When a combination is effective...

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Yes, I have another question:) I have been working with Dr. B the last three-four weeks trying to figure out a combination for my tooth pain and my heart issues. 

For those of you that have had success in finding a combination with whatever IC ailment you have... what does it feel like when a combination is effective? Is it a slow process that you need to have days worth of dosages to feel the difference or do you notice a difference after a dose or two?

None of the combinations we have tried have made me worse, but they have not been effective in controlling these symptoms either. I believe we will find one that works, but I would love to hear from those of you who have had success with this.

Thanks,

Katie

fahlmank's picture
fahlmank

Hi! Yes... I think so... I am afraid to say I am having success for fear it may vanish...lol. Dr. Brizman and I have been emailing back and forth constantly.. she is incredible! I got so sick of being in pain I talked to her about a possible root canal, heart medication.. the whole nine yards. She was respectful yet very clear that she can/will pull me out of this. And today.. I finally feel better. My tooth pain is beginning to diminish and although it will take my heart a little longer to recover.. it is getting there. Thank you so much for asking and posting. I was worried I had said something goofy since no one replied to my post:)
How are you feeling?

deir's picture
deir

Glad to hear there is some improvement. SOrry I didn't post. I am wondering the same thing!

DLFox123's picture
DLFox123

Hi Katie,
I've been in treatment for over a year.  When I saw your post, I didn't know quite what to say.   This is the thing, I had horrible tooth pain that started when I began Dr. B's protocol - she didn't seem the least bit surprised - it kind of was the same thing in regards to horrible headaches.  Then, eventually, it settled down.  HOWEVER, the thing that I didn't want to tell you - it has often returned.  For me, I've yet to find THE ANSWER for any of these symptoms.  What I can tell you, is that slowly, but surely, I have improved.  The funny thing is, many of the imrpovements are for things that would never have led me to seek Dr. B out.  I had slowly broken down over the years and hadn't really noticed until it all came crashing in.
So, I know that you will get better.  However, for some, it gets a little bit worse, here and there, along the way.  My guess is that this is what keeps some of us older participants a bit quiet.
Most sincerely,

deir's picture
deir

Denise, I can only speak for myself but i find that knowing that sort of hting helps me deal. I don't want to have false hopes and then be scared when I am feeling bad again (which keeps happening) I'd rather know that it comes and goes but slowly but surely improves over time.

fahlmank's picture
fahlmank

Denise, thank you so much for your honest reply. I think what you shared is what I needed to hear. I have found myself needing to manage my expectations since I have begun treatment. Before I began the diet and flew to LA, I had only bladder discomfort.. now this landslide of physical oddities have begun happening to me. When I share these ailments with Dr. B she assures me they are within the realm of normal, but sometimes I feel like no matter how extreme it is she has seen it and well.... i am not used to all the discomfort I am learning to cope with. 
We have been trying many different combinations for the tooth pain, heart palpitations etc and although there may be a general easing of the intensity, nothing really subsides and I keep wondering if it will be this way through treatment.... and I guess the answer is... Maybe. 
I believe that this treatment will work for me... it has to. Did you work to find a combination that is right for your tooth pain? What other physical issues have you dealt with? Are you where you are comfortable.. in terms of healing after a year?
A sincere thanks for sharing, 
Katie

Shelby's picture
Shelby

The more information people share the better for me.  I need details.  Even if you think protecting us is better like everyone else said I'd really rather know and not feel so alone in all these things I am suffering with.  I am experiencing really bad intestinal pain and even though Dr. Brizman keeps assuring me that the probiotics will help with this I am not seeing it.  I feel like my bowels are getting worse not better.  I definately have more pain.  I seem to tolerate the increase in probiotics bladder wise but bowel wise not so sure.  Anyone else have these issues?  I also have travelling muscle pain.  Some days its my legs and gluts....some days its my back, some days it my shoulders and neck....you get the picture.  My hair feels like its falling out more and more every day.....I hate looking in the tub after I shower because it's really scarry how many hairs I see.  I'm exhausted all the time, last night I went to be at 8:30.  My PMS is the worst it's ever been.  I'm a mess.  I've been at this on my own for over 2 1/2 years and now with Dr. Brizman for 4 1/2 months.  I want the light at the end of the tunnel to show!

deir's picture
deir

((((((((((shelby)))))))))) I fell your pain. I don't have the intestinal stuff but the other things- I do. You will get there. keep telling yourself "I am healing-it is a rough road"

DLFox123's picture
DLFox123

Hello Shelby,
About four months in my intestines kicked in.  It would hurt like the dickens, I would spend the night cramping, and feel like a brand new person when, FINALLY, it all came out.  Much of it was very mucousy. I would also run a mild fever during the whole thing.  This happened to me a few times without any real concern.  Then, one awful week,  about nine months in, I ran a fairly high fever, had diarhea continuously, had marvelous orange mucous, and then a ton of stringy blood.  I was absolutely sure that I had colon cancer, even though Dr. B wasn't too concerned.  After a colonoscopy, and numerous stool samples, the results all coming in about the time that I realized that I was going to live, it just quit hurting and hasn't bothered me like that again, for the last four months.
In the beginning I had muscle pain here and there, kind of went away.  Then, about four months ago, my right ribs and back hurt so much, for nearly a month.  I had black circles under my eyes and couldn't really walk. ( To this day, one part of my ribs still hurts on and off)  That got better, then my right calf cramped up so bad, I stepped up onto a curve and felt, and almost heard, this horrible ripping - kind of like the muscle had been stuck and was ripping free.  I froze, figuring that I was going to have severe damage and end up in the ER.  However, I was able to still walk and that slowly went away after a week.
I know that while I ended up here for my bladder, that my journey should have started here long before my bladder put up screams from my body for help.  My ear canals, when I started, were so closed up that you couldn't put a finger in at the end of the canal.  I lived on sinus medication for headaches.  I had been on stomach medication for a bad gut, I've had the epstein bar virus, that thing where your face goes paralyzed and they perscribe sterroids, and breast cancer three times.  Not one flipping doctor looked at the whole me and talked about balance, liver, and the whole picture.  They just through another medication at me.
So, ladies, I'm alive and kicking and know that this road isn't nearly as hard as not following it.
All my best to all of you.
Please remember that you did ask me to speak...:)

Christine222's picture
Christine222

Denise! You really are an inspiration to us all, don't ever stop speaking! I am amazed at all you have gone through and that you are still positive. It breaks my heart to see how many of you are suffering with so many other things besides this stupid bladder stuff, I don't know how you all do it. You all need to give yourselves some credit and a big pat on the back! I know how hard this is just dealing with the bladder alone I can't imagine throwing in all that other stuff.

DLFox123's picture
DLFox123

for all your kind words

Christine222's picture
Christine222

Denise! You really are an inspiration to us all, don't ever stop speaking! I am amazed at all you have gone through and that you are still positive. It breaks my heart to see how many of you are suffering with so many other things besides this stupid bladder stuff, I don't know how you all do it. You all need to give yourselves some credit and a big pat on the back! I know how hard this is just dealing with the bladder alone I can't imagine throwing in all that other stuff.

DLFox123's picture
DLFox123

Hello again Katie,
There is a very good chance that my tooth pain was different than yours - or not to the extreme.  So, please don't think that I'm telling you that this is what you need to do.  I rode the tooth pain out - marking it up to die off.  I also rode the headaches out - marking it up to die off.  My irregular heart beat, caused by an extreme dose of conventional anti-anxiety meds, sent me to the doctor for an EKG and the need to find something less toxic to my system.  For you see, the thing that I did not ride out was the anxiety/paranoia/extreme nut job.  That was my breaking point.  That is where I hounded Matia until she found something that worked for me.
I have dealt with a ton of stuff - which I've been most vocal about.  I love talking about ME :).  If you click on my name DLFox 123, then click on track, you can follow my never ending story.
As far as where I am now - bladder nearly never bothers me.  I still get some ear ringing, sometimes struggle with muscle pain, and if I do some things that I shouldn't - like a drink here and there, the anxiety/paranoi can start to take over.  I know that I still have junk in my system, as after the pro-biotics I itch all over, tingle, and feel so much better after I poop whatever out (aren't we all so graphic?)  I still get extremely tired and get dark floaters in from of my eyes.
Take care Katie and thanks for asking

Shelby's picture
Shelby

Thank you so much for sharing, you have no idea how much it helps to hear other peoples stories....I don't feel so alone.  I just wish one thing, I could find one other person who had hashimotos thyroid and has gotten better.  The doctor keeps threating me that I need to have radioactive iodine to kill my thyroid or have a thyroidectomy.  He's quite convinced that if I would just take treatment all my problems would go away.  I have however talked to enough people that this just causes another whole set of problems.  Not to mention who wants to put poison into their body.  Not me.  I'm already toxic enough.
Thanks again!

SarahC's picture
SarahC

Hey Shelby,
 
this article might be of interest - someone with HT who weaned themselves off thyroid meds and feels she rebalanced herself with diet and exercise ...
 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2034158/I-thought-heart-attack...

Shelby's picture
Shelby

Thanks for the article, it was a really good read.  Difference between her and me is I don't take medication for my hashimoto's and I have a goitre with nodules.  I don't think mine can heal itself....I think I've had it for so long now that we are beyond that.  It sounds like from some of the comments that I should be on some form of medication for my thyroid....but I don't know how well my bladder would take that.  It also sounds like it affects your other hormones which makes sense to me as well.

fahlmank's picture
fahlmank

Denise,
I hesitate to write right now. I try to post when I am in a pretty good place because I am not very good at sounding objective and balanced when I feel quite the opposite. Today was a tough day- one of the worse I have had in months. So, hearing that you have had many issues and feel that on the other side the healing does happen-- well, that sounds nothing short of a miracle today.
For years( I have had IC for 11) I have only had to deal with bladder pain and frankly, that was more than enough. The tooth pain is pretty extreme... it hurts like hell. The last two days have been better in that regard and I do hope it is the beginning of a trend. Even if it does come back later, I will be thankful for the interim break. I also have been having flu like aches and sinus pressure on and off the last six weeks. .. that part is tolerable.
What I am not tolerating well is the rapid heart rate and PVCs that have developed. I saw my cardiologist today for the result of a bunch of tests including a 30 day heart monitor. While I was in the Drs office my heart rate was as low as 86 and high as 122 .. just standing there. It's all over the place. Dr. Brizman assures me she can pull me through this heart issue and I trust her. What concerns me the most it that I can ride out tooth pain, bladder pain, sinus pressure, flu like aches.. you name it.. but this is making me crazy. Maybe I am just impatient. 
My cardiologist has given me the ok to try it without beta blockers for awhile. If the heart rate gets much higher, then I have to go on some sort of medication... and I really don't want that. 
I apologize for the long post... I think I needed to share. I truly know what you are saying when you said you had found your breaking point and ended up hounding Dr. B. Poor Woman... I email her every day.
Sincerely,
Katie
 

deir's picture
deir

Oh Katie--- I am so sorry- that sounds so incredibly rough. I hope you get a break soon. Hang in there. keep the faith

fahlmank's picture
fahlmank

Thank you Deir! You are so sweet:) I am sure I will get through it. I will keep you posted.

DLFox123's picture
DLFox123

Hi Katie,
I wasn't able to respond until now - as my home computer doesnt' let me - no idea why.  I don't work Fridays and am now back in the office.
Years ago - long before treatment - I had eratic heart beats - had EKG's run and spent a couple of days with a heart monitor.  I know first hand how unsettling that this can be.  For me, at the time, it was found that I had an underactive thyroid.  How I wish that I'd known that the thyroid was also just another symptom of an imbalance.
Know that you're not crazy for feeling crazy. It's not easy walking the line between Eastern and Western medicine.  Hang in there and let us all know how you're doing.
Take Care