Day 1 To End Chronic Pain in my Bladder

I have Interstitial Cystitis and TMJ. I also have some knee pain, groin pain, and shin splints. But the one that worries me the most, and the reason I'm here, is interstitial cystitis. It makes me have to be very careful about what I eat, affects my sex life, and has caused many sleepless nights. It all started while I was doing IVF treatments to get pregnant, then got worse after my daughter was born, then going back to work sent me into level 8 bladder pain that forced me to quit my job.

I have done bladder instillations of lidocaine for the pain, taken pyridium and hydroxyzine and tried dozens of natural remedies. I've seen urogynecologists, acupuncturists, gastroenterologists, naturopaths, physical therapists, a rheumetologist, and an ayurvedic healer, all to find the root cause of my pain. I just could not accept that there is no known cause for IC. For a long time, I was convinced that "disease begins in the gut" and started down the whole "Leaky Gut" path: drinking bone broth, taking probiotics, avoiding gluten and dairy, drinking green smoothies. I felt good doing these things and it really helped my digestive issues, but my IC has persisited.

Then, someone in my local IC support group claimed they got better reading Dr. Sarno's "Mindbody Prescription". She also did journaling in Schechter's workbook, meditated daily, and took a local Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class at a local hospital.

So, here I am. I would love to read more IC related success stories as I still feel some doubt that my IC is caused by TMS since people with IC have so many different presentations of symptoms. I have no doubt that I have had other TMS symptoms in my lifetime, and I have the classic personality traits.

I have already read a couple of Sarno books and Ozanich's book. I also journaled from Schechter's 30-day mindbody workbook. I have insight into why this is happening, but so far unable to change my pain level, which currently sticks around a 1-2 level. My only evidence that it may be working was having 3-4 pain-free days after reading the Mindbody Prescription.

Thanks.

 

Hi, prisd. You've been checked medically and no physical or structural problem showed up, so it's what I think... you need to discover some emotions that cause your pain. It looks like it started when you became a mother and the responsibilities could have troubled you. If that is why you have the bladder pain, you will heal when you ease up on your expectations of motherhood, or what others expect of you. Stress reduction is the answer to healing. Good luck in the SEProgram. You have just begun it but I already can see you believe in it and TMS, and that is 100 percent necessary in healing.

 

Welcome prisd. You've got a leg up on most newcomers, since you've already done a lot of reading. I think you'll find the SEP to be an amazing experience. Not only will you read more success stories, high you said you found to be helpful, but it will introduce you to many resources, and it will focus you on various issues in your own life.
TMS pain often comes and goes, and even changes location before it gets better. Hang in there!!

 

Walt and Gigi, Thank you so much for your words of encouragement.

 

Will reply more later. Your story sounds like mine. Please read it. I did all that bladder installations too. I am 100% convinced it is TMS.

 

That is awesome evidence for you to have 3-4 pain free days. My story was similar. I new"something"was going on when I felt a slight relief in pain when reading The Divided Mind. It was so hard for me to imagine all the places my mind can reach into my body with pain.

I was in terrible stress when I moved my parents 6 years ago to my city due to numerous health issues. I started having numerous urinary track infections. I asked a bummer of doctors about stress causing this. Then urinary frequency and abdominal pain. Łots of cramping. This lasted for months. Lots of physical therapy. Then More horrible debilitating pain. The Urogynecologist suggested a procedure of cutting the nerves to try to relieve the pain.

My husband and I said this can't be the answer. The doctor suggested an awesome physical therapist. She suggested reading Dr. SARNO'S book. The rest is history.

You might consider creating an "evidence sheet" of all the reasons why it is TMS. Study it everyday. You have read everything. You now need to convince yourself, as you know. Feel free to send me a private email or we can talk on the phone.

You can do it.