My name is Jeanne Townsend and although I wrote a success story a couple of years ago, I realize that it has not been included in the archives. So at the request of a fellow IC patient, I am more than happy to relate my story and perhaps give more hope to many of you out there trying to make sense out of this difficult health challenge.

My story goes back five and a half years ago. It was in the winter. I got what I thought was a UTI . I did not have a history of bladder infections at all. I think in total I have had about 6 and I am 56 years old. I went and got the antibiotics and thought that would be the end of it. It wasn't. A couple of weeks later symptoms came back.I went to the doctor, still high bactierial count so more antibiotics. I think I went through at least four courses of two different antibiotics. By now the cultures are not showing anything, but symptoms are still there. I never had the burning pain upon urination that I remember with other UTI's I had had in the past. My symptoms were urgency, frequency, and low pelvic pain. I was miserable.It continued on and off like this for months.
I ended up seeing at least eight doctors. three internists,two gynocologists,one gyno-urologist and two urologists.There actually could have been more because of the HMO I belonged to, you could make an emergency same day appointment and see someone different each time.
I got my first clue that what I had was IC from my best friend's brother who is an internist and brilliant diagnostician.He said,"Jeanne, it sounds to me like you have something called Interstitial Cystitis, or IC".
Well, I couldn't pronounce it ,let alone have a clue to what it was.Now came the internet. What a shock! The symptoms that so many described fit.
I was actually devistated and depressed.......and in pretty constant pain at this point. I found a urologist that said that he thought I had IC as well.
I had many tests to rule out other possibilities, but as you know there is no deffinative IC test. He said that there was no cure and that what he could do was try to control my symptoms.
Now, the only way I could deal with this was to research and educate myself as much as possible. I joined the ICA and got all the literature. I searched the internet daily. It was there that I came upon a site. icaroadto recovery.com. I was excited about what I read, and there was hope there!
I called immediately to make an appointment with Dr. Brizman. I had to fill out an extensive questionaire and wait three weeks for my first appointment. In the meantime I attended a support group for people with IC. Everyone was very nice and discussed what treatments they were doing.
I myself was on three medications at the time experiencing very unpleasant side effects. I said I was going to try an alternative approach. This was not the path for anyone else at this group. The level of suffering and disability there was difficult for me to see. I promised to return and share with the group if I had success.
My first meeting with Matia was great. I started the diet and herbs and felt some improvement actually pretty quickly.Although it would be a long time before I had sustained wellness. My case was quite complicated and it has been a long road of ups and downs, but I have my life back! I don't need to sit on the aisle seat anymore,or worry where the bathrooms are.I still am on a modified diet, but I eat out everywhere. I enjoy my life and you will too! I never thought I would feel the way I do now from that first day. I have been almost bladder symptom free for several years now. Thanks to Matia's dedication and support.
I hope this story helps you have a little more hope! Don't give up .Stay with the program. You will get better!!!!!!!!I will try and share more here on the site and in workshops.
My heart goes out to you all!!

Jeanne