So I've had urgency and frequent urination and intermittent bladder pain for a month or two now. Initially I thought it was a UTI and urine test showed some bacteria, doc gave me antibiotics but they did nothing and the test came back from the lab as normal. So now I've got a private referral but it's in a months time and I'm in pain and so uncomfortable. I don't know if it's an irritated bladder, or the horrible interstitial cystitis or something else. I have a blood test booked for this Friday to rule out more sinister possibilities. I swing from not being too worried to thinking that something awful could be wrong with me. Yesterday I had a eureka moment thinking it could be the sweetener in my protein powder I have in my shake after workouts but now I'm thinking it's unlikely- although I'm going to cut it out and see. Side effects of sucralose (amongst other horrible things) is bladder irritation/problems so it's worth a shot. But I'm just so fed up and miserable. At the moment the pain is quite severe. I don't know how I can cope with this for a month before getting more tests done. And I'm terrified that this could become a chronic illness that I will have to live with for a long time. Anyone else had similar issues, positive outcomes? Anyone have any ideas/thoughts??