Tiny's Blog

Tiny's Blog

Tiny's Blog

Are You Ready To Go Natural? Six Personal Care Brands Tiny Loves!

Are You Ready To Go Natural? Six Personal Care Brands Tiny Loves!

This is not a sponsored or affiliated post. Some of the products are available from a range of UK stores in addition to the manufacturer’s own website.It was the Summer Solstice last Friday and here in the North West of England we actually got the kind of sunshine that befits such an occasion! Across the world, for thousands of years, people have used solstices as an excuse to connect with nature, appreciate the world, and inwardly reflect. Some cultures believe that solstices have special spiritual significance and are times for new beginnings and transformations. Recently in the UK, there seems to have been quite a lot of media coverage about the environmental and health dangers of plastics in body care products. With summer holidays right around the corner and in honour of the Summer Solstice, I thought I’d write a blog post about some plastic-free personal care products that you…

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That's Magic! Reviewing the EZMagic Pelvic Wand for IC and PGAD

That's Magic! Reviewing the EZMagic Pelvic Wand for IC and PGAD

When I first started Tiny Pioneer as a result of my own persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), my focus was very much on nutritional and hormonal approaches to resolving it. I did try some yoga and osteopathy, but I knew nothing about internal physiotherapy and would have dismissed it out of hand in any case. I felt that any kind of internal stimulation exacerbated my problem, so even when I read about people using physiotherapy to help with pelvic pain issues, I never considered trying it myself. It seemed so counterintuitive that I just couldn’t imagine that it would help!However, at the BAUN conference in Glasgow, Heather from Desert Harvest introduced me to the work of Nicole Cozean and Amy Stein, who both pioneer physical approaches to interstitial cystitis and related conditions. She also told me about Iliana Brockman of IC Relief, who has designed and manufactured glass wands especially…

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The Herbs I Used in My Own PGAD

The Herbs I Used in My Own PGAD

Hello! I’ve been in two minds whether to upload this post or not, but as I’ve been thinking about it, Ellie from BBC’s ‘Countryfile’ has been on television visiting some medical herbalists, so I shall take that as a sign to proceed!People have been asking me increasingly often about the herbs I used to help dampen my symptoms of persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD). In Tiny Tips for Dealing with a PGAD Flare I didn’t publish the combination, because it is not freely available and may be contraindicated in some cases. However, I now get emails about it on almost a weekly basis, meaning I spend a lot of time repeating the same things to individual people! I’ve therefore decided to write a post about it, so that everyone will be privy to the same information.Before we begin, let me state the following:I am NOT a doctor or a qualified…

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Questions To Ask Yourself If You Have A Chronic Health Problem

Questions To Ask Yourself If You Have A Chronic Health Problem

When humans develop an illness, we tend to become preoccupied with wanting to know exactly how it happened. For example, where did the germs come from? What did we do wrong? What aspect of our body is imbalanced and allowing this to occur? When the issue is chronic, we can easily get into a habit of rumination about every little thing we did that could have contributed to our unhappy situation. If you have interstitial cystitis, you probably regularly ask yourself:Is this being caused by something I eat?Is this being caused by an infection?Is this because I had sex in the wrong position?Is this because I didn’t drink enough?Am I bringing it on myself by being neurotic about it?Is it hormonal?This is all perfectly natural and of course it can be helpful – clearly knowing the cause of something can provide big clues as to how it might be resolved.…

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BAM! A Brief on Briefs for IC

BAM! A Brief on Briefs for IC

This is not a sponsored post. I have not been financially rewarded for writing it and the views expressed in it are my own. Those of you with pelvic pain conditions will know that underwear can be the source of a very literal pain in the bum! If you have interstitial cystitis, lichens sclerosus, vulvodynia, urethritis, vaginal dryness, persistent genital arousal disorder, anal fissures, haemorrhoids, or are just chapped from excessive wiping, the last thing you want is underwear that digs in, rides up, chafes, or is made from irritating materials. Many people choose to go commando, but this isn’t always practical. Loose fitting, cotton boxers or granny pants are also recommended, but again, they’re not always practical or desirable. There’s no need to get your knickers in a twist about it though, because I think I have discovered the perfect pant for those with sensitive secret places.Have you ever heard…

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You Eat Fermented WHAT?!

You Eat Fermented WHAT?!

While reading this post, please keep in mind that I am not a doctor and you should consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or lifestyle. The views expressed in this post are my personal opinions only. I am aware that the IC diet advises against eating fermented foods. If you’re in the throes of a bladder flare up and have not yet made any dietary changes to address your condition, I would not necessarily start here. However, I do not agree with the IC diet and it is my personal belief that many with IC can benefit from fermented foods as long as they are raw and unpasteurised. The latter stages of this post, which discuss non-dairy sources of probiotics, apply to ONLY to ferments which satisfy these criteria and are not preserved in vinegar, alcohol or similar. If you have histamine intolerance, please disregard this…

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Are You A Bladder Health UK Member?

Are You A Bladder Health UK Member?

I joined the charity Bladder Health UK a couple of weeks ago and I was so impressed that I decided to write a blog post about it. If you’re already a member, as I know several visitors here will be, please feel free to go and find something more fun to read – you don’t need me to tell you how great the organisation is! However, if you suffer from a bladder illness and are not a member, please read on to find out more about this fantastic charity.Bladder Health UK was founded as the Interstitial Cystitis Support Group in 1994 by two sisters, who both suffered from the disease. Very little was publicly known about the condition back then, so the sisters started a national charity to provide information and help to fellow sufferers. Some years later the charity changed its name to the Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation…

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A Festive Recipe: Garlic Sprouts

A Festive Recipe: Garlic Sprouts

Happy Boxing Day!I was hoping to upload a blog post last week, but it’s all about the charity Bladder Health UK and I’m waiting for them to approve it before I publish. In the meantime, as it is Boxing Day, I thought I’d do something a little different and share a couple of festive recipes with you.I used to think I didn’t like sprouts, but a few years ago I realised I’d been cooking them all wrong, the way pretty much everyone in the UK does. When our Polish neighbour gave me a recipe for garlic sprouts, I suddenly discovered what I’d been missing out on. I’ve modified the recipe as my dietary requirements have changed and I now present for you two versions: a healthy one, and an indulgent one. I make no claims that they are IC-friendly, but they are very delicious! In the summer months, you can…

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Interstitial Cystitis: Might You Have an Allergic Bladder?

Interstitial Cystitis: Might You Have an Allergic Bladder?

Calling all interstitial cystitis and non-bacterial prostatitis sufferers! Do you experience any of the following?Hay feverHives or non-contact dermatitisItchy, runny, or sore eyesRunny nose or scratchy throatAsthmaEczemaFoggy brainFatigueIf so, your painful bladder symptoms might have a histamine component to them. Histamine is an organic compound, produced in the mast cells. Mast cells are found in connective tissue including the skin, stomach and intestines; in mucosal tissue; and around blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic tissue. The purpose of histamine is to provoke an immune response such as inflammation, increased mucus production, capillary dilation, or smooth muscle contraction when the body is exposed to an allergen. It also acts as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord and uterus, assists with digestion, and helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle.In appropriate situations, histamine carries out an essential role, helping us to remove pathogens from our bodies and assisting us with vital bodily functions. However,…

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Spitting and Going DUTCH: how to get your hormone levels checked!

Spitting and Going DUTCH: how to get your hormone levels checked!

When I speak to customers on the phone, a significant proportion of them tell me that their pelvic pain symptoms started with the onset of menopause, a pregnancy, or a hysterectomy. Younger women often report that their symptoms change during the menstrual month and when my own PGAD was more of an issue, I certainly noticed that my cycle affected things – I still do sometimes. Although there is no hard and fast rule that connects hormone levels to pelvic pain disorders, it is known that low oestrogen can increase propensity to urinary tract infections and women with interstitial cystitis are therefore often prescribed vaginal oestrogen cream. For some this is very helpful; however, in others it actually worsens symptoms. The same is true of other pelvic pain conditions like vulvodynia, lichen sclerosus and vaginitis. While most medical professionals feel that hormonal factors may be relevant in IC and related…

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