I know this question has been asked over and over and there isn't really an answer I feel like... but I've been on a no gluten/dairy diet for 3 months now (these were triggers for my vulvodynia), and I've been Dr. Brizman's diet for a little under 2 (with occassional blueberry cheats). My bladder felt SOOOO MUCH better, virtually no symptoms after struggling for two years with SEVERE vulvodynia, recurrent infections, and terrible pressure, bruning and urgency and frequency and and and...

From The Wise Heart, by Jack Kornfield,

Minus another 1,000 points for Western Doctors.

I got pretty extensive bloodwork done in February and have been waiting a month for my results. I finally called last week to see what was going on and my doctor's secretary called me back today nonchalantly apologizing for not having gotten back to me to let me know I tested positive for Lyme Disease and should think about getting treated for it.

Escape From Fire, The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare.

About the perils of the American Healthcare System! It really sheds light on how those with chronic illness fair very poorly in the western medical model...I saw half on CNN (plan to watch the rest soon). Dr. Andrew Weil is interviewd and says some things that could have come out of Dr. B's mouth :)

Here is a link to the official website. If you missed it, it will probably air again soon or you can watch it through this link:

Post 1 trillion from me: 

I crashed. I just feel extremely unhappy today, I know it will pass... but it's hard. Every morning I wake up and the first thing I do is look in the mirror to see if the thousands of disgusting red marks that are ruining my face have gotten worse, multiplied or diminished.

Ok, this WEIRD... I know that IC can cause muscle pain and fibromyalgia, but I don't really understand what that means and I haven't had either of those as predominant symptoms... HOWEVER, I have had strange pains, almost like bruises, in areas of my body where my bones are close to the surface of my skin.

So, as many of you know, and many may not, I am obsessed with sweet things in my mouth.

I have been doing well, haven't been flagellating myself when I crack and eat blueberries (about once a week), and have been eating them less and less as I wean myself off of sweet deliciousness.

So, on diet 1, no cheating except for the blueberries that I eat when I get my period and cannot control myself. Fortunately the blueberries are available because if they weren't I would probably take a bag of powdered sugar and inhale it through every orifice of my body.

I read and read about Ic. Can anyone give me a success story. I am feeling pretty bad myself.m

UGH! I don't know what's going on. I have had skin sensitivty on my face on and off for the past couple of years... When I cut out dermatological meds and just went for simple natural products and when I went on a diet without gluten, dairy or soy everything cleared up (besides the acne).

So, I made homemade chicken stock today from the bones of all the chicken I've been eating. I figured it'd be a nice change of pace in the diet to add some homemade soups... but I was a little disappointed in the consistency of the broth.

I soaked the bones in cold water for about an hour, and then I started the boiling/simmering process. I let it simmer four a few hours actually. It's not as gelatinous as I was hoping it would be, which I know means I did not successfully draw out all of the nutrients from the bone.