Matia, or my IC friends,

I usually feel impervious to threats of the winter cold or flu since I take such care for my body and the nutrients I put in it to support my immune system.  I also never get a flu shot for various reasons, not to mention I don't ever want to aggravate my bladder.

But I can't help to feel a bit of fear surrounding what I'm hearing about the H1N1 flu.  For one, I'm pregnant--and 'supposidly' more at risk.  But also, because I'm not sure how to distinguish between media and public hysteria, and the truth.

Hello,

I have been a patient of Matia's for nearly three years, and have made huge progress (% 95 percent reduction of symptoms). 

I recently got pregnant, after over 3 years of protected sex because my husband's sperm burned me terribly.  When we conceived there was no pain at all.

Today we had sex, and his sperm burned so bad!  And now, hours later, I'm still just not right, and of course am very concerned about my growing baby (only 6 weeks at this point).  My bladder is not happy, but I also can't distinguish if my uterus is hurting too.

Hi, I was wondering whether there are also other patients in treatment that also suffer from endometriosis.  I have endo since 3 years and it gives me a lot of pain. 
Vicky

hi everyone,

Sept 14-20 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week - no joke.  How cool is that?  http://invisibleillnessweek.com/

I found this site to have some interesting & helpful tidbits as well as ideas & materials for generating more awareness.

Also, check out this great list of responses to the comment we all love - "But you look so good!"  http://invisibleillnessweek.com/?p=1554

For those like me who struggle with feeling guilty for the inconvenience/stress/limitations this illness puts on our partners, I found this quote from Life Disrupted (an otherwise nothing-special book for me personally) that really helped put things in perspective:

"I had a husband who was willing to be flexible with his needs and desires for my benefit.  I owed it to him to be grateful, not guilty....

I had thought since I was the one with all the experience with illness that I had everything to teach [him]; instead, I had a lot of learning to do too."

my theripist had me do this thing where i am to imagine what it will be like when i am well. What is stopping me from feeling good. What is going to be like? The assignment is not to say I will not be this but I will be or I am blank. so here is mine. This is harder then you think. I wanted to say I have no pain you can't say that you have to say what you do have is where it gets tricky.

I am full of energy

I have no worries

I am present

I am free

I feel joyous

My body is light

my head is open and clear

Hi Ladies!
I have been trying to find cashew butter with the only ingredient being cashews and it is so hard to find!  I've looked all over the internet.  I saw in another post someone said they ate cashew butter and the only ingredient was cashews.  Where do you find that? 

Oils tend to bother me a lot, so the nuts can't be roasted in any oils.  This is so hard to find!  I have been eating some sunflower seed butter but I don't tolerate it well.  I so wish I did!  It tastes very like peanut butter to me.
Thanks
icnot4me

Hi all

I know I have posted about this before, but I wanted to see if there was any fresh perspective out there...

For over a couple of years, on and off, I have had numbness/tingling in my left arm and leg.  I then started to have a lot of soreness over the last year in my left armpit that would seem to correspond to the numbness.  The pain extends from my armpit to the breast which very much scares me.

what do you all do about mosquitos? Here in Fl its really bad i get eatten alive. Matia told me catnip on my socks i don't wear socks and the catnip doesn't cut it either. I tried neem it works some but i think it made me nausious caused me to have hot flash too. i am not so sure Matia understands being in a dry climate there not bad there. It's out of control and i have bites all over me.