Welcome to those of you visiting my site that may have Interstitial Cystitis (IC) or any other debilitating ailment that hinders the quality of your life. There are many recipes here that you may find beneficial, and some new ways of looking at food that you had not considered before. Keep an open mind. This is not about dieting. This is about a complete lifestyle change.
My prayers go out to you. While I hope you find this site, beneficial and supportive, I sincerely pray you find whatever it is you need in order to live a life that is free from pain.
I hope you check back frequently as I update this journey. I suggest checking out the more personal pages at the top of the page (tabs) to chart my progress, challenges and general day to day details.
Many Blessings and thanks for stopping by!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
As you know, I'm on a mission to eliminate the debilitating symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis from my life. However, my personal approach is to treat not the IC, but my entire body. We develop chronic illness when our immune system and/or other systems in the body have been stressed and compromised. To regain health, it is my personal belief that we have to focus on detoxing, healing, cleansing, and encouraging the body to regenerate and renew. We are capable of doing this. Finding the right path is the challenge.
I tried the so-called IC Diet for many years, and while it was helpful to some degree in warding off flare-ups, it did not eliminate IC. For me, it was a band-aid.
I'm currently working with a wonderful holistic physician in an effort to repair my body so that it can regain it's natural ability to heal itself! It was my personal choice to discontinue any suggested IC meds years ago. When I saw the side effects I experienced and recognized that none of the drugs "cured" IC, but merely masked my symptoms, I decided there had to be a better way. If you have chosen to take prescription drugs, do not be dismayed. It's all about personal choice and I am judging no one. I took the meds for many years and did not get better or feel better, and I had to stop and choose another direction with hopefully better results.
On this journey, I've found many wonderful, knowledgeable people with great advice and suggestions on how to lose weight, increase energy and get healthy. There is great information out there and passionate people with experience providing it.
What I've discovered is that there is no quick fix for my IC and that I can possibly cause more harm than good attempting to try this. My doctor, combined with my own experiences, have told me to stay away from quick cleanses or flushes. Everything I state here, is for me and my own personal findings. Each of us has to find their own path back to good health. However, I have gone through a lot of tears and frustration trying other people's suggestions and failing. I come out of the experience wondering, "what is wrong with me?" "Why does this work for everyone else, but I'm not successful?"
I've spent a bit of time meditating on this, and I've talked to my practitioner as well. I have to let go of the expectations that what works for other people is going to also work for me. There are reasons why I don't lose weight. There are reasons why my IC is not in remission. I don't over eat. I do exercise. I eat very healthy, and yet, I gain weight, or don't lose weight, and I'm still not cured. I've been doing green smoothies for close to 2 mos. and actually gained a pound. I don't think I'm the only one out there with this problem. I've been doing raw for 6 mos and while I initially lost 22 pounds (now 20), I have not lost any weight in over 2 months! (and if you are wondering, I've got about 50-60 more pounds to lose).
It's time to open up my heart and soul, to let God in, to listen to my own inner voice and intuition. It makes sense. If you have a toxic body and suffer from chronic illness, a quick flush or cleanse for some of us, can cause more harm than good. Trying to excrete or eliminate powerful toxins at a rapid rate when your body is not able to process normally, can cause more stress to your body systems. I have adrenal fatigue. My body interprets almost everything as stress. Exercising sends a message to my body that something is wrong. My body, trying to protect me, goes into fight or flight, produces cortisol. This turns to insulin and insulin, to belly fat!!! Everything I do, I must do slowly.
I started green smoothies, thinking, it's not juicing, it's more mild, great. NOT! I suffered a serious IC flareup. In re-evaluating, I realized that there are only a few greens that I can tolerate, and only a few fruits as well. I've gone back to a very limited variety of these food and am sticking with them. My flareups have subsided for the most part!
I love the idea of green smoothies and want to continue. I am envious of those that can drink green smoothies and lose weight. That is not the body I live in. I need to take a very slow and gentle approach to healing. There can be no rush, force or push. It's about PATIENCE and LOVE and NURTURING. No blasting this body with a quick flush or cleanse. I know what my body can handle right now. What is good and healthy for a normal person, is not necessarily so for me or you.
We are all unique and wonderful in our own way. When someone finds something that works for them, they naturally become exuberant about it and assume that if it worked for them, it will work for everyone. And it may work for a lot of people, but not all. If possible, I'd love to save some folks like me the feeling of disappointment and failure when a program does not work for you.
LOVE your self and your body...and really try to listen. If you suffer from IC or other health ailments, and you think you may have adrenal fatigue...take it slow! Be kind to your body and gently and carefully nourish it. If you try something and it is not working for you, don't become disillusioned. Whatever you try, START SLOWLY, one step at a time. If it doesn't work, take a deep breath and keep going...maybe like me, at a much slower pace!
For now, I'll continue green smoothies and certainly continue eating raw. I believe it is an incredible path to good health. But I have to recognize that there are underlying problems in my body that are literally keeping me from getting well..and losing weight.
My own Dr. has told me to stop looking at the scale, and focus on getting healthy. I need to go see him and get a battery of specific tests that will better pinpoint what's going on in my body...so we can move forward. He said there may be some "viruses" that are impeding my success. So, my unemployment ran out, and funds are limited and I don't want anything to hold me back from getting well. I continue to do ALL that I can do to help me and keep an open mind and heart. I'm praying for guidance and help and I'm being kinder to myself and accepting my turtle-like pace. It will come together. I have faith! This is all part of my journey and I need to embrace it all and not judge it as good or bad.
Meanwhile, I'll avoid the cleanses, fasts, feasts, etc, and continue to put good, healthy, living foods in my body...keeping it simple and using ingredients that don't cause me more discomfort.
For those of you with IC, I've included many recipes in my blog. I know they don't all adhere to the standard IC Diet. These are foods that I have prepared that seem to be okay for me. Each of you will have to determine for yourselves what works and what does not.
I just hope that instead of focusing on avoiding so-called IC foods to eliminate a flare-up, that you begin to take a broader approach and look at the whole body...and what has gone wrong within it, that allowed you to get IC (or any other disease), and see what you can do to begin to NOURISH that body, so that it begins to repair itself.
It's a different perspective and it feels like a more active approach to me. Instead of "protecting" the disease with a band aid, feed your body, strengthen it, and believe that it can eradicate the disease.
My heart goes out to all of you who are suffering. I pray that whatever your aliment is, that you will find your way to good health and vitality.
Why am I writing this? I have been maintaining my blog in the hopes that I would find "the way" to cure IC and that I could help others. As time has passed and I'm still not cured, I began to feel sad and concerned that I would give anyone false hope and send them down yet another path of disappointment.
Today, I realized once again - this is about the journey, not the destination. I am learning many things about LIFE and about this body I live in. I am learning about PATIENCE and KINDNESS to me, Barbara. I am on a journey and I believe I have something valuable to share with you. I may not offer you a cure and what I have to say may not be the end all, be all. But perhaps, I can make your journey easier, by simply reminding you to be patient with yourself and your healing process. Don't ever give up and don't ever accept the term "incurable disease." I was told that over ten years ago, and I did successfully get my IC into remission for a few years, by actively changing my lifestyle. It is possible!
I believe we are given challenges in our lives that teach us something. I know that this illness has forced me to SLOW down and really examine my life. While I may not be cured, I have certainly found a JOY that I did not know before. I have a new found passion for food and food preparation. I put love into everything I prepare, and am grateful, and I believe this too, is one of the most powerful healing "substances" that we can give ourselves... L O V E.
I send you all a warm and loving hug, a gentle hand, and a caring heart. If anyone has questions or concerns or comments please feel free to contact me privately. I'll do my best to respond.
If you read my blog, make sure you read the PAGE sections, located in the TAB section at the top of my blog.
Many blessing for a gentle recovery. May you embrace life and all it has to offer.
With Much Love,
Barbara
Disclaimer - I am not a physician, health practitioner or medical expert. You should always seek an expert medical opinion before making any major changes in your diet or supplementation. I am simply an individual that was diagnosed with an "incurable disease" determined to find my way back to good health. I choose to do this by eliminating toxins and consciously nurturing my body with as many healthy, nutritious, living foods as possible and sharing my own experiences with you. If you choose to take this path, please be aware that I cannot guarantee anyone will have the same results that I do.
