About Us
Susan Bilheimer
Author & Lecturer on
women’s midlife issues
In 2002, Susan developed the website www.PerimenopauseSupport.com to give women a central location to learn about the symptoms and changes that happen in their bodies up to fifteen years before menopause. Through her own personal difficulties, frustrations, and hard-won solutions as she went through perimenopause, Susan Bilheimer became an expert in issues surrounding women in midlife, and realized the vital need to provide a place for other women to find information, answers and support, so that they don’t have to stumble around in the dark as she did … feeling alone and crazy in their suffering.
One of the symptoms that worsened over time was chronic sexual pain. Over the past five years, Susan’s experience with painful sex strained her marriage and devastated her self-worth. Determined to find answers, she engaged in extensive research and sought help from six doctors. Her growing frustration with a dismissive, disinterested medical community combined with the stunning realization that there were legions of women who were suffering as she was, fueled her passion to write about these issues to help other women who suffer. Further, the supportive efforts of her husband to work with her to maintain intimacy despite the pain, led to the specific focus of her work – how women’s pain during sex impacts relationships.
To read more about Susan, click here
|
Robert J. Echenberg
M.D., Fellow and Board Certified by American Board of OB/GYN
Dr. Echenberg is an established specialist and expert in the field of chronic pelvic pain in women. He has developed a successful treatment model based on established protocols. Over the past six years, his treatment of over 400 women has resulted in a significant reduction of pain and a corresponding increase in his patients’ quality of life. He has an established practice called “Women’s Health, Pelvic Pain & Sexual Wellness” in Bethlehem, PA.
Beginning in 2001, while in private practice in Bethlehem, PA, Dr Echenberg was asked to set up the St. Luke’s Hospital Center for Chronic Pelvic Pain, the first regional center dedicated to the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of chronic pelvic pain in women. The program was initially designed with a purely “pharmaceutical” approach, but Dr. Echenberg quickly recognized that the problem was far more complex than initially presented.
He immersed himself in the study of this specialty, attending conferences spotlighting the research and effective modalities of treatment. Additionally, he received in-depth training in a live setting by working with a respected pain center, learning the basic principles of chronic pain management.
To read more about Dr. Echenberg, click here
|
Judy
I am a 56 year old married Christian woman, college educated, mother of 3, and grandmother of 3. I am almost in menopause, having gone 11 months since my last period. I have clinical depression (25 years) and generalized anxiety disorder and take medication for both. I also have fibromyalgia and have had worsening vaginal pain and discomfort for the past few years. I get vaginal infections and UTIs more now. My overall physical health is pretty good, but the hot flashes are so disruptive. I don’t work outside the home, and my husband hasn’t worked in over a year since being injured at work. We get along well and enjoy our grandchildren most of all.
Pamela0725
I suddenly started getting pelvic pain in the year 2005. It started with a simple urinary tract infection. I took the antibiotics and the infection went away. The pain never went away. Over the past 2 years, I have had (I think) every test I could have to find the origin of this pain and correct it. I have had: Ultra Sounds, Urodynamic testing, Cyscotopy, Laparoscopy and of course urethra dilation. All to no avail. The Dr.s can’t find anything physically wrong with me that would be causing this pain.
I am currently going to a Pain Management Clinic through Kaiser, and to be honest all they are doing is giving me narcotic drugs for my condition. I am taking Darvocet and Vicodin. I hate it!!! With the pain and the pills I have become a different woman in the past 2 years. I am depressed, I sleep a lot and I cannot hold a full-time job.
Sometimes I am at my wits-end as to what to make of my life.
Read Pamela0725's blog entries »
taliketeri
My name is Tali Krull and i’m a 23 year old IC, Vulvodynia, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, and Lichen Sclerosis patient. I’m a very strong IC/CPP support advocate. I have been a patient and friend of Dr. E and Susan for a few years and genuinely support their projects with everything I have! Together we can come together and make it through our pain…and I do believe we will.
Read taliketeri's blog entries »
taipat95
42 year old female; started with chronic pelvic pain in 1998, underwent a hysterectomy only to have the pain return with a vengeance. Current patient of Dr. E’s since 2006.
Read taipat95's blog entries »
peron
Had IC about 5 years on meds which help
45 yrs old single female
kliberi
I am a physical therapist in South Porland, Maine specializing in women’s and men’s health physical therapy with focus on pelvic pain.
This website is a fantastic resource!
Risley
I am battling my diseases Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Von Willebrand’s, Interstitial Cystitis, Insulin Resistance, Chronic Pelvic Pain and Infertility Issues. I started getting sick when I was 16. I just had a hysterectomy on October 9, 2006 and learning how much my life has changed. I really don’t have a lot of close friends in life. I am also recovering from my mother’s death in 2004 and meeting her recipients’ of her organs in December 21, 2006.
Read Risley's blog entries »
FrogGirl78
I have IC and endo and have a great deal of pelvic pain that is making it harder and harder to function on a daily basis.
lytha
I am a 27 yearold female. I was diagnosed with IC in 2004. Since then I have been divorced and am currently in a relationship and have an 18 month old son. I have yet to find relief for sexual pain. I ve done the diets, I have taken Elmiron and nothing seems to help. My current partner seems to not understand the extent of pain that I feel. I am afraid that it may end our relationship.
sineadpt
physiotherapist practicing in sag harbor and east hampton , long Island, NY: trained in UK, gradualted UCL (Masters 1994) and UUJ (B. Sc 1991): specializing in ortho/sports / womens health, avid competitive mountainbiker, triathlete, sailor, snowboarder and general life enthusiast!
Belinda7
I am a Physical Therapist who specializes in treating chronic and complicated abdominal and pelvic pain. In 1984 I learned that I had cancer of the cervix. Following the diagnosis, I had surgery to my cervix and eight weeks of intensive internal and external radiation therapy. I survived the cancer, but the treatments designed to heal me left my lower abdomen, pelvis, and lower back scarred. All of my pelvic organs had become adhered to neighboring tissues and structures causing a ‘frozen pelvis’ (meaning nothing in my pelvis had normal mobility). I was also experiencing significant pain in the pelvic and sacrococcygeal areas, and pain with intercourse. When we found that conventional medicine offered little relief, I began to search for alternatives. I got tired of seeing one specialist after another and hearing “it’s all in your head,” or “you will have to learn to live with it.”
My husband and I began to search for relief from my debilitating symptoms. Together, we searched, and I was treated by many physicians and physical therapists throughout the U.S. and abroad. We wanted to avoid the medical treatment and surgery that had caused my pain and dysfunction.
Whatever helped me, we began to study. We began by taking many post-graduate courses in manual physical therapy and osteopathic manual soft tissue techniques.
As the first faint glimmer of hope dawned in my pain relief, our curiosity turned into a passion. Class followed class, and technique followed technique. The more we learned, the more fascinated we became. Soon we began developing our own techniques to treat chronic pain and other pelvic pain conditions.
We developed and refined our ability to palpate restricted areas in the body, first to treat me, then others. I was able to get out of pain, and return to work after a few months of treatment. We opened our private practice treating complicated, chronic pain patients (like I had been) in 1989. The results we were seeing in me and our patients turned our quest into a lifetime journey.
geyedlady
mental health professional and cope with chronic pelvic pain
Dr. Lyndsay Elliott
Dr. Elliott is a Clinical Psychologist who has been in Private Practice working with Pelvic Pain since 2003. Specializing in pain management during her fellowship at UCLA, when Dr. Elliott began to receive referrals from gynecology, she began to research pelvic pain using her patients experiences as a main guide, incorporating her knowledge of chronic pain conditions and theory.
—-
Contact Information
Dr. Lyndsay Elliott
888-917-7924
888-830-8285 fax
DrLyndsayElliott@aol.com
www.NewportBeachPsychotherapy.com
Read Dr. Lyndsay Elliott's blog entries »
Kathryn
Have suffered severe pelvic pain since the age of 17 i am now 28 and still suffer from vulvodynia and i would like to be apart of this group to get to know others in my situation. Offer support share feedback on how to cope.
Stronglilmiss
I’m a 22yo black female who has suffered from endometriosis, cystes, fybroid tumers, and severe adhesions since the age of 9. I had my hysterectomy at 18, but not before suffering through a long life of vaginal pain and discomfort. And though it has been four years I still have discomfort.
Abigail
Martha Beck-trained Life Coach Abigail Steidley coaches women suffering from vulvodynia, vulvar pain, IC, STD’s, painful sex, vaginal infections, vaginismus, and other pelvic pain issues. Abigail was diagnosed with vulvar vestibulitis, vulvar dysesthesia, interstitial cystitis, and pelvic floor dysfunction in 2004. She suffered through two years of vulvodynia before discovering her own path to health and her essential self. Now she owns The Healthy Life, LLC and works with women who want tools to dissolve the painful emotions that come with these afflictions. Visit her blog at http://vulvodyniacoach.wordpress.com and her website, where you can contact Abigail, read health-related posts, and find out more about coaching. Her coaching website is www.thehealthylifecoach.com.
Read Abigail's blog entries »
Dr. Nel Gerig
Dr. Gerig practices urology at Rose Medical Center in Denver Colorado and has a special interest in pelvic pain.
She completed her six year residency in urology at The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado, after graduating from UCLA Medical School. Dr. Gerig has a BSN from Olivet University, Kankakee, IL.
Working with patients who experience pelvic pain is so rewarding because as the origins of the pain processes become better understood, so our therapies become both more specific and more effective. It’s a delight to see people improve and feel well! Our patients are our inspiration.
MichelleT
Dr. E pt for IC, vulvodynia and vulvar vastibulitis. Everything he suggested/prescribed for me works! Just had radical hysterectomy, that is making my bladder a lot happier!
Read MichelleT's blog entries »
late1079
I am a 29yro female w/ Interstitial Cystitis , Pelvic Floor Dysfunction , and Chronic Pelvic Pain . I am a mother to 3 amazing daughters and a fiance to a wonderful man . I used to be a hairstylist and I loved my job but unfortunately I am no longer able to work as of right now because of my health problems .
Read late1079's blog entries »
juliemerkl
Hello! I am the physical therapist who is priviliged enough to be working with Susan Bilheimer. I wanted to join the blog to learn more about the variety of pelvic pain and dysfuntion out there, to hear the personal histories and experiences of those sharing, and finally, to be of any help in terms of my own education and experience regarding pelvic floor rehab.
A little more about me…Although I’ve been a physical therapist for almost 12 years, it was during my first seminar on John Barnes’ Myofascial Release (MFR) approach that a “quantum shift” occurred in my understanding of pain, dysfunction and healing. That was 4 years ago, and since then, I have taken as many courses as I can afford and opened my own practice devoted solely to MFR. Although I hadn’t previously had an interest in “women’s health” per se, I came to find that Barnes used internal (ie: vaginal/rectal) techniques for a variety of pain and dysfuntion, not just problems directly related to the pelvis. Fascinating stuff!!! So I took that course and began to develop an interest in helping people with pelvic dysfunction too. And here I am!
For more info on MFR, please feel free to check out my website www.quantumtherapyinc.com or John Barnes’ site at www.myofascialrelease.com.
Read juliemerkl's blog entries »
Vanita
I am an owner/operator of a Physical Therapy clinic specializing in Pelvic floor rehab as well urinary and fecal incontinence. I treat both males and females . I do MFR for patients with IC, vulvodynia, pelvic floor pain. I also treat pregnant pt’s who have backache
rsoakley
I live in North Carolina.
Beth
I am a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of pelvic floor disorders. I have been practicing in this specialized area for over 8 years. Many of the patients I treat are suffering from vulvodynia, dyspareunia, vestibulitis, interstitial cystitis, etc… many of the diagnoses discussed on this sight.
