Hear From Hannah - A Patient at Inclusive Care

I am a little over a year and a half into my pelvic pain healing journey with Krystyna at Inclusive Care. And though to come are challenges both anticipated and unknown (or at least that’s what I’ve learned to bet on so far in life), I cannot recommend Krystyna’s work in pelvic floor physical therapy highly enough or more enthusiastically. I know firsthand the frustrating roadblocks to accessing the specialized care Krystyna provides, and that those with anxiety around their pain and conditions will benefit the most from long-term, trauma informed treatment they’ll only receive from an independent practice like Inclusive Care.

It feels important to me to bring my personal account of living with lifelong (so far) pelvic pain. While it’s intimidating to be open on such a personal topic, if I can show how important it is that those struggling with pelvic pain receive care that acknowledges the challenges they go through – from frustration with our bodies, rejection from others, navigating a healthcare system that doesn’t serve us, and more – it is beyond worth every ounce of vulnerability. For me, many times over the emotional pain has outweighed the physical. I’ve searched for years for a medical provider who could validate my experience; and I’ve felt absolutely ashamed and afraid when it comes to sharing my pain with romantic partners. Not to get *too* cerebral, but questioning if it “will ever work out for me” when it comes to finding my person… Let’s just say that dating is hard enough without wondering in the back of your mind if someone can be patient, compassionate, still have fun with me, and dare I say it, recognize that my pain has weighed on me for a very long time. It’s more than just one moment or something shared between two people in a room, but a layered and complex issue that has felt unfair for me to bring other people into. This has been a huge hindrance to confidence and healthy self-esteem for decades.

Many with chronic pelvic pain have experiences similar to mine. Ongoing development in sexual medicine continues to emphasize the importance of long-term interventions to bring the best outcomes in interrupting chronic pelvic pain. In this way, Inclusive Care has made an overwhelming impact on my life. Krystyna has been with me through every setback and every success, celebrating and encouraging me and reminding me that I deserve to have fulfilled, pain-free everyday and intimate experiences (and I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to have the latter every day, as well!). Krystyna has a tremendous grasp of the physical and emotional intricacies of living with pelvic pain and the time it takes to find the best treatment for each individual – and to heal. Just as each person’s pain is unique, their treatment needs to be, too. Krystyna’s trauma informed approach is a huge comfort as we work through challenges, lean on different fences, and explore options for next steps. In fact I could not imagine getting this far in recovery without Krystyna’s sensitivities to consent, to my feelings and experiences, and her ability to apply her expert knowledge to help me imagine new possibilities and reach my goals. I’m delighted to share that we’ve made significant progress toward less pain and less worry. I not only have a greater understanding of my condition, but know how to communicate about it and advocate for myself with other healthcare providers and anyone else in the picture.