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!