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So, I had my first appointment with a biofeedback practioner/technician. I have what seems to be IC, pelvic/bladder pain, frequency, urgency, etc. I have a few questions to make sure I get the most out of my sessions with this person. Today was just preliminary, he told me the basics of biofeedback and then showed the equipment to me. He tests temperature through the fingertips, muscle tension (today he did my neck and shoulders) and perspiration on the hands. First he had me just sit and talked with me while the machine recorded these things, then he asked me to count down from 1000 while subtracting 7 each time, and then left the room and asked me to try to relax. My numbers clearly shot up during the math problems and down when I tried to relax, and he said my perspiration level seems to be the most varied for me.
OK, so here are my questions - I mentioned to him that my goal is to get the relaxation response and he certainly knew all about Bensen's theories. But with these tests are there certain numbers that should be my goal and that I should tell him are my goal? i.e. temps, etc. I just get the impression that he tends to use this procedure to simply help people calm down and not so much to make sure they are actually getting a genuine relaxation response (i.e. he said things like the goal is to get the numbers down as far as possible, maybe because he was watering it down for me not knowing I know all about the relaxation response but I am not sure).
My other question is this: He said we can order something for me to insert vaginally for pelvic floor work and what he would suggest is just doing total body work for now and if it does not seem to be working then he can order that device and we can do kegels and things of that nature. Does anyone have an opinion on this?
Thanks so much for any help. I just want to make sure I get the most productive use out of my sessions since they are somewhat expensive though not exorbitant. Hopefully I'm on my way to kicking this terrible bladder pain!!
In Reply to: biofeedback posted by Onmy way? on May 01, 2003 at 16:36:34:
Hi Onmy way,
The more you do your SR practice, the more settled down you will become, and the more quickly you will become relaxed. So practice as frequently as you can between your biofeedback sessions.
Best wishes,
Happygal
In Reply to: biofeedback posted by Onmy way? on May 01, 2003 at 16:36:34:
Hi, Onmy.
I would be suspicious of any biofeedback technician that did not know that the GSR was not primarily based upon "sweating".
The vaginal device is a good way to affect the levator ani directly but, in my opinion, doing the whole body is the most productive in the long run.
The numbers mean NOTHING! It is only the ability to CHANGE the numbers that is important.
It seems that this guy is not knowledgable about the vast advantage of reaching the alpha or theta level as compared to simple relaxation. Sleep will do THAT.
I hope I am wrong about this but each thing you said tells me that this guy has only the most superficial understanding of what he is doing. How long has he been in practice?
Walt
In Reply to: Re: biofeedback posted by Walt Stoll on May 02, 2003 at 15:13:19:
Dr. Stoll:
The person has been providing biofeedback for 6 years. Don't know if this matters but here are the person's credentials: M.Ed., M.A. Certified Hypnotherapist & Biofeedback Specialist; received his masters in Psychology and Education.
The concern you said about him being more equipped to teach simple relaxation as opposed to alpha/theta is what I feared. But as I was quite surprised to find anyone in my area that provided such a service is there anything I can do to help this along or do I really need to find someone who is knowledgable about it? I am also wondering if it is not partly (or maybe entirely) my fault - I did not want to be rude and thought I would let him lead the first meeting. Perhaps if I made my goal clear that my purpose in being there is to achieve alpha/theta state he would have revealed a greater knowledge in that area. I assumed that all biofeedback technicians goal is to help the patient achieve the relaxation response so I was not as forthcoming as I might have been had I realized that was not the case.
I still have a lot to learn, Dr. Stoll (well, who doesn't but I assume you know what I mean). Any advice?
In Reply to: Re: biofeedback posted by Walt Stoll on May 02, 2003 at 15:13:19:
What is the proper question(s) for me to ask someone in determining whether they are qualified to do this? Shoud I ask if they are able to certify that I have achieved the "relaxation response" or alpha/theta state, etc. I was just wondering what terminology is best to use, i.e. should be immediately recognizable by someone qualified to do this.
In Reply to: Re: biofeedback posted by Onmyway? on May 02, 2003 at 16:00:35:
Thanks, Onmyway.
In MY opinion, this person has a wonderful conventional education and is steeped in the allopathic paradigm. There is little that you will be able to do to get him to think differently.
It is too bad that you have spent a lot of money for little benefit but, during this time of paradigm shift these things will happen. I cannot even castigate this guy for his Tolstoy Syndrome. I am sure that he thinks he is doing what needs to be done. Unfortunately, in my opinion, he is missing the big picture and thereby enjoying what he has trained all his life to do a lot less than he might.
With all you have spent, if it were me, I would go to the biofeedback archives and get a good GSR machine. When you have certified the best way for you to reliably reach the RR, sell it on Ebay and get most of your money back. Combine what you can learn on this 'site with the GSR and you will be on your way.
Walt
In Reply to: Addendum posted by Onmyway? on May 02, 2003 at 16:12:26:
Hi, Onmyway.
ANY biofeedback technician SHOULD know what can be done the least expensive way. Unfortunately this has little to do with how mnany letters she might have after her name.
What you have in your note seems to me to be the first (and the last) thing to ask. Any technician who doesn't know what you mean is not someone I would go to.
Hope this helps.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: biofeedback (Archive.) posted by Walt Stoll on May 03, 2003 at 11:12:06:
Thanks Dr. Stoll - that sounds like a reasonable solution to me. I will look through the archives to see what I can find. I read some posts where you reminded us that for every cent spent on things such as this we save many more dollars in med expenses so I will just adhere to that philosophy in spending a good amount for a good machine and then hope for the best when reselling.
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