No flare this morning!

[CarolinTexas]

Woohoo! I didn't wake up with a flare this morning! Tried something new last night after reading hollihop's old posts on pfd and think it may have helped. Here's what I did:

1. Moist heat and pelvic exercises (pelvic tilts, hamstring, glut stretches, etc)
2. Trigger point and massage including vaginal area with emphasis on pulling and stretching (instead of pressing) those sore abdominal areas near bladder. Some were excrutiating to touch.
3. Elavil, hydroxyzine, and Valium (new prescriptions from last week - changed from Zanaflex and Benadryl)
4. Zantac (300mg 3x) and prelief
5. Bengay slathered on abs followed by 2 hours of moist heat (ice never helps me)

I've tried all of the above before (separately) with the exception of vaginal area massage but with no luck. Maybe this combination works for me?

I'm going to do it again today and tonight along with baking soda/tea tree oil hot baths.

I think I started out as straight IC patient due to severe nerve damage (now corrected) as well as surgery trauma (squooshed bladder) but PFD has got to play a big part in it. Maybe things like this will help break the spasm cycle.

Also, I've racked my brains trying to figure out what caused a three week remission from my 12/06 hysterectomy. Maybe it was the 24hr catheter giving the bladder a spasm break? A tomato and red wine dinner brought it back overnight in a spectacular way so there is definitely a strong IC component as well as possible PFD.

Anyway, I know we are all different but thought someone else might like to try this combination. Wish me luck today and tonight! Gosh, I hope this wasn't a one-off. Sorry for the long post.

[aprilmae]

:woohoo: :woohoo:

So glad you got some rest. You definitely needed it. I may have to give some of those a try!! Hoping for the same result tonight for you!

[CarolinTexas]

Thanks April! I'm crossing my fingers, knocking on wood, etc.

My kids (5 & 7) got the benefit as much as me. They were probably shocked to see a mommie that didn't constantly get on them to hurry up, get ready, brush your teeth, turn that tv off, where's your backpack, etc.

[Bessie]

That is great :woohoo:
Hope it keeps up!!

[CarolinTexas]

Thanks OctoberFarm! You know I've been thinking this morning about abdominal massage. If the muscles surrounding our bladder are so tight and/or bunched from constant pain, even a normal potty visit can turn into 10 because of so much spasming. My new goal is to stretch those muscles as well as strengthen. Maybe this is as important as all the meds.

I bought a package of 6 massages last summer from a massage therapist who specializes in trigger point. While she did my back and abs, she explained exactly what and why she was doing. That and a trigger point book have helped me in doing an ab massage/trigger point correctly. Incorrectly, and you can wind up very constipated!

[CarolinTexas]

Forgot one thing. Abdominal massages are fantastic if you (like me) are constipated or have gas problems. Just remember to do it in a clockwise motion.

In fact, it made for a few embarrassing moments on the massage table.

[ihurttoo]

:woohoo: I am so happy that you are finally feeling better! Good for you!!! Thank you for sharing your tips. I have all of your "ingrediants", but like you, have never tried them at the same time. I think I will try them tonite at the same time too! Who knows? Maybe it will work for me too! Thanks for passing this along. Glad to hear you are feeling better! Hugs, Amy

[CarolinTexas]

Good luck ihurttoo! Hope it helps you. I'm feeling some pain again now and will get into a hot bathtub soon and repeat the process. I know it will take time to lengthen these muscles. I learned during years of PT that muscles get progressively shorter the longer they spasm causing more pain and problems.

I wish it didn't take so much time to do this stuff! Darn this laundry and dirty kitchen and bathrooms! I'm putting the kids to bed early tonight so I can take my time.

One thing I have not tried for IC is a tens unit. Does anyone know if the pads go on your belly or on your back?

[CarolinTexas]

Abdominal massage and new meds continue to help me on day 2 of this 'shock and awe' IC pain treatment. Even though I never got around to those baths yesterday (homework and school project night), I heated, did pelvic/glut/hamstring stretches and did the clockwise circular ab massage last night (going deep around the bladder). I was very sore but tried topical Absorbine Jr and it seems to help.

Woke up only twice last night and didn't wake up to severe pain! Urinary frequency was also better yesterday and this morning. I've tried 5 different muscle relaxers in the last 2 years and am convinced Valium is the only one that works for me.

Another bonus (sorry, this is gross), is that I had an immediate normal bowel movement this morning due to the ab massage. Constipation makes me hurt so badly and this is a drug free method. Also, Dr Moldwin recommends this myofascial release on Pg 59 of his book.

I think I got so caught up with researching treatments, drugs, herbs and diet, I forgot the basic remedy of taking care of those tense, tight, shortened muscles. Although this is not a cure for IC, I now feel like pruning all my dead perennials for spring and cleaning out my car today. It's going to be a beautiful day here in North Texas. I may even break out into song while doing so (poor neighbors).

If PT has hurt you in the past, try this at home and go as slow as you like, just don't give up until you've tried it for a couple of weeks. It took a long time to get these muscles to this state so it will take a while to treat them.

Most PT's that I've used (about 15 over the years) don't care if they hurt you and just give you a long list of exercises without addressing pain or touching you. Yes, there are some good ones, but the bad ones really turn people off this method of pain reduction.

Sorry this is so long, but I am so excited and hopeful! I've been in pain for so long!