Sharing one’s heart and mind is so important to everything in life. What would we do without other people to hear us, to witness us, to look at us for who we are. And certainly, empathy is something that is a two way street. It makes us feel so wonderful when we receive it and likewise to offer it as a gift.

In our darkest moments it is good to know there is someone there to listen.

This website is a great resource for some small percentage of people who use it to share those aspects of IC that other people in your lives may be unable to do, no matter how much they would like to. But, try to remember, for every one negative thought or expression, to think of something positive to go along with it. This will keep your heart light lit and your picture of hope colorful. The energy that one surronds his or herself by becomes that person and the others in their proximity.

Through the years many of my patients have come to me saying that the intensity of this site is too much for them and so they go away–becuase it filled thme with anxiety and doubt and they were themselves struggling to be strong. Someone said this to me today. She said although she feels ” a million times better than when she started”, when she feels unwell and reads some of the sentiments here, it is just too much, because then she feels doubtful and dark.

I am not suggesting that any of you edit your feelings. I am just putting this out there for you to know. When people ask me why this is so hard, I always say–at least there are options and solutions that are working, albeit slowly. When I first started treating this condition-there was no such treatment available, which, is what turned me to do my entire doctorl thesis on this subject.

I remember my first Ph.D. committee had one different member first time around, and we had to ask her to step down because after my first presentation of my work to the committee, she looked at me with a very strong tone and told me it was completely ridiculous and I should pick a different subject and start over. One of my other committee members took all of her reasons and reduced them to crumbs. We replaced her the following week.

This is a long-term approach that is less of a treatment than it is a complete life-style change. It is a door that opens you to a different way of thinking and invites you to change how your body is funcitoning and balancing itself. It takes constant attention and alot of interaction between the person and the person “giving treatment”. It is not a “quick fix”.

Things change in the body slowly as the body slowly is able to regain its balance and well-being. By the time IC and vulvadynia and fibro etc… hits, the body is in quite a state of imbalance and distress. So, it does take time for that to change. It is not a static process, it is a very dynamic process.

So hold on to things that you know are changing so you can track change–are you able to eat things that you couldn’t before without them causing symptoms? Are the number of hours in the day that you were experiencing symptoms less? Is the intensity of the pain you are experiencing diminishing-are the ups more up and the downs less down? Are you periods less tumultuous? Is your mind more clear? Hold on to these changes-they are concrete clues that your body gives you to let you know that things are shifting. 

In life when I have suffered, I try remind myself that life is about change, and as long as I can get up on my own two feet-there is a lot that I can do to become involved with the change that is necessary for me to make happen. It can be difficult- but it can happen.

Dr.M