Hey - I'm new on the boards and in treatment but I feel like I've already had a lot of success. I started working with Dr. Boaz two months ago and immediately felt relief with just the diet. I'm 27 and got knocked out by IC after a ton of antibiotics for various bacterial infections(bronchitis, etc.). I was working out of town and saw 4 doctors all of whom put me on MORE antibiotics even though I showed no sign of bacteria during what I assumed was a UTI.
 The first month was all over the place with my energy levels and irritation/pain. It was still worlds better than the way I felt before starting treatment. I'm happy to say that the past month has been really good (knock on wood). Most days I feel normal with hints of urgency here and there. I'm definitely fortunate in that sense (knock on more wood...)
I know a lot of people who are recovered/in remission don't get on the boards anymore. In fact I had a party a couple weeks ago and a not-super-close friend told me that his wife had IC and also saw Dr. B! I was shocked since this condition seemed so foreign and scary and overwhelming and awful. I called my friend's wife the next day and talked to her about it. Her story was SO encouraging. She is two years out of treatment - it took her about a year - and doing amazing. She never even thinks about it anymore and had a hard time even remembering what it was like. It's incredible how the human body forgets pain. She followed the diet to a T but she also figured out what works for her - she still won't drink coffee and takes a daily probiotic but she's back to normal life. 
She also told me that she avoided the message boards completely because she found it to have a negative effect on her mental state. It's true that a lot of the time when we get on the Internet it's because we're looking for support during a difficult time rather than sharing our successes during a great time. There's too much life to live for that!
In any case - I believe it's worth whatever money you can spare for the trip. It's your health - without which nothing else really matters. And I applaud you for seeking out alternative treatment - the ability of our bodies to heal themselves is beautiful and the Brizmans seem to realize that we just need to give our bodies the chance to heal. 

Hi Emma.  I don't have time to write an in-depth response, but I think you will be comforted to know that MANY people have found their healing answer through Dr. B, myself included.  Here is the link to some success stories.  http://www.icama.org/success-stories
 
I hope you find comfort in reading those..

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing notbeyonce and Tinkerbell. I´m also so much better. Not even 3 month in and I have my life back. Still have ways to go though.

Hi Emma,

I've been in treatment for 9 months. When I came to Dr. B I had done quite a bit of healing with a naturopath. I no longer had level pain, but still constantly felt like I had to pee. My frequency was terrible and urge never ending. I 'm happy to say that I am doing great. My symptoms are a 1 or 2 compared to a 10! She saved my life. I can now drink one cup of coffee a day. I also eat tomatoes! Two things that I thought I had to give up forever. It's not a quick fix and it takes tons of work, patience and faith. Xxxoo

Hey hey, 
 
I've been complaining a lot lately on the facebook page but I have seen a ton of improvement. I'm only 4 months in and it's been HARD but after starting the diet the vv that I had been experiencing for two consecutive years disappeared. It flares MINORLY every now and then and is so mild and short lived that I barely notice it. It used to be so bad that wearing underwear was the most painful experience in my life. 
Also, the diet cured me of a three month cough. I was coughing up huge amouonts of phlegm, randomly throwing up after meals, and suffering from TERRIBLE debilitating nausea, dizziness and fatigue after meals. Once I started the list 1 the cough went away, gradually, and so did the dizziness. I swear, I would feel like I was going to pass out after I ate. I still do have SOME nausea, but usually just around my period and the fatigue is the same. 
It can be frustrating at times because the better you get, the better you want to be. haha. We get impatient when we start to see improvement. I actually posted a message almost EXACTLY like this one before deciding to start treatment. I was in a similar situation. I was living and working in France and decided to quit my job in France and hop a plane back to the States to be unemployed and start treatment. I was terrified and unsure how I was going to manage financially. 
I don't regret it at all. I complain sometimes and obviously wish it were easier and faster, but I know that this is working and that is worth all the money in my bank account for me. Especially after attempting so many other treatments. It hasn't been easy for me, but every time I write out or talk about all of the progress I've made I can't help but feeling ashamed for how impatient and doubtful I get... the proof is right in front of me!
Hope this helps. Also, everyone says treatment lasts between 1 and 5 years usually... but just because you're starting treatment doesn't mean you have to stay in it if it doesn't work. Since starting treatment I've read the stories of progress of all of the women on this page and on facebook and it's been really astonishing to witness the improvements in them and in myself. It's undeniable. So I'd say, if anything, it's most definitely worth trying! 
Good luck and keep us posted :) 
 
Han

Hi Emma,
I'm 26 and I've had IC for over one year, also from recurrent UTIs, the pill and antibiotics - oh and I'm Aussie too!
Feel free to PM me if you want to talk :)