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Hi,
After not really having a flair for over a year, I got hit pretty hard 3 or 4 days ago - I'm not sure what caused it. Dr. B stopped my regular protocol and put me on some other things - still on them - supposed to be through the weekend. Unfortunately, she also took me off of the stuff for the anxiety (I'm really fearful that it was this medication - that helped anxiety - may have caused the flair)Good new is the flair has pretty well stopped - but, no surprises, without the herbs for the anxiety, I'm a scared anxiety ridden OCD person - who is really just trying to hang in there until Dr. B gets back to me. I'm here by myself today and just needed to reach out.
Hey honey, just wanted to say
Hey honey, just wanted to say hello! Really glad the flare's calmed. How recently had you added in the anxiety meds? How very, very annoying if they triggered the flare. Look: you know you can do this; you've handled the anxiety before. Just keep breathing, do some meditation if that works for you. Go for a walk around the block, anything to calm it. I do TOTALLY get it, I am a martyr to anxiety. Just crappy. Haven't got mine nailed yet either, but the things I've said help - or stick on an old film, or read a book, anything that soothes you. The thing to remembe is you will be OK. You will be. We're all here for you, too, so keep talking. You've got past blips like this before and you will do again. Just breathe. I'm thinking of you xxx
Go for a walk to a park,
Go for a walk to a park, watch a nice movie, go window-shopping online. Praying for you.
Thank you Blondy & Sarah
I'm getting my coat right now and am going outside.
Having a really bad time
Hi Denise, Sorry U are having such a hard time right now.I just wanted to reach out to U & let U know that U are not the only scared, anxiety ridden OCD person today. I hope U start to feel much better really soon. I have heard some of Dr B's patients talk about anxiety so I'm guessing it is related to IC & this treatment. I have had pretty steady improvement over the 11 months I've been in treatment, but for the last few weeks I've been having increased anxiety & some depression. I think for me some of it is situational too. As my health gets better, I realize how checked out of life I've been. I've been sick for several years & have really isolated myself as I just didnt feel up to doing much & also didnt really want to talk about my health issues because i feel that no one understands. Now that I've started feeling better I realize how many things I'm missing in my life due to being sick. I want to start dating again but have so much anxiety about it , I don't try very often. I imagine that if I go out with someone & we like each other, that once I tell him about the IC, he'll probably run the other way. Someone asked me out for lunch next week & I'm having so much anxiety about how it might go. Just feeling really crazy & off balance today. I wish Dr B would put me on something for anxiety. I tried Rhodiola but it made me more depressed. Hang in there Denise. I do believe we are on the right track.
Hi Lisa
I would have sworn that I replied to you yesterday - must have forgotten to hit the save button. Thanks for sharing your own experiences - it does help to know that I'm not the only one out there fighting the good fight as the saying goes. As for the dating thing - there are good men out there that will see past all of that - I know. I was lucky enough to find one - you will too. Please talk to Dr. B about the anxiety stuff - when she gets that you're serious - she is very helpful.
Take Care
Hi Denise, Thank U for your
Hi Denise, Thank U for your response. Glad to see that U were better yesterday,hope U are even better today. Sometimes just getting out of the house- like for a walk- can help.Thank U for your encouragement regarding the dating issue. It just feels so overwhelming to try to explain not only what IC is but the treatment I've chosen. Most people just do not understand. I do know that things are improving despite the struggles. I hope U are thru your rough patch & continue to get better.
Denise, are you feeling
Denise, are you feeling better today?
Blondie & Tinkerbell
Thanks for asking about me. I am better today. Blondie the walk helped - thanks for shoving me out the door. : )
Denise
Just reading your posthelped me to get out of my head this am and think about you. As Sarah said, you have been through a lot and have a lot of wisdom which we all beenfit from. I know that you will feel differently in a few days and knowing that helps me remember that my fatigue and bladder discomfort will pass. Do the things that Sarah and others said to try and keep us posted. We are here for you. Bonnie
Hi Bonnie
Thank you for the compliment on wisdom - it was really nice of you. I am doing better today. How about you?
Bad time
Hi denise
Just hoping you may be feeling a little better today and sending lots of hugs your way. I hope some of the suggestions have helped and you are doing better . It is so frustrating the way all these things interlink and one symptom changes only for another to flare up.
You are not alone in all this as Sarah said. I also struggle so much with anxiety and emotions which are so hard to handle along with the physical pain.
You CAN do this. :)
Julia x
Denise- glad you are feeling
Denise- glad you are feeling a bit better. (((((hug))))))
Thank you Julia & Deir
I can't imagine going through all of this without being able to reach out - it's such a life line
Hey Denise, I am hoping the
Hey Denise,
I am hoping the worst of the storm has passed for you. I hadn't checked the blog in a few days, but wanted to respond when you posted--- because, you are always there for all of us;) The anxiety is a very complicated issue because it is so intimately timed to the imbalance. It is sort of a chicken and the egg scenario for me... I have always been a bit jumpy, but I didn't really develop anxiety until I realized my health had become fragile... woke up one morning and had IC,... I suppose on some level, I wonder what will happen next?! And yet, as I get further into treatment and see there is a cause for what happened to me it takes some of that away, but certainly not all... as you say... this treatment is a leap of faith. I am glad you posted as well... for selfish reasons. I am almost a year into treatment and when I have a bad patch I wonder .. .should I still be having a flare?... I thought this part was supposed to be over with?!
There is a book that made a difference in my mental health. It is called The New Mood Therapy.. it is an older book, but really has some wonderful strategies and perspectives. (especially chapter 4). You are really an incredible woman and you deserve so much more than this shitty disease. Take care of yourself,
Katie
Thank you Katie
For kind words and compliments - AND the book - I'm going to look it up and order it. It seems that my flair was due to a big communication glitch between Dr. B and myself. I'm taking an herb that she doesn't usually use - but was ok'd by her. I sent her the info and she approved thinking it was the dry herb in a capsue. It was a liquid herb in a capsule - the liquid - even though didn't mention on the bottle - is either soy based or coconut oil based. It took about a month to work up to just about killing me : ( Got to run - at work
Take Care,
Anxiety
Matia once told me that anxiety is one of the symptoms she battles most with IC patients. We must all have it. Hope you get it under control soon.
Thank you!
I'm a working on it : )