Hello everyone,
A reader emailed me her story about interstitial cystitis and how she has learned that it is probably connected to being sexually abused in the past. As you'll see below, she quotes statistics that show that as many as 90 percent of women with IC have been abused in this way. I found her story to be so interesting and I was so impressed with her bravery that I wanted to post it here under my name so others could learn from her. I think the connection between IC and sexual abuse makes complete sense. She is continuing to seek out treatments that will help her and I know that with her courageous attitude she will heal. Here is her post--she and I would both be very interested in your thoughts on what she is going through:
"I have had IC for over 25 years. It first occurred during my freshman semester at college. I started waking up and going to the bathroom several times during the night. It is amazing to me now, to remember that the priest who had abused me during the previous two years was the one who drove me to the doctor. It took me years to put the two together. After researching the best doctors I could find, and trying to understand why I still have this condition, I found a doctor in Baltimore and one in Richmond, VA who both acknowledged that a very high percentage of women who have IC have been sexually abused. It may be as high as 90 percent. Although,I am sharing this with you, it is something I rarely tell anyone. Doctors tend to chuckle about IC and psychological diagnoses. I am a therapist myself, and they even admitted that I was an unusual case in that there was no obvious psychiatric diagnosis. I was actually relieved to find a connection after so many years of suspecting that there was one. I would feel a depressive surge often times when I felt the urge to urinate. Seems really strange, but it continued and (only 25 years later) I found some doctors who had come to the same conclusion and told me how high the percentages were. Now, I am left with a complicated dilemma, trying to heal myself. None of the treatments that are used for IC have helped me much. I wake up after much interrupted sleep, with lower back pain, and burning in my bladder. My case, from what I hear, is probably mild in the whole spectrum of things. I have wondered if I learned a way to forgive, would my bladder heal itself, or is the tissue memory of such abuse able to turn its effects around. I don't know if you have heard any other stories like this. I tend to shy away from a larger group discussion since the rest of my life is good. I have a great husband, children and career. I don't like to focus on the negative and just want to figure out how to heal this, since it's so chronically annoying. Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated."
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i definately believe there is a link between sexual abuse...interstitial cystitis and also persistant genital arousal syndrome...after 25 years i have found that one tsp of good quality cinnamon mixed with manuka honey and plain yogurt has been the only thing that has helped me....a natural remedy taken once a day till the symptoms are reduced then three times a week for maintenance.....still get twinges now and then but nothing like the past pain i have experienced...gl
May 13, 2010 - 1:24amThis Comment
hi there
June 15, 2010 - 4:37ami am always on the look out for relief, so you have got my attention. is it equal parts of cinnamon, manuka honey and yoghurt? and how much and how often? and how do you know if it is good quality cinnamon. even if it doesnt work it sounds delicious.
thanks
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Hi, this is my first post but I have been reading with interest previous posts regarding IC. My Dr has diagnosed me with having Trigonitis as well as thrush. He gave me a Diflucan tablet which gave me huge relief from the first day after taking it. Since then, I have eliminated sugar from my diet, along with red wine, food with mould ie: peanuts, blue cheese etc. I haven't had any yeast in my diet either for the past 12 days and I am feeling so much more human I can't begin to tell you! I have had symptoms for 20 years or more. Feeling like my insides are falling out, searing burning sensation that is just too debilitating for words. I don't want to speak too soon, because it is early days, but I feel like I have my life back! Best wishes to all of you who are suffering with similar problems. I hope you find some relief. Posted from Australia.
May 12, 2010 - 9:37pmThis Comment
I was sexually abused for 5 years by my step father beginning at age 7 after my mother moved out and left me to be raised by him. now that I am 40... I have had severe pelvic pain for almost 20 years and dr.s kept telling me it was infections... and other things. finally with the right dr, i was diagnosed with IC. treatments have helped some what, but I will have this for the rest of my life. Constant and daily physical Pain reminds me every day of the past emotional pain that too will never be cured. I have even had a hysterectomy because of the monthy inflimation. That now is better but for the bladder inflimation that spreads through my body everyday causes stress and flare ups are too frequent. Most weeks the pain makes me feel like I'm 80 years old and left feeling extremly fatigued. We need awarness of sexual assault linked to IC.
April 18, 2010 - 5:56amThis Comment
To me, the biggest joke of all is that you never hear of any of these media docs (like Sanjay Gupta on CNN, Dr. Oz, The Doctors),or any of the others even mention this debilitating illness on the airwaves of America. The simple truth is that this is primarily a woman's disease and therefore no attention and/or monies are going to be spent to discover the cure or even the cause. What a joke.
December 15, 2009 - 6:31pmThis Comment
Interesting, but I think it's wrong to paint IC and all it's related conditions with the sexual abuse brush. I wasn't abused and have severe IC. I also have severe allergies, IBS and fibro. I have hunner's ulcers too. I was symptom free until I had a partial hysterectomy, and that's when the bladder symptoms started me on this downward spiral. I have found that medicinal marijuana is good to treat the severe pain. I have all but given up on the so called traditional medical treatment. The truth is there is plenty they don't know about many conditions, not just IC. I think mine was already there and the surgery just made it manifest. Literally, I had taken hundreds of doses of antibiotics in my lifetime for chronic sinusitis.
December 15, 2009 - 6:22pmThis Comment
Hi My name is gloria (44) and I have had IC for years it became debilitating 11 years ago and since then I have only had 6 consecutive weeks without pain. I was sexual abuse the first time at about 4/5 yrs old then up until 11/12 yrs of age. I have IC and chronic pelvic pain. I believe it takes a combination of treatments to get a handle on this disease. During the last 4 years I have had some awful episodes but I have also had peroids of relief from time to time. Presently I have been in debilitating pain, depressed and just don't know what else to do. I have changed diet, I do not take medication, I joined aqua therapy, PT, pelvic exercises, rid myself of toxic friends and family, see a therapist, gave up drinking, smoking, and the list goes on..............
August 19, 2009 - 8:52pmThis Comment
Hi,
Speaking from experience, I can say that YES, there is a definite connection between emotional trauma & repression and interstitial cystitis. There is also a definite connection between emotional trauma/repression and irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and a lot of the other disorders that often "hitchhike" along with IC. I was diagnosed about two years ago with IBS, and about a year ago with a mild case of IC. As of this writing, the IBS is gone, and the IC is fading away. My IBS was so bad at one point, that I was practically housebound, and now I literally eat whatever I want and have no symptoms. I've done this without medication, but by learning about the connection between the mind and body, and the necessity of reversing chronic negative thought patterns, and healing and releasing suppressed emotions. I find the high incidence of sexual abuse in IC patients interesting. I don't believe I was abused sexually myself (unless it's a suppressed memory, I have no direct ones), but I have suffered from other traumas, and for years held horrible, negative thoughts about myself, other people, and life in general. My life was nothing like I wanted, and I believe the pain served as a wake-up call to get me off of a path that was wrong for me, and now I'm working on finding one that feels right.
I first learned about the mind/body connection with physical pain after I stumbled across the blog of Abigail Steidley. She is a life coach who had a severe case of IC and vulvar pain, and like the author of this article, and myself, tried everything to treat it, with little success, until she learned about how her emotions were causing her pain and maintaining the cycle of pain. I've learned a lot from working with her, and also from my own research. It took a while for me to accept that the key to my symptoms was in my thinking and perceptions, but I'm starting to really see results, in EVERY area of my life, not just with my physical health. It's definitely not a quick fix, it's really challenging, but I think that it's sooo worth it.
Other resources I would suggest checking out are Dr. Howard Schubiner's MindBody Program site, and this forum for people suffering various forms of TMS (tension myositis syndrome, another way of saying mind/body syndrome.) There are some posts about interstitial cystitis, including some success stories of people who are free of their symptoms.
June 23, 2009 - 3:50pmAnyway, sorry to ramble, but I hope someone who needs this information comes across it....and remember, yes, you can heal from this, many others have!!
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This is an amazing story!
I am curious what she would tell her patients (she is a therapist herself), as to the ways to heal (physically, emotionally, spiritually) from past sexual abuse.
I just looked up "interstitial cystitis", and it is also called "painful bladder syndrome", which is a "chronic condition characterized by a combination of uncomfortable bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pain in your pelvis, which can range from mild burning or discomfort to severe pain."
Regarding the IC aspect, she said the typical treatments have not been working. I'm curious what she has tried, and if she has followed any kind of diet regimen that is suggested (for instance, staying away from "the four C's: carbonated beverages, caffeine in all forms (including chocolate), citrus products and food containing high concentrations of vitamin C). There does not seem to be much information on IC in regards to alternative and complementary medicine. On the NCCAM site, probiotics are used to help treat IBS (which I realize is very different from IC), but may be worth asking your doctor about?
There does seem to be a link between IC and vulvar pain, which is common in sexual abuse survivors. It does make sense, and is frustrating that many doctors still think "it is all in your head". I am SO HAPPY to hear that she found a sensitive, caring and progressive doctor.
The Interstitial Cystitis Association has a list of support groups by state, which could help her receive the emotional support she is looking for (although she dislikes the group discussion aspect; this may really help).
Another way for survivors of sexual assault to begin the healing process (she's already begun: has a happy marriage, loving family, successful career, she is seeking information, etc) beyond a support group is to help others. The National Organization for Women (NOW) and other Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence centers in her area are in need of support, either through financial means, volunteering time or items, or helping to advocate for other women. This could be an empowering next step.
I am sure she knows all of the resources for Sexual Abuse Survivors, but here are some online resources:
March 29, 2009 - 7:18am- The National Sexual Assault Online
- The Women's Health Violence Against Women
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