Design Center and Health....Wierd Mix

So Tyson and I had our first design center appointment last Wednesday, and it went really fast and really smooth. Smoother and faster than we thought. Tyson's parents came with us and helped us make up our minds on some nitty gritty house decisions. It also went really fast for us because I walked in there already knowing the look I wanted, and Tyson let me "go at it." Also, from my prior experience being the visual specialist at Bed Bath and Beyond years ago, it was easier for me to see how everything was going to work with the look I was trying to achieve. We had our designer with us to help confirm my choices, or help me make up my mind when I got iffy about choices. I think all of this components listed above really made the process a lot easier.

Ever since we signed the contract to start building a house, Tyson's been picking up extra jobs and overtime shifts left and right. Before we ever went to the design center, he thought I was going to go to town on upgrades. I know this because he TOLD me! :-p Haha! NO FAITH TYSON!....no faith... As it turns out, I didn't go overboard with upgrades like he seemed to have thought I would, and he walked out of there a happy man because we're under budget for what we originally planned for, so YAY to that!

As far as my health is concerned, I think I'm putting the puzzle pieces together one by one and I'm getting excited. This past month, I figured out a BIG piece to my IC issue, and basically, I've come to realize I don't believe I have Interstitial Cystitis. I believe I have hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction. I could go on and on with how I made this official, but I won't. Hypertonic PFD is where your pelvic floor muscles are too tight. Basically, my neuromuscular theory is proving more and more to be correct. The pelvic floor holds up the bladder (and all of the female things down there) and they share the same nerve supply. Because my pelvic muscles are too tight, it entraps the nerves, cause inflammation, which thus causes urinary issues or more constant tightening from the pain. For me, it started as unrelenting urgency and frequency with no sign of infection.

This is a HUGE breakthrough for me, and Tyson and I are more hopeful and excited than ever before! When it comes down to it, I stopped and thought about my past history and compared it to medical information about PFD other women with this issue have shared with me. Sure enough, I fit the bill TO A T!. I've realized that all my life I've held tension in my pelvic floor. It was caused by all of my years of dance. (And yes, there is a lot of research to back this up) I did a lot of ballet and gymnasitics type dance, and you have to use your core muscles to hold your center. For those of you who don't know the jargon, basically holding your center is where you keep an upright posture and suck in so you can hold your balance. Even when I'm not dancing, I walk with a lot of poise out of habit from years of dance. Those of you who see me frequently, watch how I walk and you'll see what I'm talking about. Well, by doing this, it pushes down on your PF, thus keeping the mucles tight. Then, over the past year, I became a gym junkie and worked out A LOT on my core. I also ran a lot, and your PF muscles tighten naturally when you do this so you don't (and forgive me) have an "accident." Working out heavily only caused more insult to injury and BAM! Here I am....down right miserable and in so much discomfort, and no doctor can figure it out.

There are what they call "trigger spots" all over my lower abdomen, glutes, piformis muscle, etc. etc. etc. Tyson is my PROOF that there's a lot going on with my PF muscles. Tyson watches me squint in pain on the floor while I press and massage at these LARGE muscle knots I've found along with stretching them. But it's one of those pains that "hurts so good," if you get what I mean. Usually right after I've worked out some of the kinks, I already feel TEN TIMES better bladder wise, and I'm not kidding! I even had about 5 minutes of being symptom free one day after working out the knots, and that was the 1st time ever in almost 6 months that I didn't feel the constant need to go. It was total bliss! Of course, it slowly crept back. When it boils down to it, I need to see a physical therapist to work at each layer of the muscles. I've already got the person and place picked out thanks to some references! I'm really hoping this lady will be my saving grace and the answer to all of my prayers.

Between the house building and me figuring out my "issue," Tyson and I are excited. Tyson's ready to have his wife back and I'm ready to stop being in pain and feeling like I have to go CONSTANTLY! Together, we both are ready to get out of this apartment and into our home. ♥ I've become a grouch with our neighbors that surround us. Tyson's always been that way from day 1.

As usual, we'll keep everyone updated on the house and the progress in my health!