WOW girl! You are in my thoughts and my meditative prayers-I don't know reiki but I am sending you what I imagine to be an energetic equivalent in my sincerest way to you. I think that theconstipation has to be aggravating the burning? I notice a connection with this. though ironically I am constipated and not burning- it can be that after a BM I feel releif!  I am still mega constipated myself and all the little tricks are not really helping me.  I am guessing that I'm inching along to get there like everything else. I have also noticed as I have gotten better in some ways I am now acutely sensitive to what can set me off- it was always that way it was just that I was unaware of what things were setting me off- candles, perfume aisles in grocery stores, even essential oils not just synthetic. I have had to swtich out everything from detergent to dish soap to wearing gloves when handling certain things. Yes! I think a perfume can be mega aggravating to IC! Also I have noticed that while some things don't bother me anymore- things that used to not bother me do- most grains seem to be too much for me lately! I can't do the spelt anymore or now I have to limit my Kamut intake to like 1-2 slices every other day and its okay but not mroe than that or it makes me burn. don't know why! I just got over a month of a bad everything is setting me off and the formulas were kind of helping but then mostly not really releiving my synmptoms- they may have been helping in other ways? I thought jeez is this going to end already am I moving backwards? then it was time for a different approach- now I feel better and when I say better I would say I feel better like things are calmed down and inflammation isway way down and I feel a notch better than the last time I felt good? It's so hard to understand why things can get all stormy in our treatment for no seeming reason. I think that minehas no trigger what so ever- it was time to shift gears and hit it from a new angle and those symptoms were the clues that we needed to change it up. It is going to be okay! Keep trying for the right fit of herbs and it will come. I am sending strong prayers that the formula for releif and your optimum treatment angle comes together quickly and your body responds right away. It took a few days for me. Somehow its actually all a progress even though it doesn't feel good right now! You are soo soo strong and wonderful. Thank you for supporting me the other day when I was struggling. You too Lisa. Yall are so FABULOUS! What was the filter you used for a bath? Sending peace and metta waves. You work so hard to be healthy and your committment to help others with education and health support is really inspiring.  Even with all of your challenges all this action this will add up to vibrant health. you really insprie me to do more and take more responsibility for my actions in many waysMary 

I for sure will be thinking of you.  I too have been having a bit of a difficult time due to my night time frequency picking up for unknown reasons.  The lack of sleep is so difficult.  It is scary.  What helps is for me to concentrate on how far I have come and also to see that others did take quite some time to get better.  I know that it is sometimes hard to stay positive when you are really exhausted and in pain.  I am thankful that my pain is so much less.  It is great to hear that you have been seeing improvements Nicole. My thoughts are with you and we will get better.
Kriste

Nicole ~ Nobody deserves this kind of pain, let alone trying to cope when you can barely sleep. I am thinking of you and doing a metta meditation for you.  Just know that we and so many others on this board know the pain you're in and how much it sucks and send you lots of healing energy your way. I second what Honeybee said about how hard you work for your health and your commitment to helping educate & support others. You are a special person.  You are so much stronger than so many others who barely know what pain is or haven't really been tested in life.  Hang in there...

Hello Nicole,Sorry to hear your feeling bad. Hang in there. Matia will get you through this.  My bets are on the perfum. Chemical smells always effect me badly. You need to ask your mother in law to stop wearing anything that has a smell while she's there. If you are worried about hurting her feelings, just tell her that your doctor suggested that one of the possible causes might be "new" chemicals (smells or other wise) that she might be wearing. She's there to help you. She'll want to do what she can to eliminate any possible cause. Take care and let us know how you're doing. Tammy

Dear Nicole..I am so sorry for this setback...am holding you in my prayers.I agree with Honeybee that the constipation and flare are very related and that one definitely affects the other. If yu can get your bladder more balanced I expected the bms will come...oh how i know the fears and discomfort of constipation. Are you consuming salad an raw veg and drinking LOTS of water in spite of it all ?I went to a fair at Christmas and thoughtlessly rubbed a sample on my wrist...organic, no preservatives I told myself when I realized what I'd done. I did go and wash right after. However, I crashed later and went through a flare that was awful...for days. I find I can't bear smelling perfumes an am sure of connection with bladder acting up. DO ask your mother-in-law to stop wearing scents in your house. Also, I am now sure that emotional upsets and any change of routine set me off into land of bladder pain..instantly!!!. When I have visitors of any type, I seem to suffer flares and worry brings them on too. My Gawd..we have become so sensitive  and yet, trusting Matia, I believe this is all working toward healing and good health.  Did you see Oprah yesterday? I felt a bit smug knowing  was on the diet the longevity experts are recommending to live longer. Maybe this is one of our bonuses when this is all over. A friend says we are like the canaries in the coalmine..at the forefront of society realizing all the pollutants and poisons in our environment. I did feel that was my job today as I suited up with rubber gloves and surgical mask to clean the toilet. Take heart, Nicole and Kriste and all and me,too! We WILL do this and are strong, special women to have searched and found help that will not harm us on the road to healing.Oh yes..the bath ball..I am using one from Amazon.com..a new method of filtering that does not release chlorine fumes as the carbon ones do. Tis one filters through a copper/zinc method enclosed in a ball that hangs from the tap. I have had no problems so far with it and am thinking it will get better as it is more seasoned, so think I can recommend. I remember someone saying copper was a concern for IC, but so far so good. It lasts  year or more without changing filter and the water is a major improvement..  Let us know how you are doing...wishing you some sleep as that can sure help...