I feel for you! I am fairly new to this (3 months) but, I was about to post something yesterday, saying " I NEED SUPPORT!". I have been so bloated lately that I don't want to go anywhere, people WILL think I am 7 months pregnant. I feel so fat, which is really hard when you are eating so good!!!! I feel like my whole middle is hard and so much pressure in my lower back/hips and was even VERY swollen "down there" yesterday. And lots of discharge, it doesn't feel very nice. It really  does suck. Also, I have been feeling so depressed, and having overwhelming feelings of feeling lonely. So I know how you feel...You are not alone, and I would want to say to you... you can beat this!!!! You did it once, you can do it again. I hope things start to ease up for you really soon!

Keren - Hi, I am Tammera (no picture yet).  I was a patient of Matia's about 7 years ago.  I had IC and a prestigious university hospital explained that one of my options was to remove my bladder.  I found Matia in a very round about way and she treated me for about a year.  I really started having more good days than bad at about 6 months in.  At about 9 months I was having mostly good days.  I was a new first time mom as well.  I had 4 of the 5 pre factors Matia discusses in her dissertation. That was then......Well, I am now back and in treatment too.  I ended up in the hospital on 3/5.  I was having episodes/attacks that seemed related to the heart.  I would be laying in bed and my heart would just start pounding like crazy.  I would get really nauseous and have diarrhea.  I was numb in my left arm and sometimes my left leg.  Sometimes this would happen more than once a night.  My husband was very concerned tellingme to take aspirin and so forth. During three visits to my doctor, he  suggested that I had a leaky heart valve, or possibly MS.  I had a brain and neck MRI and an echocardiogram that showed nothing (other tests too).  My first visit back to Matia was on 3/17.  Some days I think I am making progress and others, well I just can't believe how difficult they can be.  I had to force myself to eat to begin, and only in the last few days I can get food down more easily.  I have no appetite except occassionally a hour before I go to bed something might smell good.   I have two children 5 and 7 and have not been able to care for them as I normally would.  Thanks to my husband we are getting by. I am very thin to begin with(not by choice) and am 5'7 and probably weigh around 105  now, maybe.  I was 128 when this all started.  I ignored the warning signs and had a few of rounds of antibiotics myself trying to combat sinus and bronchitis type issues. I think antibiotics were the catalyst for me. I had begun to color my hair excessively lately because I liked it really dark.  I too went back to eating some sweets and justified it with eating a good meal everynight.  I struggle with family issues with my biological parents as well.  I cry daily.  I cried when I read your post.  I have a job I like that I am not able to be at right now.  I am hoping soon. 
I was thinking today that maybe to make progress in the physical realm, I need to progress in the emotional as well.  I understand what you mean by being depressed, but try not to give into it.  I am trying very hard myself.  I am on a rollercoaster with symptoms that change by the hour.  I bought some flowers and have been planting those as I can.    I took antibiotics for that instant, feel better, gratification and this treatment because it is real, will not be as easy.It seems that my IC morphed into something else related, but definitly not the same.     Tammera

My heart breaks for both of you.  I am praying for you.

My heart goes out to all first /second timers- it might not matter what time we are- cause if our bodies are dynamic and changing- of course our imbalence  probably is going to be a new frontier in a sense. I really think the hardest part is the not knowing - the CONSTANT changing of symptoms and when you are not making any visible positive progress just seeming to plateau!  Keren I am so sorry you are having to deal with this aweful stomach stuff!  Tammera - sorry you have to come back too and navigate a different experience! I have had this mostly this year 2010 off and on but it is not nearly as severe as what you describe- however I know stomach issues very well. In fact I seemed to always have an upset/nervous/nauseaous tummy as a kid as well as constipation. No doubt this was from the antibiotics I was given for sinus/upper respiratory infections. Which I think were from vaccines but then again kids just get viruses so anyway... the feeling of bloating and gas and the stickiness and my food is a lumpy fibrous brick in my gut. WHOA! I have so felt that! I have been in treatment for 2 years. I have had enough antibiotics in my system to kill a universe of bacteria. I think a naturapath detected 23 different antibiotics in my system. Is that even possible? I know I had more than 6-7 rounds of ntibios for 7 days afor "UTI's" back in 2002. I was already screwed up before then and it took me over the edge for sure. I am better in many ways- my pain/inflammation is down_( when I stick to a VERY strict diet)  not totally 100% gone but I ahve many many good days - however I think the key is that for whatever reason I am still chronically constipated. AFter 2 years of HUGE  servings of fiber, exercise and whatever else it is that seems to help me go I still cannot establish a decent rythem of bowel movements. Lately its been bad. Like the worst. I might go 3 days in a row jsut fine and then skip a day or two and then my painin VV and bladder goes up big time and I start feeling toxic and moody. I still skip days. on those days of constipation  I struggle to eat -and digest food.  no appetite. I'm always bloated but that goes up. when I'm constipated it affects my bladder by kind of making me retain urine and at the same time can increase my frequency which is not my main problem. I get plenty of water and everything. I dont' get it. I take probiotics- this has helped my nausea and bloating and digestion as well as the SF722.  I've been on them for 2 years. what is going on? Will I ever have a normal BM  each day without probiotcs and tons of cajoling? - at least one without the struggle? I have never cheated on the diet. ever. the other thing that is going on - is  even though a few  new foods I can tolerate now- blue berries/grapefruit. I feel like I am going backwards on the diet. Chicken bothers me now. Probably not the chicken but the soy they feed the chicken. even some kinds of beef. if its not grass fed.  rice cakes flare the crap out of me. things I used to enjoy like almond butter and spelt bread  but nowI cannot tolerate them. so even though I'm on list 3 I feel like I'm going backwards in terms of food toleration after 2 years of HARD work this is really bumming me out. Makeup /naturally scented things- these things bother me too. But its totally clear to me that the anitbiotics did some very bad damage to my gut. I have ALOT of yeast and have had ALOT of yeast for most of my life. I am feeling the dieoff manefest as fibro symptoms- muscle tenderness which I didn't know I even had? it is just coming out of me- being pulled out of my tissues? when I think to the amount of time it took for me to fall apart- it doesn't make sense to think 2 years will be enough time to put it all right. This is upsetting to realize- cause no one wants to live like this for ANY amount of time much less one that doesn't have a general timeline. that alone can cause an anxiety attack. okay. that said. harsh reality staredown. - our bodies repair and get back in balence at their own pace- and eventually the yeast built up sTRONG and healthy with my loving doses of corn syrup through childhood and part of my adult life over long long years will weaken and get under control to healthy amounts under the daily onslaught of my GSE/SF722 napalm. It's got no choice- I'm not feeding it anymore and it knows it! and because I have been unwell since I was 19 years old and had Ic since I was 23 years old I am more stubborn than this fungus. I don't care if I am 40 years old (I'm 32) when I get balenced again. I will be balenced and healthy. if I'm not making any visible progress with my gut its probably because some crap is getting stirred up. Pain- gut wrenching pain- that has got to be die off and that is good progress. Sometimes the fact that sh** is all screwed up is a sign that you are making progress as backwards as that feels/seems.  that is the yeast/bacteria/paracites sounding the death knell and taking pot shots at you on the way out. you just have to be brave here- I too have had to constantly constantly more so actually than in the beginning email MAtia for changes to my formula cause things will  kinda work for a  few days and then not work AT ALL. really werid. sometimes this process takes you deeper down the rabbit hole  than you EVER thought you could descend.all twisting and turning.if  you are in the thick of things keep going. it is  more than possible to over come this.  make peace the best you can to understand that for some folks it does take a LONG time to get totally well and balenced  especially when you factor in the causes that brought you to that place. but- long time does not mean a death sentence FOREVER or impossible - you can do it. healing energy to you!Mary

I just posted for support, and then I read this thread.  I'm just so glad I'm not alone, even though it means others are suffering too.  Keren, just so you know, I am also a second time patient of Matia's, I was pretty good for about 8 years in between, no bladder problems, until 14 months ago, now I'm back.It brings me so much perspective to read other's experience.  While are constellations of symptoms might differ, we all seem to have similar experiences.  Ever-changing protocol, protocol works for several days like a charm, then stops for no logical reason.  Going backwards with foods.  I can so relate to all of that! Thanks for reaching out and sharing, everyone. 

This is my first post. I've been a patient of Matia's for around 10 years.  I've had times where I thought I was getting better, and times when I just want to give up, like now.  I think about trying other things then remember that I already did that (tortures that you can't imagine) and I was worse.  I know that Matia is the only one that has EVER helped me.  If I didn't have her and my chiropractor I'd be gone by now.  I understand pain, depression and frustration. Just when I think I can't go on, I get a little better.  Right now I've had incredible pain for over a month.  I'm really depressed and of course can't get her help as frequently as I need it.  It's encouraging to know that their are other people out their that suffer as much as me.  In the past I didn't want to belong to any support groups because I didn't want to focus on my pain/problems.  My family I'm sure believes that I'll always be in pain.  My work friends don't know as I hide my pain and problems. They know I have a restricted diet, but they just think it's because I'm so "Healthy".  I guess I need to log on here more and try to believe that there is a reason for all this suffering.

its nice to know that other ppl deal with the horrid bloating. after 14 months in treatment that seems to b the only thing that wont go away and that im sturggling with.im so thankful for being in treatment with matia. i am miles better from where i was a year ago. but as you get better its like your pain tolerance changes and things u could handle then u cant now. does anyone deal with constant head pain? it seems to b my biggest symptoms along the bloating

Your perseverance and patience is astounding... esp holding onto the knowing that even if it's taking so long and still so rough, you are in better hands w/ Matia than going back to Western which could've made you much worse.  I am so sorry to hear what you are going through, it really is inhumane, you are BEYOND a trooper.  I do not see an email icon by your name to contact you, but you can email me and I will happily lend an ear and support however I can. I'm so glad you reached out... I am not a super long-timer (1.5 yrs) but believe there are other long-timers that may not post but are out there to also lend support.
BLESS YOU!!

I found this on www.celiac.com : "According to a new study published in the February issue of Neurology, severe, chronic migraine headaches can be triggered in gluten-sensitive individuals who do not exclude gluten from their diets."  Maybe this will help to be gluten free!