This Endolife

TRIGGER WARNING: This conversation includes repeated discussions about suicidal suicidal ideations. PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder is an incredibly severe version of PMS, which can affect anyone with a period and can impact on their day-to-day lives. Like endometriosis, PMDD is often unheard of, misdiagnosed and ignored in today’s society and yet it affects 1 in 20 menstruators. Many doctors haven’t heard of PMDD, but with so many people experiencing suicidal thoughts and actions due to the condition, it’s essential that we raise awareness amongst the medical community and the public. Laura Murphy is the Director and Co-Founder of Vicious Cycle PMDD. If you’ve ever searched up anything about PMDD online, chances are, Laura’s been involved. Laura is working tirelessly to raise awareness of this invisible disease and I am certain she won’t stop until we all know exactly what it is! I love Laura Murphy. I think this woman is an absolute powerhouse and I am so in awe of her courage and resilience in th

What foods trigger endometriosis? It’s a complicated question to answer and the topic of dairy can be a even more complicated, with some nutritionists suggesting caution and others suggesting to eliminate dairy completely. My personal endometriosis diet is plant-based, so no eggs or dairy. In this episode, I dive into why I made that decision, the research I found along the way, how I feel health wise for cutting the two out and what my diet looks like now. I also explore what Henrietta Norton, Alisa Vitti and Maisie Hill have to say about dairy for hormone health and endometriosis. This episode is in no way about going vegan - I believe we’re all different and genetically, veganism might not work for us all. I’m just sharing what has worked for me, what I’ve learnt along the way and what some of the experts are saying about dairy, eggs, hormones and inflammation. As always, this episode is not intended to treat endometriosis, but to provide you with information and tools to help you work out a path of manag

Well, we’re getting a bit vulnerable over here. I know how many of you struggle in your relationships, especially in your romantic ones. A couple of weeks back I interviewed Mel Cox all about managing strains in a relationship due to endometriosis and I thought a real life example could be helpful. So today, I’m interviewing my boyfriend, Chris, all about what it’s like living with me and endometriosis. We talk about how I told him about my endometriosis and he’s initial reaction, how it affects our relationship, ways that we cope which are helpful and ways that aren’t so much, and our tips and reflections on life with endometriosis as a couple. We stayed away from the topic of painful sex because there are some things we just wanted to keep private, but as you know, I talk about this subject A LOT in my column and previous podcast episodes, so feel free to dive in if you want to know more on that subject. I hope that by sharing our story, you’ll feel less alone and maybe some of the ways we cope with endome

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you what I eat on an average day on my version of the endometriosis diet. This diet essentially consists of lots of anti-inflammatory foods like gluten free whole grains, vegetables, nuts, seeds, good fats and low sugar fruits. But what about when the weekend hits? Well, I thought it was only fair to share how I indulge! I love my comfort food, I love eating stereotypical junk food like pizzas, I love baking and I love sweet treats. I don’t deprive myself of these joys, instead, I’ve found ways to enjoy these and still look after my body. From choosing healthier treats, to knowing the signs of when I’ve maybe overdone it a little on the sugar, I explore how I eat for endometriosis even at the weekend - and still enjoy my food. I also made a free Weekend Endometriosis Diet Grocery List download for you guys to accompany this episode! Download here. Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter. This episode is sponsored by BeYou. Soothe peri

Endometriosis fatigue. It’s a b•tch isn’t it? It’s one of the biggest challenges I still struggle with and one that I’m learning how to manage effectively. Brain fog, low energy, forgetfulness and poor concentration can have a huge and negative impact on our everyday lives. That’s why when I discovered Berrion Berry, I knew I had to talk to her. Beri is a functional nutritionist, personal trainer and hormone specialist and her mission in life is to help women to get their energy - and their lives - back. Beri’s story starts with a crash and burn. Suffering from constant fatigue, she went on a journey to uncover how she can be a powerful modern woman with a business, friends and full lifestyle, without the endless exhaustion. Her exploration led her to the power of hormones and the differences between men and women’s biology. She was able to regain her energy, get off her caffeine and sugar addiction and end the cycle of burnout. This conversation is one close to my heart. I’ve always been honest with my burn

  It’s really easy, when you’re unwell, to want to fix everything as quickly as possible. When I started managing my endometriosis symptoms, I went full throttle. I changed my diet, my lifestyle, my make up and skin care - everything and anything that could be tweaked or improved to help with endometriosis, I changed. But within a short few months, I was broke and exhausted. I was totally overwhelmed by the amount of information that I was stuffing in my brain, the conflicting information out there on the endometriosis diet and all the noise on natural treatment options. Because I didn’t know what was quality information, I tried everything. My endodiet overwhelm caused me to crash and burn, and I had to work out what was the most important, what were my priorities were in order to create a plan to move forward sustainably. So in this episode, I’m talking about my experience of being totally overwhelmed to having a clear and steady plan to tackle my endo in a manageable way. I’m sharing tips, reflections and

TRIGGER WARNING: This conversation includes discussions about abusive relationships. I know you guys have been waiting for this one, and I’m sorry it’s taken so long - but I wanted to find the best person I could to discuss the important and often difficult subject of communication, relationships and endometriosis. Mel Cox is the founder of emotional wellbeing centre, HQ Therapy Rooms in East London. She’s also a Tension and Trauma Release Exercise Practitioner and a Humanistic Psychotherapist. Mel regularly supports couples with communication struggles ranging from conflict to intimacy problems and the impact of depression and anxiety on relationships. Her work focuses on both the physical and cognitive aspects of wellbeing, taking an approach that treats the whole person. Many of us with endometriosis struggle within our romantic relationships. Perhaps we want to start dating but we don’t know how to tell the people we meet, perhaps we’re in a long term relationship and strains are starting to show, or may

Do you want to start eating for endometriosis but feel held back by your finances? Many of us fear that managing or reducing our symptoms through nutrition, natural treatment options and complimentary therapies, will end up costing us a lot of money - and it can - but it’s also possible to follow an endometriosis diet on a budget. In the past five years, I’ve changed jobs and have eventually gone self-employed, in order to find a lifestyle that helps me manage endometriosis, but that also means that my income has dropped significantly. I’ve had to continuously adapt my budget and that includes how and what I spend on food and supplements. I know I’m not alone in this. I’ve met many people who are struggling financially due to endometriosis or other circumstances, and are trying to navigate how to fuel their bodies with good nutrition on a smaller budget. So in this episode, I’m getting REALLY honest. I actually give you real figures when it comes to money, how much money I’ve dropped, what I used to earn, ho

Chances are, you’ve heard of Maisie Hill. She’s currently taking the world of periods by storm with her incredible debut book Period Power, which reached the top 50 books on Amazon with days of its release. But despite what you might think, Maisie is not an overnight success. In fact, she’s been treating people with periods for over a decade. Maisie is a women’s health practitioner and birth doula, who is trained in acupunture, reflexology and aromatherapy, and is currently studying at the Integrative Women’s Health Institute and training to become a nutritional therapist. She’s also studied with Red School and Women's Health and Functional Nutrition Coach, Nicole Jardim. A lot of studying, right? But that’s not where Maisie’s expertise ends; in fact, Maisie suffered from crippling periods. Endo-level kind of painful periods. And it was her experience of that pain and healing it, which led her down the path of helping others and eventually, writing Period Power. I cannot tell you how much I loved this book.

This episode comes with a trigger warning as the conversation includes sexual trauma. Today’s episode is a big one. I’m talking with Maggie Flood, founder of Sacral Spaces and holistic medical practitioner specialised in sexological bodywork, acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Maggie’s work with women is not only unique, but fascinating. Maggie has developed her own technique combining embodied pelvic care, acupuncture and herbal medicine to help those suffering with endometriosis, chronic pelvic inflammation, painful sex, scar tissue, sexual trauma, arousal and much more. Maggie’s personal experience of sexual trauma and being diagnosed with endometriosis led her down a path of healing, which finally inspired her to begin working with those who have experienced similar conditions and emotional pain. In today’s episode we talk about Maggie’s own healing journey, the link between trauma and endometriosis, acupuncture for endometriosis, how sexological bodywork and pelvic embodiment can lesson scar tissue and p

Okay, so I’ve done a good couple of episodes now on how I treat endometriosis naturally through the endometriosis diet and other holistic lifestyle choices. But instead of another episode on what I avoid, I thought I’d do one on what I DO eat and the foods that I love. This episode is about the reality of the endometriosis diet and how I base my meals around nutrition for endometriosis and hormone balance. I’ve never loved my food more, love getting in the kitchen and LOVE discovering new things to eat - so this is by far not an episode on restriction. Instead, it’s about how to look after your body, feel better with endometriosis and enjoy your food. I hope this episode brings you some clarification around eating for endo, and inspires you to try out some delicious ways to reduce your symptoms! Please remember - that is not about judgement. It’s not about berating yourself for eating something or not eating something. It’s not about a one size fits all for managing endometriosis and what works for me may no

Many of us think that endometriosis is linked only to our reproductive organs and pelvic area. But did you know that the liver is essential in helping us to manage endometriosis? In this episode, I explore everything I’ve learnt about the liver and endometriosis so far, and the ways I am supporting my liver, and how that’s positively impacted my endometriosis symptoms. If you’re looking to understand endometriosis natural treatment options, this episode is for you. Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter. If you liked this episode, might like my free guide ‘Managing Endometriosis Naturally’, click here to get your copy. 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 supported by Onna. Gemstone toys and massage tools designed to encourag

Today’s episode is with the absolutely incredible Emily Sauer; founder of Ohnut and co-founder of Lady Bits League and the Sexual Wellness Summit. After years and years of enduring painful sex in silence, Emily made it her mission to find a way to make sex pleasurable again for her and people with vaginas all over the world. Ohnut was the result; a rubber wearable that allows you to be in control of penetration depths and is helping hundreds of women around the world to experience relief from dyspareunia. For those of us with endometriosis-associated dyspareunia, Ohnut could make a huge difference and provides a natural treatment option that allows us to not rely on pain killers or total avoidance. Whilst pelvic floor therapy is incredibly helpful for many with endometriosis and dyspareunia, it can sometimes be a long process, and so Ohnut allows couples to begin exploring sooner. In this episode, we talk about the huge and unspoken issue of dyspareunia, why and how Emily designed the Ohnut, the scientific s

Today is a good one. In this episode I’m sharing with you the key tools and endometriosis resources that have enabled me to live a life which is pretty much free from endometriosis pain. Honestly, these resources are the best out there - I’ve done a heck of a lot of research and I’ve tried all the things, and these guys come out on top for me. From books on endometriosis natural treatment options and symptom tracker apps, to courses on the endometriosis diet and charities that help you understand endometriosis - these are my go-to endometriosis resources that I recommend to help you get started with managing endometriosis. I truly hope they’re useful to you.Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter. If you liked this episode, might like my free guide ‘Managing Endometriosis Naturally’, click here to get your copy.This episode is sponsored by BeYou Cramp Relief Patches. Soothe period cramps the natural way with these 100% natural and discreet menthol and e

That morning cup of coffee. There’s not much out there that I love more. But my experiences with coffee and endometriosis are not great - in fact, caffeine has always worsened my endometriosis symptoms and when I eliminated caffeine, my symptoms improved dramatically. So what’s the deal? Today I’m talking about endometriosis and caffeine, from it’s affects on inflammation to how it may be increasing our oestrogen levels, and how I manage my love for coffee whilst still reducing my symptoms. Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter. If you liked this episode, might like my free guide ‘Managing Endometriosis Naturally’, click here to get your copy. 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 Planet Organic.

Today I’m back talking about my experience of the endometriosis diet - which is a loose term we now use for what is essentially an anti-inflammatory diet for endometriosis. In this episode, I’m focusing specifically on sugar. I talk about the reasons that sugar can make endometriosis symptoms worse and the research behind this, and how I’ve managed to reduce my endometriosis pain through changing my sugar intake. Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter. If you liked this episode, might like my free guide ‘Managing Endometriosis Naturally’, click here to get your copy. 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 supported by Onna. Gemstone toys and massage tools designed to encourage women to indulge, pamper and practi

Today is a long awaited episode - how to manage endometriosis at work with Clare Knox of See Her Thrive. I know I’m not the only one who struggled in the workplace with endometriosis, from explaining endometriosis to a boss to work place accomodations for the disease, it’s a grey area which causes a hell of a lot of anxiety for many of us. So I was thrilled when Clare agreed to be on the show. Clare is a Business Psychologists who was diagnosed several years ago with PMDD. This condition affected Clare so hugely in the workplace that she eventually went on to found See her Thrive, which helps employees and employers to support women’s wellbeing in the workplace, specifically with conditions such as endometriosis. Together, Clare and her team are changing how the UK does business and how companies support and understand women’s health. In this episode we talk about the current issues facing people with endometriosis in the workplace, Clare’s vision for the future of women’s wellbeing at work, how to talk to a

I remember the days when I popped codeine all the time - it made me feel sick, drowsy and would give me awful migraines! The doctors wanted to put me on a type of painkillers I’d have to take every single day to be effective, which would make me very drowsy and I just thought there had to be another way. These days I have a drawer full of go-to home remedies for endometriosis that I use every month and thanks to a combination of these babies and my own personal version of the endometriosis diet, my periods are either entirely pain free or incredibly low on the pain scale. So, in case, for whatever reason, you want to reduce your reliance on pain relief medication, I’m sharing my favourite tools with you today. I hope today’s episode will give you some ideas to be able to reduce endometriosis pain with natural pain relief. Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter. If you liked this episode, might like my free guide ‘Managing Endometriosis Naturally’, clic

  Today is a sort of part two to my first solo show about my endometriosis story. Last time I told you a lot more about the medical side of my experience - from my endometriosis diagnosis, symptoms and pretty bad experiences with surgery! Ultimately, that journey got me here - pretty much pain free most of the time, and if I do get pain, it’s only around my period and is never usually higher than a 1 or 2 on the pain scale. So I thought it might be helpful to explain what my journey of healing endometriosis naturally looked like and what my endometriosis management style looks like today. Now before we get started - I want to make a disclaimer, when I say ‘heal’ I do not mean ‘cured’. I don’t believe I have cured my endometriosis, but I manage my symptoms to a point where most of the time my life is uninterrupted by them. I use the word healing to describe my personal journey, because it has been a healing process - from having a broken relationship with my body, hormone imbalances, serious mental health issu

Today is a bit different… After an overwhelming response from you guys, I’m bringing in a mix of guests and solo shows. So I thought I’d start with my personal endometriosis story. This episode covers my experiences of my first endometriosis symptoms, my diagnosis, my experience with endometriosis surgery and the desperation that led me to discover natural treatment options for endometriosis, including the ‘endometriosis diet’. I hope by sharing this story, you’ll feel less alone, but also that this episode will provide some context for why I manage endometriosis naturally and how I got to this point. Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter. If you liked this episode, might like my free guide ‘Managing Endometriosis Naturally’, click here to get your copy. 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 m