▲ 296 r/HonestHotTakes+1 crossposts

I shouldn’t be able to smell you, and that includes perfume.

I think that I shouldn’t be able to smell someone unless I’m in their personal space. Whether that means B.O. or perfume, or cologne. I understand that you think your cologne smells good, but it’s a health hazard to some people. If you want to wear something, fantastic! But I should only smell it if I lean into your personal space.

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u/Ornery-Conference713 — 4 days ago

Haunted Places I Can Legally Visit?

Hi all!

I just moved here for school, and I love it! I am wondering if you know of any haunted places within an hour drive of Harrisonburg that one can visit (legally, please!). Not “haunted houses” or attractions, but real places that have dark history. Bonus points if they offer tours, but I’d also be fine just going and seeing from a distance. I went to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum a while back and greatly enjoyed my tour there. I know there’s the DeJarnette Sanitorium in Staunton, but I don’t think you can go in there. Any recommendations appreciated! I have time to kill in these next few weeks before classes start, so I’d like to do some dark history touring in the area!

Thank you!

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 9 days ago

Started a Medical Trauma Survivors Instagram Page

Absolutely no pressure at all to follow it, but I just wanted to see what kinds of posts you all would be interested in. I am a survivor of some pretty significant medical trauma. Already talked about VCUGs, and am planning to talk soon on other topics like birth trauma, the origins of gynecology, pain clinics, medical malpractice, and other medical trauma related topics.

If anyone has other ideas of what they’d like to see on a page like this, though, I would love to hear your ideas! Or, if you’d like to share a story with me that I could share on there (anonymously), please let me know!

https://www.instagram.com/medicaltraumasurvivorsalliance?igsh=MXJoZHZncXFnNnoy&utm_source=qtr

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 1 month ago

Started a Medical Trauma Instagram Page

Absolutely no pressure at all to follow it, but I just wanted to see what kinds of posts you all would be interested in. I am a survivor of some pretty significant medical and gynecological trauma. Already talked about VCUGs, and am planning to talk soon on other topics like birth trauma, the origins of gynecology, and other medical trauma related topics.

If anyone has other ideas of what they’d like to see on a page like this, though, I would love to hear your ideas! Or, if you’d like to anonymously share a story with me that I could share on there (anonymously), please let me know!

https://www.instagram.com/medicaltraumasurvivorsalliance?igsh=MXJoZHZncXFnNnoy&utm_source=qr

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 1 month ago

Any VCUG survivors now diagnosed with IC?

Hi all! I have PTSD and vaginismus from my childhood VCUGs, and now I have IC, too. I am nearly certain that this is what caused mine. I know there are a lot of possible causes for IC - I’m just curious, though, if there may be a correlation between VCUG or other forms of urodynamics in childhood and/or VUR, or anything.

View Poll

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 1 month ago

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Harrisonburg or Nearby

Hi all!
Looking for recommendations for pelvic floor physical therapists in Harrisonburg or anywhere within 30 minutes any direction. Preferably a female who specializes in or has experience working with vaginismus and patients with PTSD/trauma. Moving here this summer and hoping to continue the progress I’ve been making.

Thanks!

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 2 months ago

HELP

Hi all,

Vaginismus/vulvodynia girlie here. I have occasional clitorodynia, as well, but not constant (I was going to post this there, but then realized that I needed to wait to be approved to join, so if a mod gets to it tonight, then I’ll post there too, but it’s also fine if they don’t!).

I went horseback riding recently, and ended up having a severe clitorodynia flare. Hilariously enough, my vulvodynia/vaginismus does not seem to be impacted at all - just my clitoris. I have tried literally everything I can think of to make the pain go away, including prescription strength lidocaine, but nothing is working.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to make the clitoral pain go away, please share! Even if it’s an unusual or unconventional approach.

Thanks!

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 2 months ago
▲ 73 r/VCUG_Unsilenced+2 crossposts

VCUG Trauma

I am curious how much information there is available to radiologists about VCUG trauma. There seems to be a huge mismatch between what doctors/hospitals advertise this procedure being, vs. patients’ lived experiences. I’m just wondering what discussions about this topic are like within the field, specifically around pediatric patients.

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u/Accurate-Variety2676 — 3 months ago

Any other VCUG survivors here?

My VCUGs caused my PTSD, vaginismus, and catheter injury. Healing has been so messy. Wondering if anyone else is working through this now in adulthood after blocking it out for years?

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 3 months ago
▲ 1 r/ptsd

My childhood VCUGs caused my PTSD

Despite research being out since the 1990s stating that these medical procedures (which are very common) cause PTSD and similar results to CSA, no reforms have been made. Just curious if anyone else is currently trying to heal from this, too.

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 3 months ago

VCUG To Pelvic Floor Dysfunction???

Anyone else a survivor of VCUGs who now is trying to heal from the pelvic floor dysfunction they can cause? Feeling so alone and discouraged with my healing journey right now - vaginismus, vulvodynia, severe touch aversion, bladder pain, catheter injury - sometimes it just feels like a lot. And of course, navigating PFPT with a trauma history is never easy 😭

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 3 months ago

My Childhood VCUGs Caused My Vaginismus - Anyone Else Relate?

I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the fact that the doctors told my parents that there were no risks aside from a small risk of cancer from the X-Rays. Since been diagnosed with Vaginismus, PTSD, and a catheter injury. Healing is so messy 😭

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 3 months ago

Doctors told my parents that my childhood VCUGs would be painless and that I wouldn’t remember them - turns out they cause lifelong trauma

TW: VCUG and trauma

My very common diagnosis of VUR as a toddler resulted in me having to get a few VCUGs. In other words, be restrained, have my legs spread apart and my *down there* sterilized, be forcibly catheterized, then have my bladder pumped full of cancer-causing contrast fluid, then pee on the table I was strapped to in front of a room full of adult men who said they were “taking pictures” (X-Rays) of me peeing.

I now have PTSD, vaginismus, and a catheter injury from this procedure (yes, all professionally doagnosed) and have spent the past several years in intensive trauma therapy. Not to mention, I can’t even get gynecological cancer screenings because nothing can be inserted due to severe vaginismus - so not only do I have a higher risk of cancer from this test, I also am physically unable to screen for it.
I have to take medications for my nightmares so I can sleep. Still can’t use a public bathroom to this day.

There have been studies out since the 90s about how researchers use VCUG kids as proxies for victims of CSA to see how kids remember CSA, since there are many shared components between the two experiences. And still, all doctors have to say about VCUGs is that “there is a small risk for cancer because of the contrast agent and the radiation in the X-rays).

In other words, INFORMED CONSENT IS ACTUALLY A BIG DEAL!!!!!

EDIT:
VCUG: Voiding Cystourethrogram
VUR: vesicouretal reflux

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 3 months ago

A Common Childhood Medical Procedure Gave Me (and a bunch of other kids) PTSD

TW: Medical procedures, anatomy (urology), trauma

I was born with a condition called VUR, which basically means that my ureters were not the right size, and that urine would backwash into my kidneys and cause kidney infections, UTIs, etc. This is a very common occurrence in baby through preschool aged girls, and most grow out of it before the age of 5. Some severe cases require surgery.

In order to diagnose this, I had to have a test done called a VCUG. I had multiple performed, but only remember my last one when I was 3.

During this procedure, the child is restrained, her legs are spread apart and her genitals are sterilized, and then the child is forcibly catheterized with no anesthetic and no lubricant. Then, the bladder is pumped full of contrast fluid and the child must urinate on a table in front of a room of adults while X-Rays are taken.

At 3 years old, this procedure was the worst pain I had felt in my entire life. For years afterwards, I could not use a public bathroom. I have diagnosed PTSD and vaginismus, and still have severe chronic bladder pain. There are SO many other ways that this procedure messed up my life.

Studies have been out since the 1990s stating that researchers use VCUG patients as proxies for CSA studies, so see how kids remember CSA because VCUGs and CSA have a lot of the same components. A book about Medical 🍇 Culture just came out, too, shedding light on this dehumanizing procedure and arguing for reform in how (and if) it is performed.

The annoying thing? There have been alternatives to the VCUG procedure available for a long time - other procedures that can diagnose VUR and other issues wothout requiring the child to be catheterized or have to void all over themselves. These alternatives are not as profitable for hospitals, though, so they are rarely performed.

Feel free to ask me anything about my experience, or if you have any questions about VCUGs in general. I am in my mid twenties now.

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u/Ornery-East6772 — 3 months ago
▲ 133 r/AMA

A Common Childhood Medical Procedure Gave Me (And a Bunch of Other Kids) Lifelong Trauma - AMA

TW: Medical procedures, anatomy (urology), trauma

I was born with a condition called VUR, which basically means that my ureters were not the right size, and that urine would backwash into my kidneys and cause kidney infections, UTIs, etc. This is a very common occurrence in baby through preschool aged girls, and most grow out of it before the age of 5. Some severe cases require surgery.

In order to diagnose this, I had to have a test done called a VCUG. I had multiple performed, but only remember my last one when I was 3.

During this procedure, the child is restrained, her legs are spread apart and her genitals are sterilized, and then the child is forcibly catheterized with no anesthetic and no lubricant. Then, the bladder is pumped full of contrast fluid and the child must urinate on a table in front of a room of adults while X-Rays are taken.

At 3 years old, this procedure was the worst pain I had felt in my entire life. For years afterwards, I could not use a public bathroom. I have diagnosed PTSD and vaginismus, and still have severe chronic bladder pain. There are SO many other ways that this procedure messed up my life.

Studies have been out since the 1990s stating that researchers use VCUG patients as proxies for CSA studies, so see how kids remember CSA because VCUGs and CSA have a lot of the same components. A book about Medical 🍇 Culture just came out, too, shedding light on this dehumanizing procedure and arguing for reform in how (and if) it is performed.

The annoying thing? There have been alternatives to the VCUG procedure available for a long time - other procedures that can diagnose VUR and other issues wothout requiring the child to be catheterized or have to void all over themselves. These alternatives are not as profitable for hospitals, though, so they are rarely performed.

Feel free to ask me anything about my experience, or if you have any questions about VCUGs in general. I am in my mid twenties now.

reddit.com
u/Ornery-East6772 — 3 months ago