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I am curious how perfect everyone is on dr. Bs program and how everyone manages their mistakes. I struggle with imperfect perfectionism and am determined to finally achieve balance. It's as though my inner self takes one slip up as an opportunity to cabosh the whole thing...this time no way, I need to stay the course. Something in me is trying to convince me that nothing will work and that there is no reason to go to completion on anything. Senseless I know but somehow it's as though without immediate results my mind tries to lure me in the wrong direction. Just wondering how you all handle this saboteur that tries to constantly take the reigns and how everyone deals with imperfect perfectionism like I do. I really am ready o commit to change this time.
With love and gratitude, Carey
Hi Carey!
Hi Carey!
(sorry I missed your call-i'll be back in town in one week so we can chat if you want)
I am not sure how to answer this without sounding self-righteous or worse. I have had a few questionable cheats, (as in, Is this really list 4? When I am still at the end of list 3), and I am the farthest from a perfect person, but I have not had a GRAIN of sugar in 10+ months. (at least not knowingly-I had a bite of marinated meat that had sugar and soy and flared horrible from it the next day).
I understood from the beginning that there is NO way you can heal your gut if you cheat and eat sugar or drink alcohol, even a tiny bit, even only once in a while. Or if you cheat up the lists (eating spicey foods or foods not on your list). I want to heal my gut so I can have my life back. The gut/bladder are more forgiving of a rare indulgence when they are fully healed, but not when we have so much inflammation and damage. Maybe after you see Dr. Brizman and are on the protocol that is made for you, you will be highly motivated to stick to the diet to the letter. That is what you will need to do to heal. We are all here to help. And it gets MUCH easier. List 3 is very tolerable, albeit still hard to eat in restaurants. I don't miss sugar very often at all (still miss wine and cocktails but it is getting a tiny bit easier).
xo
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Hey Carey,
Hey Carey,
Have you read Dr. B's dissertation? It is excellent for explaining everything you need to know about how and why this treatment works. For me, it is a great tool to gain perspective and motivation to stick with it when things get tough. I personally need to know the how and why of something in order to commit to it, and I like details :)
I used to eat sugar all the time before I started treatment, but I haven't had one speck of it for over two years. I honestly don't miss it anymore. Getting my health back is too important. It sounds like you feel the same way, but it is hard for you to imagine that this treatment will truly work for you.
I have a really severe and complicated case. I had IC for over 10 years when I came to see Dr. B. I had been on the traditional drugs all that time, plus a bunch of other ones the year before I started treatment as my pain was getting worse and worse. After two years in treatment, I have improved so much, but while most people are on list 4 or 5 at this point, I am still on a few foods from list 1 because every time I try something new, I'm in a lot more pain. I will get there, it's just taking a long time. My point is that the diet is very doable, it just takes getting used to.
There is hope!
Hi Lisa Ann. I have also had
Hi Lisa Ann. I have also had IC for a long time and would love to talk to you about your symptoms and journey so far. I have been in treatment for about 16 months and am making progress but still struggle with sugar cravings and finding light at the end of the tunnel. I guess that is because I have had some kind of pain from this disease for 16 years and even though it has gotten worse through the years and spread to other symptoms, I am just used to this life of suffering. would you mind if I emailed you?
Sure Christy, I would love to
Sure Christy, I would love to talk to you!
Hi Carey,
Hi Carey,
Something Dr. B has shown me throughout this treatment - is not to be so hard on ourselves. We are not perfect and I know these perfectionist tendencies that I have - are part of what lead me to IC. FORGIVESNESS....first and foremost forgive yourself and have compassion for yourself. One step at a time. I am 18 months into the program and it truly has been little steps - ups and downs....keep moving forward.....
For about 2 months I have been 90% pain free - with most of my body working. This is a miracle....but it took that 16 months of all not so good to get me here. (I was greatly imbalanced with alot of issues besides bladder)
Ofcourse you know I have this shoulder situation and in one hour am getting a cortisone shot. I am finally able to see that this is what I need to do now and that whatever happens I will get through it. I am blessed with so much support and love especially from all of you. We are all here on the same healing journey.
Breis
Lelibre,
Lelibre,
Don't worry for the cortissone!! It's more what they say, than what it really is.They put a little (smallest dossage) in my body before chemo to control nausea, It doesen't affect my bleadder at all, or if it does, I don't have noticed. So my doctor said it can affect or not it's like playing russian rulet. But I have noticed that If I'm not affraid when they put some medication on me I don't have so many bad symthomps later. Try to have good thoughs while they put the cosrtissone in you. Is not that terrible. Kisses
Hi Lisa Ann. I have also had IC for a long time and would love to talk to you about your symptoms and journey so far. I have been in treatment for about 16 months and am making progress but still struggle with sugar cravings and finding light at the end of the tunnel. I guess that is because I have had some kind of pain from this disease for 16 years and even though it has gotten worse through the years and spread to other symptoms, I am just used to this life of suffering. would you mind if I emailed you?