My problem seems to be linked to fibromyalgia

[mickie]

This is my second flare-up and has lasted for six months. My first flare-up lasted 2 months and I tackled it with rest, acid-free diet, Marshmallow Root and Colostrum. I never got to see a urologist because my "then" doctor said there was nothing he could do to help me, thinking, I suppose, that it was "all in my head." This second episode brought help from all directions. First, I now have a primary physician who recognized the problem and sent me immediately to a urologist. Then, what luck!, my urologist immediately saw this problem as IC and suspects a connection with fibromyalgia- a condition I was diagnosed with more than a decade ago. Although I follow an acid-free diet, the most help has come from yoga and pilates stretches I learned from the book "Ending Female Pain" by Isa Herrera. If you also suffer from an "achy body" as well as an "achy bladder", if your condition worsens when you are tired, stressed, or occurs more at night, I suggest you might find help from myofascia massage, yoga and pilates (NOT strengthening exercises, but stretches). While my problem is not totally disappearing, I feel hopeful that I may have found the source.

[bubbe1]

pain linked to fibro

This is my second flare-up and has lasted for six months. My first flare-up lasted 2 months and I tackled it with rest, acid-free diet, Marshmallow Root and Colostrum. I never got to see a urologist because my "then" doctor said there was nothing he could do to help me, thinking, I suppose, that it was "all in my head." This second episode brought help from all directions. First, I now have a primary physician who recognized the problem and sent me immediately to a urologist. Then, what luck!, my urologist immediately saw this problem as IC and suspects a connection with fibromyalgia- a condition I was diagnosed with more than a decade ago. Although I follow an acid-free diet, the most help has come from yoga and pilates stretches I learned from the book "Ending Female Pain" by Isa Herrera. If you also suffer from an "achy body" as well as an "achy bladder", if your condition worsens when you are tired, stressed, or occurs more at night, I suggest you might find help from myofascia massage, yoga and pilates (NOT strengthening exercises, but stretches). While my problem is not totally disappearing, I feel hopeful that I may have found the source.

Mickie,
How great that you found good doctors, something that helps.
Interesting post, too. I just got a "yoga for people with arthritis", dvd and am going to try it out. Not sure about the myo. massage. I tried that once and couldn't tolerate it. Do you find it painful at all?
I hope you keep getting better!
Laurie

[mickie]

Hi there. The myofascia massage IS painful and I avoid that. What I learned to do is to gently stretch and massage my own tissue. The one time I had a professional do the myofascia massage I couldn't move for a week! However, the techniques shown in "Ending Female Pain" do not hurt and have actually helped. I also used to do pilates with a trainer and that hurt and tried yoga and found many positions imposssible. So finding this book was truly a blessing because I can choose the simpler stretches and work at my pace. I also work on fibromyalgia trigger points with a foam roller (all over my body as described in the book) and thumb presses on pelvic pain areas (such as below the big thumb and in the ankle). It is exciting to find solutions to managing this IC problem. Hope this helps....

[bubbe1]

fibromyalgia

Thanks so much Mickie. This really helps a lot. I'm going to buy the book, finally,(I've been thinking about it but not getting to it), and give it a try.
Feel well,
Laurie

[mickie]

Good luck to you Laurie,
I think that everyone who has IC has a slightly different reason/condition and there is no one cure-all but what I am doing is working for me. I have my life back, and that is the goal, isn't it? You may find, as I did, a portion of the book that doesn't appear to apply to me so I read it through and picked out the aha's and used them as my guide. There were so many little helpful hints throughout this book; I'll let you sort them out for yourself but would be pleased to hear back from you as you explore your solutions.
Best regards,
Mickie

[sailawaygrl]

I have this book and absolutely love it. I have fibro and IC also, I found that using the foam roller works great. It isn't easy while doing it but afterwards I feel so good. I never knew I had all those tender spots (myofascail?) until I used the roller. Next I want to get a back buddy and use it for the spots on my back that I can't get to. I love doing the yoga too. This book has been a huge help to me too.

Sandra

[mickie]

I know what you mean about the difficulty of using the foam roller. I have places on my body that hurt too badly if I use it, like my outer hips, so I just have been gently rolling those areas with my hands. Glad to know that book has helped you too. I've tried so many things that it is hard to know what has helped the most.....like green barley grass, (suggested by my daughter's urologist for her acidy body, and taking all acid out of my own diet, and quercetin, etc. But it seems I get immediate relief from the pelvic stretching. Thanks again. Mickie