IC You

What would you do if you suddenly needed to pee every 10 minutes, couldn't get through a workday, and felt afraid to eat your favorite foods?That's exactly what happened to Elizabeth. After negative UTI tests, countless doctor visits, medications, and a restrictive IC diet, she was still struggling with severe urinary frequency and bladder discomfort.Today, she's traveling, drinking coffee, eating freely, exercising, and planning her wedding with virtually no bladder symptoms!In this episode, Elizabeth shares how she went from feeling hopeless about her overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms to finding lasting relief through Road To Remission.We discuss:How food fear and anxiety affected her bladder symptoms and quality of life.The surprising vacation that helped her recognize the role of her nervous system.How pain reprocessing therapy (PRT), pelvic floor physical therapy, and nervous system work supported her recovery.Why recognizing symptom patterns and celebrating small wins helped her overcome setbacks.What life looks like now after struggling with constant urinary urgency and frequency.If you're dealing with unexplained bladder symptoms, inconsistent flares, or fear that you'll never feel normal again, Elizabeth's story offers hope and practical insights.Learn more about Road To RemissionWatch my free masterclass on the root causes of chronic bladder symptoms

Listen to this quick update on how the ATNS conference went!Some fantastic mind body resources:The Pain Reprocessing Therapy WorkbookThe Way OutUnlearn Your Pain

If you've ever struggled with painful sex, low libido, or feeling guilty about turning down intimacy because of your bladder or pelvic pain, this episode is for you.In this episode of IC You, I'm joined by Hannah Strom, a licensed therapist specializing in sex therapy and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), to talk about the complicated relationship between chronic pelvic pain, sexual desire, intimacy, and the nervous system.Hannah shares her personal experience with interstitial cystitis (IC), vaginismus, and vulvodynia, including how she went from experiencing chronic pain for years to finding relief through a neuroplastic approach.We also get pretty personal about our own experiences with painful sex, the emotional impact of years of pelvic pain, and why sexual desire doesn't always return immediately after the pain resolves.In this episode, we discuss:Hannah's recovery from interstitial cystitis, vaginismus, and vulvodyniaHow Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) can help with neuroplastic pelvic painWhy painful sex can lead to low libido, anxiety, and avoidance of intimacyThe difference between spontaneous and responsive sexual desireHow your nervous system can influence sexual pain, arousal, and pleasureWhy guilt and pressure around sex can make intimacy even more difficultHow sex therapy can help couples navigate mismatched sexual desirePractical strategies for rebuilding intimacy, including gradual exposure, somatic tracking, and taking penetration off the table temporarilyWhy recovering from pelvic pain doesn't automatically resolve the emotional associations you've developed around sexWhether you're navigating interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome, vulvodynia, vaginismus, or painful intercourse (dyspareunia), this conversation offers a compassionate, practical look at how you can begin rebuilding a healthier relationship with sex and intimacy.Resources mentioned:The Way Out by Alan GordonCome As You Are by Emily NagoskiMind Your Body by Nicole SachsPain Reprocessing Therapy practitioner directoryConnect with Hannah:Hannah's websiteWant to learn more about the role your nervous system may be playing in your chronic bladder symptoms?Watch my FREE masterclass to learn about the different factors that can contribute to interstitial cystitis symptoms and how we address them inside Road To Remission.Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical or mental health care.

How much can your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs actually affect interstitial cystitis symptoms?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Laura Katz, a Health, Rehabilitation, and Clinical Psychologist specializing in women’s health and chronic pain. Her research has focused on how women cope with chronic pelvic pain conditions, including interstitial cystitis, and she spent eight years working at the Michael G. DeGroote Pain Clinic at McMaster University.We talk about what her research has taught her about why some people with interstitial cystitis cope and improve differently, including the role of emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, fear, and hope. We also get into medical trauma, fear of flares, pelvic floor physical therapy, and why combining different approaches to chronic pain can be so valuable.If you have interstitial cystitis and feel like you’ve tried treatment after treatment without getting the relief you hoped for, this conversation offers a different perspective on what may be worth exploring next.Endometriosis360: Learn more about the program hereFREE MASTER CLASS: Watch my FREE master class on how to get relief from chronic bladder symptoms here!

September is coming to an end, and I’m wrapping up my four-part IC Awareness Month series with some of my biggest takeaways about interstitial cystitis treatment.I also just got back from PelviCon, where I represented the Interstitial Cystitis Association and spent the weekend surrounded by pelvic floor PTs, OTs, and other pelvic health professionals. So it felt like the perfect time to talk about why understanding your individual symptom picture matters SO much.In this episode, I’m covering:Why people with IC can have very different factors contributing to their symptomsWhy pelvic floor physical therapy is an evidence-based IC treatment and why I think the pelvic floor should be evaluatedMy own experience with pelvic PT and why it didn’t help me at firstHow the pelvic floor and nervous system can reinforce each otherHormones, GSM, and vaginal estrogen as potential pieces of the puzzleNutrition, hydration, bowel health, and food sensitivitiesWhy IBS, migraines, TMJ issues, and other overlapping conditions may provide clues about nervous system involvementWhy nervous system work has been such an important part of my recovery and the work I do with clientsHow to start thinking about which pieces may actually be relevant to YOUR symptomsI also share what I want every person with IC to understand as we close out IC Awareness Month: treatment doesn’t have to look exactly the same for everyone, and your diagnosis doesn’t tell us every reason you’re experiencing symptoms.Plus, if you missed the Interstitial Cystitis Association’s virtual conference, The IC Connection: Science, Strategies, and Support, you can still purchase access to the recordings for $25.And if you’ve enjoyed this IC Awareness Month series, make sure you follow or subscribe to IC You so new episodes automatically show up each week. If the show has helped you, I’d also LOVE if you left a five-star rating and review!