobe completely changed. I was used to wearing jeans my entire life. Suddenly, anything touching my abdomen was terribly uncomfortable. The only thing I could wear was oversize dresses.

Sex became impossible. Sexual intercourse was excruciating and heightened my bladder symptoms exponentially. Even if I managed to achieve an orgasm through alternative means, I was left with a stabbing pain in my urethra and clitoris for hours afterwards.

Although I was not incontinent, I was so afraid that I would not make it to the bathroom in time that I began to wear adult diapers. It was especially humiliating and agonizing trying to explain this to my then four-year-old daughter. Soon it began to be too difficult for me to leave my apartment. It was all I could do just to take my daughter to and from school each day. I missed all family events, friends’ parties, trips, movies, and our family Thanksgiving tradition of attending the Macy’s Day Parade.

Within a short period of time, I began experiencing additional symptoms. My hip joints began to hurt constantly and became extremely stiff. I began forgetting the names of common objects. I had difficulty recognizing my neighbors and recalling the names of my friends and family. I also began to have allergic reactions to the most common foods. I began to break out in hives all over my body regularly after meals and snacks. I soon had to make the difficult decision to close down my highly successful baking business because I was just too sick.

By this time, I had gone to countless doctors (urologists, gynecologist/urologists, gynecologists, and allergists.) Most told me that my problems were psychological and that I had to retrain my bladder because I had simply gotten into the “bad habit” of urinating too frequently. Others wanted to drug me up to relieve the pain and reduce the bladder symptoms or to have me catherize myself daily and inject a medicine that would coat the lining of my bladder. One doctor even considered removing my bladder altogether!

On Thanksgiving evening, 2003, I was rushed to the emergency room in anaphylactic shock after taking a sulfur drug that my doctor had prescribed to me for my bladder symptoms. I was dying and I remember thinking that I wanted to die and be done with this body that was quickly deteriorating and in endless pain. Luckily, I survived and went straight to the Internet in search of alternatives to all the other Western conventional IC treatments. (Incidentally, not one doctor diagnosed me with IC.) This is how I discovered Dr. Brizman.

The testimonial website that her patients had set up was the first time I had ever heard of people recovering from IC. I was incredibly excited and full of hope. Dr. Brizman’s own website was both illuminating and a bit sobering—the diet seemed rather extreme (I was a vegan for 10 years and had not eaten meat for 20. I lived on almost all of the foods that were now apparently forbidden in this treatment.) Also, the treatment seemed long and it seemed strange to be working with a doctor over the phone. But, I had no other viable alternative. Western medicine had failed me and I was willing to try anything. Luckily, we got back some tax-refund money and used it for my initial consult with Dr. Brizman and my first round of herbs.

I cannot write or talk about Dr. Brizman without crying. Talking to her on the phone the first time was a truly moving experience. She was the first person I had talked to, since I had become sick, that understood what I was going through. Dr. Brizman is a gentle, thoughtful, honest, empathetic, intelligent, reassuring, compassionate, and personal doctor. She explained everything to me without being patronizing or dismissive. I felt like I was talking to a friend. All the questions that I had over the previous 18 months were answered—even the embarrassing ones about sex! (Her recommendations for dealing with flare-ups really worked!) We were on the phone for several hours and in that time I learned that I was not going crazy and that all my symptoms (bladder, hair loss, joint pain, memory loss, allergies) were related to each other. They were all symptoms of the underlying causes of IC.

Within 3 days of going on the new diet, my symptoms were reduced by 50%!!!! (Although the first time I ate fish—filet-of-sole—I felt like I was competing in a Vegan Fear Factor final test!) After a few months of experimenting with the herbs, my symptoms were reduced by over 85%!!! I was out and about. I was pain-free most of the time. I was only getting up once a night to use the bathroom. I was no longer wearing diapers. I could actually wear my jeans again. Even if I never got any better than this I would have been happy.

Now, I must be honest with you all. I have followed this diet to the T. I never cheated—not even once. (Well, O.K., maybe once. I tried a face cream that Dr. Brizman strongly discouraged me to use. My face immediately swelled-up like a bright red balloon and all the skin peeled off one week later!) I lived on only a few kinds of foods for almost 11 months. I lost a lot of weight in the beginning of this diet. (I went down to 98 pounds.) I have since regained it all once I was able to add some carbohydrates back into my diet. I have had nothing but water to drink in 13 months. I have had no sugar of any kind or refined grains or fermented foods. I had my first piece of fruit 11 months into the treatment. I am now 13 months into treatment. I am eating almost all vegetables, nuts and beans, and whole grains again. I am able to eat a few kinds of fruit. I am able to go out to eat. I must still include an animal protein in each of my meals. I have not had hives in almost a year. My hip joints are completely back to normal and my memory is greatly improved. 13 months into treatment with Dr. Brizman, I am symptom-free 99% of the time. (I still get a very minor flare-up around the time I ovulate.) And, Dr. Brizman just gave me the green light to try and get pregnant again!

I now have phone appointments with Dr. Brizman every eight weeks. She is incredibly accessible. If I have a question in between appointments, I simply shoot her an email. Dr. Brizman replies in 24 hours and usually sooner than that. She is very available in case of an emergency. Dr. Brizman has always been calm, comforting, reassuring and positive even in my scariest moments in the treatment when I experienced a temporary setback, a severe flare-up, or an unusual symptom. Dr. Brizman treats each patient as an individual. She develops a treatment program for you based on your particular symptoms and medical history. Dr. Brizman hand-makes to order the herbal formulas she prescribes to you. She has even developed a line of health and hygiene products that are safe for IC patients to use!

I remember being somewhat skeptical at first when I read the stories other patients wrote about Dr. Brizman. They were so full of praise and miraculous recoveries that I was worried that this was all a scam or that Dr. Brizman was some kind of strange medical guru who seduced desperate ICers into becoming forever emotionally and medically dependant on her. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth. Dr. Brizman is the real deal. If you follow her treatment diligently you will get better in eight months to three years. If your insurance does not cover this treatment, and you are financially strapped, I encourage you to do what I did and find another means to pay for it (e.g. borrow the money from family or friends.) Dr. Brizman has always found a way to make the treatment both most cost effective and medically efficient for me. Her intention is to get you back to a normal, healthy, and productive life as quickly as possible—not to drain you of your life savings.

This past Thanksgiving, I attended the Macy’s Day Parade with my husband and my daughter for the first time in two years. I was sandwiched in a crowd of thousands for more than four hours. I never once had to leave to use the bathroom. I never thought about it at all. There I was watching my daughter laugh at the clowns, clap with the bands and cheer for all her favorite cartoon character balloons. I couldn’t stop laughing and crying myself. It was astonishing for me to think that just one year before I was lying in a hospital emergency room bed hooked up to IV’s with doctors frantically trying to save my life while all I could do was pray for death. This Thanksgiving I had a lot to be thankful for—a great husband, an adorable daughter, and my restored health and happiness. I was and am especially thankful for my good fortune in finding Dr. Brizman. Because of Dr. Brizman, I have my life back again.

In peace,

SARAH (not real name)

My problems with my bladder began in August of 2001. I was 25 years old, had a successful job in Chicago, lived in the city with friends, and was leading a very happy life. That all changed one day. I woke up one morning with urgency, frequency, and pain, all which came on very quickly. I had never had a bladder infection, but assumed that that was most likely what it was. I went to my doctor, who tested me, found bacteria in my urine, and prescribed seven days of antibiotics. After a week, I still had the same symptoms, and went back, expecting him to find lingering bacteria. That wasn’t the case, however. The bacteria had been killed, yet I still had symptoms of an infection, so he sent me home with another ten days of a different kind of antibiotic, and referred me to a urologist, whom I was to see if I didn’t feel better within a week.

I did see that urologist, since I still felt terrible weeks later. I primarily had urgency & frequency – I had to go to the bathroom at least once an hour, and had spells during which I had to go every 10 minutes for several hours at a time. It had become incredibly frustrating at work, since I had an office job, where I could normally sit for hours at a time without leaving my desk. The constant uncomfortable feeling in my bladder had become a major problem - even my 20 minute commute to work seemed like an eternity, and some days it was near impossible. Activities that I had done on a daily basis had become a major challenge for me – sitting through a movie, going to a one hour class, going to baseball games, even taking a cab ride. As time went on, I also began to have terrible pains shooting through the entire lower half of my body. This would happen out of the blue, and when it did I could barely stand up, the pain was so bad.

I then had a cystoscopy done under anesthesia at an excellent hospital in my area, and they found nothing indicative of IC – just a little redness and irritation, which they determined was not the cause of all of my problems. After seeing two more doctors in the area, I finally went to the Mayo Clinic where I had a number of invasive procedures done. They came up with the same answer – my bladder showed only slight redness, and they determined that I just had lingering bacteria which was causing my symptoms (even though their test results showed negligent bacteria). I was put on suppressive antibiotics indefinitely, and given Detrol to relax the bladder muscles. Several months and six doctors later, I had been given almost 20 prescriptions for everything from antibiotics and Ditropan to antidepressants. I rarely took any of them because I wasn’t ready to throw my entire body into disarray just to mask the symptoms of an underlying problem. I had begun to think it was just something I had to live with, when I came across a patient of Matia’s, and started chatting online. She directed me to the Bomamed website, and at a loss for any answers from Western medicine, I decided to give it a shot. I have to admit that at the beginning I was incredibly skeptical. I am about as straight as an arrow, mainstream thinker as you can find. I’m a business person. I take a very logical and conservative approach to life. Any illness I’d ever heard of had an answer in the form of traditional treatments. Chinese medicine had never even crossed my mind…until this point.

I set up my initial consultation with Matia, and immediately felt much more comfortable than I had with any of the other doctors I had gone to. She actually understood the symptoms that the other doctors did not. She asked tons of questions in order to really understand my story and figure out what the underlying problems were. Over the next several months, I talked to Matia on a weekly basis, and based on how I was feeling and my answers to her questions, she would alter the herbs I was taking. After a while, we spoke every other week.

For anyone considering the process, I think the most important thing to know is that you have to be patient. That did not come easy for me…..there were definite ups and downs throughout the entire process, and many days I was pretty close to throwing in the towel. I had days, and even weeks that I thought I was going backward instead of forward, but I finally started to see more and more good days creeping in. I tried to focus on those days, knowing that I was getting healthier slowly but surely. For me, the process took a good two years before I could really say that I felt like I had beaten this thing. It was well worth the wait!! I hung in through the numerous changes in herbs, the ups and downs, and maybe the hardest, the change in diet. At about the two year mark, I reached the point that I felt like I was back to leading a normal life, and can now say that I am about 99.9% healthy. I still take a maintenance dose of herbs and supplements, primarily to fight yeast (this is one of my major problems - I still get occasional yeast infections.) I am now back to, for the most part, eating a normal diet, although I am still careful to avoid a lot of sugar.

Looking back over the past several years, I still do not have an answer to what caused me to develop IC, but I am sure that several things contributed to it. I had taken antibiotics long term for several years when I was young, I never paid attention to my diet, which included a lot of sugar and junk food, and I worked in a fairly stressful work environment. In hindsight, I’m sure that each of these factors contributed to my health issues, but after working with Matia, I have a different mindset about taking care of my health, especially with regard to diet. I still sometimes cannot believe that after all of the doctors and different types of medicines I was given that Matia was the only one that helped me get better. I hope that anyone suffering with IC will look into Bomamed and get started on the road to recovery – I am incredibly thankful that I was lucky enough to find Matia, and hope that anyone else suffering with the same problem can be so lucky.

LARA

I guess you can say my IC started sometime in 1999. I had what I thought was a typical bladder infection. I went to the doctor and got a normal course of antibiotics except my “infection’ never went away. That started my journey of traveling the country to every urologist, gynecologist and specialist known to man. I was given the typical test for IC under anesthesia and they said I did not have IC. After about a year my symptoms kind of just went away, which I am told has happened to many others. Then, in the fall of 2002 my IC came back with a vengeance. I had urgency, pressure and vulvodynia all the time. I was in so much pain, that I could barely make it through the day. I was holding down a full time job and, at the time, I had my own office so I basically alternated between my work and crying for hours at a time.

This time I returned to the doctors demanding answers. I had so many tests, I don’t even know where to begin. I remember going to one “top” urologist for probably the 5th time that month and I remember overhearing him talking to his nurses about me and why I kept coming there and that he basically had nothing else to give me. I felt completely desperate, I was on over 10 different medications, none of which helped and all of which gave me other problems in addition to the ones I already had. After literally having a nervous breakdown, I decided there had to be another way. I started doing my own research and stumbled upon this site. I was able to get in touch with Jane and Alyson who were so helpful and supportive and who really answered all of my questions,

I stopped all my medications and started with Matia in January of 2003. To say I was scared was an understatement. I relied on medications for years and even though they were not helping me, I was so scared to try something new. I never really thought about alternative medicine and had no idea what to expect. I remember my first conversation with Matia. I felt such an unbelievable relief. She was so calming and understanding that I immediately knew, no matter how long it took, I would be ok.

I had a very long road. I had always been healthy but the diet was extremely hard for me. I basically ate meat and broccoli and cauliflower for a year. I want you all to understand and know this. I got worse before better. There was a time I thought about stopping treatment. We had to change my herbs many times before we found what worked, but Matia never gave up. This does not happen to everyone, but it did to me. I hung on, and it was the best decision of my life. I can honestly say I am 90 percent better.

I rarely have bladder symptoms, and my burning is gone. I have had some minor bumps but overall I am living a normal , healthy life. I know when something goes wrong, I have my appointment with Matia and immediately I am at ease. My mother has even sought treatment from Matia for a problem she was having. I have changed the way I live my life and I am better for it. I have been a long distance patient this whole time and never felt the distance. My appointments with Matia have been life changing.

There is so much more to my journey, and I could probably write for hours. If I can convey one thing, it would be to hang on. Trust your instincts. Know at times you might feel worse. IC is a tricky disease that didn’t come quickly and it does not go quickly, but it will go. I never thought I would be here, I never ever thought that I would be better, but I promise you will. I am getting married next October. My IC does not dominate my life. I still take herbs and I probably always will. My health is better than it ever was and I cannot thank Matia enough, I truly cannot ever convey to her what she has done for me.

Tags: Success Stories