Helpful Tips to Lessen Pelvic Pain

Today at work I finally had something to keep me busy- I was brainstorming ideas for my blog. While it seemed important to make my first few posts about my struggle with chronic pelvic pain I was feeling like I should give back to the reader.

SO HERE IT IS...a few helpful tips for when the pain is present. Don't worry, I'm going to get specific because I know just as much as the next person who has pelvic pain (and vulvodynia) that there are so many different levels of pain. There is the "this doesn't really feel like period cramps, but I'm super achey in that area" pain. There is the "my back is aching and my legs feel restless and I can't get comfortable feeling". Then of course there is the "this fuckin sucks my pelvis and my vagina hurt so bad that I can't nor do I want to get out of bed".

1. Make yourself a cup of chamomile tea. Chamomile is considered to have many health benefits because of an oil in it called bisabolol. Bisabolol has anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties. My acupuncturist says someone with a chronic disorder such as pelvic pain should drink enough chamomile in their diet that they should start peeing chamomile. (That's an exaggeration, but it's good for you and it can't hurt).

*I would suggest chamomile tea for all levels of pain because it tastes good, it's soothing, and what's the harm and trying?

2. Ice. Ice the outer pelvic region (the lower part of your stomach) for about 20 minutes. You can do this multiple times in a day.

*Ice should be used with any level of pain because it numbs the area and takes down inflammation.

3. DISTRACT, DISTRACT, DISTRACT. My Mom's rule is that you can feel sorry for yourself for 15 minutes, but then you need to get up and find something to keep you busy. Go shopping (retail therapy can do short-term wonders), get your nails done, watch a movie, catch up on work, hang out with friends, etc., etc.

*My recommendation for this is tricky. I can sit here and write about how necessary it is to distract yourself, but when my pain is at its worst, it is extremely hard to get out of bed. This might because I'm so uncomfortable that I don't want to move, or because the millions of thoughts I have swirling around my head about sex, vaginas, pain, and relationships are impossible to ignore, and anxiety and depression provoking.

I know my body so well now because of this condition that I know when I need to give myself a little push to get out of bed and stop feeling sorry for myself. I drink the chamomile and do the ice, not because I think it will fix my problems forever, but it might help to just curb my level of uncomfortableness. I distract myself because I don't want to get tied up a psychological mess.

It's hard and it sucks. There is no other way to put it, but these are a few things that I use to help on a day to day basis. Please share any of your suggestions...my list is looking pretty short.

Alex

Hoping to Post Post-Pelvic Pain

When a doctor asks me when the pain, uncomfortable feeling in my lower back and abdomen all began, I know an exact date to tell him/her. It was February of my Junior year in college (2008). I think it's important to rewind and share a bit of my life before this to better understand this as a chronic condition.

Pre-Pelvic Pain:

I was "young and in love". I was in college, had an amazing boyfriend, and an amazing sex life. What could be better? I didn't know it at the time, but I was lucky to be able to eat what I wanted, drink what I wanted, go to the gym when I wanted, sit for as long as wanted, and stand for as long as I wanted. Did I mention the sex? I could have sex whenever I wanted. I even peed without thinking about how often I peed or how I peed.

So, what changed? All of a sudden sex made me feel sick. It was enjoyable during, and then I would just be achey and feel flu like for at least 24 hours after. I had had a UTI before, so I assumed this was the same. I would go to the University Health Center at least once a month and they would confirm I had a UTI. I was given antibiotics, I would lay off the sexual activity for a few days, and then the cycle would start all over again.

In the interest of not writing a 10 page post I will not fast forward to the present and save all of the other details for future posts.

During Pelvic Pain:

I am 23 years old. While I am currently single, it would be impossible and incredibly painful to be sexually active. I cannot tolerate caffeine. I cannot engage in any type of exercise (yoga included). I cannot sit in my office chair for extended periods of time. I cannot sit for extended periods of time. I have a whole list of doctors but 4 I see on a regular basis; physical therapist (starting up again in a few weeks), acupuncturist, clinical psychologist, and psychiatrist. In a somewhat desperate effort to figure out what is pissing off my body so much I have been put on a strict diet: no sugars, no alcohol, no red meat. Tricky stuff- I am only on day 2 but I will try to hold out on these things for 4-5 weeks.

So, for now I can write about the Pre and the During. I have to say the one thing I want more in life is to be able to talk about the Post-Pelvic Pain. Despite the fact I have yet to come out on the other side, I have a lot to share. If I have a lot to share, there has to be more of you that have related stories!! Let me know!

Peace & Love

Daunting...the blog and the pain...

How does someone start a new blog? Is the first post supposed to explain the point of the blog? Will anyone even follow my blog? Twenty-something females (including myself) are more likely to be on celebrity gossip blogs, DIY blogs, or that blog with the girl who is chronicling her experiences with JDate.

This blog is very different. I am a 23 year old woman (weird writing woman because I see woman to mean a much older adult and I'm wishing I was still in college) living in Boston. To the outsider I seem very lucky, and in many ways I am. I have incredible friends and an amazing, close-knit family. I am a year out of college and I am employed. I am not living in parents house. I love going out in Boston, trying new restaurants, and scoping out new bars. I do not have some kind of deadly disease, illness, or physical abnormality.

To the outsider, what sets me apart may seem very uncommon. I have set out to write this blog in hopes that other females will discover it and feel a sense of support for what they are going through. There are so many times when I feel like I am the only person in the world that has this problem (as cliche as that sounds).

So what is "this problem"? When I was 21 years old I was diagnosed with "pelvic floor dysfunction" and "chronic pelvic pain". I have come to terms with the fact that this diagnosis is given to a female, when all other options of diagnosis have been exhausted. To keep it short and sweet, I was once able to enjoy having sex, and now it is the most painful and unarousing thing imaginable. Of course, more detail will be given in later posts, but for now I'm just laying the groundwork.

Which reminds me of something important I must share about myself before delving deeper into my experiences. I am not a complainer. Yes, I do complain about things going on in my life but these are the usual 20-something complaints (I'm a generalizer if you have not noticed). I complain about silly things; being bored at work, the weather being crappy, needing new clothes, etc. I hate complaining about this dysfunction of mine. I don't want others to feel bad for me, especially because I am not suffering from a deadly disease.

I hope as I develop this blog, it becomes a resource for those going through the same thing as me. Anyone who is having similar problems knows how incredibly daunting it is. In just a few years, I have been to more doctors than I ever thought possible. They all promise help, yet here I am- I am not better, and I feel like I am just finally (hopefully!) beginning to get the help that I need.

This pain has consumed and effected most aspects of my life so beginning to blog about it now is a bit scary. I definitely don't want to leave anything out, so it is tough to know where to begin. For now I will have to call it a night. Eight hours sitting in a cubicle is something I need my rest for :).

More posts to follow soon!

I need to think of a cool sign off like Gossip Girl,

Alex