Doctors Dismissed My UTI Pain—This Changed Everything
In this episode of the Field Notes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey interviews women’s health coach Saoirse Nash about her personal journey with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the broader systemic issues surrounding women’s healthcare. Saoirse shares how recurring UTIs in her youth were normalized and dismissed, leading to years of inadequate treatment until she took control of her health through holistic and functional approaches. The discussion explores the intersection of anatomy, immune and gut health, poor diagnostic tools, and the role of chronic stress and environmental toxins in women’s health. Together, they emphasize the importance of patient empowerment, lifestyle changes, and the need for better research and advocacy—highlighting organizations like Live UTI Free that offer critical support and information.
(00:00) UTIs common, especially in women
(01:51) Saoirse’s health journey begins with UTIs
(06:25) Gut health linked to immune defense
(08:13) Standard UTI tests often fail
(30:35) Trust your body and instincts
Saoirse Nash
Health Coach & Patient Advocate – Women’s Chronic Health
Saoirse is a health coach and patient advocate who is focused on destigmatizing the conversation around women’s health, and providing valuable support to those women who may be suffering with chronic health symptoms. As a woman who’s experienced chronic bladder symptoms, alongside endometriosis, she knows first hand how difficult it can be to access reliable information and treatment. Through her patient advocacy and liaison work with Live UTI Free, she hopes to educate and empower women to understand and take control of their health.
Seaworthy Functional Medicine is a department of:
