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Urination issues and TMS? Advice please.

Thanks Leo. I've got to laugh at this unconscious mind of mine. I'll just update here as well (had posted about it on another thread too) Despite no infection Dr gave me antibiotics as we are going on holiday next week and the thought of having nothing with me was scary. I haven't yet started taking them.

So, had the conversation with my son last night, by which time I was practically unable to move because of a full blown migraine and feeling very sick. We didn't stay for dinner, but left him with some things to think about - not in a bad way as I really want us all to find a way forward. Got home, threw up and went to bed with the worst migraine in years. Strangely enough bladder issues virtually gone! This morning feeling a bit better, sick feeling much better, migraine reducing and incredibly no stinging, burning throbbing etc from the bladder! Part of me thinks 'oh no, what part of me could be affected next' but really I think 'bring it on' because I've got your number now, I know who you are and what you're up to! So, despite some challenges, I'm a bit more positive today.

Also - Leo, I think it's common in TMS'rs to be very hard on themselves. I have been so horrible to myself all my life. Expecting to be perfect. I remember a counsellor I had some years ago saying "you would forgive anyone anything' wouldn't you? "Of course" I said immediately. "Then why can't you forgive yourself" she said. It was kind of a lightbulb moment for me.

A day at a time. That's all we can do. Let's be kind to ourselves today:)
 
bordersgirl56 said:
Thanks Leo. I've got to laugh at this unconscious mind of mine. I'll just update here as well (had posted about it on another thread too) Despite no infection Dr gave me antibiotics as we are going on holiday next week and the thought of having nothing with me was scary. I haven't yet started taking them.

So, had the conversation with my son last night, by which time I was practically unable to move because of a full blown migraine and feeling very sick. We didn't stay for dinner, but left him with some things to think about - not in a bad way as I really want us all to find a way forward. Got home, threw up and went to bed with the worst migraine in years. Strangely enough bladder issues virtually gone! This morning feeling a bit better, sick feeling much better, migraine reducing and incredibly no stinging, burning throbbing etc from the bladder! Part of me thinks 'oh no, what part of me could be affected next' but really I think 'bring it on' because I've got your number now, I know who you are and what you're up to! So, despite some challenges, I'm a bit more positive today.

Also - Leo, I think it's common in TMS'rs to be very hard on themselves. I have been so horrible to myself all my life. Expecting to be perfect. I remember a counsellor I had some years ago saying "you would forgive anyone anything' wouldn't you? "Of course" I said immediately. "Then why can't you forgive yourself" she said. It was kind of a lightbulb moment for me.

A day at a time. That's all we can do. Let's be kind to ourselves today:)
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Hi...
oh sorry you were feeling so bad. Full blown migrains are unbearable. I had them all my life and only had meds for them this past 8 years maybe.... so each attack 1 around every 2 weeks would put me to bed for 24 hours...with continual vomiting... omg thank god for the meds (sumatriptan) Problem is this med aggravates my bladder big time... add that to already having bladder probs... nothing is straight forward.

Im glad you are getting some control now.... any move in the right direction is a huge bonus.

I realise that Ive gradually gotten worse with my outlook on life and my abilities to mix. Pain slowly made it too uncomfortable to socialise..so I quit... no weddings.. no parties... no funerals........ Ive vanished of the family screen....

Im glad I found this site and hopefully can get some control back physically and emotionally.... and some pain reduction eventually with the urological and spinal stuff... and the migrains on the run would be my aim......

Have a good dayyyyyyyy

Regards
Leoooooo
 
Wings313 said:
I'm so glad to have found this forum. I have tried the Interstitial Cystitis Network and an anxiety support forum with not much response/help. I'm hoping to get more help here! :) Basically, I have pretty much all of the TMS personality traits. I'm going through one of - if not the most - difficult life situation: I'm a stay at home mom of a needy toddler, and I'm just not cut out to be a stay at home mom (wasn't even sure if I wanted kids in the first place). I'm not enjoying this lifestyle, but here I am as of now. Therefore, I'm under a lot of stress, am anxious a lot and mildly depressed. My physical symptom is a sometimes constant feeling like I need to urinate/pee, even if I've just gone. I don't really have the pelvic pain, but sometimes mildly. Of course I fear I have IC, and I went to a urologist who just by hearing me describe my symptoms doesn't think I have it. Yet, I still decided to try the IC diet (which I'm still doing - what a pain!), and even take some overactive bladder medication. However, I do think this is anxiety related. My muscles are always tense (I have TMJ issues too), and now the tension seems to be more focused in my pelvic region (because I'm thinking about it - consciously or subconsciously) - so it kinda makes sense that if there's tension there, it could make you feel you need to pee a lot. My symptoms decrease if I'm on Xanax...another telltale sign. I also don't have to get up to pee a lot at night. Anyone had this specific symptom? Does it sound like TMS?
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I do have your "exact symptoms" and have for about four years now. I'm just starting this TMS journey after dozens of doctors, diagnoses, and treatments. How are you doing now that it's been a while? Were you able to get better?
 
Sorry for the delayed response, lmorgan. The short answer is that since I wrote this, my symptoms have come and gone and come again, off and on. My conclusion at this point is that I have pelvic floor dysfunction with tight (hypertonic) muscles, which make me have the sensation that I need to pee even when I don't actually have to. And that muscle tension is caused by stress and anxiety. So for me it all comes back to a mental thing, and is very much in line with TMS theory. But I am getting pelvic floor physic therapy since there is very real muscle tightness. Hopefully that will start to help me long term. I'll PM you too. And FYI this problem is way more common than you'd think.
 
Oh, God, I wrote to you guys for the first time this afternoon and mentioned my IC. Had symptoms since my 20's before there was such a diagnosis. Healed tremendous back pain, migraines, stomach issues using Sarno and Schubiner over the years and when I saw IC mentioned as possibly connected, I had the flare up of the century tonight. As if talking about it triggered the symptom. Astounding. I am so appreciative of the knowledge base here. I can release the pelvic floor tension, will watch the YouTube video and read the book suggested re headache in the pelvis, for sure.
Thanks to all. Lots of courage and experience here, and humility. Guess it gets one flat-out real, never been with a TMS group till today.
Am amazed at the power of my brain to kick this up and so fast. I find myself wanting to explain it as I had too much iced blueberry tea (been on IC diet for 25 years), did two sets of core workouts after horseback riding on trail. Usually that busts tension but new core workout stressed me and and I pushed, hard, achiever.
I fit the profile. The work seems never ending. Not disturbed by the prospect of the depth of the sickness, just surprised.
Thank you all, so much.
 
Am better today but gave in to the old stuff of pyridium (sp) antibiotics and called the doc. I usually can tell the difference between tension/IC vs infection. I have had tremendous insecurity and anger arise lately. Most helpful to use the mp3 download from the book on pelvic pain someone recommended here. Simply excellent book and guided meditation! Grateful and scared at the backlash I got for reaching out. As if I had a terrible secret. I have been sharing about this mind/body thing half my life.
Never underestimated the ego's response to unconscious tension. For me. Ever.
 
Welcome to the Forum, @Bodhigirl! Thanks for sharing your story with us. I understand about how thinking about or writing about a certain TMS symptom can make it worse or one can appear that wasn't a problem before. It happens to me once in awhile. Still I think the benefit of participating in the Forum outweighs this problem, as the symptoms usually resolve quickly. You have recovered from other TMS symptoms in the past, so you can recover from this.

Keep us posted on how you're doing. We are all here to support one another. Let us know how we can help.

I wish you well....
 
Just want to touch back to all my old posts because it's always nice to hear how things worked out. :) I am doing MUCH better. My urinary stuff was and is completely TMS/mind-body stuff. I am convinced of that. Not even physical therapy helped. What I've found helped the most is not fearing the symptom, and not changing anything physically because of the symptom (I would walk differently, clench, cut out foods/drink, etc...but now I try not to). Take away the power of the symptom by not being afraid of it! Tell yourself - oh well, even if I have this symptom forever, it's going to be okay, it won't ruin my life, etc. Even the typical TMS/Freudian anger work didn't really help, although it can be a good exercise to do. For me it's all about dismissing it (the TMS symptom), not giving it power, not giving it attention.
 
Thanks for the update, Wings - you've got the concept, and this is good news!

You might be interested in this recent post, in which Kris reports success - this is a direct link to her post of two days ago (Wed Dec 2) but of course you can go to the top to read the whole thread as well, including how discouraged she was less than two months ago:
http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/exhausted.10387/#post-56500

Wings313 said:
oh well, even if I have this symptom forever, it's going to be okay, it won't ruin my life,
Click to expand...
This has been my M.O. for about four years, because I still have one symptom I can't seem to shake, it's always hovering, waiting to pounce when I lose mindfulness due to outside stress. It's a sort of dizziness/brain fog that I've had for so many years, that I think it's memorized in my brain, even though, thanks to Dr. Sarno and Claire Weekes and this forum, I am no longer afraid of it. But I realized very recently that I subconsciously accept it as normal, so now I'm working on being even more mindful, and in the present, and reminding myself that it is NOT normal and that I do not have to wait for it to pass - I can change my experience right now.

Still a work in progress, but I'm really ready to tackle the final 10%!
 
Right before I started TMS therapy my symptoms got so bad (and so many random ones) but the most recent one was exactly what you describe. It was very troubling actually and I feared the worst. However, within one day if jumping feet first into TMS therapy, to my surprise, THAT symptom went away!!!! I wasn't really even thinking that that was connected but it was clearly. It went away like I flipped a switch. I guess the message here us the body does whatever it can to scare the shit out of you and distract you the best it can. While it's always advisable to be checked by a physician (which it sounds like you have) it's also helpful to find the loop holes. The stuff about it that doesn't make any sense. Ex. It doesn't present like IC and for me mine came and went. The more I worried about it the worse it got. That symptom actually kept me up at night. I could sleep because it felt like I was going to pee myself. Again, like a switch, that was gone.

Sounds like you are under a lot of stress and you may have some good reason for repressed anger. Do yourself a huge favour and do some research. Check it out. Good luck to you!
 
Just read this - was actually looking FOR this - feedback re: WHAT ABOUT FOOD and the diagnosis of IC. I am in the midst of what I can only call the worst flare-up in years.
I returned to most normal foods over the past couple of years, based in working The Divided Mind, Headache in the Pelvis, Schubiner's book, etc etc. even though the foods have scared me.
I keep being assured that lemons are actually alkalyzing, which would in concept be good for the bladder. But when there is a razor blade feeling in my bladder, it's periodic, I am on the edge waiting for the next wave of discomfort... and I am using every tool I have learned to talk to my unconscious, to feel the feelings I know I need to feel, and the symptoms persist... Well, it seems that maybe I am just too sensitive to live a life that is medication-free.

I really want to be one of those people. I sometimes feel tremendous shame around medication even though I never abuse it - I actually take less than prescribed and take it regularly so I am not re-arousing pain - but I have such a desire to work this through naturally, with my mind.

Not feeling hopeful at the moment. Any other bladder stories that could lend hope, I would love to hear them?

I have done the deeper psychological work, and do it ongoing, for the preverbal self, the pain, the fear that I lived though as a baby. I hold that baby so safely... I am in my body with deep pelvic floor meditations. Yet, backsliding. I had four migraines in three weeks after gum surgery and the symptom imperative seems to say, well the migraines don't really scare her, she even enjoys the auras she has learned not to fight, so we ramp back into the good old bladder symptoms and it is as if I go into a FEAR TRANCE that is so hard to break!

I am breaking it here. There are no symptoms right at this moment. I have a glass of lemon water on the counter and I was afraid to drink it. I think I have to drink it and tell the unconscious that I am going to have a spiritual awakening as the result of my courageous act and stop repeating this pattern of victim, victim, victimization.

Oh, thanks all. I release it. Here. Now. Ah.

bg
 
Bodhigirl said:
I am breaking it here. There are no symptoms right at this moment. I have a glass of lemon water on the counter and I was afraid to drink it. I think I have to drink it and tell the unconscious that I am going to have a spiritual awakening as the result of my courageous act and stop repeating this pattern of victim, victim, victimization.

Oh, thanks all. I release it. Here. Now. Ah.

bg
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Bodhigirl,

I don't think you need to challenge yourself like this. Give yourself time to enjoy the fact that you have no symptoms at the present moment. Or actually, just enjoy the present moment, symptoms or no, instead of thinking of ways to possibly make it more difficult. That is still focusing on your symptoms instead of your life. The same is true for the internal debate of whether or not to take medication. Take it or don't take it, but don't turn it into a big internal conflict. This only creates tension and pain.

As you say in your last line, release it. Breathe, accept, release......repeat.....
 
Ellen said:
Bodhigirl,

I don't think you need to challenge yourself like this. Give yourself time to enjoy the fact that you have no symptoms at the present moment. Or actually, just enjoy the present moment, symptoms or no, instead of thinking of ways to possibly make it more difficult. That is still focusing on your symptoms instead of your life. The same is true for the internal debate of whether or not to take medication. Take it or don't take it, but don't turn it into a big internal conflict. This only creates tension and pain.

As you say in your last line, release it. Breathe, accept, release......repeat.....
Click to expand...
Help me understand what you mean re: trying to decide whether to resume meds or tough it out is TMS, please? Many decisions cause levels of tension as we travel from thesis to antithesis to synthesis: I am just trying to find a center and peaceful place where I can rest and regain my resting state - recalibration - throughout the day.
Would love to hear more. Thank you so much.
 
Bodhigirl said:
Help me understand what you mean re: trying to decide whether to resume meds or tough it out is TMS, please? Many decisions cause levels of tension as we travel from thesis to antithesis to synthesis: I am just trying to find a center and peaceful place where I can rest and regain my resting state - recalibration - throughout the day.
Would love to hear more. Thank you so much.
Click to expand...
Finding peace of mind is the goal. So I'm just suggesting that if you decide to take meds for now because that is where you're at, to be at peace with that decision. The shame and guilt around it that you mention in an earlier post will only fuel your TMS. Acceptance of where we are at is an important part of recovery.
 
Pardon my French, but don't get pissed off if you urinate too often. I am 85 and for several years had been awakening 3 to 4 times a night to go and whiz.
For the past three weeks, I've slept through the night from 9 pm to 7 am without waking up or needing to whiz even once. I wake up and feel the need, so I go.'

What happened to change? I discovered through journaling that I had been repressing anger and feelings of insecurity since my parents divorced when I was 7. In journaling, I realized they had their own TMS... Mom with her migraine headaches and Dad with back pain. That helped me to understand them better and to forgive them. Forgiving ended my own severe back pain.

I think my subconscious finally got it... that I am not taking life or problems and stresses so seriously, I am going more witrh the flow. When bumps in the road come alone, I laugh myself over them.
 
Walt Oleksy said:
I discovered through journaling that I had been repressing anger and feelings of insecurity since my parents divorced when I was 7.
Click to expand...

That's interesting, Walt, All through my early years, right up until I was around 12, my parents were in constant conflict and tried to divorce twice (once when I was 6, another time when I was about 12). Mom always ran off after dad had a temper tantrum and went crazy. That's probably the root of all my insecurities leading toward TMS after my mother died in 2001. Insecure and dependent already, that must have been the major trauma that triggered the original ACEs. Two-trauma process. You learn more as you live longer. Unfortunately your body is also getting weaker as you self knowledge increases!
 
Ic is a terrible diseas. I have had since 1984. Stress and anxiety make it worse. But I don't know if it is all TMS? Can a healthy diet help?
 
Hi Nutragirl, There is a difference between classical IC and other forms of pelvic pain. Classical IC is diagnosed with a cystoscopy that often includes Hydrodistension (though my urologist says that this is often not necessary because the bleeding of the bladder is seen in an in-office cystoscopy). I don’t know how you had been diagnosed and whether you have classical IC or another form of pelvic pain. There are other forms of pelvic pain and bladder pain and many of them are TMS. In the case of classical IC a specific diet seems to help some patients. If it is TMS diet will not help. The reason for this bladder and pelvic pain is not structural damage of the organs but a nervous system that is overexcited because of emotions that are repressed (to just say it very simplified).
As far as I can judge IC is a rare disease while pelvic pain with TMS as cause is quite common. You may have a look at Abigail Steidley’s homepage. She also did a wonderful interview with Dr. Schubiner on pelvic pain and IC.
 
I know that for me it was TMS. I actually had the issue of frequently feeling the need to urinate shortly after I had just gone maybe 12 years ago. I even saw a urologist who end up doing an outpatient procedure where they stuck a scope into my bladder. All they found was mild irritation. Same thing with my stomach when I had digestive issues. Doctors were no help. I lived with those symptoms for a few years, and eventually I saw the correlation between them and stress levels. I didn't know what to do about it and just accepted it.

FF a few years and my anxiety levels go off the charts, and a new symptom arises. RSI. More than a year into that I came across TMS. While working through the process I now know that those previous issues were TMS as well. I even had this terrible foot pain just walking day to day at one point in my life. I swear I got over it when I just forgot about it.

The sticking point for me after 100% accepting TMS as the cause was what was mentioned above. FEAR! Once I decided this RSI wasn't going to stop me from doing a single thing and to truly be indifferent to any pain, things really started getting better. I wouldn't be typing right now if this was a few months ago.
 
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