April 30, 2025 • 16 mins
Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)
Endometriosis impacts every aspect of life—physical health, relationships, mental wellbeing, career, and finances—not just the reproductive system. Research validates what patients experience: this disease is systemic, serious, and requires comprehensive care approaches beyond dismissive "solutions" like yoga or positive thinking.
• Medical gaslighting occurs when clinicians discount or dismiss patient concerns, eroding trust and worsening health outcomes
• Women and people from marginalized communities experience heightened levels of medical dismissal
• "Kissing ovaries" visible on imaging can signal deep infiltrating endometriosis requiring surgical intervention
• Chronic pain from endometriosis physically rewires neurological systems affecting emotion regulation and cognitive processing
• Research shows endometriosis significantly impacts employment with higher rates of missed work and job loss
• Adolescents with endometriosis experience lower quality of life across physical, emotional, and academic domains
• Early intervention and patient-centered care dramatically improve long-term outcomes
• Validation of symptoms as legitimate biological experiences rather than emotional overreactions is essential
LINKS
Impact of Endometriosis on Quality of Life in Adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2018;63(6):766-772.
Continue advocating for yourself and others. Your experiences are real, measurable, and deserve comprehensive care.
Website endobattery.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Endobattery Fast Charged, a
series dedicated to keeping youinformed and empowered in the
realm of endometriosis.
Teaming up with board-certifiedpatient advocates, we bring you
the latest articles, researchand insights to equip you with
accurate information and adeeper understanding.
Whether you're expanding yourknowledge, staying updated or
seeking clarity, you're in theright place.
(00:21):
I'm your host, alana, and thisis Endobattery Fast Charged
charging and empowering yourlife with knowledge.
Welcome back to EndobatteryFast Charged.
Today we're tackling a not sofun fact that many of us know
all too well Endometriosis isn'tjust a uterus problem, it's an
(00:46):
everything problem.
It messes with your physicalhealth, sure, but also your job,
your relationship, your mentalhealth, your sex life, your
sleep and your bank account.
And, honestly, I wouldn't beshocked if it's out here messing
with our Wi-Fi signal too.
So in this episode, we'rediving into the research that
validates what you probablyalready screamed into the void
(01:08):
at least once this disease isnot just in your head and it's
not just bad periods.
We're looking at how endo showsup in adolescence, how it
affects your ability to show upfor work or life in general, and
why early intervention andpatient-centered care is
essential, not optional.
Now, before we go too deep, Ihave to throw in a quick science
(01:32):
disclaimer.
Correlation does not equalcausation.
Just because two things appeartogether, like, say, pelvic pain
and anxiety, doesn't mean onecaused the other, although after
enough bad doctor visits I'dargue gaslighting might be the
cause.
Still, science needs a littlemore than vibes to call it
causation.
(01:52):
That said, the more researchthat comes out, the more we're
seeing the very real toll thisdisease takes.
So if you've ever felt like youwere losing your mind because
of endo or like your symptomswere somehow your fault, this
one's for you.
We're connecting the dots withcare, compassion and a touch of
sarcasm, because if we don'tlaugh sometimes we might just
(02:15):
scream into the pillow, and youknow what we support that too,
let's get into it.
Have you ever walked into adoctor's office, list your
symptoms with the clarity of aTED talk and still somehow leave
wondering if maybe you imaginedit?
All that dizzying loop ofself-doubt isn't just in your
head.
It's got a name.
It's called medical gaslighting.
(02:37):
According to the study titledGaslighting of Impatients a
Threat to Nursing Care and aViolation of Relational Autonomy
.
It's what happens whenclinicians discount deny sliding
of impatience a threat tonursing care and a violation of
relational autonomy.
It's what happens whenclinicians discount, deny or
dismiss patients' concerns tothe point where patients
themselves start to second-guesstheir own reality.
It's like being handed a do notdisturb sign instead of actual
(02:59):
care.
And spoiler alert, it's notjust annoying, it's harmful.
Now, if you've lived with acondition like endometriosis, a
disease so poorly understood, itmight as well wear an invisible
cloak.
You've probably encounteredthis gaslighting firsthand.
We're talking about theclassics.
It's just bad cramps.
Lose some weight, you're juststressed.
(03:21):
Have you tried yoga?
Or, my personal favorite, yourlabs are fine, so you must be
fine.
It's the medical equivalent ofbeing ghosted and then told
you're imagining the ghost.
Research shows medicalgaslighting isn't just an
individual problem.
It's a systemic one.
Structural racism, culturalbias and gender discrimination
(03:42):
throw more gasoline on the fire.
Women, people of color andespecially those living at the
intersection ofmulti-marginalized identities
are the most impacted whendoctors dismiss you, delay your
care or brush off your testresults.
It erodes the trust andreinforces a cycle where illness
gets worse and mental healthtakes a hit.
(04:03):
Gaslighting doesn't just hurtyour feelings, it can literally
hurt your prognosis.
So what does this all lead to?
Anxiety, depression, ptsd and adeep, soul-weary exhaustion
that no amount of chamomile teaor inspirational quotes can fix.
It creates a harmful feedbackloop.
(04:23):
Your physical pain gets labeledas psychological, your mental
health worsens under the weightof being unheard and the actual
condition you're dealing withgoes untreated.
It's like being stuck on atreadmill built entirely out of
you're fine, while your bodyscreams otherwise.
What we need desperately is ahealthcare environment where
(04:44):
patients aren't treated likeunreliable narrators of their
own medical stories, a spacewhere saying I'm in pain doesn't
get met with a skepticaleyebrow or a prescription for
kale and Pilates.
It's time we retire the toxicdynamics that allow gaslighting
to thrive and replace them withactual listening, informed
(05:05):
compassion and maybe, just maybe, a few doctors who don't treat
Google like their nemesis whenpatients come in well-researched
, because at the end of the day,patients don't need to be
tougher or more positive, theyneed to be believed.
Alright, friends, let's talkabout something that sounds kind
(05:26):
of romantic but is well notKissing ovaries.
Despite the cute name, there'snothing hallmark about it.
In medical speak, it means bothovaries have cozied up like way
too close Thanks to pelvicadhesions, usually from
endometriosis.
They're practically spooning.
On imaging, whether ultrasound,ct or MRI, it looks like a
(05:49):
snuggle session, but in realityit's a giant red flag waving,
please send help, oftensignaling deep infiltrating
endometriosis and possible needfor surgical intervention.
Now, according to the studytitled Endometriosis a common
but enigmatic disease with manyfaces current concept of
(06:10):
physiology and diagnosticstrategy, endometriosis is what
they call a common but enigmaticdisease, which science speak
for.
We see it all the time, but itstill manages to confuse us,
like a plot twist in atelenovela.
The article dives deep into themany faces of endo, noting that
it doesn't just show up one way.
(06:31):
Sometimes it's subtle,sometimes it's dramatic,
sometimes it's kissing, and thisvariability makes diagnosis a
whole circus.
They explain how imaging hasbecome a key tool, especially
advanced MRI, to catch thosesneaky signs like adhesions,
endometriomas and you guessed itkissing ovaries.
(06:53):
What's tricky is that, while wecan see kissing ovaries on
imaging, it's often missed ormisinterpreted, especially if
the person reading the scanisn't familiar with
endometriosis.
This article underscores theneed for radiologists to be
trained in spotting subtle butmeaningful patterns Because,
let's be real, if your organsare rearranging themselves like
(07:16):
they're trying to win a game oftwister, that deserves more than
a casual shrug and let's waitand see.
Even more frustrating, theseverity of findings like
kissing ovaries often correlateswith infertility, deep pain and
higher stages of disease,meaning people who are really
struggling may still be waitingyears for an accurate diagnosis.
(07:37):
It's like being on fire andbeing told it's just a warm
breeze.
This is why recognizing kissingovaries and similar signs isn't
just an academic exercise.
It's a game changer.
It shifts the conversation frommaybe it's nothing to let's
take this seriously, becauseendometriosis isn't just about
(07:57):
period pain.
It's about recognizing patterns, respecting symptoms and
getting people the care theyneed without making them feel
like they have to earn it withsuffering.
So next time someone mentionskissing ovaries, don't let the
name fool you.
It's not romance, it's amedical SOS, and the sooner it's
recognized, the better chancesomeone has at getting real help
(08:20):
.
Let's talk about something thatdoesn't get nearly enough
airtime the psychological tollof endometriosis, because yes,
it's about physical pain, butit's also about how the pain
rewires your brain over time.
According to a 2023 study inthe Journal of Clinical Medicine
titled UnderstandingPsychological Symptoms of
(08:42):
Endometriosis from a ResearchDomain Criteria Perspective,
researchers dove into thepsychological symptoms of
endometriosis from a researchdomain criteria perspective.
Researchers dove into thepsychological symptoms of
endometriosis using somethingcalled research domain criteria
framework, which sounds veryfancy, but basically they just
took a full body, full mind,science-backed approach to
understanding how endo messeswith your head and your heart.
(09:04):
Spoiler alert it's not justanxiety or depression, although
those are definitely in the mix.
What they found is thatconsistent, unmanaged pain of
endo can disrupt entireneurological systems emotion
regulation.
And what they found is thatconsistent, unmanaged pain of
endo can disrupt entireneurological systems emotion
(09:25):
regulation, stress responses,cognitive processing, even
reward and motivation pathways.
In plain speak, when you'reconstantly hurting and not being
believed, your brain goes intosurvival mode and it stays there
.
This isn't about mental illnessbeing separated from physical
illness.
It's about how physical pain ofendo literally shapes the brain
(09:49):
over time.
The foggy, exhausted, anxiousfeeling, that's not weakness,
that's your nervous system doingovertime without benefits.
And no, yoga alone isn't goingto fix it, but early,
patient-centered care might.
Here's the kicker.
The study stresses how crucialit is to validate these symptoms
(10:10):
as part of the disease, not aside hustle of drama or
fragility, because whenclinicians dismiss the
psychological impacts, patientsare left trying to think
positive their way through veryreal, very neurological storms
and frankly, that's a lot to puton someone who's already living
in pain.
So what's the takeaway here?
(10:30):
We need more than aprescription.
We need providers who see thewhole person.
We need systems that treat endoas a condition that affects
everything from how you move tohow you feel, to how you show up
in the world, because treatingthe whole body without
considering the brain is likepatching the roof while the
foundation is crumbling.
You're not too emotional, toodramatic or too sensitive.
(10:53):
You're enduring something thatscience is finally catching up
to, and your experiences are notonly real, they're measurable
and, most importantly, youdeserve care that sees and
supports all of you.
And speaking of seeing all ofyou, let's just rip the band-aid
off.
Endometriosis doesn't clock outwhen you clock in.
(11:14):
According to a powerful casestudy published in BMJ Open
titled Does Endometriosis AffectPersonal Life, a match case
study control in Switzerland,germany and Austria took a good
look at this and the resultsYikes.
People with endo reported loweremployment rates, more missed
days of work, reducedproductivity and increased risk
(11:38):
of job loss.
But please tell us more abouthow we should just push through
it.
Here's the thing.
This isn't just about having abad pain day or two.
We're talking about chronicillness that hijacks your
functional status, physically,mentally, socially, sexually and
oh yes, financially.
It's not just the body thatpays.
(11:58):
It's the careers, self-esteem,relationships and rent checks
too.
The researchers found that manypeople with endo had to make
serious career sacrifices, likechanging jobs, reducing hours or
leaving the workforce entirely,not because they weren't
capable, but because theyweren't being supported.
What makes the difference?
Early intervention andpatient-centered care Shocking?
(12:21):
I know when patients arebelieved, properly diagnosed and
treated based on what they need, not what someone thinks a
typical pain threshold should be, they're more likely to thrive
at work and everywhere else.
So if you've ever had to callin sick because your insides
felt like they were hosting anMMA fight and someone responded
(12:42):
with I get bad cramps too,you're not imagining the impact.
Your health and your work lifedo intersect, and recognizing
that isn't weakness, it's wise.
It's time we stop askingpatients to push through and
start asking what support theyactually need to stay in the
game.
And this doesn't just impactadults.
(13:03):
This impacts a wide range ofpeople, including teenagers.
Imagine being a teenagerawkward growing spurts, pop
quizzes, social landmines and,oh yeah, unrelenting pelvic pain
that no one takes seriously.
That's the reality for manyteens living with endometriosis
and, according to a 2018 studyin the Journal of Adolescent
(13:25):
Health titled Impact ofEndometriosis on Quality of Life
in Adolescents.
Endo and adolescence seriouslyimpacts the quality of life
across the board physical,emotional, social, academic.
The researchers found thatadolescents with endo reported
lower scores in almost everydomain of life compared to their
peers.
Fatigue and emotional distresswere common, and many said they
(13:48):
felt isolated or misunderstood.
And let's be honest when you're15 and already dealing with
chronic pain, being told justtoughen up or wait until you're
older and it'll even out isabout as helpful as a soggy
band-aid on a bullet wound.
Here's what this study makescrystal clear a soggy band-aid
(14:09):
on a bullet wound.
Here's what this study makescrystal clear.
Endometriosis isn't too grownup to affect teens, and it's not
just a rite of passage.
The earlier the intervention,the better long-term outlook,
not just physically, butemotionally and socially too.
Teens deserve validation,accurate diagnosis and treatment
plans that acknowledge theirentire reality, not just their
uterus.
So let's drop the wait and seeand pick up, listen and believe,
(14:33):
because teens with endo aren'tbeing dramatic.
They're being dismissed, anddismissal has a real consequence
that can ripple into adulthood,unless we decide collectively
to do better.
If there's one thing I hopetoday's episode made clear, it's
that endometriosis doesn't playby simple rules.
It's not just a reproductiveissue, and it's definitely not
(14:55):
something you can yoga orpositive think your way out of.
The research is catching up towhat so many of us have already
known.
Endo affects everything mind,body, work, life, friendships,
finances and, yes, your sanityon some days too.
But here's the hopeful part,when science starts to zoom out
to connect neurological symptoms, hormonal shifts, systemic bias
(15:17):
and chronic pain.
It's not about blaming you.
It's about understanding thebigger picture so we can finally
build care that makes sense.
You're not too sensitive,you're not imagining it and
you're definitely not a mysterydiagnosis waiting to be solved.
You're a whole personnavigating a whole body disease
(15:38):
that deserves wholehearted care.
So, as always, keep asking thequestions, keep pushing for
answers and know that you'renever alone in this.
I'm right here with you,podcast mic in hand, cheering
you on and reminding you.
Your endo battery might get alittle low, but there's always a
recharge Until next time.
(15:59):
Continue advocating for you andfor others.
Bye.
Welcome to Endobattery Fast Charged, a
series dedicated to keeping youinformed and empowered in the
realm of endometriosis.
Teaming up with board-certifiedpatient advocates, we bring you
the latest articles, researchand insights to equip you with
accurate information and adeeper understanding.
Whether you're expanding yourknowledge, staying updated or
seeking clarity, you're in theright place.
(00:21):
I'm your host, alana, and thisis Endobattery Fast Charged
charging and empowering yourlife with knowledge.
Welcome back to EndobatteryFast Charged.
Today we're tackling a not sofun fact that many of us know
all too well Endometriosis isn'tjust a uterus problem, it's an
(00:46):
everything problem.
It messes with your physicalhealth, sure, but also your job,
your relationship, your mentalhealth, your sex life, your
sleep and your bank account.
And, honestly, I wouldn't beshocked if it's out here messing
with our Wi-Fi signal too.
So in this episode, we'rediving into the research that
validates what you probablyalready screamed into the void
(01:08):
at least once this disease isnot just in your head and it's
not just bad periods.
We're looking at how endo showsup in adolescence, how it
affects your ability to show upfor work or life in general, and
why early intervention andpatient-centered care is
essential, not optional.
Now, before we go too deep, Ihave to throw in a quick science
(01:32):
disclaimer.
Correlation does not equalcausation.
Just because two things appeartogether, like, say, pelvic pain
and anxiety, doesn't mean onecaused the other, although after
enough bad doctor visits I'dargue gaslighting might be the
cause.
Still, science needs a littlemore than vibes to call it
causation.
(01:52):
That said, the more researchthat comes out, the more we're
seeing the very real toll thisdisease takes.
So if you've ever felt like youwere losing your mind because
of endo or like your symptomswere somehow your fault, this
one's for you.
We're connecting the dots withcare, compassion and a touch of
sarcasm, because if we don'tlaugh sometimes we might just
(02:15):
scream into the pillow, and youknow what we support that too,
let's get into it.
Have you ever walked into adoctor's office, list your
symptoms with the clarity of aTED talk and still somehow leave
wondering if maybe you imaginedit?
All that dizzying loop ofself-doubt isn't just in your
head.
It's got a name.
It's called medical gaslighting.
(02:37):
According to the study titledGaslighting of Impatients a
Threat to Nursing Care and aViolation of Relational Autonomy
.
It's what happens whenclinicians discount deny sliding
of impatience a threat tonursing care and a violation of
relational autonomy.
It's what happens whenclinicians discount, deny or
dismiss patients' concerns tothe point where patients
themselves start to second-guesstheir own reality.
It's like being handed a do notdisturb sign instead of actual
(02:59):
care.
And spoiler alert, it's notjust annoying, it's harmful.
Now, if you've lived with acondition like endometriosis, a
disease so poorly understood, itmight as well wear an invisible
cloak.
You've probably encounteredthis gaslighting firsthand.
We're talking about theclassics.
It's just bad cramps.
Lose some weight, you're juststressed.
(03:21):
Have you tried yoga?
Or, my personal favorite, yourlabs are fine, so you must be
fine.
It's the medical equivalent ofbeing ghosted and then told
you're imagining the ghost.
Research shows medicalgaslighting isn't just an
individual problem.
It's a systemic one.
Structural racism, culturalbias and gender discrimination
(03:42):
throw more gasoline on the fire.
Women, people of color andespecially those living at the
intersection ofmulti-marginalized identities
are the most impacted whendoctors dismiss you, delay your
care or brush off your testresults.
It erodes the trust andreinforces a cycle where illness
gets worse and mental healthtakes a hit.
(04:03):
Gaslighting doesn't just hurtyour feelings, it can literally
hurt your prognosis.
So what does this all lead to?
Anxiety, depression, ptsd and adeep, soul-weary exhaustion
that no amount of chamomile teaor inspirational quotes can fix.
It creates a harmful feedbackloop.
(04:23):
Your physical pain gets labeledas psychological, your mental
health worsens under the weightof being unheard and the actual
condition you're dealing withgoes untreated.
It's like being stuck on atreadmill built entirely out of
you're fine, while your bodyscreams otherwise.
What we need desperately is ahealthcare environment where
(04:44):
patients aren't treated likeunreliable narrators of their
own medical stories, a spacewhere saying I'm in pain doesn't
get met with a skepticaleyebrow or a prescription for
kale and Pilates.
It's time we retire the toxicdynamics that allow gaslighting
to thrive and replace them withactual listening, informed
(05:05):
compassion and maybe, just maybe, a few doctors who don't treat
Google like their nemesis whenpatients come in well-researched
, because at the end of the day,patients don't need to be
tougher or more positive, theyneed to be believed.
Alright, friends, let's talkabout something that sounds kind
(05:26):
of romantic but is well notKissing ovaries.
Despite the cute name, there'snothing hallmark about it.
In medical speak, it means bothovaries have cozied up like way
too close Thanks to pelvicadhesions, usually from
endometriosis.
They're practically spooning.
On imaging, whether ultrasound,ct or MRI, it looks like a
(05:49):
snuggle session, but in realityit's a giant red flag waving,
please send help, oftensignaling deep infiltrating
endometriosis and possible needfor surgical intervention.
Now, according to the studytitled Endometriosis a common
but enigmatic disease with manyfaces current concept of
(06:10):
physiology and diagnosticstrategy, endometriosis is what
they call a common but enigmaticdisease, which science speak
for.
We see it all the time, but itstill manages to confuse us,
like a plot twist in atelenovela.
The article dives deep into themany faces of endo, noting that
it doesn't just show up one way.
(06:31):
Sometimes it's subtle,sometimes it's dramatic,
sometimes it's kissing, and thisvariability makes diagnosis a
whole circus.
They explain how imaging hasbecome a key tool, especially
advanced MRI, to catch thosesneaky signs like adhesions,
endometriomas and you guessed itkissing ovaries.
(06:53):
What's tricky is that, while wecan see kissing ovaries on
imaging, it's often missed ormisinterpreted, especially if
the person reading the scanisn't familiar with
endometriosis.
This article underscores theneed for radiologists to be
trained in spotting subtle butmeaningful patterns Because,
let's be real, if your organsare rearranging themselves like
(07:16):
they're trying to win a game oftwister, that deserves more than
a casual shrug and let's waitand see.
Even more frustrating, theseverity of findings like
kissing ovaries often correlateswith infertility, deep pain and
higher stages of disease,meaning people who are really
struggling may still be waitingyears for an accurate diagnosis.
(07:37):
It's like being on fire andbeing told it's just a warm
breeze.
This is why recognizing kissingovaries and similar signs isn't
just an academic exercise.
It's a game changer.
It shifts the conversation frommaybe it's nothing to let's
take this seriously, becauseendometriosis isn't just about
(07:57):
period pain.
It's about recognizing patterns, respecting symptoms and
getting people the care theyneed without making them feel
like they have to earn it withsuffering.
So next time someone mentionskissing ovaries, don't let the
name fool you.
It's not romance, it's amedical SOS, and the sooner it's
recognized, the better chancesomeone has at getting real help
(08:20):
.
Let's talk about something thatdoesn't get nearly enough
airtime the psychological tollof endometriosis, because yes,
it's about physical pain, butit's also about how the pain
rewires your brain over time.
According to a 2023 study inthe Journal of Clinical Medicine
titled UnderstandingPsychological Symptoms of
(08:42):
Endometriosis from a ResearchDomain Criteria Perspective,
researchers dove into thepsychological symptoms of
endometriosis from a researchdomain criteria perspective.
Researchers dove into thepsychological symptoms of
endometriosis using somethingcalled research domain criteria
framework, which sounds veryfancy, but basically they just
took a full body, full mind,science-backed approach to
understanding how endo messeswith your head and your heart.
(09:04):
Spoiler alert it's not justanxiety or depression, although
those are definitely in the mix.
What they found is thatconsistent, unmanaged pain of
endo can disrupt entireneurological systems emotion
regulation.
And what they found is thatconsistent, unmanaged pain of
endo can disrupt entireneurological systems emotion
(09:25):
regulation, stress responses,cognitive processing, even
reward and motivation pathways.
In plain speak, when you'reconstantly hurting and not being
believed, your brain goes intosurvival mode and it stays there
.
This isn't about mental illnessbeing separated from physical
illness.
It's about how physical pain ofendo literally shapes the brain
(09:49):
over time.
The foggy, exhausted, anxiousfeeling, that's not weakness,
that's your nervous system doingovertime without benefits.
And no, yoga alone isn't goingto fix it, but early,
patient-centered care might.
Here's the kicker.
The study stresses how crucialit is to validate these symptoms
(10:10):
as part of the disease, not aside hustle of drama or
fragility, because whenclinicians dismiss the
psychological impacts, patientsare left trying to think
positive their way through veryreal, very neurological storms
and frankly, that's a lot to puton someone who's already living
in pain.
So what's the takeaway here?
(10:30):
We need more than aprescription.
We need providers who see thewhole person.
We need systems that treat endoas a condition that affects
everything from how you move tohow you feel, to how you show up
in the world, because treatingthe whole body without
considering the brain is likepatching the roof while the
foundation is crumbling.
You're not too emotional, toodramatic or too sensitive.
(10:53):
You're enduring something thatscience is finally catching up
to, and your experiences are notonly real, they're measurable
and, most importantly, youdeserve care that sees and
supports all of you.
And speaking of seeing all ofyou, let's just rip the band-aid
off.
Endometriosis doesn't clock outwhen you clock in.
(11:14):
According to a powerful casestudy published in BMJ Open
titled Does Endometriosis AffectPersonal Life, a match case
study control in Switzerland,germany and Austria took a good
look at this and the resultsYikes.
People with endo reported loweremployment rates, more missed
days of work, reducedproductivity and increased risk
(11:38):
of job loss.
But please tell us more abouthow we should just push through
it.
Here's the thing.
This isn't just about having abad pain day or two.
We're talking about chronicillness that hijacks your
functional status, physically,mentally, socially, sexually and
oh yes, financially.
It's not just the body thatpays.
(11:58):
It's the careers, self-esteem,relationships and rent checks
too.
The researchers found that manypeople with endo had to make
serious career sacrifices, likechanging jobs, reducing hours or
leaving the workforce entirely,not because they weren't
capable, but because theyweren't being supported.
What makes the difference?
Early intervention andpatient-centered care Shocking?
(12:21):
I know when patients arebelieved, properly diagnosed and
treated based on what they need, not what someone thinks a
typical pain threshold should be, they're more likely to thrive
at work and everywhere else.
So if you've ever had to callin sick because your insides
felt like they were hosting anMMA fight and someone responded
(12:42):
with I get bad cramps too,you're not imagining the impact.
Your health and your work lifedo intersect, and recognizing
that isn't weakness, it's wise.
It's time we stop askingpatients to push through and
start asking what support theyactually need to stay in the
game.
And this doesn't just impactadults.
(13:03):
This impacts a wide range ofpeople, including teenagers.
Imagine being a teenagerawkward growing spurts, pop
quizzes, social landmines and,oh yeah, unrelenting pelvic pain
that no one takes seriously.
That's the reality for manyteens living with endometriosis
and, according to a 2018 studyin the Journal of Adolescent
(13:25):
Health titled Impact ofEndometriosis on Quality of Life
in Adolescents.
Endo and adolescence seriouslyimpacts the quality of life
across the board physical,emotional, social, academic.
The researchers found thatadolescents with endo reported
lower scores in almost everydomain of life compared to their
peers.
Fatigue and emotional distresswere common, and many said they
(13:48):
felt isolated or misunderstood.
And let's be honest when you're15 and already dealing with
chronic pain, being told justtoughen up or wait until you're
older and it'll even out isabout as helpful as a soggy
band-aid on a bullet wound.
Here's what this study makescrystal clear a soggy band-aid
(14:09):
on a bullet wound.
Here's what this study makescrystal clear.
Endometriosis isn't too grownup to affect teens, and it's not
just a rite of passage.
The earlier the intervention,the better long-term outlook,
not just physically, butemotionally and socially too.
Teens deserve validation,accurate diagnosis and treatment
plans that acknowledge theirentire reality, not just their
uterus.
So let's drop the wait and seeand pick up, listen and believe,
(14:33):
because teens with endo aren'tbeing dramatic.
They're being dismissed, anddismissal has a real consequence
that can ripple into adulthood,unless we decide collectively
to do better.
If there's one thing I hopetoday's episode made clear, it's
that endometriosis doesn't playby simple rules.
It's not just a reproductiveissue, and it's definitely not
(14:55):
something you can yoga orpositive think your way out of.
The research is catching up towhat so many of us have already
known.
Endo affects everything mind,body, work, life, friendships,
finances and, yes, your sanityon some days too.
But here's the hopeful part,when science starts to zoom out
to connect neurological symptoms, hormonal shifts, systemic bias
(15:17):
and chronic pain.
It's not about blaming you.
It's about understanding thebigger picture so we can finally
build care that makes sense.
You're not too sensitive,you're not imagining it and
you're definitely not a mysterydiagnosis waiting to be solved.
You're a whole personnavigating a whole body disease
(15:38):
that deserves wholehearted care.
So, as always, keep asking thequestions, keep pushing for
answers and know that you'renever alone in this.
I'm right here with you,podcast mic in hand, cheering
you on and reminding you.
Your endo battery might get alittle low, but there's always a
recharge Until next time.
(15:59):
Continue advocating for you andfor others.
Bye.
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