The Importance of Doing YOU While Healing

After a longer-than-expected break from posting, I'm back to write about something that has been on my mind recently. These days, I've had a lot of me-time; much more than usual. Initially this was such a strange, new phenomenon for me that it was actually incredibly difficult to get used to. Yeah, yeah it may sound ridiculous, but I KNOW that I'm not the only one who has felt this way. If you are like the old me, you may find yourself balancing a million-and-one different things, trying to please multiple people, and sacrificing that which is most important: yourself.

Sacrificing quality time spent with yourself is not good for anyone, but even worse for those who are suffering from an ongoing health condition.  You need to take care of yourself in order to heal, both physically and emotionally.  You can eat all of the healthy, organic, alkalizing food in the world, but if you are still running around at a thousand miles per hour, you are not going to get better.

So today, Saturday, I urge you to take an hour and do something that is completely selfish.  For me, this could mean taking a yoga class, studying Spanish, spending time in nature, or just zoning out watching a silly movie.  It doesn't matter what you do, just make sure you are stress-free and happy while doing it. Call it a mental health hour- everyone deserves one!

So, get off the computer and go enjoy your weekend. More posts to come soon.

Happy Healing :)

Greetings from Hawaii

Hi IC friends! I didn't mean to abandon you. I'm sorry for my posting hiatus. Things have been a little hectic on my side, but I'm back and ready to continue sharing my healing journey.  So, why have things been hectic for me? Well, I moved to the Big Island of Hawaii last week.  I live in a tropical rainforest with my boyfriend where cell reception barely exists and the closest store is at least a 10 mile drive. The rain falls freely and abundantly, but when the sun beams down, boy do we feel it. Our front porch sits on a koi pond, filled with colorful fish.  The smell of hibiscus lofts through the house like a faint perfume. Roosters crow before the break of dawn to wake us.  We eat fresh fruit from the trees for breakfast, feasting on mangos, papayas, whatever is abundant.  Down at the beach, we swim amongst sea turtles, exploring the mixture of coral and lava rock that paints the ocean floor.

Why am I here? To explore, experience, heal, grow, recharge, heal, heal, heal… do you see where this list is going? In my opinion, there is no better environment for me to continue my healing journey.  Things are verrrryyyy slowwwwww here, people are incredibly relaxed and laid-back, and holistic medicine, fresh fruits & veggies are everywhere. You should SEE the farmer's markets here! I have been feeling wonderful, even in the midst of a crazy move.  I cannot wait to share my experiences, new recipes and healing advice with you, so that you can experience a bit of this paradise wherever you are.  In the next few weeks, I will be sitting down with some local Naturopaths to discuss IC, and I hope to gain some new insight into the illness to help everyone along their path to wellness. 

I hope that everyone is enjoying a pain-free holiday season.  Happy healing!

Stress-Free Traveling With IC

Over this past weekend, I traveled from San Diego back to New York to visit my family for an extended holiday.  Traveling can take a toll on even the healthiest of people, so we ICers need to be extra careful. While it was wonderful to see all of my loved ones, the trip was fairly hard on my still quite fragile body. I forgot just how challenging traveling can be for us IC patients! While I usually feel quite normal and IC isn't a major worry of mine, I found myself combating a flare-up while I was on the East Coast.  

Flying out of beautiful San Diego to head to freezing cold New York!

People with IC know just how stressful traveling can be while coping with a chronic illness.  There are all sorts of things we must take into consideration that we once took for granted: packing IC friendly foods, making sure we get aisles seats on the plane, bring our emergency tools to cope with unexpected flare-ups... the list goes on! My experiences this weekend got me thinking, and I've developed a list of travel tips for ICers to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.

• If traveling by plane, make sure to book an aisle seat. This will take away the stress of disturbing your seatmates while getting up and down if you aren't feeling well or if you are experiencing urgency. If you are having a particularly bad flare-up, it can be helpful to let the flight attendants know so that they can work to accommodate you better. One time during a brutal flare-up, a saintly flight attendant allowed me to stretch out and sleep over the back row of open seats.  It's better not to keep it to yourself when you are in pain.
• Wear comfy clothing. I'm talking leggings, sweatpants, a flowing maxi-skirt... anything with an elastic waistband that won't constrict your pelvis.
• Bring a pillow or cushion to sit on. This can help lessen the impact of plane turbulence or a bumpy car ride on your pelvis.
• Bring your favorite heating pad.  Everyone with IC knows that a heating pad can do wonders. I bring mine everywhere, and I even have a portable outlet in my car so I can plug it in during a long car ride!
• Pack your favorite on the go IC snacks.  Make sure you have options! Don't get stuck eating something because you are starving and have no other choice.  Some of my favorites are plain almonds, Larabars, or Kind Bars in IC friendly flavors! I also make sure to pack some herbal teas so that I can enjoy a comforting hot beverage while on the go. 
• Make sure to get adequate sleep. When traveling, we often spread ourselves too thin to get everything done in a short amount of days.  This is bad news! When we are tired, our bodies are more prone to flare-ups. While traveling, it is important to be selfish and make sure to care of ourselves; we can only do so much.  Your loved ones and friends will understand!
• Make sure to stay hydrated. While on the road, our water intake can often drop.  Also, flying dehydrates our bodies, badly! Make sure to continue to drink water during your visit, but make sure to take small sips instead of chugging so that you aren't running to the bathroom.
• Bring distractions. When we experience flare-ups, our minds can often be our worst enemies.  I like to distract myself with music, a good book, a movie, or meditation techniques.  During my most recent plane ride, I wasn't feeling very well so I used a new meditation app on my phone, HeadSpace, (I will write about this soon!) to help calm my nerves.  Within a few minutes, the pain had lessened. Having enjoyable distractions can really make a huge difference.

Happy holiday traveling and happy healing!

Healing Reminder :)

I have learned never to underestimate the capacity of the human mind and body to regenerate - even when the prospects seem most wretched.  The life-force may be the least understood force on earth.  William James said that human beings tend to live too far within self-imposed limits.  It is possible that these limits will recede when we respect more fully the natural drive of the human mind and body toward perfectibility and regeneration.  Protecting and cherishing that natural drive may well represent the finest exercise of human freedom.

- Norman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient

Having faith and confidence in your own healing ability might just be your biggest ally along your journey to good health.  Happy healing!

Stay Current on IC Research

As IC patients, we know how important it is to be our own advocates.  Part of this means being aware of treatments and options for people suffering from this illness.  A dear friend of mine (who also happens to be a fabulous endocrinologist) recommended that I stay up-to-date by using the website PubMed.gov. This website generates a listing of the most recent medical studies released from around the world that pertain to IC.  It's very simple to use, just go to the website, and type "Interstitial Cystitis" in the search bar, or click here instead!

When I searched today, the first study that appeared was entitled: Urine alkalization improves the problems of pain and sleep in hypersensitive bladder syndrome. Isn't this exactly what we've been talking about here for the past few months?

 Be ahead of the curve, and your doctors.  Be your own advocate to help find ways to feel better.

Happy healing!

Sometimes the biggest results can come from the simplest changes...

found on instagram.. not sure of the original source! if you know, tell me :)

Healing Vegan Carrot & Rice Soup

I actually came across this cozy soup recipe on the blog of a former IC sufferer, Jess Lyons.  Jess was able to heal herself from IC over the course of  a few years by being extremely kind to her body (if you are interested in her healing tips and IC story, click here!). These days, IC is such a non-issue for Jess, that she barely even mentions it on her blog, Quaintrelle.  Instead, she now keeps a lifestyle blog focusing on fun things  such as crafting, cooking, and fashion. 

When I came across this recipe, I knew I had to try it out! I love both carrots and rice, and as the weather gets a bit colder (even in sunny San Diego!) I've been dying to make some more soups. Plus, it looked super easy, and it was. Below is my adapted version of her recipe.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 Stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1 Clove of garlic, minced
• 2-3 T of olive oil or vegan margarine, or butter if you aren't vegan
• 2 48 oz cans of vegetable broth (I try to avoid canned products, but Trader Joe's has a veggie broth that I find quite IC friendly.  You can also make your own, if you have the time!)
• 1 Cup of brown rice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

• Combine all vegetables into a large soup pot with olive oil/butter/margarine/whatever your preference is. Simmer until carrots are tender.
• Add broth and rice, bring to a boil, then reduce to medium and simmer until rice is tender.
• Remove pot from heat and let cool.
• Use either an immersion blender to combine, or a regular blender to blend coarsely.
• Heat to your liking, and enjoy! 

Happy healing!