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My Journey: In-Between Potty Breaks

12/29/2010

40 Comments

 
Instead of Interstitial Cystitis becoming a curse for me it has become a life-changing gift.  I was devastated and angry when first diagnosed in 1983.  Then I was relieved to have a name for what plagued my every waking minute and interrupted my sleep.   In-between potty breaks I decided to fight rather than give up.  I went back to school and got my Master’s degree in Social Work.  I opened a holistic private practice and began to counsel among others, “IC” patients offering them hope and encouragement.  Creative ways to deal with pain emerged.
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I began to meditate and ended up doing my doctoral dissertation on the positive effects of meditation for those in recovery from alcohol and drugs.  Instead of focusing on what I could not eat or do I looked for methods to enhance my palate and expand my physical limitations.  Each time a new ICA Update arrived I immediately sat down and read it entirely looking for nuggets of information to add to my repertoire of coping tools.  I was not disappointed. 

Years ago I started support groups as an ICA volunteer in South Carolina and had the privilege to travel to other states to offer assistance to their coordinators.  Instead of wallowing in “ain’t it awful,” I looked for how my situation could be used to my advantage.  Along the path other conditions surfaced, which I thought originally were related to IC and now research is showing probable connections.  These included IBS, allergies, Fibromyalgia, Vulvodynia, Vestibulitis, and food intolerances.  With each added diagnosis I educated my health practitioners about the development and kept them informed.  The result was they now look to me for updated information.  They refer patients to me for support. 

My story does not end there.  Last year I went through a divorce, was diagnosed with colon cancer, and a blocked right carotid artery.  Two surgeries within seven days and a two-week hospitalization took its toll on my already compromised body.  Instead of whining about my situation I used the tools IC had taught me.  I wrote articles, research papers, and journaled as the release for my anxiety and fear.  I called on my support network of other IC patients to check on me and pray for me.  They rallied around me as I had them in their “dark night of the soul.” 

Here I am one year later and have added two more diagnoses to my growing list.  They are Chronic Lyme’s disease and Heavy Metal Toxicity.  The literature references a possible connection to my IC and cancer.  Once again my writing afforded me the opportunity to publish an article in an on-line journal for social workers.

Now disabled, I have the time to rest, to write, to read all the research, and to educate patients and health practitioners alike.  I am more centered, aware of my body, alert to changes in it, open to new techniques, and hopeful that research will bring us the knowledge of what can be done to lessen our pain and treat this all-encompassing condition.  May you breathe deeply and rest in the assurance that you are not alone. 

Melanie Barton

40 Comments
teresa link
2/22/2012 04:08:17 am

what a great story. I, too, have a website (listed above) on IC. I am so glad that we now have the resources of the internet to help those of us who suffer.

Reply
Dr Melanie Barton link
4/19/2012 11:32:31 pm

Teresa, I am empathize with what you have gone through. Have you listened to my radio show and all the episodes related to IC? Have you been tested for Lyme? There is often that as well in our bodies. My radio show can be accessed by www.voiceamerica.com/show/1929/the-dr-melanie-show and off to the right is the list of shows. Keep in touch and keep your chin up. Dr. Melanie

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9/16/2012 03:55:06 pm

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10/8/2012 03:16:03 pm

Your website is very chatty. It will be useful for all of us. You have done a work. I will come here again to inspect new updates. Thanks for posting.

Dr Melanie Barton link
2/27/2013 11:36:15 pm

I am glad you like the blog. I hope you will come back often and also sign up for my newsletter. Thank you.

teresa
4/22/2013 04:02:45 pm

I dont have lyme disease; simply IC. am greatful for for the time you give to IC.

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Mary Cavanaugh link
5/12/2012 05:32:05 am

My 20 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with IC. I am convinced that it is from the mercury hiding in her tissues. She had a tetanus vaccine last year when she fell at the roller skating rink. I am an autism mom, researcher, and expert and I am very familiar with the harm vaccines can cause some people. My daughter has also suffered from dysbiosis at a very young age. When there is no acid in the stomach the body cannot make glutathione. I learned this from Dr. Tennant, author of "Healing Is Voltage."
I would appreciate any advice you can give me . All three of my daughters have had their health compromised by the vaccines. My youngest was diagnosed PDD-NOS at age 11. She is now 16. She was off the charts in copper, magnesium, and very high in manganese.

Reply
Dr Melanie Barton link
5/12/2012 12:16:22 pm

I take a product from Max International that raises my glutathione level. I have had tremendous results including not needing my IC meds that I have been on since 1983. You can go look at the information. Go to the storefront tab and click on the drmelanie.max4u.com banner and it will take you to the website. Read the research and let me know what questions I can answer. I would be happy to talk to you on the phone about it.

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Mary Cavanaugh link
5/14/2012 03:24:34 am

As I researched autism I became aware of the role glutathione plays in the body. I was introduced to max products through my Defeat Autism Now Dr. in the fall of 2009. I joined the company once I saw how raising glutathione levels transformed my youngest daughter. Subsequently it got the heavy metals out of my brain as well. I am still in Max but Max also lead me to Kangen water, through Dr. Corrine Allan. The balance of alkalinity and acidity is another piece to the health puzzle.

Reply
Dr Melanie Barton link
5/22/2012 03:51:11 am

Mary, I am so glad you too understood the role that both Max and Kangen play in helping us get better. I would love to talk more with you about this and maybe put your testimony in my newsletter. Let me know how to reach you. You can email me at [email protected]. Thanks, Dr. Melanie

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gist link
8/2/2012 03:58:28 pm

Thanks for sharing your fight with disease here it has been a story.

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Dr Melanie Barton link
2/27/2013 11:35:04 pm

Please listen to my radio show to hear of other people's stories about overcoming their health issues.

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8/19/2012 09:27:21 am

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Dr Melanie Barton link
2/27/2013 11:33:17 pm

thank you for letting me know how you found my story. I hope you will listen to my show and tell me more of what is helpful.

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Dr. Melanie Barton link
8/19/2012 10:50:04 am

thank you for letting me know how you found it. Let me know your topics of interest please.

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2/25/2013 10:24:51 pm

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Dr. Melanie Barton link
2/27/2013 11:29:56 pm

thank you for commenting. Let me know other topics of interest please. Thank you.

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Joshua link
2/27/2013 08:49:53 am

Thanks, nice article. Submitting articles and press release to article directories can really help too.

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Dr Melanie Barton link
2/27/2013 11:31:18 pm

Joshua, thanks for commenting. Please tell me more about what you mean by press release to article directories.

Reply
teresa linton
2/28/2013 03:13:44 am

no lyme disease melanie. yes i have listened to your shows on ic thank you for paying attention to a problem that is largely ignored.

Reply
Dr. Melanie Barton link
2/28/2013 06:06:36 am

Teresa, please email me so we can talk more. [email protected]. Thanks,

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Dr. Melanie Barton link
4/28/2013 11:32:48 pm

thank you for linking my article to your website. I hope I can offer more tools to be of help to you and your website visitors. Dr. Melanie

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7/4/2013 07:40:37 pm

Melanie, its oustanding, the amount of courage that you have shown in the hour of need. It is a great moment of inspiration as I went through your article. The hardships you endured and the support you provided to others eventually pays off at our times of need.

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Melanie link
4/5/2016 07:50:31 am

Thank you for your comment. Although an uphill climb, the struggle has been worth it. I'm a much happier and healthier person today. Whatever life challenges you face I hope you conquer them as well, Dr. Melanie

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