I understand that only a very small percentage of your patients are on the blog. Without breaking any privacy rules, I would love it if you could post when a patient in treatment becomes asymptomatic from IC/VV with a brief case study of their process. Obviously everyone is different but it really lifts our spirits to hear success stories! Thank you for your blog!

Dear Dr. Matia,
I've missed hearing from you.  In all honesty, not for just "information" but for that human connection that used to fill the pages of this site; that incredible sense of not only knowledge, but warmth and caring that gave me the courage to take that huge leap of faith and find my way to your clinic. It has saddened me that this site has become so quiet -not just by you, but by patients finding their way to private Face Book pages.
It never entered my head that you might fear that you were redundant.  I think that redundancy, not only in information, but especially in words of encouragement, is not only comforting to children, but to those who are ill and scared.
It will be my hope to hear more from you; the incredible human being and the doctor that I know in my heart that you are.  I would also imagine that for those that are patients of your husband, the same thing might also hold true.

How kind of you to open this up for discussion.
As a mother, wife, friend, family member, business owner, and a doctor who is on call almost 24 hours, 365 days a year, I truly admire you for even having a second to do blog posts. So thank you  - I think asking for ideas will be a great help to many :) Your caring, compassion and committment shine through every thing you do.
As for Facebook I think it's just a function of society and social media itself. It's very easy for us to get quick, "real-time" answers from fellow patients. It also is a hugh comfort to see our many faces, pictures of our families, and friends. It helps us feel somewhat normal and definitely not alone. The Facebook pages - "Fans of Dr. Brizman" and "Naturally Delicious" are for anyone to join. They are "private" from the rest of the world and Facebook. Everyone does not need to know if our vaginas hurt today - lol!
That being said I think the ICAMA site is still an invaluable tool for us all. Maybe in the future there is a way to bring the two technologies together. Maybe an ICAMA Facebook page where the blogs are cross-posted...
Whatever the answer may be I know the "Dr. Brizman's" are doing their best with all of our interests at heart :)
Claire Ciccotelli

Dear Dr. Matia,
 
Thank you for your knowledge, time, caring and compassion that you share with us. Maybe you can shed a light  on the damaging effect of painkillers on our  intestines and other organs so that we think twice if in doubt of taking one. Always learning from your posts.
Anneke

Thanks for asking Dr Brizman! Thanks for taking time to do what you do!
 
I would love to hear more sucess stories about slow patients/ patients who have struggled for a long time but finally were restored to health.
 
I also appreciate your posts about emotions-specifically about not blaming the illness on them while understanding that emotional health  can play a part.
 
 
 

Dr Brizman, It warms my heart to read this post and "hear" your voice on the blog once again. I greatly enjoy reading your blog and when I need to connect to this healing process, I often read past posts. I agree the addition of case studies would be a tremendous asset for us patients- we could learn quite a bit from others.
I learned an incredible amount from your dissertation and although I am sure the fundamentals have remained the same, It would be wonderful to hear additional thoughts, stories or general Chinese Medicine teachings. A common health issue for us or our family could be discussed- say sunburn - and a helpful herb/oil combination could be shared. Just a thought! 
Katie

Dr. Brizman, 
I always enjoy reading your posts and love to look back at older posts on so many fascinating topics.There is so much to learn and change from the way we think to things we have unknowingly in our surrounding environments that constantly impacts our health. I enjoy sharing articles or posts with my friends and family even though I usually get an eye roll. LOL! Always appreciate the gentle reminders! So thank you for creating this site and taking the time to post your thoughts! I have "met" so many amazing individuals along this journey and don't feel so isolated knowing there is this safe zone to ask questions, albeit embarrassing ones at times. With that being said, I don't mind redundcy, and even reading your weeks end thoughts from the past has brought insight and comfort. I too would love to see some case studies and anything that relates to Chinese medicine. Thanks for taking the time from your busy schedule to post!

I'd like to see a blog about the more scary, strange symptoms of our imbalance. Like the heart palpitations and breathing troubles. Why they happen etc. Thank you so much :)
Claire C

I would love to hear more about the history of how you came to develop the system that you use to treat us.  I've read your dissertation (twice - helpful to read a 2nd time...) and am curious about how you made the discoveries that you did about treating such a complex condition with such nuance. 
You also mentioned in a post a long time ago that you dream of having a fund and a housing option for women with IC who need financial support during their crisis.  I'd love to know if there is any updates to these plans - it's such an exciting idea! 

Dr. B. I would love to hear you talk about things we should and shouldn't be doing or eating when basically done with threatment or on list 5. I struggle with food choices still and products to use. I recently thought I could make my own products using castile soap and you informed me how that would not be safe. Talking about how to live after treatment would be abig help!
Christine

I would also love to hear more about patients who take longer to get balanced again, 3 years + and to understand why it can be slower for some, and what's happening during the longer time frame. Thank you :) Claudine

I love Claire's (the other one) idea about learning of the seemingly random collection of symptoms that we have (blurry vision, neuro weirdness, aches and pains etc).   It would help to know how it's all connected.  I would personally love to hear stories of naturally healing depression and anxiety. This has been my worst problem, and I think this came before the bladder issues - although I'm sure (I hope) it's all linked!

I would love to hear more about autoimmune thyroid and specifically hashimotos! Thanks!