For many years, I thought I had bladder endometriosis. But after two surgeries showed that I didn’t have endometriosis on the bladder (though I did elsewhere), I had to start asking questions. Why did I feel bladder pressure all the time? Why did my bladder burn when it was full and even after emptying? Why did it feel like my bladder was never empty? Why did I have to urinate 20 plus times a day? I had assumed that the bladder frequency and urgency I was experiencing was just down to endometriosis alone, but I was mistaken.

Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome is a condition that many people with endometriosis also have. In fact, it’s been dubbed by science as the ‘evil twin’ of endometriosis - and the symptoms are so similar, you can easily mistake one for the other, when in fact you have both. As a result, I treated my endometriosis for years, reducing my painful periods and other symptoms, but found my bladder pressure, frequency, urgency and burning pain just continued to get worse It’s only in the past three years after receiving my diagnosis, have I really started addressing how to treating my interstitial cystitis as well as endometriosis.

So in this episode, I’m talking about the symptoms of painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis, what causes it, what can trigger flare ups and how to reduce symptoms with the interstitial cystitis diet and other options like pelvic floor therapy. I share my struggles, the things that have worked for me, what hasn’t and what I’d like to try in the future. And most importantly, I chat about how we can learn to manage painful bladder syndrome alongside endometriosis.

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This episode is sponsored by BeYou Cramp Relief Patches. Soothe period cramps the natural way with these 100% natural and discreet menthol and eucalyptus oil stick on patches. Click here to find out more and to shop: https://beyouonline.co.uk/pages/how-it-works

This episode is also sponsored by my free Endometriosis Diet Grocery List. This pdf list includes all the foods I buy on a monthly basis, categorised into easy sections. I share my personal endometriosis diet plan, free recipe resources, recommendations to help you get started with the endometriosis diet and nutrition tips. Download here.

This episode is also supported by the Gluten Free Baking Academy.

Show Notes

NHS IC page

Interstitial Cystitis Association

Beating Endo book

Heather Crosby interview 

Food list from Beating Endo 

Biona foods 

Eden foods