Yes of course I love talking about it bc I feel like I rarely see anyone else talking about bladder issues.

Currently i'm on two medications for it. Elmiron to help with pain and recently started a bladder relaxer for overactivity and they both help but don't fix anything. If I'm honest, I mostly manage with diet. I am pretty strict about not eating any acid or spice or anything else irritating. I got a list of foods to avoid when I was first diagnosed but I think there are lists online too. When I do have a small amount of acid I take Prelief pills. They're an over the counter acid reducer that you take with food. They help but I still always have pain when I eat acidic food. Managing with diet sucks cause it basically runs your life and I am already on a separate medical diet so I've got very restricted options. But it's genuinely the most helpful thing for me.

I am relieved that I am currently getting somewhere with chronic illness, but I have been told it’s heavily suspected endometriosis. My menstrual cycle has always been crippling and this particular path to diagnosis makes sense. Surgery may be on the horizon, and it is one of my core childhood traumas. I have no other way to express how I feel other than saying I’m pretty nervous and sad.

However, at this point I really want my bladder and uterus to stop hurting, and I fear this is the best starting place. Lately I desire to be able to have some sort of cyborg solve or magical fix. I empathize with those entering into trials and experimental care. Each month, half of it spent in dull throbbing to burning, stabbing pain.