Book Review: Along the Healing Path

I have heard a lot about this book Along the Healing Path: Recovering from interstitial Cystitis by former IC sufferer Catherine M. Simone. I now have it in my possession and I have read up to page 30 (about 1/4 – 1/3 of the book). The first thing that strikes me about the author is how she establishes the extreme contrast between how most people not suffering from IC view IC, versus what us sufferers actually deal with. She says “it is very upsetting to read articles and talk with the doctors who seem to minimize IC...IC is pain...it’s about feeling nauseated because you’re in so much pain that it is making you sick, especially when your bladder is full. Its about having a deep, burning pain that pain medications can barely touch. It’s about sharp shooting pains and dull aching pain 24 hours a day for many of us. It’s about the constant discomfort on top of this pain...It’s about feeling as though your body is falling apart and that there is just one thing wrong after another...And its about dealing with family and friends who don’t understand how you could be “not well enough to attend...IC is an invisible disease...It’s about having family and friends look at you like you’re a hypochondriac or a wimp.”

BAM! I feel like somebody just slapped me and hugged me at the same time. I think I tend to ignore the overall sense of emotional stress that living with IC causes, because if I didn’t I would be overwhelmed all the time. But if I contain it to small outbursts and protect myself by forgetting how painful it is to have my pain condition passed off as mere “discomfort”, then I feel less like I want to scream all the time. I am so glad that someone speaks out about the trauma we all face in day to day life. Yes, I said TRUAMA. As the author goes on she discusses how it is only recently that IC sufferers are not treated like liars or crazy people because doctors cannot find a cause for the pain. To be told you are just making it up that you are suffering from pain, when everyday it rips you up in body and mind, that is traumatizing.

There are two conclusions that the author lists early on:

1.      IC is NOT just a bladder disease.

2.      IC patients have a toxic body.

The author clearly states that this is only her opinion and in no way is she a licence medical practitioner of any kind. She says that she has gotten this opinion from extensive research, experience and talking to many other IC sufferers.

“We are exposed to toxins in our foods (e.g. food colorings, chemical additives, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides), in our water (e.g. lead, arsenic, chlorine), in our air (e.g. exhaust fumes, perfumes, cigarette smoke), and in our environment (e.g. chemical cleaners).” I think she makes a pretty good case for toxicity. “Some are on prescription medication for years and never consider that they are sources of chemical toxins to their body”.

Another conclusion the author comes to:

1.      The toxic body of an IC patient is the perfect environment for fungus and bacteria to thrive.

 She says that “Bacteria are present in, on, and around the body all the time. It is when the body is weakened that it will become vulnerable to infection. The more toxic the body, the more likely that the IC patient will have bacteria, fungus, viruses, etc. involved in their IC.”

This could to be why many people believe that IC is caused by autoimmune issues. Many symptoms connected with IC seem like the body attacking itself: IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), allergies, depression/anxiety, skin irritations (rashes, etc.). All that I have just listed are problems that I personally deal with, but there are many more that I know of and which this author lists: “Sensitivity to environment (chemicals, perfumes, exhaust fumes, paint), mucous membrane problems, muscle aches and joint pain, bloating, back pain...” the list goes on and on. This book is chalk full of information, but it is in a very legible format.

The next item of importance that pops out at me is this:

1.      IC patients are not absorbing nutrition.

The author believes this to be the cause of some symptoms associated with IC. This makes sense to me. When I first noticed that I was having IBS symptoms (just like my mum) at about the age of 20 (I am now 26), my mum (who has researched a lot on IBS) said that due to spasms of the colon in people who suffer from IBS, they do not absorb as much nutrition as they should. Also because IBS sufferers are sensitive to what they take into their body they can become allergic to certain foods, thus creating nutrient deficiencies.

In reading this book so far, I feel enlightened by the information she puts forth. She lists outside sources of research and authors of other books to back up her opinion. Not only that, but the fact that she brings it with the perspective of a fellow sufferer and shares her experiences with the reader. In the following chapters it looks like she provides options as how to actually treat your symptoms naturally. She does not promise relief for all but this is a logical and natural approach that worked for her. You do not have to buy expensive treatments, but you do have to change to way you look at they way you live and how IC can be treated.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more.