Experiencing Setbacks

I have a confession to make.  Recently, I've been feeling good.  So good, that sometimes I almost even forget that I have IC (almost). I've been feeling really amazing, with minimal symptoms and pain.  When this is the case, it is so easy to forget what we've been going through and the goals we have set. Over the past weekend, I got distracted with the joys of living a pain-free life.

So, what exactly did I do in my moments of weakness? I cheated on my strict diet.  Not terribly, but enough.  I went out, had couple of drinks with friends, and indulged more than usual.  After doing so, I experienced no residual pain whatsoever.  I was ecstatic! Could I truly be getting better? Feeling stoked, I decided to take it a step farther - I went for a run.  Now, running is a HUGE flare inducer for me, but I was feeling so great and just had the strongest urge to run down the cliffs by my house.

Big mistake- about a mile and a half in, there it was - cramping, stabbing pain in my pelvis.  I had to stop, and almost fell over to the ground because it was so excruciating.  Somehow, I managed to slowly walk back to my apartment without passing out.  The spasming subsided, and I truly feel completely fine now. A little frightened, but fine.  However, was there a major lesson learned? Absolutely.

I'm not angry at myself for my behavior over the weekend, because I am human and it can get really hard sticking to such a strict and boring diet.  However, the experience serves as a reminder that I still have a long way to go to being better.

So, what will I do?

• I will get right back on the path to health, putting myself and healing first.
• I will be kind to my body and nurture it as it deserves to be.
• I will eat soothing, calming foods, particularly for the next few weeks.

What won't I do?

• I won't get discouraged about my healing progress.
• I won't get stressed or angry at myself for my mistake. 
• I won't attempt more than one "cheat" activity when I'm feeling good. We should always remember to ease our way back into normal activities. For example, try only little bites of trigger foods, have small sips of trigger drinks, and don't dive full force into any rigorous activities. 
• I won't indulge in anything that I know is causing more harm in the long run until I am back in a good place.

We all have our days and our weak moments, but it is important to remember that healing is a long journey.  We can't expect results overnight.  Even when experiencing minor setbacks, know that and we can always bounce back to where we were.  It can always get better.

Happy healing!

Where Western and Eastern Medicine Meet

I have long been a proponent for the combination of Eastern and Western medical practices.  I feel so strongly about it that I currently am studying to eventually become an Integrative Nurse Practitioner (unfortunately, this won't be for quite some time since I received my undergraduate degree in something entirely different).  I believe that both sides of the spectrum have a lot of great things to offer, but practicing one without the other leaves out crucial elements that can help a person heal. In terms of IC, I'm a big fan of a "whole"-istic approach to treatment.. exploring all possible avenues- and I feel that not enough (if any) doctors actually do this.

 In the following article, Dr. Robin Friedlander argues for the integration of both Eastern and Western practices for the best overall care. Check out the article below!

Where the Private Practice Model Still (Sort of) Makes the Most Sense

Radiate Love

via Rosie Molinary

Radiate love and good things will come your way.  Positive vibes lead to positive feelings. Remember, your mental state has a lot to do with how you are doing physically! Breathe deep, relax and know that you can feel better. 

Happy healing! xx

Easy Mediterranean Veggie Wrap

Since moving to San Diego, my obsession with avocados has grown immensely. They are absolutely amazing, and so so good for you! Here is my new favorite quick-and-easy lunch wrap that won't set me off in pain.  I hope it works for you too :)

Mediterranean Veggie Wrap 

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• 1/2 a cucumber 
• feta cheese
• 1 sandwich wrap (or if avoiding gluten, use collard greens or a gluten free choice)
• tahini sauce or homemade IC friendly hummus (found on the IC Network website! modify if necessary of course)
• Ingredients for IC friendly hummus (blended to taste):
• 2 cups drained canned or jarred garbanzo beans
• 1/2 cup or less tahini, to taste
• 2-3 T olive oil
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, squeezed
• salt to taste
• 1/2 to 1 tsp cumin to taste 
• shake of paprika 
• minced parsley

Directions:

• Slice pieces of avocado and cucumber
• Toss with tahini sauce or homemade hummus
• sprinkle with feta cheese
• Wrap, cut in half and enjoy!

Happy Healing!

A Grab & Go Snack that Works for Me

As an IC patient, it is difficult to find already packaged snacks that will not send me into a flare.  In fact, I typically don't recommend consuming pre-packaged foods to any IC patient, because pre-packaged items often come with a lot of other crap that we don't want to put into our poor bodies! However, sometimes you are in a hurry and need something fast and easy that is nutritious and won't hurt you.  That's when I grab one of these babies:

Kind bars are amazing! I typically grab a few before traveling (either during road trips or before a flight where I know I won't have access to healthy food) so that I have them whenever I need a pick-me-up. They are typically sold at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Sprouts, and Vons (at least in the San Diego Area). Kind bars are fabulous because they:

• are all natural
• are gluten free
• are dairy free
• measure low on the glycemic index
• provide necessary fiber
• have no additives
• are non-GMO

  The almond & coconut bar is the only one that I have tried, because the ingredients I have seen in others could potentially set me off in a flare.  But, as we all know, IC is very particular for each person, so what works for me may not work for you, and vice versa.

Ingredients in the Almond & Coconut Kind Bar:
almonds, coconut, honey, non-GMO glucose, crisp rice, chicory root fiber, soy lecithin

Now now, before you freak out at the word "soy," let me explain a little about soy lecithin.  While many IC patients have issues with soy products, some (like myself) can tolerate soy lechitin.  This is because soy lechitin is derived from soybean oil, and not from the soy protein itself.  Soy lechitin is used in many products as an emulsifier, holding a product together without making it unbearably sticky.
It is up to you to decide what works best with your dietary needs, as I am in no way a dietary expert, but if you do not have a serious allergy to soy, I would give it a shot!

Enjoy & Happy Healing!

Yoga - Why You Should Try it Today

Having fun on Cowles Mountain, IC and all.

Oh man. Yoga.  In the past few months, we've been having a serious love affair. If yoga were another man, I'd leave my boyfriend for him (just kidding!!). But seriously, yoga has honestly turned my life around since I developed IC.  Why? Let me list just a few of the many reasons:

• Provides amazing stress relief
• Releases endorphins (those happy little natural pain relievers) and helps to calm inflamed nerves
• Increases flexibility and agility and overall well being
• Low impact work-out ( very important: most IC patients have serious issues with high impact exercises! Look for something more mellow. Low impact does NOT mean less of a workout. Most days I leave yoga a sweaty mess, and I love it!)
• Improves mindset. We IC patients do a lot of damage worrying about our illness.
• Allows us to connect physically and emotionally with our bodies. We need to develop peaceful, kind relationships with our bodies, not angry combative ones.
• Serves as a great pain distraction. I never think about IC during yoga class, ever. It's funny how it seems to just go away while I'm focusing my energy on something else.

I hope this has inspired you to roll out your mat today! And don't worry, you can start out slow.  Most yoga instructors will be happy to discuss your concerns regarding IC.  Yes, not ever pose is great for our condition (particularly those that focus on core work), but modification is welcome in every class.  The best part of yoga is that you can truly make it your own practice.

Namaste and happy healing :)

What's for Breakfast?

As an IC patient, it is often hard to find easy, healthy recipes that won't leave me in searing pain.  Here is one of my favorite go-to morning meals that is both nutritious and really freakin' tasty.

Old Fashioned Gluten Free Breakfast Oats

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of gluten free oats (I like this brand)
• 2 cups of nut milk of your choice (I usually use unsweetened almond milk)
• any fruit that you can tolerate (I usually use bananas and blueberries)
• nut butter of your choice (I like organic peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower butter)
• cinnamon
• sweetener or choice (I use honey or agave syrup)

Directions: 

• Bring 2 cups of nut milk to a boil
• Stir in 1 cup of gluten free oats
• Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes
• Stir in nut butter, cinnamon, and sweetener
• top with fruit slices
• Enjoy with herbal tea of choice :)

Happy healing! xx