| T O P I C R E V I E W |
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Posted - 09/16/2008 : 07:17:18
I was doing better for a little while, but now my symptoms have been consistently worse again (mostly my IC is worse, the IBS is bearable). Let me make clear first: I don't believe there is anything structurally wrong with me. I do wonder, however, if all the years of anxiety/stress/etc (combined possible with certain meds like BCP, which I no longer take) have affected the function of my hormones. My symptoms fluctuate periodically both 1) over the course of the day, and 2) over the course of the month (with the week before my period being the worst, even when I don't necessarily know I am about to get my period - at least not consciously).
My days look like this: I wake up and feel anxious immediately. I get worse symptom-wise toward late morning and early afternoon. I get better again in the late afternoon and evening.
I am working with a TMS therapist over the phone now, and I think I have become a lot more aware of my negative thinking, perfectionism, etc. I try to catch the negative thoughts and anxieties during the day and recognize when I am trying to control everything. I recognize that the symptoms will still wax and wane despite all this, and that changes do not happen overnight.
Keep in mind that some parts of Sarno's theories are largely unproven, such as that symptoms are caused by a sudden issue with oxygen flow. This is possible, or could even be true for some and not others, but it might not be true for everyone. I think cortisol may play a role as the "bridge" between my emotions/stress and my symptoms. And now, even though I am working on the stress etc, my hormones are having a hard time following suit.
I was wondering if other people have had similar experiences and what they did to deal with them. My daily fluctuations seem to be unaffected by what I try to do in those times of the day that tend to be worse (journal, exercise, other activity, eat vs. not [or eat one food as opposed to another], relax with meditation or taking a bath, etc). Similarly, the week before my period seems worse no matter what (i.e. no matter what my anxiety level would be otherwise, stresses in my life, etc). |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| n/a |
Posted - 09/17/2008 : 07:04:30
Thanks so much for the posts! MK, I could not agree with you more. The TMS equivalents have got to be more complicated, and I have yet to hear of someone whose long-term IBS or IC went away overnight or close to it. I have decided to supplement my healing process with Chinese herbs from my acupuncturist to balance out my hormones and to be more mindful of my general lifestyle.
hkp, yes, I have read about other women whose symptoms get worse before their periods, but 1) more women actually have symptoms that are worst _during_ their period and 2) it really is different for every person. So I am not sure my body is just copying things, and especially when I don't even know sometimes that the week before my period has come.
I also have to wonder the following: when a lot of women _first_ started reporting fluctuations of symptoms that related to their periods, how could that have been explained in terms of copycat effects? I can tell you that years before I had heard a thing about IC or IBS or had significant symptoms of other, I had digestive issues and increased urination at the beginning of my period. It's not something that I paid attention to or that played any role in my life, so I have a hard time believing that it fit the TMS framework too well.
Chronic stress and years of BCP messing up one's hormones does not seem strange to me if one looks at what happens physiologically. It's possible that people are more likely to be affected by TMS, and especially TMS equivalents, if their body is already in a weakened state. Then, like MK points out, it becomes a matter of balancing both the mind and body. After all, accepting the "mindbody" framework cannot possibly mean ignoring the "body" part of it altogether. |
| mk6283 |
Posted - 09/16/2008 : 17:20:41
Jamie, you bring up an excellent point here. Longstanding TMS probably does "change us" in certain ways. Depending on the nature of the TMS symptoms, these changes may be at the neuronal level or possibly even the hormonal level as you have alluded too. I should note that these 2 entities are not mutually exclusive of one another. As a matter of fact, they are intricately connected and the emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology is only beginning to define their connections. Depression has long been linked to alterations in cortisol secretion, so such things are not unheard of.
When the predominant symptom is chronic pain, as it is in pure cases of TMS, the changes that have occurred have likely taken place at the neuronal level. Dr. Sarno's theory of oxygen deprivation (though interesting and beneficial in the sense that it is easily comprehensible and helps patients digest and believe the information a lot easier) is probably very oversimplified if it is even accurate. Neuronal alterations are probably more likely involved and help explain why most patients with LONG STANDING TMS do not see the hyperacute benefit of Dr. Sarno's work as does say the typical story of the guy with back pain for 2 months who reads the book and is cured overnight.
Theoretically, correcting the neuronal changes that have occurred would require either disrupting the maladaptive connections that have developed or forming some new connections to override them. Though the mechanism remains entirely unclear, it appears that the work involved in recovering from TMS achieves this objective one way or another. The important point here is that the requirements are predominantly cerebral, i.e., "changing our minds" may be all that is necessary to achieve full recovery to baseline.
This may not be the case with some of the other TMS equivalents that, as you mention, may involve some chronic physiologic alterations as well. Long-standing stress, anxiety, and depression do indeed lead to alterations in cortisol, testosterone, catecholamines, etc. These changes also have an impact on the way we feel and they too need to be addressed if one is to achieve a complete recovery to baseline. The requirements here may NOT be entirely cerebral.
Under such circumstances, I have found (and would like to convey to others) that a holistic approach to the situation is probably most beneficial. Of course, knowledge of the process and the associated mental work (meditation, journaling, life changes, etc.) is absolutely imperative. However, recommitting ourselves to overall good health via alterations in our exercise, eating, and sleeping patterns is probably just as critical given the changes that have occurred to our bodies. As such, both the neuronal and hormonal alterations can be maximally addressed, leaving the greatest likelihood for a complete return to baseline (and then some).
Bottom line: start taking care of both mind AND body. Good luck!
Best,
MK |
| hkp |
Posted - 09/16/2008 : 13:47:35
Hi Jamie:
So sorry to hear you're not feeling well.
Our hormones are real and have a documented physical effect, so I think it can be difficult to tease out causes and effects when they are involved. I've been dealing with the IC-like symptoms since May (with attendant stress and anxiety overload), and my period did get thrown off by 4-5 days for several months. (Of course, that could be my age as well.)
But my period started on time today, and my bladder was behaving remarkably well the last few days, so go figure!
In addition to the cortisol, you might think about whether your pelvic muscles have felt tighter recently (TMS), and of course about the emotional reasons why that might be the case.
I'm sure you've done a lot of IC research, and you've probably read many times that your symptoms "will" get worse the week before your period. So you might consider conditioning as well. If you're following the same patterns every day, it's not a stretch that your mind is conditioning itself by the month as well!
I also think the recent thread about relapse is helpful - shows that you're normal and you have tools to bring yourself back. For me, tool #1 is mindfulness - learning to just "be" with the symptoms so they don't freak me out so much. Because, once I start freaking out, I'm lost!
Hope you feel better soon-
hkp
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| winnieboo |
Posted - 09/16/2008 : 13:43:14
My symptoms are 100% worse the week before my period. My symptoms are no longer intense physical pain, they've switched to anxiety, ocd and depression. I haven't figured out how to make them go away, but, particularly when I have PMS, I manage by trying to stand back from the psychological whirlwind and observe, rather than get involved or identified with my inner storm of negativity. In addition, spiritual reading and meditation during these times is calming and seems to interrupt the waves of emotions. But, it's difficult and I'm finding that my therapist is not helping me. She was great in helping me overcome the physical pain, but seems weak in assisting with the psychological issues. Go figure. Wish I could offer more of a solution, but at least I can affirm and sympathize. |
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