A regional daily’s digital chief has reiterated her bid to help others struggling with a “secret illness” from which she has suffered for the past 15 years..

Jenna Thompson, digital editor at the Hull Live sister website of the Hull Daily Mail, has discussed life as a sufferer of bladder condition “interstitial cystitis”, which causes “significant daily pain” and an almost constant need to use the toilet.

Jenna’s illness began on the weekend of her 18th birthday when she was attending Leeds Festival, and initially mistook it for cystitis – a bladder infection which most women will experience at some point in their lives.

The condition left Jenna, pictured, often going to the toilet up to 60 times a day, and waiting year before being diagnosed with the condition.

In a piece for Hull Live marking Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Month, Jenna wrote: “To look at me, you would never know that anything is wrong. But for 15 years I have been living with a secret illness that has a huge impact on my day-to-day life.

“It causes significant daily pain, the need to go to the toilet pretty much constantly and numerous haemorrhages inside my bladder which mean it is constantly bleeding into itself. There may only be one external clue to the torment that’s going on inside my body – every so often, my abdomen will swell.

“When it’s bad, the swelling can be so prominent that I have occasionally been confused for being several months pregnant. Indeed, I now have to wear maternity jeans in case it blows up unexpectedly.”

Jenna went public on life with the condition last year, and subsequently received “hundreds” of messages of support.

In February, she underwent surgery for the condition which meant she “had to take weeks off work and was pretty much housebound”, but has recently spoken out about her struggles again and set up an Instagram blog to chronicle her life with the chronic illness.

Added Jenna: “For the most part, it’s a normal life – and a happy one. I have a great job here at Hull Live where my colleagues have been nothing but supportive, an amazing boyfriend and supportive family and friends. The reason I wanted to speak out again is because September has been Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Month and the more awareness that can be raised about the condition, the better. I am lucky to be able to have the platform to shout about it and I feel no shame in doing so.

“Having a bladder condition can naturally be quite difficult to talk about as we don’t often speak about issues which involve going to the toilet. Bladder Health UK says this can lead to isolation as sufferers believe speaking about it is ‘socially unacceptable’. This shouldn’t be the case as it is through no fault of our own, but I understand why it’s hard.

“It took me many years to speak openly about it but I hope to show others that, if anything, living with a chronic illness is something to be proud of. It’s harder for us to get through the day so small achievements feel like huge wins.

“Not only that, but I wanted to show that you never know what is going on in someone’s life by simply looking at them. Millions of people are living with invisible illnesses which cause terrible pain. So if someone looks healthy, don’t automatically assume they’re OK. You never know what’s going on inside.”

Speaking to HTFP, Jenna said: “My colleagues are always incredibly supportive of me – I am open and honest about my condition so they are aware of the challenges I sometimes face.

“I wrote a similar piece about my illness last year and, as it was then, the reaction from both readers and colleagues this time has been overwhelmingly kind. I am really grateful for the support I have received, particularly from Reach plc, which means I can continue to do the job I love.”