In Boston vernacular a “wich’d piss’ah is something really fantastic. Sounds the opposite of what it really is, but it is a Boston thing, so let’s just role with that. What I really need is some really Good News

Over the past few months, my IC ( interstitial cystitis) has been getting pretty fussy. I have been back up here in VT for over 5 years and have not been able to find a specialist who gets its. There is a urologist, who has an office across from the gynecologist, but they don’t coordinate. And the Uro dude, very nice, but limited in his scope of IC. The Gyno likes to check the LC ( Lichen Sclerosus) but does not treat pelvic floor muscle hypertonia. That is clinical for being a tight ass.

So, As much as I love Vermont, it has one the worst medical systems at the highest cost. So, last June, I was getting tight and called up Dr. Angel Johnson and Greater Boston Urology and got myself in for a check. Luckily, she was there and did the old tightness test, gave me intervaginal pelvic floor trigger point injections and sent me off to PT. Luckily, there is a specialist for pelvic floor issues and I was able to see her ( $500. a session) eating up my deductible. Did that for a while, but I already have the tools and the tricks to do the pt on my own so once I got the feel, so to speak, I went back to Alex’s PT Program which translates to: Always Procrastinate Therapy Program, drive too much, sit too much, and slug it out. The problem with this approach is that the stress from not doing what I should do and working too much in a moral, spiritual, emotional field to the point of exhaustion creates a standoff between my mind and body. plus a standoff between my paycheck and bills. The body won this time and a month or so back I called Dr. J. and spoke to her scheduler. “It think I need some injections” I said. “Oh, we do those in the surgical center now” ( I am thinking yea haw because I hate having the injections awake, just sayn’). ” OK, well then, if we are going to the surgical center, could I please have a cystoscopy with hydrodystension and bladder cocktail?”

Well, I don’t drink alcohol anymore but a bladder cocktail doesn’t sound so bad. ” I will talk with Dr. Johnson and get back to to you. ” Seriously, the poor girl, how many patients does she get that asks for this shit.

Short time passes; “Dr. Johnson said that if you are asking, you probably need it.” Booked and paperwork filled out. Glad I went ahead because the bladder is a frickn’ mess. So here is a nice picture of the inside of a badder. Looks like a planet I might want to visit.

Here is my alien world.

So the patches show how really pissy I am . But there is a plan. DMSO installations, not sure yet when or how frequently, but it is a palliative infusion that “bathes” the bladder in medication that will reduce the inflammation. Only issue is that I get sick and the side effects suck.

• Industrial Solvent: DMSO is widely used as an industrial solvent, including as an antifreezing agent in concrete applications and in paint thinners.
• Medical Use (Approved): In human medicine, it is approved by health bodies like Health Canada and the FDA as a prescription bladder irrigation solution for symptomatic relief of chronic genitourinary problems, specifically interstitial cystitis. It is also used as a preservative for bone marrow and stem cells for transplantation.

Yup, let’s just put an industrial solvent into a fussy bladder. Can’t make this stuff up. Pretty gross, but here is the thing……

I work with hospice patients and can’t help but think about how we minimize women’s urinary issues and only tend to them when there is a suspected UTI. Now I know that with IC there is often blood in the bladder dip. But lord, if you don’t know what you are actually treating, then how can you provide person centered care? Both men and women get IC and mostly related to other mass cell disorders. Yup, I have that too.

Our bodies are simple and complex all at the same time. If something hurts to the point it is interfering with your everyday life or you have changed your life due to your pain, you may want to think about going down the rabbit hole to find out what it is. It generally ain’t in your head, it is your body.

You can’t fill anyone else’s cup, unless your cup is filled and mine will only be filled with non acid type things for a good while.