Total Wellness Case History

More Case Studies Weight Loss, High Cholesterol & Triglycerides, Osteoarthritis   Weight Loss, Allergies, Sinus and Yeast Infections   Interstitial Cystitis & Perimenopause   Infertility, Miscarriage, Insomnia, & Poor Hair Growth   Irritable Bowel, Candida, Poor Diet   Gastric Reflux, Weight-loss, Constipation, Psoriasis, Asthma   ADHD, Digestive Health, Sensory Integration Issues & Food Sensitivities   Poorly Functioning Immune System, Chronic Strep Throat   Allergies, Asthma, Behavior Problems, Sensory Issues, Chronic Stomach Ache

Interstitial Cystitis & Perimenopause

Background

Maria was referred to me by her urologist over four years ago. She had just been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic bladder disease caused by inflammation in the bladder walls that causes urinary frequency, burning, pelvic heaviness or pain and in some cases can be so severe that the urge to urinate occurs every 30-60 minutes. That’s how severe Maria’s symptoms were when she first came to see me. She was 45 at the time, which put her into the age group when many women start to experience hormonal changes. In addition to the bladder problem she was experiencing fatigue, food allergies, night sweats, sinus problems, mood swings, and depression. She had been on Prozac for her depression and was in tears during our meeting wondering how she was going to cope with this new illness.

Treatment

Since I have worked with many IC patients over the years, I was able to give Maria reassurance that by changing her diet and adding some key anti-inflammatory supplements, she would feel better soon. As an Italian, Maria consumed a lot of red sauces and tomatoes, two of the worst foods for IC, due to high acid content. I also recommended that she remove other acidic foods like coffee, alcohol, vinegar and citrus fruits, and other foods that are irritants like cheese, dried fruit, avocado, nuts, and chocolate from her diet. I explained to Maria that these foods needed to be eliminated for a short time (usually one-three months) to allow the inflammation in her bladder to be repaired. When she was feeling better, foods could be added back in moderation without any problem.

It was also important for Maria to improve her sleep so she could better handle her anxiety and stress, which were exacerbating the IC symptoms. I recommended acupuncture treatments and relaxation exercises as an adjunct to the nutritional program.

The supplements that were recommended for Maria were a multi-vitamin/mineral complex for overall balance, a non-acidic vitamin C for her sinus problems, vitamin E for night sweats and allergies, fish oil for inflammation and depression, calcium/magnesium for anxiety and relaxing the bladder muscles, and a probiotic supplement to make sure there wasn’t extra bacteria or yeast that were making her symptoms worse. I recommended the following tests for Maria: a food sensitivity panel, since many people with IC have food intolerances; a hormone saliva profile since I suspected that her hormones were playing a major role in the anxiety/depression; and blood work to rule out anemia and thyroid problems.

Results

On her follow-up visit, Maria reported that she thought the diet would be much harder than it was.  She was feeling a lot better with more energy, longer sleep without night sweats, and less frequency and burning when she urinated. The blood work showed slight anemia and no thyroid problems. The food sensitivity test showed problems with cow’s milk, aspartame, wheat, garlic, banana, lentils, cashews, and certain vegetables. Her hormone test revealed estrogen at the low end of normal with no mid-cycle surge, an elevated progesterone level, and normal testosterone levels.

The next phase of Maria’s program was to customize her diet based on the food test for a period of 90 days so that the sensitive foods could be removed from her system, allowing her body to heal. Because of the low iron levels, I recommended that Maria add more meat, fish and poultry to her meal plan since these are the best sources of natural iron. For her low estrogen levels, I suggested she add more plant estrogens to her diet like soy and flax and try using chasteberry extract, an adaptive herb* that helps with hormone balance.

Summary

Over a period of several years I have seen Maria on and off.  For the most part she is managing her IC and emotional symptoms well. She occasionally calls for a visit when she goes off of her diet and supplements and starts experiencing a flare-up of symptoms. This is common for patients with IC.  When they closely follow the diet and take their supplements regularly most of them feel normal again in a matter of a few months. Many are then able to tolerate a little citrus fruit or a glass of wine without consequence. It is having the motivation to make the change in the first place that is the most difficult. As Maria is nearing 50 she has had few menopausal symptoms other than some anxiety and depression once in awhile which she feels she can tolerate. Overall, her diet, supplements and life style changes have served her well and she is maintaining good health and balance. When we last spoke, Maria had gone back to work full-time and was energetic and able to handle her daily stress better. She is currently working with her doctor to wean herself off of Prozac.

Maria’s Makeover: Before

Maria’s Makeover: After Total Wellness Program