I can't tell you the number of times that I have heard that comment from the various types of MDs that my patients have gone to--dermatologists, opthamologists, even internists, insisting that things like eye drops, cortizone cremes, and the like will have no effect on the body as a whole because it will be limited to the location that it is being placed upon.
This is another example of the fragmented state of affairs conceptualizing the human body today as viewed by the Western paradigm. It is another implication that our body is not connected. It seems inconceivable to take this position, but, I do continue to be in awe at the differrences in the way our intellect perceives identical information.
Getting back to my original point--if you are using things like eye drops, ear drops, eye cremes, anti-fungal solutions on your toe nails--these all have an effect on your bladder! Any substance touching your skin will effect the areas of inflammation within.
I have too many times been on a phone call with someone who never thought to tell me after months and months or sometimes longer that they were regularly doing something of this nature and never thought to tell me because it never occured to them it was even significant. It IS!
So, please let me know if there are things that you are doing in your daily routine that we have not discussed before.
Dr.M
Comments
Thank you for posting this. I
Thank you for posting this. I know this is true. I went to the nail salon, and they put lotion on my legs that had oats in it (Aveeno), and I immediately got a bladder flare. My Husband found this hard to believe. But I know that the skin is a sponge and absorbs everything.
Aveeno
is one of the worst lotions for people with IC! NOT your imagination!
Thank you for posting this. I
Thank you for posting this. I know this is true. I went to the nail salon, and they put lotion on my legs that had oats in it (Aveeno), and I immediately got a bladder flare. My Husband found this hard to believe. But I know that the skin is a sponge and absorbs everything.
How do we deal with this?
Matia, How do you suggest we respond when doctors insist this?, so that it doesn't invite defensiveness but also gets taken seriously.
Because they're the professional and we're just the patient to them, I haven't found any docs, even the ones who are kind or somewhat open to alternative medicine, who will receive or believe this. And if I try to protest, they act like sorry you don't know what you're talking about. At a dermatologist they wanted to put antibiotic cream on after a surface skin 'surgery' and I had to all out insist they not, it was very difficult.
MDs
I have found with Western docs as well as people in my life. I have no need or desire to convince anyone of anything. I have my own thoughts and beliefs about everything. What I choose to do with my body is my business, and I pay no worry to what someone else thinks, including any MDs who may have the opportunity to interact with my health.
MD reaction
I get the eye roll from my kids dentist and MD almost every time we visit them and I don't care one bit! I don't get in a big discussion with them as I know I will never change their minds.
Eye Rolling
...y'up, I am an expert in the art of deflecting the eye rolls. I suggest developing thick skin and an attitude of...what you think is of no concern to me. In the end, you know what you know, and that's all that matters.Just because someone else does not believe it, does not mean it isnt true!
Matia?
Matia - I guess I didn't ask my question well enough. I know we have to not care what they think, but practically how do we express it best when we refuse a pill/ or treatment or procedure and they're telling us it's necessary or really should be done and that what we're saying just isn't "right". If you say "Find another MD" that's not practical because it's rarely an option, most all of them are like that.
What to say
Say, I dont feel comfortable with that at this time, orI prefer to wait on that just yet, orI have found that bothers my baldder, orI have found that bother my body, orMy experience with that has not been very positive in the pastTry to be dimplomatic like that instead of hitting the situation full on.If you don't feel comfortable...you need to find another MD. It's your body, and you arehaving that MD help you with your health. If you cant work together in an open manner, it is not a good fit.