Sunday, December 31, 2006

the wee hours

One of the Best Xmas Gifts Ever

My oldest brother, Glenn, hates shopping for gifts.  Every year he keeps trying to get us to not give the adults gifts or to pick names.  It never works - except for him, we all like buying gifts for each other.  It’s fun.  Of course, it doesn’t mean that he ever gives crappy gifts, because if he puts his mind to it, he’s certainly capable of knowing what everyone will like.  This year, he bought Leigh-Ann and I the Keurig B-40.  We LOVE it.  We’ve always wanted one, but thought it was kind of a pricey extra when we already have a fabulous Nespresso espresso machine and grind ‘n brew coffeemaker.  We contemplated exchanging it for the model one step up that makes beverages in 3 different sizes, instead of just the 7.25 ounce size.  But, we realized that we didn’t actually need the other sizes.  The small size is for espresso and we already have a good espresso machine, and the larger size is for using two K-cups (that’s what the coffee/tea pods are called), which we can do quickly anyway without a different machine.  It heats up enough water to make several cups without stopping to heat up again.  To us, it wasn’t worth the extra $50 or $100 - to someone else, it might be.  You’d also get a little cute blue display panel for your troubles.

We’ve tried several of the coffee samples and they’re all pretty good so far.  There are tons of differents blends & flavors to choose from too.  Check ‘em out.

the wee hours

Could it be Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and not IC?

After I went to bed last night (there’s was no point staying up, I couldn’t sit for more than ten minutes at a time), Leigh-Ann did some more research into my problem.  I think she’s on to something.  It’s called “Pelvic Floor Dysfunction” and some of the major reasons it fits when Interstitial Cystitis doesn’t are:

* Usually patients who have just PFD and no significant IC do not have nighttime frequency - I’m generally fine when I’m laying down...and standing it.  It’s sitting that does me in.

* Many patients with PFD start with a urinary tract infection. They are voiding so much because of the infection. After treatment with an antibiotic, the burning may go away, but the sensation of incomplete emptying and the constant frequency of urination continue. There may be another course of antibiotics, with no results. Now it is not a problem of the infection any longer. For some reason during the infection, the patient started to void in a dysfunctional way. The same thing occurs with IC. There is a primary bladder problem; the patient is voiding a lot and they try to push out the urine to empty their bladder. There is a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, urgency and frequency, and the patient strains with urination. This can cause more tightening of the pelvic floor. This can cause more symptoms, which provokes you to push and strain over and over. You have to break out of this cycle. - This started with a bladder infection seven years ago.  Although, I didn’t have any pain then either.  The only reason the infection was suspected was because of the frequency.  It was bad for quite a while, although how long for sure, I don’t know.  Damn, I wish I’d had a blog then.  It would’ve been easy to track things like it was for my herniated disc.  I’ve never felt like I was “straining” to urinate, but I can see how that would’ve been the case when I had my bladder infection and was going 60+ times a day.  I wanted as much out as possible, because I figure that would mean one less trip to the bathroom.  Clearly, that isn’t so.

* There are other therapies that can be used for PFD. Relaxation techniques are important. I work with a social worker and we make relaxation tapes for patients. Self-hypnosis can be helpful also. Stress seems to be one of the major initiating factors for worsening of pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. The muscles tighten, much like a tension headache. Yoga and Tai Chi are helpful strategies. I have never had a patient who has taken a Yoga class who said it made them worse. You should always tell the instructor about your particular problem. Stretching is great, but you don’t want to put too much tension on those muscles at any given time. - Financial stress is really just about the only thing that stresses me out, and naturally, when it happens, it makes up for all of the other stressors I don’t react to in my life.  I’m a fairly calm person, except when I’m poor.  Honestly, I’d be the best lottery winner, because otherwise, I’m really happy with my life.  Anyway, right now things aren’t especially great, which stresses me out, which makes my bladder worse, which makes it so I can’t do anything.  I’ve discovered that Ativan can help because I was prescribed Pyridium Plus when I went to the urologist seven years ago.  It was the ONLY medication that help me, but it made me super sleepy.  Apparently, it relaxed me. Anyway, both Ativan and Valium do the same thing, without the annoying orange junk that I think is mostly for the pain anyway, which I never had.  Not once. 

We bought “The Journey to the Wild Divine” biofeedback program with some Amazon gift certificates and I’m guessing that this is what I need to spend my time doing for a period of time each day.  I’m clearly really crappy at handling stress, maybe because I grew up with so very little of it, I don’t know.  I’ve only used the program a couple of times, but it’s pretty cool.  I guess I’ll be able to tell if it’s working if I can spend more time sitting and doing it.

I’d be more than happy to hear how other people have coped - either publicly or in email.  By the way, I understand if this is TMI for some people (like, uh, my dad), but I really need to figure out how to make this stop.  It’s impossible to live a normal life when you fear driving a few blocks away from home.  And the fear makes the problem worse, which makes me worry more, which makes it even worse, blah, blah, blah.  I also just found out that my urologist moved from the fairly convenient Summerlin location where he was before to Maryland Pwy.  Ugh.  That’ll be a fun trip if I can’t take the freeway.

Friday, December 29, 2006

terribly early in the morning

Plop, Plop…Oh, What a Prelief It Is (well, not yet)

I’ve been doing more research into my weird bladder problem, which I thought was related to my herniated disc.  Since I wasn’t magically cured after my surgery, I’m starting to realize that it’s unrelated to my back.  Sure, it started before my herniated disc problems, but I still thought it was related.  Because, why would I have these stupid problems?  Of course, I also have them intermittently.  They’re worse when I drink caffeine, worse when I sit (fine when I stand for some odd reason) and much much worse when I’m under a lot of stress.  Right now, they’re so bad that I can hardly do anything.  I had planned to spend long hours working at the computer today, but my bladder has been so bad that I can’t get involved in anything without having to get up and go to the bathroom.  It’s beyond annoying, it’s life altering.  It seems so stupid.  I’ve now had two things in the past year that have made everyday things almost impossible, yet I wasn’t in an accident, didn’t fall, and didn’t come down with some serious illness.  Yet, nonetheless, I’ve had two things that keep me almost housebound.  Yesterday, we had wanted to go see the conservatory at the Bellagio to see their holiday display.  We seem to always miss it each year, so even though my bladder has been horrible for the past month or so, we decided to see how far I could get.  Oh, and the freeway makes things worse - the combination of sitting and the vibration of the car at high speeds = bladder danger.  Anyway, it was also going to be a test to see if we could get to our ex-neighbors’ new house on the other side of town on Friday.  So, how far did I get?  The Bellagio is 16 miles away, and Matt & Amy’s is 32.  I barely made it to Target, 2.3 miles away.  So that meant that going to see the pretty holiday flowers at Bellagio was out of the question, as was going 32 miles to Matt & Amy’s new house.

Leigh-Ann and I have done some research, and so far the only thing that seems likely is Interstitial Cystitis.  However, if that’s what it is, I would be the rare person who didn’t have the pain associated with IC.  For that, I’m grateful, as I think a herniated disc and fibromyalgia are plenty for me to handle.  Also, for some reason, which no one understands, IC is related to other chronic pain syndromes, of which I thankfully only have fibromyalgia.  Even though it’s no fun, it’s way better than irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, or endometriosis.  I have moderately bad cramps each month, but prescription pain meds make them tolerable.

After reading up on Interstitial Cystitis online, it appears that every single food or beverage I like exacerbates the symptoms.  Coffee, tea, chocolate, spicy foods, etc.  Seriously, check out this list and see how well you’d fare giving all these things up.  But, now that I’ve discovered that all the things that I love to eat or drink (I checked the list tonight, after I chose what was apparently a deadly combination of things - a turkey sandwich, with blackcurrant dijon mustard, stuffing w/ cranberries and half a cup of caffeinated coffee) are what might be making me miserable, I’ll try taking Prelief (it’s much cheaper on eBay) regularly.  The testimonials on the Prelief site, in addition to discussions about it on the IC boards, make me believe that it can help.  Of course, I’m also going back to the urologist I saw seven years ago when the problem first started.  I only saw him once, and everything checked out okay.  I started to get slowly better after that, so I thought I’d just had a really bad bladder infection.  One that had me getting up from my Williams-Sonoma training class 60+ times to go to the bathroom.  Talk about torture.  Anyway, this guy is a specialist and hopefully I can get started on Elmiron, although I just went back to read up on it at the link I put up earlier.  Ugh, it can take 2-4 months to get relief from pain (which I don’t have), and up to six months to see a decrease in frequency.  And during that time, one of the side effects I have to look forward to is possible hair loss.  Oh, joy.

I have one other weird symptom, other than lack of pain, I’m fine when I’m standing up or laying down.  What kind of freaky bladder is that?  I know that my bladder didn’t fall or whatever happens to women who have given birth, because the urologist gave me a physical and pronounced my internal parts as all in their proper location.  So, no pain...and if I could stand while driving, I could get us across town just fine.  We need a Segway built for two that’s enclosed, safe, and goes at least 65 mph.

terribly early in the morning

Some Interviews That’ll Make You Laugh - Promise!

Susie Felber is interviewing comics for Comedy Central.  It’s worth your time to go read them, especially if you want to know what it’s like to write for Saturday Night Live.  Click here and find some new funny peeps, man.  Plus, a cool stylized picture of Susie.  Worth the price of admission.  A new one every Wednesday.  Oh, and post some comments.  Sure, the stats will tell her people are reading, but speak up.  A little louder.  There, that’s better.

I write this to break up the monotony of hearing me whine about things that are wrong with me.  The good news, I’m now only wearing one sweatshirt and it’s not even the one with the hood on it.  My temperature, she has regulated, she has.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

late at night

I’m Pretty Sure Something’s Wrong With Me

...unless wearing a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, and another sweatshirt w/ a hood on, while sitting at my desk, is normal.  Yes, it’s cold and windy outside, but I’m not outside, and all of the windows are closed.  Although, last night, when I went to bed, I was burning up.  Then again, it’s pretty normal for me to be sick for New Year’s, so why should I change now?