July 2008
Hello Everyone,
It has been a great week. As I said in an earlier post, I continue to learn from all of you and from watching this process as time continues. This week I learned a lesson that I seem to learn repeatedly, and am myself stunned at how this happens too often.
Please remember to tell me about anything you are doing or taking. When I ask at the end of our conversation for you to confirm all that you are taking, please include everything you are taking. All prescription medications, all OTC medications--everything, not just what I have given you to take.
Anxiety is probably the #2 issue that I deal with in treating this condition of IC. Second, to the bladder itself. If many of you have read my dissertation then you can certainly understand many of the reasons why this happens. In addition, it happens because there is a common message of no hope! To make matters worse, what others may express as their experience may bring anxiety to someone else unintentionally. I am posting today to first say, that I cannot discuss any of you with others of you, no way, never!
Women are often embarrased to speak about their sexuality. More often than not, they have reall problems with sex and pretend that they do not. I cannot tell you the number of women that see me and tell me how they "fake" it with their significant others. While others may even worse, pretend to not have pain!!! This is especially common with women (and men) who have IC or other related chronic inflammatory conditions.
Preventing and treating colds and flus is common place in my profession. We do not advise flu shots. Many patients insist that they must get one each year. There are manyr easons why we might suggest against, here is one:
I had a new patient this week. Actually, not an IC patient, but a child of an IC patient. That patient quit their job bc of debilitating symptoms that made it impossible to fly for work regularly. This patient is brand new. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I have a patient that has been in treatment for I think one year now, and this person just accepted a job in a foreign country that will mandate monthly air travel and a whole new set of environmental and cultural challenges, and this person felt up to the task. This would not have been possible on year ago.
Well, somehow another week has passed and it is Friday. Time moves too quickly these days. And, in looking back on this week I think the thing that stands out in my mind (in reviewing the forum conversations and conversations with patients) the most is the struggle for each of you to defend your dietary and treatment practices (choices) to others. I think there is a huge chasm in thinking between Western medicine and alternative medicine--and this chasm extends to dietary practices as well.
Someone told me some very disturbing news today about a person who killed herself bc she had IC and other chronic health problems.
Aside from learning how to take better care of ourselves. We need to learn how to take better care of our environment and the health of our society and our world from so many different perspectives. Pleaser ead this article and let's all make a difference!
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMED...
