Fearless ‘Eras’ Tour Dream Comes True For Superfan, 35, Who Overcame Bladder Condition To Be There– “Flawless”

Her condition, also called painful bladder syndrome, causes long-lasting abdominal pain, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Her uncomfortable symptoms made using the bathroom challenging.

“I could no longer feel the urge to pee…It’s uncomfortable because you’re always retaining urine in your bladder, so you never get that sense of relief,” she told USA Today.

VanderHarr struggled emotionally as she worked through her symptoms. She resorted to using a catheter to aid her in the bathroom, which she described as “bathroom yoga.”  Over several years, she underwent dozens of surgeries seeking relief. Still, nothing was sustained until she met a new doctor who started her with pain medication and pelvic floor physical therapy. Then, after careful examination, she was fitted with a medical device called an InterStim.

The new device is a good resource for overactive bladders. It works by stimulating the bladder with an electrode on the sacral nerves. Research published in Obstetrics and Gynecology on this form of treatment has reported “long-term success rates in patients with chronic, debilitating symptoms of overacting bladder and voiding dysfunction.”

Fortunately for VanderHarr, the procedure was completed in time for her to recover and attend Taylor Swift during her “Eras Tour.” Although she’s reclaimed part of her being without bladder problems, she’s still recovering mentally. Throughout her journey to relief, she experienced loneliness and isolation, which affected her mental health.

“Even when you get parts of yourself back, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt that those other parts are gone,” VanderHarr said.

How to Manage Your Mental Health When Faced with a Health Crisis

Your mental health affects how you think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or changes in your physical health can affect your mental health.

For cancer patients, a diagnosis undoubtedly impacts their mental health. If you are diagnosed with cancer or other chronic disease, you should be mindful of your mental health because it can affect your overall prognosis.

RELATED: Psychologist Dr. Samantha Board discusses managing mental health long-term.

WATCH: Managing Anxiety During Stressful Times

“For long-term mental health and living with cancer, flexibility is really at the core of how to manage long-term mental health,” says New York-based psychologist Dr. Samantha Boardman.

Dr. Boardman suggests asking yourself questions about how you deal with stressful situations to see if they’re working or need adjusting.

“Are your coping strategies in the way that you’re using them now? Are they as effective as they were in the past? Take a look at your beliefs. Do you have any fixed beliefs that are counterproductive and are impeding you from taking positive steps?” Dr. Boardman said.

How Genetic Testing Can Lead You to Mental Health Treatment

“Doing the genetic testing has absolutely transformed the landscape of psychopharmacology,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik tells SurvivorNet.

The genetic test Dr. Plutchik discussed, Genomind, examines multiple factors before determining which treatment will likely have successful results and minimal side effects. The test examines certain genes that are associated with responses to medications commonly prescribed for mental health issues and then looks into the patient’s ability to metabolize medication.

“It’s something that I highly recommend for anybody that is taking medication, whether they are being treated for cancer or not … I recommend it for children who are taking medication. I recommend it for elderly people. Anybody who is taking medication, I think, can greatly benefit from genetic testing.”

Genetic testing tells doctors how a person will likely respond to different psychiatric medicines. This form of testing also helps doctors and patients better understand how the patient will likely respond to various pain medications, which can benefit those going through some other sort of health issue.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you find yourself struggling with a diagnosis or helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:

• How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
• Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
• When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
• What are the steps to finding a different therapist if the one I’m using is not working out?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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