I began to suffer with IC from the age of 26 and was diagnosed by hydrodistention.  I am now 42 and a mother of two beautiful healthy children. 

My symptoms were mainly very intense burning inside my bladder and around my urethra with sensations that seem to me to be nerve-like, which caused the need to urinate frequently including in the middle of the night. The pain was often so bad it made sleeping impossible. My symptoms were on again off again for numerous years and were effected by various things that were going on in my life including such things as the birth of my children, various life experiences, and diet. I was a nutritionist, so I felt I was armed with an ample amount of knowledge to beat this condition, and at times, with certain techniques I would employ, I felt I was winning the war against this condition. 

However, with time, and after the birth of my second child, it seemed to continue to escalate to a point that it was no longer tolerable. I went through many of the traditional treatments such as instillations of Heparin, DMSO, Ditropan, Elavil, etc. Nothing seemed to be the answer for me. Having a foot in the alternative medicine world and having what I feel is a very trusting relationship with a doctor of Chinese medicine who has helped me with so many other ailments, I also tried this route for my condition. This was not effective for my IC either. 

Later, a friend told me about someone she knew who was working with Chinese medicine and specialized in IC, Matia. I thought, “what do I have to lose?”. I was skeptical at best. I made an appointment, and I really felt very skeptical throughout the first consultation. Time passed and my skepticism continued, but somehow I felt compelled to continue because Matia’s explanations of the process my body was going through to regain its balance made sense to me with all of my previous knowledge of the human body and nutrition. 

So, I stuck it out. I took about two years in total to be without symptoms and to go back to a “normal” way of eating, but over that time I went through numerous phases of improvement and after I went through each phase, I could tell I was better that I had been before. 

At present, I eat fruit and most foods. I am careful not to eat foods which are too spicy because I am still afraid that that might do something to throw my body off its balance. I try to eat as well as I know how to take care of my body to the best of my abilities and to keep it healthy for the long-term. I must also confess, I eat sugar sometimes, which I have been advised to be more careful of than I am, but even so, I continue to do better and better regardless. 

I have a great life, I always have, but now I am able to enjoy my children and my life without the constant pain I was in before. I am really glad I stuck out this difficult process, it was worth it!