Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome is a urinary bladder disease that causes chronic inflammation of the bladder wall lining.  The inflammation causes pain, urinary frequency, urgency and pressure in the bladder and surrounding pelvic region.  The origin of IC/PBS is still unknown; the Interstitial Cystitis Network  states that “various research studies have explored the possibility that infection, epithelial links, epithelial permeability, mast cells, heredity and neuroinflammation may play a role in IC but, to date, there is no single cause that we can attribute to causing IC in ALL patients. Rather, it may be that IC has several different variations.”

I know a lot about IC because I suffered from it for years.  In my case, I believe it originally developed as a result of trauma to my bladder from a catheter that was forcibly inserted during cholecystectomy (gallbladder) surgery in 1997.  Within a year, I experienced a kidney infection followed by a cycle of recurrent urinary tract infections.  This was unusual because I had not had a urinary tract infection since I was in my early teens.  The infections usually cleared up with a course of antibiotics, but even when the infections were not active, I was still experiencing pain, pressure, urinary frequency and urgency. I spent a lot of time in the bathroom or at the urologist’s office.

In 1999, I had exploratory surgery performed on my bladder to pinpoint the cause of my symptoms.  I was diagnosed with neurogenic bladder and a congenital urethral stenosis, which was corrected with surgery.  However, neither of those conditions – which I had had my entire life – were causing the majority of my symptoms.  The cystoscopy/hydrodistention (procedure to examine the bladder wall lining and stretch the membrane) was inconclusive, despite obvious signs of chronic inflammation.

It took nearly four years before I was properly diagnosed with IC and by then, I was experiencing regular and near-debilitating flare-ups that were interfering with my ability to live a normal life.  I was fortunate to have a job that allowed me to telecommute when I needed to because the level of discomfort, lack of sleep and perpetual bathroom trips made it difficult for me to function when I was in the middle of a flare-up.  The resulting inflammation from IC also caused gynecological problems, since the pelvic region shares similar nerve pathways and tissue structure.  It was a very difficult, painful and depressing period of my life. 

In 2003, I finally found a urologist who felt certain, as I did, that I was living with IC.  I began medical treatment (Elmiron, Elavil, Urised and Detrol) as well as a modified diet, because certain food and drink can irritate the bladder.  Over time, I did see improvement in my symptoms, but I still dealt with occasional flare-ups, as well as the unpleasant side effects from the medications themselves.  Still, after being in pain for years, I was grateful for any relief.  I had been taking the medications about three years when I went on a business trip to India at the beginning of 2006 for two weeks.  This was actually my third trip there (and we won’t talk about what it’s like to have a bladder condition and have to fly halfway around the world) but this time was different.  I experienced energy healing for the first time and it was what led me to Reiki.

The energy healing I received that day actually eliminated my neck and shoulder pain from the long flight, which was my immediate concern.  It was such a remarkable experience that once I returned to the U.S., I immediately sought out someone to train me in energy healing.  It totally changed my perspective on what “healing” means.  The interesting thing was, after practicing Reiki for a while, I realized that my bladder wasn’t bothering me at all.  I had weaned down my medications around the time I went to India because I was seeing improvement and was concerned about my liver enzyme levels, but still took a maintenance dosage.  So, I decided to wean myself off to see what would happen.  Days, then weeks went by.  I felt fine.  I haven’t taken any medication since. 

I  got pregnant in the summer of 2006 and aside from the normal discomforts associated with pregnancy, had few issues with my bladder.  I was concerned that after my pregnancy, all of my IC symptoms would come back full force – and they didn’t.  The true testament of my healing revealed itself after my emergency c-section.  I was catheterized for a week due to post-surgical complications, but still experienced no bladder-related issues.  I do have some pelvic floor tightness that pops up from time to time but  that is likely a residual issue from the surgery, and is alleviated with regular chiropractic adjustments and yoga.  Every now and then, I’ll have a day where my bladder is irritated for some reason, but it is mildly annoying and resolves by the next day.  The other thing that I should mention is that the vulvodynia I was also experiencing is no longer active either. 

The site owners of Healthy IC Recipes invited me to write an article on Reiki, entitled Spiritual Healing Through Reiki.  Writing the article is what inspired me to tell my story in more detail.  It meant a lot to me to be able to share how energy healing can be beneficial for people living with chronic health conditions like IC.  Our bodies are capable of healing themselves, but often need some assistance with the process.  Reiki is a gentle, effective complementary therapy that can help people manage their symptoms, improve the quality of their life and in some cases, faciliate much deeper healing. 

Please contact me if you would like to learn more about how Reiki can help you on your healing journey.