Forums:
I have been wanting to psot for a long time but i have been tongue tied because I went backwards a bit in bladder serenity probably due to too much acupuncture for knee pain. For awhile it felt pretty overwhelming to have the knee problem on top of the bladder because each can be quite all consuming and debilitating. However, I dug in and with help made progress on my knee problem and Dr. B has again been graciously holding my hand about the bladder. I have been sick for the last week with a cold that went to my sinuses so i stayed home today and tried to calm it down. Ultimately, I did call on Dr. B who prescribed herbs (and is so amazingly there) so here goes my gratitude list.
1) I am not healed but I feel that meeting Dr. B and everyone on the forum has been a positive experience that has radiated out into every aspect of my life. I can't put my finger on it just yet but the process of healing has allowed me to address or at least begin to address all of the skeletons in my closet. Negativity, anxiety, career uncertainty, medicating myself with unhealthy prescription drugs, my eating disorder, you name it. Getting well for me seems to require an ongoing dialogue to be in better self-relationship about all of these things.
2) Dr. B and others have been so encouraging and positive, I can't believe how all of this has infused my life. Perhas coming back from an illness that others told me was unsolvaeable turned a light on. i feel freed of so many things. Yes, there are times when I am still panicking or catastrophizing but I also feel self-understanding and happier to be happy even on a day when I am home and feeling not so well.
Big thank yous to everyone here and Dr. B and to life for being hard but also giving us the tools to guide ourselves through.
perfect post
I am grateful for my body which has the intelligence to heal.
I am grateful for Matia Brizman who has incredible patience and understanding for all of us who are suffering.
I am grateful for my son who distracts me with his silly antics from the pain.
I am grateful for my horse who has such incredible wisdom and a grounding affect on me.
I am grateful for my job in which as a therapist, I see people who are in far more suffering than myself. This helps me to keep perspective.
I am grateful for the nights I can sleep well without tinnitus or bladder pain.
I am grateful to my husband who is relentlessly patient about the money I have spent attempting to get well.
I am incredibly grateful for my mother, who has listened to too many nights of my tears and frustrations.
And there is SO much more. Thanks for this post.
More gratitude: It is amazing
More gratitude: It is amazing to see how we all support eachother on this forum and contribute to easing of another's suffering when we are hurting. The List has helped me believe that I can be more positive without a downside and that I can have a happy and less anxious life. Grateful that Dr. B treated my sinus infection without antibiotics and my bladder handled it. Grateful for the much needed rain that makes drought ridden LA look clean again; Grateful that it is Saturday and I get to do fun stuff! Grateful that I had pumpkin last night and it taksted wonderfully sweeted and my bladder aok'd it. Let's keep the gratitude list updated!
Wow. Pumpkin! Yum!
Bonnie, thanks for starting this.
Hmmm, it is hard to follow up on all of these eloquent posts.
I too am grateful for Dr. Brizman and this forum when I found very little hope on the other IC forums. (although I wish this forum had spell check ;) I am so thankful that people are willing to be vulnerable and post their small triumphs, fears, setbacks and milestones through dark and hopeful hours.
I am so grateful for my beautiful daughters, Ruby, 5 and Sofia, 7. Waking up to them every day has helped me so much during this imbalance.
I am grateful that I can walk every day in this beautiful fall weather.
I am grateful that I slept 8 hours STRAIGHT last night for the first time in 2.5 months since my symptoms appeared. (If I am honest, perimenopause + drinking wine most nights in the past 5 years meant that I was not sleeping through the night for a long time before I got sick)
I am grateful for my one precious cup of coffee each day. It lasts a long time ;)
I am grateful that my bowels are moving every day and I am on list 2! Avocados and roasted peppers, yum!
I am grateful that my kids are eating more healthfully. They ate kale chips this week, and a savory breakfast today!
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
I am thankful for many
I am thankful for many things! Of course Dr B being at the top of the list, with her dedication to helping all of us become pain free and not give up on us when so many others have! Second for my job, keeping my mind busy, this whole process has made me way more companionate and patient. Third, finding foods that don't cause nearly as much discomfort, learning to be content with list 1 and tolerating avocado on list 2, all worth it if it means less pain!:) Everyone on this forum, when others don't understand, I know someone on here can always in some way relate, or have the much needed encouraging words!