RE: Last Week I Attempted to End My Life and Woke Up in the Hospital.
I used to suffer from recurring UTI's so I can't imagine what you must be going through suffering chronically from similar symptoms 24/7. Painful diseases are the worse thing that can happen to you. I will not tell you not to end your life, because you are the one who should be deciding this and I can't step in your shoes living a healthy painless life myself. However you can decide to try to stay strong and work against your illness as much as you can. Diet, exercise, mental health, setting small goals each time. Seeking the best medical attention. I have a friend with a painful medical condition as well. You cannot imagine how many doctors one has to visit until they can find one who can actually help them. It needs persistence and you often need to do your own research and see what helps your own body. Causes for IC are not clear, so try to find out what might be causing this on you. It could be spasms. It could be neurological. It could be autoimmune. Look for any domino effect. Each cause has its own treatment or at least helpful medications. Continuous efforts often pay back. I'm with you.
Thank you. Your mentality is exactly where I am and I agree with literally everything. I have been doing my own research for almost 2 years and now am going to finally get a cystoscopy to kind of confirm what I know but you are so right about different causes. Mine flared from stress and over-drinking when my best friend died and never went away. So, I am finally being really serious about the IC diet and trying to reduce stress. I think eventually my life can be livable but meds and surgery can help too so I am going to explore all options. Thank you for acknowledging that as a healthy person you can't get it. You wouldn't believe how many people call me lazy or judge me because they don't get it.
It's difficult for people to empathize with someone in pain since they are not feeling the physical symptoms themselves. Body and mind are not two separated entities like we used to think. You secrete different hormones when you are well than when you are sick, your neurotransmitters have a different balance. Your body prioritizes different tasks and that reflects on your everyday actions and feelings.
People falsely assume that if they get sick their body will deteriorate but their mind will keep the same mental state. It doesn't have to do with lack of will but with human physiology. That said, a positive mental attitude actually helps in many cases, in a similar way to placebo effect. Especially if you recognize that stress played a big role in the development of the condition.
The thing is now, it will have turned into a vicious circle. You will be stressed and/or depressed, but it's natural to feel that way when your body is sick. One will cause the other. Try to keep stress in check by finding activities that you can enjoy that are somewhat compatible with the limitations of your illness (i.e. a hobby you can do at home). And yes - keep researching and insisting. Only you know your body. A solution can be something that a doctor hasn't thought of. For example, if alcohol was a big factor, your body might have learned to react to alcohol or a substance you associated it with in consumption. This is only an example. The body is an structure made of millions of tiny microorganisms. You'll never guess how they react sometimes.
My advice would be to explore all non-invasive options first and take as many opinions from different doctors as possible, leaving surgery as the last option.
Ive done all non invasive options mostly. I need medical help now. I will try the least scary meds but would sign up for surgery in a heart beat if it even minimized this pain by 40%. I have been like this for almost 2 years and can hardly bare it. But I definitely will try instillations and meds before surgery and diet. I plan to meditate daily again and be as active as I can even if its just a 20 minute walk outside with music. That used to really elevate my mood. I would walk for hours. I can't walk for hours now but that doesn't mean I can't walk at all! :D