One afternoon in 1998 I thought I had a bladder infection.  I was very uncomfortable and 
thought I just needed to drink some cranberry juice and get some medicine.  My regular 
GP told me there was no infection and I should go to a gynecologist.  My gyne did an 
ultrasound and told me nothing was wrong and I should go to a urologist.  The urologist 
had me come back 3 times sticking a catheter in me each time and adding potassium, or 
other liquids in my bladder to see my level of irritation and then seeing how my bladder 
was evacuating.  At my third appointment the doctor said, "well I don't really know 
what's going on, but it could be intercysticial cystitis, but we can't really definitively 
diagnose that.  But here you can try this sample medicine and see if it works."  I went 
out to my car and sobbed to my boyfriend.  So Western medicine tells me "not sure what 
you have, but why don't you try these drugs that we don't really know anything about or 
their level of effectiveness."

At the time I was also seeing a chiropractor who had an acupuncturist in their office.  
The chiropractor suggested that I try acupuncture to see if it helped.  I did acupuncture 
with a very kind woman for a month with no change in my irritation.  One day I came 
for another appointment and found a new acupuncturist, as the regular woman was on a 
retreat.  This new person, who after talking to me and treating me, told me about this 
woman Matia who specialized in what I had, this I.C. thing.  It was one of the most 
surreal moments in my life ..... the Gods had conspired to make me well.

Finally life changed when I darkened the doors of BomaMed, at the time on Robertson.  
I met Matia and could not believe that some one finally believed me when I said I was 
suffering and actually knew what to do about it.  After many long and difficult months 
(close to two years actually) of completely changing my diet and taking out sugar 
something I was absolutely addicted to.  I felt better.  I felt in control and without the 
I.C. I had lived with for so long.

Fast forward 11 years and I am married with 2 healthy children.  I had a C-section for 
my first child and a wonderfully successful VBAC (vaginal birth after c section) for my 
second.  I continue to feel free of I.C. symptoms for the most part.  There have been a
few times in the past few years where my diet suffers and I have the occasional mild 
flair up.  I'm finding that when I do eat something with red dye in it I feel irritated.  
The great news is that suffering is a great motivator and I don't eat like that much and 
the irritation doesn't last.

Life is soooo much better and I am forever indebted to Matia and her tireless work for 
her I.C. patients and her enduring kindness and compassion.