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Margaret- Los Angeles.....First of all, I want to let you know that Matia has totally changed my life and my health. I feel so unbelievably fortunate that I was referred to her—I can’t imagine the limited life I would be dealing with otherwise. In order for you to know the severity of my condition when I met Matia, I’ll give you a quick recap of what happened before I met her. For many years I had been getting a slow onset of IC, including frequency of urination, painful intercourse, cold hands and feet, fatigue, and an ever-increasing number of food allergies, but I didn’t realize the symptoms I was experiencing were related to any type of medical condition. My husband and I live in Los Angeles and four years ago we took a trip to Thailand. While we were there I started using a contraceptive jelly containing non-oxynol 9 (which I did not know I was allergic to) and, when I got a yeast infection, an over-the counter yeast infection medicine that I bought there. The two created a vaginal chemical burn and I was suddenly in excruciating pain (10 out of 10 on the pain scale) and I could not sit or stand. Once I made it back to the States it took a while for the doctors to determine that I had IC. The doctors decided that the chemical burn had elevated the IC to a very severe level. My urologist put me on Elavil, a nerve pain drug, and another pain medication. He started giving me installations of lidocain in my bladder twice a week. But being driven to the doctor’s office increased my pain so much that I ended up having to catheterize myself at home to get the lidocaine in my bladder. I was house-bound for three months, unable to do anything but lie down for the majority of that time. I slowly had a slight decrease of symptoms so that I could regain some of my daily activities. But after a year I was still on the Elmiron and the other two medications, I could only sit on a donut cushion, I could not walk any distance, and the slightest pressure on my abdomen (like the weight of a finger) was excruciating. I felt completely hopeless and did not know if I would ever recover any more or regain my ability to live my life. At this point my urologist (who is highly respected) referred me to Matia, as he said that many of his patients had improved after working with her. When his office manager gave me Matia’s phone number she told me, “So many of his patients go to see her and they come back exclaiming about how much better they feel! And they look great!” After a few months of seeing Matia I was able to sit without my special donut cushion. I can’t tell you how ecstatic I was when I finally threw it in the trash! I don’t have a record of my exact progress, but step by step I started improving. First the pain reduced, and as it got better I was able to gradually get off all my medications. I started to be able to exercise again. For at least two years I have been able to run, dance, lift weights, and do lots of abdominal exercises without the slightest thought of pain or discomfort. It has been a very long time since I have experienced bladder pain or frequency of urination. My sexual desire has returned and I am regaining a normal sex life with my husband. The diet Matia puts her patients on is very severe. But it works, and gradually I have been able to add more food to my diet. And I’ve learned to believe her when she says that I will be able to eat something in the future. I remember one time I had accidentally been served lemon and had gotten a flair-up. Matia said quite matter-of-factly, “You probably won’t be ready for lemon for another four months or so.” I thought she was crazy, but then, about four months later, she recommended that I try it. I ate the smallest amount at first and was fine. Now I eat lots of lemon, onion (raw and cooked), garlic, and mildly spicy food, including Mexican food. Before, if I had eaten the smallest amount of any of these foods I would have been in debilitating pain for a month. I may even be able to eat spicier foods but I don’t really enjoy the taste so I haven’t tried! But when I’ve accidentally eaten something spicy I haven’t had the slightest problem. Matia knows this condition so well that she has been able to guide me through every step of the process, modifying my herbs and diet to match what my body needed as it went through its many shifts. She also had always been amazingly supportive and encouraging as I have gone through the emotional ups and downs of the treatment. If I was having a hard time she would always assure me that I was just going through a rough patch but that my body was getting stronger and every time she was right. So now I believe her implicitly. Not only do I not feel my bladder, but also my digestive system and my hormonal systems have moved back into balance. I now have a normal body temperature, instead of always being the only person in the room who is wearing a sweater and coat when everyone else is wearing shorts. And my energy has returned to its normal high level again. The final stage that we are resolving is my long-term yeast condition (which I’ve been dealing with for twenty-five years). I am starting to be able to eat fruit and carbohydrates without getting a yeast overgrowth, and so I’m now adding even more food into my diet. I hope this is helpful to those of you considering treatment.
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Disclaimer: The
purpose of this site is for information only. We in no way intend to offer
medical advice. This is not the official site for BOMA-Med. This
site has been developed by patients of Dr. Brizman, because of their faith in
her work, the belief in the effectiveness of her treatment, and willingness to
inform others of an opportunity to recover from the ravages of Interstitial
Cystitis. |
