Petitioning TV Doctors and Health Experts to Talk About Interstitial Cystitits

If you have ever had a chronic disease, you know how desperate you have been (or still are) for good information on what is happening to you. Often, people see segments on television shows that describe what they are feeling, leading to finally get an appropriate diagnosis. Sometimes, being able to point to these shows creates a sense of validity in a situation where patients have felt the need to explain themselves over and over.

Because of this, patients often plead with the nationally syndicated shows (like The Doctors, Dr. Oz, and Oprah) to cover their conditions. 

This situation has actually improved in the past several years as it pertains to interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. In fact, both The Doctors and Dr. Oz have mentioned interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome on their shows. Generally, it is only a few minutes (or seconds) long and woven into a conversation about bladder/urine disorders. I am not sure we can get them to repeat these talks over and over without different angles to appeal to their producers.

For example, when you read their appeals for people to appear on upcoming shows, you don't only want to look for shows about bladder issues, but look for topics that are related:

*chronic pain
*being misdiagnosed
*misuse of antibiotics
*inflammatory conditions
*unintended weight loss or weight gain
*sleep disruptions
*sexual dysfunction
*pain with intercourse
*relationship issues as they pertain to diseases
*dealing with multiple health conditions
*traveling with chronic disease
*uncommon special diets
*stress management and chronic conditions
*hair loss (if you are on Elmiron and lost hair)
*female medical issues
*male medical issues
*exercise restrictions because of disease
*pregnancy complications (or high-risk pregnancies)
*lifestyle challenges of chronic illness
*job discrimination with chronic illness
*alternative jobs for those with disabilities
*cooking with chronic illness (or chronic pain)

In essence, almost anything these shows are asking for, someone in the IC community can speak to. Just don't expect them to devote an entire show to IC/PBS, nor give you more than a few minutes. What is important is to get it mentioned at all. (For hints on how to represent IC in these situations, see my blog post: Developing Your IC Elevator Speech.)

For future shows, see these links:

Dr Oz: Be on the Show
The Doctors: Be on the Show (There are some good ones listed as of the day I posted this!)
Oprah Casting Calls
Rachel Ray: Be on the Show

Of course, this list is not complete. Please feel free to share links for other shows in the comments. And don't be afraid to contact your local television stations and news outlets to suggest segments for your local area! 

Just keep trying!!!! Each time we get someone to utter the words "interstitial cystitis" or "painful bladder" we gain traction! Of course if you get a chance to appear on a show or tell your story, let us know here!

Julie Beyer, MA, RDN

Author, Speaker, Patient Advocate

www.ic-diet.com  

Helping Yourself Is the First Step to Getting Well

For step by step guidance for creating your own personal interstitial cystitis meal plan, see: Confident Choices^®: Customizing the Interstitial Cystitis Diet.

For some basic, family-style, IC bladder-friendly recipes, see: Confident Choices^®: A Cookbook for Interstitial Cystitis and Overactive Bladder

For health care workers:  Interstitial Cystitis: A Guide for Nutrition Educators

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