This story too will find its permanent place on our kids page, but, I thought I would highlight it here first. One of my patients saw the story I posted the other day and sent her story in a few days later:)

Hi. I’m Melissa, and at 32 years old gave birth to my gorgeous daughter, Keira.

Looking back, I can see that I was creating the ‘perfect storm’ for IC from an early age. I always loved sugar, bread, and carbs and ate them in excess. Starting at age fifteen I began taking birth control pills for painful periods, and continued to take them for thirteen more years. In my early 20’s I had surgery to remove my tonsils. A few months later I experienced the absolute agony of what I thought was my first bladder infection. My doctor gave me antibiotics without confirming an infection. A pattern of ‘infections’ started every month for several months, until finally my doctor called one day and said ‘STOP taking your antibiotics. I’m looking at your records, and you have not had one bladder infection’. YIKES.

The physical, mental, and emotional pain that followed for the next year or two still make me cringe. I started getting frequent, debilitating pain that would leave me nearly unable to function for weeks at a time. I had terrible bladder spasms, my physical relationship with my now-husband was almost non-existent, and I was in absolute despair. Then, one week after I got engaged I had my worst flare, and it didn’t go away for a month. I found Matia one desperate night of searching online, and hopped a plane from St. Louis to LA a few days later to see her.

I decided to go ‘cold turkey’ with all of my prescription medications (9 of them) when I started working with Matia. I have never had a flare since working with her. I only got progressively better, not only with my bladder, but awful stomach problems, insomnia, anxiety, and a whole host of other symptoms. It was not a quick fix, but now that I’m a holistic health coach I understand the beauty in ‘getting out of the body’s way’ to allow it to heal itself naturally through food and natural supplementation.

Three years after working with Matia, my husband and I conceived our now precious 9-month-old daughter, after one time of trying (I never thought I would have a cycle again, let alone such an easy conception!). My pregnancy was incredible in terms of my bladder. I had absolutely no issues at all –before, during, or after. I am so happy that I waited until my body was really well balanced before I brought another life in the world. And now, my daughter has a happy, healthy mom to take care of her!