No Longer Crazy
I am a 38-year-old woman with 1 child. For years I had episodes where I complained of the same thing, urinary frequency, bloating, fullness in my abdomen. Ultrasounds were always normal as well as urine tests. Since I had my daughter 3 years ago the symptoms became more severe and more frequent, especially within the last six months. My GYN kept telling me to just “go back on the pill” since I had PCOS, leading me to believe that my ovaries were the problems and being back on the pill would resolve things. Well, it didn’t and my frequent urination, pain, fullness and bloating exacerbated. I found it hard just to sit to work. No over-the-counter medicines helped. I was frustrated and cried at times. I even asked the nurse at my GYN’s office if they would consider a hysterectomy. That’s how bad the pain was for me. They didn’t seem to be hearing me or even doing any further investigation. Thank goodness the pain became severe enough that I had to go to an outpatient emergency center. I saw a physician there who thought that I might have interstitial cystitis and gave me the name of Dr. Echenberg. After all of my GYN tests came back normal, I made an appointment to see Dr. Echenberg. Thank goodness I was finally pointed in the right direction. Dr. Echenberg diagnosed me with insterstitial cystitis and chronic pelvic pain disorder. I sat in his office and cried because I finally felt like I wasn’t crazy, that my pain and other symptoms were real. It has been about two months since the start of my treatment which involves medical therapy, diet change, physical therapy and bladder instillations. I feel significantly better from the day I arrived in his office. I am a much better mother to my daughter becuase I feel better. I look better becuase I feel better. I even get along better with my husband because I feel better. All around, life is good with the therapy I am undergoing, and I imagine and hope that I will continue to improve and fell well.