It seems I may have created more frustration and confusion than I intended. It isvery hard to capture the essence of what I am trying to say sometime in such a short formatting.
So, here is the thing, I did not include many things-that's for sure. There are more and I didn’t go into them all. Some of it I purposely did not go into because I feel that people would derive the negative and not the positive from it. I need to reflect on how to approach that in a separate post.
There is a flip side to this though. The really awesome and incredible thing about the human body is its resilience and its ability to change. Each day is a new one and an opportunity to make change. We are turning cells over in our body constantly and just as we can do things to become more unwell, the opposite is also true. And sometimes it is an unraveling of energies in the body that is in the art of this condition letting go. And, I am not speaking of low vitamin levels or high TSH or things of that sort necessarily-this is a far more complex subject I actually need to get into on a another post as well. I am speaking about the art of the unraveling.
I continue to marvel at what I see and what it sometimes takes to create movement and change in some of my patient's bodies. It is fairly incredible. But, the thing is, this is medicine-not only alternative medicine, but western medicine as well. The lay person often thinks it is all black and white, but, in fact it isn't. Western medicine is obviously much more science based, but even so, it is an art. it is in the art that the truest and greatest doctors do their best work. It is in the human interaction and the discovering and uncovering what is going on with the human being they are interacting with.
This is the beautiful and wonderful parts of these challenges. And, perhaps, this also works to the benefit of the patient as well in these cases even through the frustration. My teacher I studied from my doctorate degreee under used to say that not everyone is meant to get well at the same pace. He actually said not everyone is meant to get well. But, I beleive that everyone who wants to, is meant to. So, if you are here, I bleieve that you can be well. I think this is the first step. Then it is the beleiving that you can and the vision of who you are going to be when you do and lastly the fight to get there. That conviction will serve you well in this process. That belief that you can is what keeps your body fighting. I think the journey sometimes is difficult because a person may have more things they need to uncover and grow from that they have not yet "gotten". This is very philisophical and I apologize if I am offending anyone, but, I do beleive this, and many scientists do beleive in this same vein.
Taking the opportunity to look into the things in your own life that are making you unhappy during this process presents a wonderful opportunity to merge those two processes of physiological change and emotional change and life can become very different. And, please do not misunderstand what I am saying, I am not placing any blame on anyone who is having a hard time healing and suggesting that they are not thinking positively enough. However, I am saying that your body is this live process that is changing with every day you live and realizing that every day is a new one this makes phenomenal change possible.
Although it is an uncomforatable process having to stay in this for longer than you may want to, perhaps the reason for this is the need for more change in all parts of your life and perhaps the time it takes to sort all of that out is what is going to contribute the most to the improvement in the rest of your life.
I can say from my own experiences in life that the things that I have lost, which, if I look at it, are profound, I have gained many times over in what I have gained as a consequence of those losses. I am such a better human being for that. And, ultimately, I never would have acheived health if not for all of that-perhaps I would not even be here at all. And, I look at each day still as an opportunity for furthering my health. I do not take it for granted for even one moment. I take care of my body like a crystal glass-with great delicate care.
Please have faith, have fight and find that strong place inside of yourself and know that there are always answers to everything. Sometimes finding one's way to those answers takes more doing than you would wish. But, there are alwyas reasons that we may not see until later when we can look back and appreciate them.
Dr.M
Comments
Thank you Dr. Brizman.
Thank you Dr. Brizman.
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Thank you as always for
Thank you as always for sharing your precious time and wisdom :)
Claire C
It scares me half to death
It scares me half to death that your mentor would say such a thing. I however, will stick with your positive outlook on this situation. I can and will achieve health. I have seen miraculous things happen with my own patients and from this I know change is absolutely possible. No doubt there have been many trying days and wonder why my body hates me so, but in the end I know I would be no closer to achieving my goals by giving in now. One day at a time, I will keep the faith! Thank you Dr. M!
what if one feels they are doing everything humanly possible and still, whatever needs to be "gotten"- isn't? How do we figure this out?
What if one has made as many changes as they can and actively sought spiritual and emotional help and still the body doesn't cooperate?
I like the idea that the body is constantly changing. That is the hope that keeps me going.
Some of the answer is in
Some of the answer is in surrendering to the process in my experience. Accepting that I have a newcurrent identity; ie one with a chronic illnes and have the privilege of being guided by a knowledgeable, caring healer, uniquely experienced and educated in the IC experience. As the ups and downs of the protocol continue, I, sometimes can see the gift behind all of this,:the bigger truth of living and the peeling away of past negativities.
It is a huge change on the life path, but the alternatives are scary. I see others who pop painkillers, mask disappointments and past experiences with drinking, eating, denying and so much more. I see this as a chance to renew, heal and take the road less travelled but more positve. In my case, I am a senior with a long road of bad and good choices behind me, but oh, the promise of another chance keeps my resolve.
It is so much more difficult when younger and having to blend patience/self care with families and professions, but if one can even just glimpse the gift of it all and also realize it's like the pebble in the pond, the lessons ripple out to the family, children, friends that are so imortant to us. We also have to remembr the reasons and understanding don't necessarily come in the time period we expect, sometimes much later.
I didn't mean to sound off or appear to be lecturing and hope this is taken as it is meant: a loving caring attempt to ease our concerns and worry...
have heard Chronic disease patients referred to as "the canaries in the coal mine" I do think there is something to that, as our generations progress in this crazy society.
So, love and care and gratitude and thank you, dear Dr M and to IC sisters
Lolo this is so well-said.
Lolo this is so well-said. Thank you.
Unfortunately, the pebble in
Unfortunately, the pebble in the pond here for me is like a boulder that is causing a destructive flood that affects my husband and children.
I will gladly return this gift while of course trying always to maintain gratitude for the other things in my life that are truly good. IC is not on that list and never will be.
Deir, I'm so sorry you're
Deir, I'm so sorry you're suffering and want you to know I also, at times feel as you do. I didn't mean to underplay the pain and struggles we all have..just wanted to share my experience with gratitude while seeking the goodness on this journey. I understand the expression can seem odd when one is hurting. Heartfelt wishes to be well.
I understand, Lolo. Thank you
I understand, Lolo. Thank you. Heartfelt wishes to you as well.
Hello Everyone,
Hello Everyone,
My name is Leslie and I have not posted anything here before although I have been in treatment for almost a year now I do enjoy reading everything here and the information has helped me tremendously. That being said I felt it was time I started giving back. Whether what I have to say shines a positive light into any of your lives is up to God but I felt compelled to share. I too have struggled with this dreaded condition for close to 20 yrs. now. Thanks to Dr. Matia and her passion to help others I am finally understanding IC and how I can heal from it. This understanding is a daily journey and sometimes I too feel I so badly want this to be over and just be able to feel good everyday. On those days I have to make myself reflect back to when I was unable to leave my house, crying in pain and did not want to live. Thank you Lord I am not in that place anymore and even though I am still symptomatic it seems daily with something whether it be bladder, joint and muscles aches, strange die-off symptoms, or hormone issues I am very thankful for how far I have come. Today, as I suffer with very uncomfortable aches and pains in all my joints and most muscles I was reflecting as I was starting to feel sorry for myself.I remembered my daughter's boyfriend's mother who is just in her thirties and fighting a tremendous battle with brain cancer. She is very sick and trying everything natural and western to heal herself and it is looking very bleak. Her son loves her sooo much and is heartbroken watching his mother suffer and the fear of losing her. I thought to myself yeah my condition is a bummer and I am uncomfortable but at least I am not dying and possibly leaving my children motherless very soon. So at that moment I thanked my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for my blessings and put on some 80's music and started dancing all over my house even though my joints were saying stop. Soon I found myself laughing, dancing, clapping, singing and my body started to feel better. I truely believe and am not saying I am an expert but have experienced this time and time again that the mind has a huge impact on the physical body. When I am in a good place mentally and spiritually my body responds positively. As Dr. M always expresses there are many aspects to the human condition so this is just one piece of the puzzle but a very important piece. So I challenge all of you today to put on your favorite dance music no matter how bad you feel and just remember to dance!! Even if you can't do much for very long you will feel the heaviness dissappear and your light will shine through. God Bless you Dr. Matia and your compassion and hard work and God Bless all you ladies. I am in constant prayer for all of you and I promise I will be better about participating in positive posting. Big Big Hugs and Much Love!! xoxo
I LOVED this post!
I LOVED this post!
And, BTW--please email me privately about the cancer-I have info I would love to share-if you do not want to break your anonymity with me, then -just say so here, I will give you some thoughts about the cancer.
Whew! just grooved to "I
Whew! just grooved to "I Have a Dream" (Abba)...and then, some more...soooo relieving; thanks knowledge4life and welcome!
Leslie, thank you for sharing
Leslie, thank you for sharing! I love your spirit! When I am feeling my worst I too put in some music and just dance. When my dad passed I was given the book with the song lyrics and CD "I Hope You Dance." I always remember this and find a sense of peace and joy with dance even when my body is screaming no. I wish your daughter's boyfriend's mother and himself a sense of peace and hope she can find the path to health. Sending much love and prayers!
I absolutely believe that we
I absolutely believe that we need to try to live in the solution rather than the problem and seeking out joy, gratitude, fun,love and anything else on the positive side can only help us in our healing journey. However I also think there is a cultural tendency to equate legitimate grief with self pity. There is just as much damage in repressing true emotions as there is in wallowing in them. This really isn't referring to your post Dr Brizman- just something that I think about a lot.