Difficulty urinating: no infection, doc says "neuromuscular"

Hi all,

Long-time TMS sufferer, had the Sarno TMS epiphany about 4-5 years ago and changed my life forever. Not all pain vanished, but I was able to resume everything I had been avoiding for 10+ years.

I'm posting this to see if anyone here has had any similar experiences to what I've been through the last month with urination problems.

I had a situation escalate over the course of about 3-4 weeks where I began to feel slight bladder irritation and it eventually progressed to the point where my bladder was killing me. I could only pee a slight trickle without relief. Taking antibiotics from the doctor (Bactrim, Cipro) did nothing. I've had a few bladder infections in the past and usually the Cipro works, but not this time.

I went to see my longtime urologist who wanted to see if there was an obstruction of some kind with a catheter. He said he couldn't put it in all the way about where the prostate meets the urethra. He was concerned and said I needed to go in for a cystoscopy the following day under anesthesia. Needless to say I was petrified.

The result of the scope showed there was NO physical obstruction of any kind. He said I have something "neuromuscular" going on that narrowed the channel. He dilated the area with a balloon so for the time being I'm ok. Follow-up with him in another month.

Even without the health issues, the last month has been extremely stressful: the 2-year anniversary of my deceased partner being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I started a new temp job, and I may have to leave the house I'm renting in the next few months, if my landlord sells their other place this summer in which case they would move in to my house. So there's a lot going on.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if my physical problem is somehow TMS or stress related given there was nothing wrong physically.

Has anyone experienced something similar where there's blockage in the urinary tract that isn't an infection or any kind of physical issue?

Experiences or thoughts welcome.

 

I was told I had painful bladder syndrome. I had it twice. Both times lasted several months. Pain pain pain. Frequent urinstion. Realized it was TMS SO I BELIEVED and the pain went away. I read his books out of desperation and I didn't want surgery. Sounds like you are dealing with a lot. Re read Dr Sarnos books or Steve Ozanichs books. Chase that pain away. Believe! Prayers.
Candy
Fibromyalgia painful bladder diabetes high blood pressure bipolar OCD. Foot numbness sciatica. I am healing.
Candy

 

Thanks CandyLu. That's encouraging to hear!

 

Welcome. GB

 

I had extreme bladder symptoms like you describe. I suspected TMS and sure enough, the medical docs were going down the road of "interstitial cystitis" which for women is an idiopathic/unknown bladder upset. When the man I was dating broke up with me the problem went away the very next day. So there you have it. TMS all the way.

 

Just an update, since there was no physical evidence of stricture of anything wrong in the urethral channel, I was referred to a bladder specialist who gave me the IC diet list.

Man, is this diet painful! My symptoms have been improved with no caffeine, though not reset to normal. Certainly less irritation. But as the doctor said, "We have no idea what caused the inflammation of your bladder. What we need to do is restrict what you're eating and drinking that may aggravate it."

With regard to what caused it, I brought up the fact that I've been dealing simultaneously with the two-year mark of my deceased partner being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and the start of a new stressful job. I mentioned Sarno and the unconscious creating distractions and how I recovered from years of chronic pain. She listened, nodding her head, and was open to the concept, not being dismissive at all which was a welcome change from a medical doctor.

So this bladder-inflammation episode fits the TMS formula of my past issues with a multitude of chronic pain. No physical evidence of anything wrong. No easily discernible physical reason why it started.

I have to admit that I've had relapses of TMS confidence in the last year for no real reason. I recovered from 15 years of chronic pain thanks to Sarno/Brady. At some point those "uh oh" thoughts crept in doing physical exercise again. So I think I need to go back and read more each day to give me back that doubtless confidence.

 

I'm glad to hear you've realized it's probably TMS. It's so hard to imagine every time that our brain is so strong as to distract us from our feelings that it would cause pain. I'm free from IC for many months. I have some problems up and down but I'm like you. Go back to the books. Re read everything. God bless.

 

Maybe it was a different era but I'm surprised that Sarno never wrote more on chronic pelvic pain disorders. This seems to be the 2nd most common TMS manifestation after back pain!

 

Schubiner talks about IC in his blog and his books (also chronic pelvic pain, which I think may be an equivalent...). He mentions it is one of the most common things he sees people for these days! Maybe the "new" whiplash or something like that, like Jason suggested. Certainly was not prevalent in Sarno's day!