This EndoLife

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a group of 13 conditions which all affect connective tissue (collagen) in the body. Most are rare, but one type called hypermobility EDS is common. Because the intestines are made from soft tissue, EDS affects digestion and often causes IBS symptoms. It is a major risk factor for developing SIBO, because it slows down motility. If you have EDS and SIBO, you will be chronic - but you can still live well! And we’ll get to that in the bonus lesson with Dr Allison Siebecker.

 And just to hammer this point home about the connection between EDS and IBS, one study of 228 IBS patients found 48% also had EDS.

Now the reason why I want to bring EDS to your attention is because I am seeing it more and more in my clients with both endometriosis and SIBO.

Despite these statistics, to my knowledge, most experts do not consider EDS and endometriosis to be significantly connected. At present, it is thought that most of the period pain and menstrual problems of those with EDS is not caused by endometriosis, but EDS itself. 

However, I have spoken to multiple health care practitioners who do see a connection and see the two conditions together in patients, and because EDS can cause gut problems and SIBO, I think it’s worth raising here.  

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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

Produced by Chris Robson

Dr. Linda Bluestein is a board-certified anesthesiologist, integrative pain medicine physician and former ballet dancer who specialises in coaching and educating dancers and other athletes and individuals at increased risk of hypermobility disorders.

Dr Linda’s own experience with h-EDS eventually led her down a career path change that has seen her help countless others to live well with hypermobility and avoid chronic pain development. She is widely published, considered an expert on hypermobility disorders, and has lectured internationally.

In this episode, Dr Linda and I sit down to discuss the link between Hypermobility spectrum disorders, hypermobile-Ehler’s Danlos syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome and endometriosis.

Here’s what we cover:

• What we mean by generalised hypermobility, hypermobility spectrum disorders and hypermobility-EDS, and how they differ.

• What are the signs and symptoms of these conditions.

• The link between h-EDS and menstrual disorders, bladder dysfunction and pelvic pain and Dr Linda’s approach to addressing these problems.

• What mast cell activation syndrome is, how it is associated with hypermobility and EDS, and how it may be a driver behind EDS and endometriosis.

• The link between SIBO and h-EDS and connective tissue disorders.

• Dr. Linda’s key strategies for managing symptomatic hypermobility and h-EDS.

Show Notes

Dr Linda’s website

Bendy Bodies podcast

Dr Linda’s Instagram

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One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson

Do you get full body pain? Does it affect your muscles, nerves or joints? Do you find that you need to rest after walking or find you tired more easily than others?

It might not just be endometriosis.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a group of 13 conditions which all affect connective tissue (collagen) in the body. Most are rare, but one type called hypermobility EDS is common - and out of those with this type of EDS, 6-23% have endometriosis. But that’s not where the connection ends…

• 32-77% of those with EDS have vulvodynia and or pain with sex.
• 33-75% have heavy menstrual bleeding. 
• 73-93% have painful periods.

You all know I’ve been fascinated with the world of chronic pain science for a long time now. In fact, I did an episode on lowering pain signals through calming the brain and nervous system back in 2019 but I’ve been on a continuously evolving research journey since. And this research has led me to Curable, an app for chronic pain, that works by helping to reprogram the brain and nervous system so we can unlearn pain pathways and reduce chronic pain flare ups. I absolutely love Curable, and use it with my clients to help them to address the ways in which trauma, stress and a heightened nervous system could be contributing to their pain levels. Often I find it’s the missing piece of the puzzle in someone’s endo healing journey.

So I am so excited to introduce you to this week’s guest, social worker and psychotherapist Christie Uipi. Christie is on the Scientific Advisory Team at Curable, and is specialised in chronic pain, depression and anxiety. After enduring years of chronic pain herself, Christie went on to not only cure her chronic pain but also to specialise in treating it!

In today’s episode, we discuss:

• Christie’s personal story with chronic pain.

• How all pain is made in the brain and how that differs from being told endo pain is just “all in our heads”.

• How pain evolves to become chronic and how that changes the brain and nervous system.

• What factors influence chronic pain for better or worse.

• How to identify if pain is from tissue damage vs. an upregulated nervous system.

• How an upregulated nervous system can directly influence endometriosis pain.

• Exercises to begin reprogramming the brain to lower pain signals.

I really hope this episode is useful to you and perhaps it will be the missing link you’ve been looking for in your own healing journey.

Show Notes

Endo Belly Challenge

Episode 73 (pain signals, etc.)

Curable

Christie’s website

This Might Hurt film

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This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook

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Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course

One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson

Today we’re continuing with our series on low micronutrient levels and the impact on period and endo-related period pain.

Vitamin A is an antioxidant, which may have significant benefits for endometriosis pain.

Read more.

Show notes

Oxidative stress, endo and period pain

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1477-7827-7-54

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5625949/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7602455/

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/6/1308

Low levels of vitamin A

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31734759/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10303710/

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0310995

https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-024-01895-x

https://ovarianresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13048-015-0179-6

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1477-7827-7-54

Treatment with diet

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1477-7827-7-54

https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-023-01126-1

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9096837/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-a/

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3704564/

https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endo-pain-low-vitamin-c

https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endo-pain-low-vitamin-e

https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/fatty-acid-deficiency-period-pain-endo

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Ways to work with me:

This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook

Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief

Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course

One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson

Today we’re continuing with our theme of micronutrients and their impact on endo pain and period pain. Today, we’re talking about B12.

Research on the use of B12 for pain suggests that B12 can reduce chronic pain (and menstrual pain) through various methods.

Firstly, B12 can inhibit the production of the inflammatory prostaglandins which are responsible for pain and inflammation, and are found to be especially high in people with endometriosis and dysmenorrhea (which is the medical term for period pain).

Additionally, B12 plays a role in supporting nerve health and pain signally pathways, which can influence pain perception. If nerves or pain signalling pathways are comprised, this could increase pain levels. This is particularly relevant to those of us with endo who are suffering with nerve related pain due to endo on the nerves, nerve damage from surgery, leg pain, etc.

Read more.

Show notes

B12 pain benefits and endo/prostaglandin link

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7468922

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30700078/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10178419/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20511671/

B12 and endo

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/2/450

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10227355

https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-024-01895-x

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5625949/

B12 and period pain

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10178419

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385143175_STRESS_PHYSICAL_ACTIVITY_AND_DIETARY_INTAKE_ARE_ASSOCIATED_WITH_DYSMENORRHEA_AMONG_FEMALE_STUDENTS

B12 and period pain relief

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30700078/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531700001524

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385143175_STRESS_PHYSICAL_ACTIVITY_AND_DIETARY_INTAKE_ARE_ASSOCIATED_WITH_DYSMENORRHEA_AMONG_FEMALE_STUDENTS

Supplementation

https://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/low-b12-and-endo

https://www.seekinghealth.com/blogs/education/methyl-free-vs-methylated-do-you-need-a-non-methylated-supplement

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This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook

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One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson

Today we’re continuing our series on nutrients and their effects on period pain and endo pain, and this episode is about B6.

Now, we’ve already talked a lot about the powers of B6 for hormonal health, but what about its effects on pain?

B6 can support us with pain reduction in a number of ways.

Read more.

Show notes

B6 pain relieving/anti-inflammatory properties

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4519769/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5902457/

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(08)01969-9/fulltext

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39421613/

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ijgo.16096

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8361989/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11401933/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0090698074900549

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328373051_Effect_of_Pyridoxine_on_Prostaglandin_Plasma_Level_for_Primary_Dysmenorrheal_Treatment

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/9/2578

Period pain and B6

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10178419/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328373051_Effect_of_Pyridoxine_on_Prostaglandin_Plasma_Level_for_Primary_Dysmenorrheal_Treatment

Endo and low B6

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39421613/

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ijgo.16096

https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4184/4/4/34

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10227355/

B6 and period pain relief

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC27878/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3208934/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328373051_Effect_of_Pyridoxine_on_Prostaglandin_Plasma_Level_for_Primary_Dysmenorrheal_Treatment

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289295997_Therapeutic_effect_of_vitamin_B6_on_gastro-intestinal_symptoms_of_primary_dysmenorrhea_in_young_women_in_Yazd_City_2006-2009

https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4184/4/4/34

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10227355/

B6 dosing safety

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/#:~:text=The amount of vitamin B6,mg a day for women

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10343656/

https://www.lareb.nl/en/news/nerve-damage-due-to-the-use-of-nutritional-supplements-with-vitamin-b6/#:~:text=Excessive intake of vitamin B6,in hands and/or feet.&text=Products containing vitamin B6 are,, pharmacies, supermarkets and online.

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This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook

Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief

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One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson

Today we’re continuing on with our discussion around micronutrients and their impact on endo and period pain

In this episode, we’re beginning with the first of the B vitamins, B1, otherwise known as thiamine.

Read more.

Show notes

B1 properties

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.21.639433v1.full

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5625949/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4825494/pdf/GJHS-6-144.pdf

Period pain and low B1 levels

https://www.jpagonline.org/article/S1083-3188(06)00186-0/abstract

https://go.gale.com/ps/anonymous?id=GALE|A123709137

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17455057231185624?icid=int.sj-full-text.similar-articles.9

Endo and low B1 levels

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.21.639433v1.full

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11536846/

B1 and period, endo and musculoskeletal pain relief

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7146731/pdf/jcs-9-47.pdf

https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJPP/article-full-text-pdf/71051DE28902

https://www.isca.me/IJBS/Archive/v1i1/9.ISCA-JBS-2012-022.pdf

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25363189/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hussain-Alharbi/publication/389210700_Efficacy_and_safety_of_combining_NSAIDs_with_vitamin_B_for_musculoskeletal_pain_a_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis/links/67b8dab7461fb56424e4fd2a/Efficacy-and-safety-of-combining-NSAIDs-with-vitamin-B-for-musculoskeletal-pain-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis.pdf

https://poliklinika-harni.hr/images/uploads/2743/nutricijski-protokol-endometiozra.pdf

B1 doses

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25363189/

https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJPP/article-full-text-pdf/71051DE28902

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/

B1 food intake

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.21.639433v1.full

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523022773?via=ihub

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/

https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/thiamin-b1-foods.php

https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamin-b1/

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Endometriosis Net Column

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Ways to work with me:

This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook

Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief

Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course

One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson

Today we’re continuing with our series on endo and period pain and their associations with low nutrient levels. Today, we’re talking about vitamin C.

Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant, which means it can help lower inflammation and also prevent oxidative stress - a process that triggers inflammatory reactions in the body and is involved in endo pain and progression. It also has antiangiogenic effects, which means it prevents the formation of new blood vessels, which endo relies on to grow.

Read more.

Show notes

Endo, period pain and prostaglandins

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6790261/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7068519/

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/09513590.2011.588753

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4512562

Vit C antioxidant properties

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27521769/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27125410/

Vit C and endo or dysmenorrhea risk

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3484190/

https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/1308/2311-final.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10227355

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12978-024-01895-x.pdf

Vit C supplementation for Endo

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2021/5529741

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3484190/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27125410/

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jog.12050

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020729207005772

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3484190/

https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-023-01126-1

Vit C supplementation for dysmenorrhea

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/6/1308

High antioxidant diet and endo

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/12/2773

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1477-7827-7-54

Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?

Free resources:

This podcast! 

Endometriosis Net Column

Endometriosis News Column

Newsletter

Instagram

Ways to work with me:

This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook

Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief

Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course

One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson

Today we’re continuing with our series on endo and period pain and their associations with low nutrient levels. And I was going to make today’s episode all about vitamins, but there are so many vitamins to cover, that I thought it would be less overwhelming to break them up, so today, we’re starting with vitamin E.

However, before we get into today’s episode, if you haven’t listened to the previous episodes in this series then you’ll be missing some of the essential science behind endo and period pain, which will help you to understand how vitamin E plays a role.

Read more.

Show notes

Endo, period pain and prostaglandins

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6790261/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7068519/

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/09513590.2011.588753

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4512562

Oxidative stress and vit E

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5625949/

https://www.clinicalnutritionespen.com/article/S2405-4577(22)00500-9/abstract

Vit E and endo risk

https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-023-01126-1

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8972862/

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/12/2773

Vit E supplementation for Endo

https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-023-01126-1

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/12/2773

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2021/5529741

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3484190/

Vit E supplementation for dysmenorrhea

https://www.clinicalnutritionespen.com/article/S2405-4577(22)00500-9/abstract

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/6/1308

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6856484

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-e/

High antioxidant diet and endo

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/12/2773

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1477-7827-7-54

Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?

Free resources:

This podcast! 

Endometriosis Net Column

Endometriosis News Column

Newsletter

Instagram

Ways to work with me:

This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook

Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief

Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course

One to one coaching info and application

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

Produced by Chris Robson