October 28, 2025 • 36 mins
You might know Erin Barnett from Love Island or I'm a Celebrity…, but her most powerful story isn’t one that played out on screen. A registered nurse living with endometriosis, adenomyosis and PCOS, Erin opens up about what it’s taken to be heard in a system that too often overlooks women’s pain.
From a tough start in the health system to becoming the kind of nurse she wished she’d had, Erin shares the personal journey behind her book Endo Unfiltered and what led her to make the life-changing decision to have a hysterectomy in her 20s.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed by the system, are raising young women, or work in women’s health, this episode is for you.
Language warning: This episode contains occasional strong language.
More about Erin's Organisation of Choice, Endometriosis Australia
Endometriosis Australia is at the forefront of advocating for those affected by endometriosis, a chronic condition that impacts millions worldwide. Dedicated to improving the lives of those living with endometriosis, they deliver a comprehensive range of programs and support services designed to make a real difference.
Follow Erin on Instagram.
It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber.
We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso
Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sam Miklos (00:00):
Imagine living with such extreme and relentless pain
that you're facing ahysterectomy in your twenties.
The complete removal of youruterus just to make the pain
stop.
This is the reality ErinBarnett faced.
Erin Barnett (00:12):
And the pain is so bad that you're almost passing
out, you feel like you can'tbreathe, and you don't want
anyone to touch you.
And then when your family'saround seeing that, they don't
know what to do.
And I also had to get myappendix out because there was
like everything was stucktogether, my ovary, my appendix,
I had endometros on myappendix.
And I was like, just take itout.
But now I've got no more organsthat you can take out.
(00:34):
Like I actually need to livewith the rest of the organs that
I have.
Kate Coomber (00:37):
But before you get into this episode, be sure to
pop over to wherever you getyour podcasts and make sure you
subscribe.
And if you really love thisepisode, perhaps share it with a
friend or even leave a reviewas it really helps us reach more
people.
Sam Miklos (00:48):
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for all
the behind-the-scenes fun.
Okay, so you might know ErinBarnett from Love Island, or I'm
a Celebrity, get me out ofhere, but there is so much more
to her story.
Behind the cameras andheadlines is a registered nurse
(01:09):
who spent years navigatingchronic pain from endometriosis,
adiomiosis, and polycysticovary syndrome since her teens.
This isn't just a story aboutreality TV.
It's a story about the courageit takes to take back your own
body and control of your life.
Welcome to It Takes Heart,Erin.
Erin Barnett (01:28):
Oh, thank you.
Thank you so much for havingme.
I'm really excited.
Sam Miklos (01:32):
It's a pleasure to have you.
So before we get started,though, congratulations on your
recent wedding.
How did the big day go?
Erin Barnett (01:39):
Yeah, um, oh my god, the day actually went
really well.
Nothing went wrong besides mydad not having pants in his suit
jacket thing.
Other than that, we got thepants and everything else went
fine.
Kate Coomber (01:53):
Oh, you looked beautiful.
The photos are stunning thatI've seen.
Erin Barnett (01:56):
Oh, thank you.
I had the best wedding planner.
Gee, what a wedding.
She literally, that's the onlyreason why everything went okay.
If you're ever looking for awedding planner, highly
recommend.
Sam Miklos (02:05):
Maybe for our next weddings.
Kate Coomber (02:07):
Don't say that.
I'm not going to spend her.
I'm sure she's on speed dialseveral times a day in the lead
up.
So, yes, so as Sam mentioned inyour intro, you're a bit of a
TV personality and people willdefinitely know who you are, but
what they might not know isthat you're a registered nurse.
So, when did you become a nurseand and why did you get into
nursing?
Erin Barnett (02:27):
Um, so I did nursing years and years ago back
in 2016, but I was an EN andthen I w went straight into
being an RN, but I didn't get myregistration until after my RN
because I went from EN to RN,but I had to pause that while I
went on Love Island and then Ihad to restart it afterwards
(02:48):
because I had lost a big gap andyou have to do like another
course to get your registration,and then I just went back into
it.
Was that a big decision topause and and go and do
something different?
Oh, massive, because I didn'tknow what really Love Island
was, like it was a UK thing, itwasn't an Australian thing.
So I was like, hmm, we'll justsee how it goes, and it turned
(03:08):
out really good.
Sam Miklos (03:09):
And so with your nursing side of things, like
what do you love about nursingand what um what areas of
nursing have you worked in?
Erin Barnett (03:17):
Um I think my favourite thing about nursing is
looking after people that can'tlook after themselves or people
that don't really want to be atthe hospital, you know, those
people that don't want to gothere and you have to convince
them why they're there.
And I just did you say whatmade me want to be a nurse?
Yeah.
Well, when I was younger and Ihad my first ever surgery, I had
(03:37):
a disappointing interactionwith a nurse, and I always
thought to myself, that's it, Iwant to be a nurse so no one
else has to go through what Iwent through, and I'll always be
that nurse that everyone wants.
Sam Miklos (03:47):
Yeah.
And do you think um obviouslythat interaction had a real
impact on on how you are as anurse today?
I guess how has that shaped theway that you approach patients?
Erin Barnett (03:58):
Oh, massively.
I think because some peopledon't like to be at hospital,
some people are uh at hospitalon their own, they don't have
family, so I'm acting like theirfamily, not just their nurse.
And I take every single patientseriously, and I don't just
think they're just like apatient in room five or
whatever.
I call them by their first nameor however they like to be
called, and I just reallyrespect that person and the
(04:19):
reason why they're there.
Kate Coomber (04:21):
I think we we hear that a lot uh through these
conversations, don't we, ofhaving the right people in
healthcare.
And I think that when when youhave the job that you really
love that really shines throughto the patient care union, you
can really spot the healthcareworker who loves what they do
versus someone who doesn't wantto be there, and that really
impacts then the patient care.
Erin Barnett (04:38):
Yeah, and it's disappointing when you can see
the difference between thenurses that want to be there and
the nurses that don't want tobe there.
Yeah, absolutely.
Kate Coomber (04:47):
So you talked there about being a patient, and
in 2022 you wrote a book, EndoUnfiltered.
Erin Barnett (04:54):
Yeah.
How did this come about?
And why why did you write thebook?
Well, I wanted to have a bookthat someone could read who well
when I was 14 I had no ideawhat any of this stuff was, and
I hate reading.
I've never really that's theonly book that I've actually
fully read.
And I just wanted to have abook that people can read, that
it's easy to read, it's notboring.
(05:14):
I even have a cheat sheet inthere, so if you can't be
bothered reading, it just tellsyou what page to go to, and that
family and friends can read,fathers of daughters can read,
and they can understandeverything.
Because at 14, like I mean,when I was 19, I was told that I
needed to have children umbecause of like my PCOS and all
that.
And at 19, who wants to behaving children?
(05:35):
Like, no offense to the peoplewho are, but to me, I was
thinking about the next birthdayparty I was going to, what I
was gonna wear, my sick days,like how much I was gonna get
paid for the work I was doing.
I didn't care about that.
So this book has really helpedso many people, and I really I'm
really grateful for that.
Sam Miklos (05:52):
It was a really well-written book.
I um it's funny that you sayyou don't love reading writing,
no, you don't love readingbooks, but it is so well
written, and it um I flewthrough it and you know I
personally suffered with all ofthe same things in my twenties,
and back then there was reallyno education, there was nothing
you could read.
I mean, obviously I'm in my 40snow.
(06:12):
Um and it was I I said to Kateactually after I read it, I felt
very seen.
You know, for the first time Iwas reading it, going, God, I
actually experienced that.
I had no idea that was a thing.
There was so much there were somany little things, yeah, that
I I overlooked or I went, oh,that's just part of it, and and
moved through it.
So it was a it was a reallywell-written book and there was
a lot of great takeaways.
(06:33):
Do you do you think, or I guesswhy do you think there's such a
gap in education around women'shealth?
And do you do you still thinkthere's a gap?
Because there definitely wasfor us 20 years ago.
Erin Barnett (06:43):
I think there is still a massive gap.
And I also think I've got twoolder sisters, and me being the
youngest, I just watched them gothrough bad periods, and I
thought, oh, that's just whatperiods are.
I watched my mum, you know, mygrandmother, and I was like, oh,
that's just what periods are.
And then when you would go tothe doctor, they would say you
either have to lose weight,panodolneurofin, heat hack,
that's just part of being awoman.
(07:04):
And then when you do sex ed inschool, they don't mention
anything about that, it's justsafe sex, blah blah blah.
And when you go see doctors,what frustrates me is they're
mainly all male, and I knowthat's hard because it's what
they want to specialise in.
But then also I have seen acouple of female um
gynecologists that was the worstI've ever been to.
But I don't understand whythere is such a gap.
(07:27):
And I'm actually I would liketo ask that question as well.
Why is there a massive gap inthe industry for women's health?
And why does no one take itseriously?
Kate Coomber (07:37):
So maybe because there is that gap.
Can you talk us through forthose who may not understand?
Like, what is uh endometriosis,adenomiosis, polycystic ovary
syndrome?
You know, do they are theylikely to all come with three or
what's been in your experienceand what is it?
Erin Barnett (07:53):
So endometriosis is similar to the lining of the
uterus that you get when youhave your period, but it's
different, but it's similar, andit grows, it can go anywhere in
your body, and it also reactsto the hormones of you when you
do have your period.
So the cramping, wherever youhave the endometriosis, it's
gonna it's gonna start to hurt.
Adiomiosis is kind of like asister to endometriosis, and it
(08:14):
is in the lining, no, it's onthe outside of your uterus, so
it can't be diagnosed correctlyunless you have your uterus out
and have a biopsy.
And then polypsis gobrisyndrome is cyst that is inside
your ovaries, outside yourovaries.
And unfortunately for me, I'vegot a different dad from my
sibling.
So my nan had endometriosis,and my mum has PCOS.
(08:36):
So I got the best of bothworlds.
And they're a big happy familyinside your body.
They really love each other andthey bounce off each other.
And it was when I found outthat I had all three, I was
like, that's just great.
That was just like the bestexperience I've ever had.
And that's when I realized Ihad no education around it.
Even when you get when you'reyoung, you're like you get your
(08:57):
period, I reckon there should belike a pamphlet you get to let
you know that what's normal,what's not normal, and on the
floor in a lot of pain, itshould not like a painful period
is not okay.
Kate Coomber (09:09):
Yeah.
Yeah, we heard from anotherguest recently, didn't we, that
just because it's common thatdoesn't make it normal.
And I think when we're talkingabout these topics, that has
never been truer that uheveryone at school would be
going, you know, quite a fewpeople were going through
similar things.
So you just think, well, thisis just what it is.
And when you think about evengetting a period and the little
starter hacks that you might begiven from you know your mum or
(09:32):
or or you know, parental figureto make sure you're prepared for
that.
But I don't think anythingreally prepares you for any
associated pain or if you've gotheavy bleeding or any of those
sorts of things.
Erin Barnett (09:44):
Yes, well, I recently was working at a school
as a school nurse, and what Idid see, which I really liked,
is back because I'm 30, when Iwas at school, getting a period
was like if you had to get apad, you would try and hide your
pad and go to the bathroom.
God forbid you made a noise atnews that you were unwrapping
your paddle.
So true.
So bad.
But the school that I workedat, girls didn't girls don't
(10:06):
care anymore.
They would come in and be like,Do you have a do you have any
pads?
I've got my period, like allpeople around, it wasn't a
secret.
They're a lot more open, sothat's why I love having these
conversations because youngerwomen will be watching this and
think this is not normal, thisis normal, or I should go see a
doctor.
But then also, not many peoplehave um the ability to go get
(10:26):
good health care.
And I know that for myselfbecause unfortunately, my mum
was a single mum of four, and Iwas on a waiting list for a very
long time, and my first surgerywent really bad, and then my
second and third were just asbad.
And if I was given really goodhealth care from the beginning,
I probably wouldn't have all theissues that I've had now.
Sam Miklos (10:43):
Yeah.
Tell us about then the painthat you've experienced over
those years, and I guess moreabout like the impact that pain
that pain has had on your dailylife, your relationships, you
know.
I don't think there's a lot ofconversation around that.
Erin Barnett (10:59):
Exactly, and that's so true.
So it does take a massive tollon your personal life, and if
you've got a partner, a massivetoll on their life as well with
your relationship with them,because the pain is all of a
sudden, there's no time framefor it.
You're not scheduled in for aTuesday at 2 p.m.
You're gonna be in pain for anhour.
Kate Coomber (11:18):
Um, so And it's not something that Panadol can
resolve, right?
We're not talking, you know,pain to take something to take
the edge off.
Erin Barnett (11:27):
I know.
And then when you present tothe doctor's office in a lot of
pain and they recommend Panadol,Neurofin, rest, and you're
like, Yeah, but I I can't evenafford that.
I need to go to work.
And the pain is so bad thatyou're almost passing out, you
feel like you can't breathe, andyou don't want anyone to touch
you, and then when your family'saround seeing that, they don't
know what to do, and that'swhat's sad is so people should
(11:48):
know what to do in that momentwhen a woman is suffering with
extreme lower abdominal pain.
Sam Miklos (11:54):
When um when were you diagnosed with
endometriosis?
How long did it take from being14 to to that diagnosis?
Erin Barnett (12:02):
Between 19 and 21, which is such a shame because
when I was had my first surgery,it's even written on our
medical because I asked for whatis it called?
Your rights.
You know, when you get young,you can get your yeah, what is
it called?
Yeah, so we got that done, andum they even wrote on there spec
something, blah blah blah,looks like endometriosis, and
(12:24):
then we asked about it, and thedoctor was like, It looks like
something called endometriosis,but it's alright, she's very
young, there's no need to worryabout it.
If it gets worse over time,just come back.
And I'm thinking, well, Ishould have been diagnosed then.
And then after all thesesurgeries for cyst ruptures and
removing my ovary, then they dida biopsy on a bit of my
endometriosis, and they said,Oh, you'd got it.
(12:46):
And then they were doing itwrong, they'll burning it off,
and then I was like, Then I washaving too much scar tissue, and
then it was growing back worse,so it was just over.
Like my whole twenties, I wasjust in and out of surgery.
Sam Miklos (12:57):
So was that what prompted you at twenty-three to
have a hysterectomy?
Erin Barnett (13:02):
Well, I asked for a hysterectomy straight away,
and they only gave it to me in2023.
So they said that they wouldn'thave to be.
Sam Miklos (13:09):
How old were you then?
Erin Barnett (13:11):
Twenty-eight.
Sam Miklos (13:12):
Twenty-eight, yeah.
Yes.
Erin Barnett (13:14):
So I asked for it earlier and they kept saying no
because the side effects ofhaving a hysterectomy at such a
young age, and when I did get itdone, they still kept my bright
ovary, and I was so mad becauseI was like, the PCOS, like I'm
still gonna get fist.
So then I was on Zolodex again,that was terrible.
And then after a while, as soonas I turned like I was almost
(13:36):
turning 30, I was like callingthe guy and I'm like, listen,
you're gonna have to take itout.
I'm I don't want to do theseinjections anymore.
And he was like, Alright, fine,you win.
And I also had to get myappendix out because there was
like everything was stucktogether, my ovary, my appendix,
I had endometriosis on myappendix, and I was like, just
take it out.
But now I've got no more organsthat you can take out.
(13:57):
Like, I actually need to livewith the rest of the organs that
I have.
Kate Coomber (14:00):
So talk us go back a step there.
You mentioned injections umfollowing the hysterectomy.
Talk to us about that.
Sam Miklos (14:07):
What's why do they leave one ovary?
Erin Barnett (14:09):
So the zolodex injection puts you into
medically induced menopause, andit's meant to turn off your
ovary, so tricking your braininto thinking that you don't
have an ovary.
And then I was also on a HRTpatch to give me the hormones
that my ovary wasn't.
And the reason they don't wantto take your ovary is because
the side effects of not havingnaturally produced um hormones
(14:31):
is you know, your lifeexpectancy lowers, you get risk
of cardiovascular disease, allthese different things.
But I would rather risk that.
I would rather have a good lifeand die at 65 than be in and
out of surgery until I'm 60.
Do you know what I mean?
Sam Miklos (14:48):
Yeah, yeah.
And was there a final strawthat kind of got you to that?
Because it sounds like you wereasking and asking for this
hysterectomy.
What was the final straw thatthat got you to the point of
having it and having your doctorsay yes, let's go ahead?
Erin Barnett (15:03):
Well, I think I was out with my friends doing
this Titanic experience, and Idropped to the floor in a lot of
pain, and I said, Oh, I thinkmy appendix has just burst and I
couldn't walk, and I was inthat much pain, but then all of
a sudden it went away, and I waslike, Oh, that's alright.
And then I was doing, you know,the jumping method, and I was
like pulpating my stomach, and Iwas doing everything to see,
and then the pain was justgetting worse and worse.
(15:24):
I went to Epworth Emergency.
They said, Oh, it looks like itcould be your ovary, it looks
like there's a cyst in there.
And I'm like, How?
I'm on this injection that isputting me through hell.
And then um I was like, That'sit, I want it out.
So I called the gyno, and thenI had to see another surgeon who
does the appendix.
So I had two surgeons in theredoing two different surgeries,
(15:44):
and he said to me, My gyneo,he's like, You finally got what
you wanted, and I was like, Yes,I did.
And he goes, Oh, he's like, Ihope I wasn't gonna see you
before I retired because hereally doesn't agree with the
whole taking the last ovary outif you don't need to.
But in my opinion, I was like,It's my body, and I will sign
like you can get cosmeticsurgery, whatever you want, and
(16:04):
you can sign a waiver, and theywill tell you because when I got
my booth done, they said youshouldn't go this big, this can
happen, but here's a signatureand it's you know, sign your
life away.
And I did.
But with your other organs, theother surgeons don't let that
happen.
Sam Miklos (16:19):
Did you uh I was just gonna say, at that age too,
like at twenty-eight, did youhave to have any um you know,
psychological evaluation orsomething?
You know, did they talk to youabout fertility and you know not
being able to then go and havechildren?
What was the process aroundthat?
Kate Coomber (16:35):
Because it's not reversible, right?
I think it's with with othersurgeries, maybe sometimes it
can be reversed, but this is youknow, it's a big decision.
Erin Barnett (16:43):
Yes, I did.
I had to go see a psychologist,I had to go get a second
opinion, and I had to get aletter from my doctor, my um GP.
And the when I had to go get uma psychology review, I was
sitting there and I was speakingto this lady and I was like, Do
you know this is so effed up?
And she was laughing and shegoes, Why?
I'm like, because I'm doingthis so that I'm not having
(17:04):
children, so that I can get myuterus taken out.
I'm like, but anyone can getpregnant and they're not getting
psych evaluated, so that makesme feel weird.
Like, so I'm choosing not tohave kids or have this surgery
because I'm in a lot of pain,but anyone can go get pregnant
and no one has to go see apsychologist, and they could be
like psychos, but here I am andlevel-headed, knowing what I
(17:26):
want, and you're telling mewhether or not I can get it
done.
And the second um surgeon who Ihad to get a second opinion
actually disagreed and said noto the surgery, but because the
psychologist said that I waslike okay to get it done, he did
go ahead with it, which wasreally good.
I was very thankful for that.
Kate Coomber (17:43):
Did you have any doubt though?
Had you ever, you know, werethinking about children, had you
ever thought that that was onthe cards for you, or or pretty
adamant that that wasn't aconsideration?
Erin Barnett (17:52):
Well, when I was younger, I always wanted
children, and then when I had myfirst surgery, they said she'll
probably need help to havechildren when she's older, and I
was like, no worries.
And then every surgery after14, I was just getting more
frustrated and more frustrated.
Then they told me to freeze myeggs at 19 to 20, and I was
like, I'm not doing that.
And then as and then the moresurgeries you have, your brain
(18:13):
starts to associate yourreproductive organs with like
pain, discomfort, not pregnancy,not being a mother, like it's
not comforting to me.
I've still got like thosemotherly love, like I love
children, all that, but I don'tget that feeling of sadness or
anything.
I think I just accepted it at ayoung age, and also if I was to
have a a girl knowing thatshe's gonna suffer like I would,
(18:36):
like I would hate that.
And then people say, Oh, butyou know, you can adopt, but
it's like, but why do I have tohave a child just because I'm a
woman to be a woman?
I can still be a nice personwithout having my own children.
Sam Miklos (18:48):
It doesn't define being a woman, exactly.
As a public figure, Erin, didyou get a lot of negative
commentary about this decisionto have a hysterectomy?
Erin Barnett (18:58):
Actually, no, I got the really good um feedback
and um positive people coming upto me and messaging me on
Instagram, which was reallynice, but then a lot of people
were saying, Well, why don't youadopt?
Why don't you do this?
And then my comments back tothat is where it started to get
a bit negative.
Right.
Right.
Sam Miklos (19:16):
But it's good to hear that like the overall, you
know, that that resounding umsupport as well, because I know
even at at 40 when I hadhysterectomy, there was a lot of
even and I've got three kidswho were going, Are you sure?
Are you done?
Why would you do that?
What are you gonna do toyourself?
You're gonna go into menopause,you can do all these things,
but similar to yourself, I'd hadenough now.
Erin Barnett (19:36):
Yes, and I know and I remember one of the
doctors was like, Does yourpartner know about this?
And I was like, Um, I don'tgive a shit if he doesn't know
about this.
He does know about it, and I'mlike, But why does it matter?
Like, why are we evenmentioning him?
He's not the one having thisprocedure done.
Like, why is that we're not inthe stone ages, like what the
hell?
Kate Coomber (19:54):
So I guess what what does life look like post
surgery now?
This, you know, was that yourfinal surgery or when you got
that last ovary out?
And what what does it look likenow?
What what's life?
Sam Miklos (20:06):
Has the pain gone?
Do you can you still getendometriosis?
You mentioned endometriosis isanywhere in your body.
Does it still exist?
Erin Barnett (20:13):
Unfortunately, it is still there.
Endometriosis cannot be curedwith a hysterectomy, but PCOS
can be cured with gettingovaries removed, and endomiosis
can be cured with getting auterus removed, but I'm not an
advocate and I'm not promotinggetting these procedures done.
It's only if necessary, andmine was so severe that it was
(20:33):
the only way for me to live.
And my last surgery was thisyear where I had my right ovary
and my appendix removed andknock on wood, I haven't been in
any pain, and I was kind ofresentful but happy at the same
time because I was looking backat all my 20s and thinking if
they had just done this when Iwas 23 and asking for it, I
(20:56):
would have had no problems.
But now I'm trying to look atit like, okay, well, I'm 30 now,
so now 30 onwards, pain-free.
But endometriosis can stillgrow back, so if I start to get
a little bit of pain here orthere, I will always go to the
doctor and get checked up.
But it's just not as it won'tbe as severe as people who do
have a uterus, but it can beanywhere in the body and it's
(21:18):
not curable.
And I really wish that therewas something that we could do
about it.
And I know we have to raisefunds for endometriosis,
research, and even that's hard,but hopefully one day soon
there's something that we cando, other than popping a million
pills at such a young age totry and stop your period.
We can try and figure out whythis is happening.
Sam Miklos (21:38):
Because that's very true.
I know um when I was in mytwenties and diagnosed, um, it
was all about just taking thepill.
You know, it was it was justtake the pill and that'll help,
and then keep going in forsurgeries and burning it off and
take the pill back in again.
But there was just there was noother conversation around it
other than that.
Kate Coomber (21:57):
No, I think that's a good idea.
I think what we're talkingabout is really extreme too.
Like I think with any of theseum diagnoses, there's there's
such a spectrum, right, of whereyou sit and each and every
time.
And I think for people tounderstand what you're referring
to, I imagine is you know,you're unable to leave the
(22:18):
house.
You're um you know, you'redropping to the floor in pain.
It's it's genuinely having animpact on everyday life for you,
which then has a knock oneffect to every other part of
your life, be it relationships,your mental health, your own
wellness, your career.
I imagine that was justaffecting every component of
(22:39):
your life.
Erin Barnett (22:40):
Yeah, absolutely.
And all the times I had to takework work off my sick leave
that was non-existent.
Um, I would have cyst rupturesat work, I would have to cancel
events, and then it takes a tollon your relationship because
you know it can sex can becomesuper painful, and then males
don't really understand like whyyou're in pain, but you don't
look like you're in pain becauseyou might just be sitting on
(23:01):
the couch doing nothing all day,and some people are not
understanding, but to you you'relike in your head screaming.
But because people can'tphysically see your
endometriosis or PCOS oradenomiosis, they don't
understand it.
So unless you're sitting therescreaming, no one will
understand.
That's why the more you talkabout it, the more details you
give, the more people willunderstand and you hope for
(23:24):
that.
Because I remember I wasthinking to myself, I don't know
how I'm gonna get a full-timejob like this because I've had
to leave work early, and I'mwalking normal and I'm talking
normal, and I'm like, oh hey,I've got to go home early, I'm
in a lot of pain.
It just doesn't look realistic,but that is how we deal with
it.
We've just been told to put asmile on our face and you know
be tough and just act like it'sokay, but it's not.
Sam Miklos (23:46):
How did you get through the filming of Love
Island and particularly like I'ma celebrity?
Get me out of here.
Like, were you experiencing allof these things during those?
Erin Barnett (23:57):
So many people have asked me that.
So on Love Island, I wore atampon every single day because
I was so scared that I wouldbleed because I would bleed
randomly and get clots.
Like I would every single dayof Love Island.
Like getting around your bikinievery day, yeah.
Yeah, I had to wear a tamponand I did get some bad cramps,
but I acted like it was nothing.
And then as soon as I came outof Love Island, everything just
(24:18):
went downhill.
And I don't know if it was thestress from it, like from
post-Love Island stuff, but thenwhen I was on I'm a Celebrity,
I actually had um a clot comeout of me one of the after one
of the trials, and I was walkingwith a producer, Myth, and
Ryan, and they all saw it and Ihad blood all over my pants, and
it was really nice because thenthey offered me like a hot
(24:39):
water bottle, and it was likeleopard print, and you can only
see it for like a split secondin some of the filming, and I
was just sitting there with thehot water bottle, and then I was
just sleeping most of the days,and that's why when I got voted
out, I was like, you know what,I understand because I'm not
doing anything, because I'm soreand I'm tired and I'm hungry,
but it was hard, it was reallyhard, and but I was raising
(25:00):
awareness for endometriosis onI'm a celebrity.
We've gone on to be a brandambassador, haven't you, with
endometriosis astronomy?
Yes, I reached out to themyears ago and I was like, I
think I deserve some sort of amedal or some sort of a badge or
something.
I think I've gone throughenough.
Let me be an ambassador, andthen when they took me on board,
I was so happy.
Kate Coomber (25:21):
It's really great to be raising awareness around
these things and just havingother young girls just hear
stories, I think, makes themfeel not so alone that there are
other people, it's not justthem or it's not just in their
head, or it is really happening,because as you say, you can't
see it.
Sam Miklos (25:37):
Um and I was thinking, Erin, like um, you
know, as a mother of daughters,you know, they're gonna be
getting into their their earlyteens.
What advice would you say tome?
How would you say, you know, toeducate the girls, what would
you say, make sure you do thesethings?
I wish that I'd known thesethings.
Erin Barnett (25:56):
I just wish that I had more knowledge on it, but
obviously with your mum, it's abit awkward sometimes when your
mum's talking to you about, youknow, vaginas and periods,
you're like, ew mum, shut up, goaway.
No, I'm so cool, Erin, I swear.
And then so I would what Iwould love to for people to do
is like give them either my bookor any other books, just kind
of slip it into their bedroom,let them read it, or find
(26:19):
someone that they can talk to.
I always say to people, you canreach out to me on social
media, I'm happy to answer anyquestions, especially for young
girls that only have like afather, or if they live with
their grandparents orgrandfather and they don't have
any women in their life to talkto about this.
Like I'm always there on socialmedia and yeah, just lots of
education, but in a way that thekids will respond to.
(26:39):
It can't be boring and it hasto be something, you know, fun.
Sam Miklos (26:44):
Because I wouldn't be listening to a podcast.
You want to you always do likea podcast talking to 14 year
olds about periods and making itcool to talk about it.
Erin Barnett (26:52):
Yes, I know, I know.
But I'm always telling peoplere I speak to women daily, like
hundreds and hundreds of womenon social media every single
day.
I had mothers reaching out tome, I've got young girls
reaching out to me, like whatshould I do?
This is what's happening.
And I'm always like tellingthem, you know, go speak to your
parents or go see a doctor whenyou're at a s and when I worked
at the school, it was the bestthing because I had so many
(27:13):
young girls come and ask for myadvice, and I would be writing
things down for them to go totheir parents and ask for this,
go see a doctor, see if you canget this test, this blood test,
blah, blah, blah.
And just the education aroundit is just so important.
That school nursing sounds likea really great fit, doesn't it?
For someone who's who said,They loved me there, and I loved
it there.
And I I wish I could go back,but then I was like, I didn't
(27:36):
really want to do school nursingforever.
But I loved it there.
I think that's one of the bestjobs I've ever had.
Sam Miklos (27:41):
You would have been very easily relatable too.
I think they would have all Iknow my girls would absolutely
adore a conversation with youover me.
But thinking about too and Imean I was I remember in your
book you were saying, you know,getting your periods early.
Like I got mine at 11, and youknow, imagine that, like, yeah,
little brown paper bag,terrified, going to the
bathrooms like it was just sotaboo.
So even to see where it's comein, you know, what's that, 30,
(28:05):
30, 50, 20 years to hear, likeit's such progress.
We're getting yeah.
Erin Barnett (28:13):
Yes, eventually we will get there.
But it was good to see at theschool that girls were not that
worried about talking abouttheir periods or asking for a
pad, or they weren't trying tohide it, they were just grabbing
it and walking off to thebathroom with it.
Where back in my day in highschool, oh my god, if you were
seen holding a pad, that is it,like leave your school, leave
the country.
It was so embarrassing.
Kate Coomber (28:32):
Yeah, and the boys, you know, educating the
boys so that they're comfortablearound it too.
You know, I have a son, um, andit's really important that we
talk about those things to makesure that he never feels makes
anyone else feel reallyuncomfortable.
And I feel that that's reallyimportant because I do.
I remember boys pulling, youknow, I had a little pack in my
backpack and it looked like apencil case, and that was sort
of what mum tried to help mewith, and and boys pulled it
(28:54):
out.
You're right, you may as wellleave school.
Erin Barnett (28:57):
Yeah, and not coming back from that, you know.
Especially with boys, and seemy partner's got two daughters
and a son, and like he'samazing, like because obviously
you're on sisters, and then he'sgot his own mum as well, and
it's like really important.
Like, if we talk about it onthe couch and that, like I look
around and I make sure no one'smaking a sound or a noise if
we're talking about periods oranything, or even my husband, if
(29:17):
I say something like, Oh, youknow, the girls have both got
their periods, and he goes, Oh,God's sake, why both of them at
the same time?
And I'm like, Oh, shut up! Andhe goes, Oh, what do you mean in
sync?
He's like, What do you meanthat happens?
I'm like, it's a real thing,it's a real thing.
And I'm like, but we talk aboutit like normal and we don't
whisper.
And I remember going to theshops before self-checkout, like
(29:38):
when you I remember getting mymum to buy the pads in tampon,
like it was so embarrassing ifyou had to go to the shops and
like put that pad down to buyit, but now it's no one cares,
and I love that.
Sam Miklos (29:49):
It's a big change, you know.
Thinking back about all of youroperations and just your health
journey, what advice would yougive to someone now who's
listening and they're kind of inthe Midst of of a journey
similar to yours.
Is there one lesson that thatyou look back and go, gosh, I
really learned that the hard wayand I wish I'd known that
sooner?
Erin Barnett (30:08):
I wish I had spoken about what I was going
through to more people, not justmy mum, and left it up to
because obviously you're achild, but I just wish I spoke
about it to more people.
And um as much as you love yourparents, I just wish I got more
advice and not just secondopinions from doctors, but I
just wish I spoke about it todifferent people and just got
(30:30):
everyone's like take on itbecause some women have
different advice, like nans oryou know, your best friend's mum
or a friend of a friend.
I just wish I had more peopleto talk to about what I was
going through and if theythought this was a good idea or
if they had any experiences thatI could take from it.
But I also know that I just Iknow this is really like a hit
(30:54):
or miss with people.
But I really think these daysyou should be going under
surgery to be correctlydiagnosed.
I know it's a dangeroussurgery, but you're having your
tonsils removed when you're likefour years old, that's also a
dangerous surgery.
But instead of giving youngwomen a bunch of pills and then
telling them to come back whenthey're 19 and 20, then have
surgery and then say, Oh, it'sactually not endometriosis or
(31:16):
it's not that.
So I've been giving you thewrong pills for six years.
Let's try something else.
I just want I just wish womenwere correctly diagnosed from
the beginning and then we we canbegin correct treatment.
Because then you're taking allthese tablets for no reason, and
then that can cause more issueslater on in life, and then
especially women who want tohave children find out when
they're trying to conceive, oh,you've actually got this, this,
(31:39):
and that.
And it's like, oh well, I'vebeen on the pill since I was 14
and they didn't mention that tome.
And it's like, well, theyshould have.
Do you know what I mean?
Sam Miklos (31:46):
Agree, and I think because that's the interesting
thing, endometriosis can't bediagnosed unless you've had the
surgery, the laparoscopy to see.
And um, I was much the same asyou actually, it wasn't until
they did that surgery and it waseverywhere, you know, and it
had been years and years of painand discomfort, and it was in
so many crazy places.
Um, absolutely.
Kate Coomber (32:05):
And then I think moving on from there is really
understanding why this happens.
I feel like that's a big gap ofwhy so many women and girls
suffer from this.
What is happening to cause thiscondition, I guess.
Yes.
Erin Barnett (32:19):
And I've heard a lot of people say things like,
oh, all of a sudden everywoman's got endometriosis.
And I remember saying tosomeone online, like I was
getting new to an onlineargument, and I was like, no,
it's actually been going on forgenerations, but only now it's
been it's been properlydiagnosed, and people are
speaking about it because ofsocial media.
It's not every woman hasendometriosis, and you know
(32:39):
what, it probably will be likethat eventually because people
will be getting diagnosed andhopefully correctly like helped
out quicker.
But I've saw someone say thatand that really annoyed me.
They're like, oh, noweveryone's trying to say they've
got ends.
No one wants it.
No one wants endometriosis.
No, it's not, it's the worstthing.
We don't want that.
Take it away.
Sam Miklos (32:58):
Also, too, though, if you think about the rise of
IVF over all the years, too.
So there's so many more womenwho would have struggled to have
children and just opted out.
Whereas now, with all of thesurgeries and all of the work
that you do during that process,there would be so many more
women, again, who are diagnosedwith it through those
procedures.
So I agree, nobody wants it.
It's definitely not fun by anyway, but it's great that there's
(33:20):
there's more diagnoses and moreawareness.
Erin Barnett (33:22):
Yeah, and I was also I was offered IVF um for
the freezing of my eggs, butthen when we went through it,
the process of the injectionsmakes you me more prone to grow
my cysts quicker because I wasgrowing them really fast, and
for them to rupture was moredangerous.
So I would have to stay inhospital for the treatment, and
I was like, all just to freezemy eggs that I might not ever
(33:44):
use.
And then um my health coverdidn't want to cover me for that
if I wasn't going to go aheadwith having a child.
They would you know how yourhealth cover does IVS?
But only if if it's the wholeprocess of you know getting your
eggs, then freezing them andthen the transfers, and I was
like, Oh no, I'm just doing itto freeze it, and they were
like, Oh, we don't cover you forthat.
And I'm like, that is a joke,but it was too dangerous for me
(34:08):
to do that because people arealways like, But you didn't try,
you know, what if later in lifeyou regret it?
And I'm like, Okay, but that'smy life to live, and that's my
regret to live with, but I'mmore happy that I'm pain-free.
Like, when you're in thatamount of pain for so many
years, or you would do anythingto be pain-free for 20 seconds.
You would literally almost cutoff your own leg to be like,
(34:28):
Does this mean I'm gonna have nomore pain?
And that's how bad it can befor some women.
For you, it just felt like thatwas not serving you anymore.
Kate Coomber (34:36):
And it felt like the right thing to do.
Erin Barnett (34:38):
When I look at this, when I got told I was
getting the hysterectomy.
Oh, sorry.
No, no, go, go, go, Erin.
When I was getting told I wasgetting the hysterectomy, I
actually cried so much and Icalled my partner and he was
like, What's wrong?
What's wrong?
And I was like, I've just beenapproved, and it was the
happiest day of my life, andthat's when you know that the
pain was a lot.
Kate Coomber (34:59):
Yeah, yeah.
Look, with this episode, a CMRare going to be donating to a
charity of your choice today,Erin.
Where can we donate that moneyto?
Oh, I would love for that to goto Endometriosis, Australia.
Erin Barnett (35:11):
That would be fantastic.
Perfect.
Sam Miklos (35:13):
That would be our absolute pleasure.
Erin, thank you so much foryour time today and just for
sharing your story.
Um, like I said, I reallyenjoyed your book.
It's definitely one that mygirls will have access to.
You know, every woman's journeyis so um different.
And, you know, I think it's soimportant that, you know, we we
seek out education, that we makesure we surround ourselves with
(35:36):
the right healthcareprofessionals and the people
that feel right.
And I think for you, um, justhearing, you know, you did such
a great job advocating foryourself and you went through so
much to get to where you aretoday, and certainly really
inspirational, inspirationalstory.
So thank you.
Erin Barnett (35:52):
No, I really appreciate it, and I really
appreciate you guys letting mecome on the podcast and share my
story, and hopefully this canhelp at least one person out
there.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much, Erin.
No, thank you.
Kate Coomber (36:08):
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the
land of which we meet, who forcenturies have shared ancient
methods of healing and cared fortheir communities.
We pay our respects to elderspast and present.
Imagine living with such extreme and relentless pain
that you're facing ahysterectomy in your twenties.
The complete removal of youruterus just to make the pain
stop.
This is the reality ErinBarnett faced.
Erin Barnett (00:12):
And the pain is so bad that you're almost passing
out, you feel like you can'tbreathe, and you don't want
anyone to touch you.
And then when your family'saround seeing that, they don't
know what to do.
And I also had to get myappendix out because there was
like everything was stucktogether, my ovary, my appendix,
I had endometros on myappendix.
And I was like, just take itout.
But now I've got no more organsthat you can take out.
(00:34):
Like I actually need to livewith the rest of the organs that
I have.
Kate Coomber (00:37):
But before you get into this episode, be sure to
pop over to wherever you getyour podcasts and make sure you
subscribe.
And if you really love thisepisode, perhaps share it with a
friend or even leave a reviewas it really helps us reach more
people.
Sam Miklos (00:48):
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for all
the behind-the-scenes fun.
Okay, so you might know ErinBarnett from Love Island, or I'm
a Celebrity, get me out ofhere, but there is so much more
to her story.
Behind the cameras andheadlines is a registered nurse
(01:09):
who spent years navigatingchronic pain from endometriosis,
adiomiosis, and polycysticovary syndrome since her teens.
This isn't just a story aboutreality TV.
It's a story about the courageit takes to take back your own
body and control of your life.
Welcome to It Takes Heart,Erin.
Erin Barnett (01:28):
Oh, thank you.
Thank you so much for havingme.
I'm really excited.
Sam Miklos (01:32):
It's a pleasure to have you.
So before we get started,though, congratulations on your
recent wedding.
How did the big day go?
Erin Barnett (01:39):
Yeah, um, oh my god, the day actually went
really well.
Nothing went wrong besides mydad not having pants in his suit
jacket thing.
Other than that, we got thepants and everything else went
fine.
Kate Coomber (01:53):
Oh, you looked beautiful.
The photos are stunning thatI've seen.
Erin Barnett (01:56):
Oh, thank you.
I had the best wedding planner.
Gee, what a wedding.
She literally, that's the onlyreason why everything went okay.
If you're ever looking for awedding planner, highly
recommend.
Sam Miklos (02:05):
Maybe for our next weddings.
Kate Coomber (02:07):
Don't say that.
I'm not going to spend her.
I'm sure she's on speed dialseveral times a day in the lead
up.
So, yes, so as Sam mentioned inyour intro, you're a bit of a
TV personality and people willdefinitely know who you are, but
what they might not know isthat you're a registered nurse.
So, when did you become a nurseand and why did you get into
nursing?
Erin Barnett (02:27):
Um, so I did nursing years and years ago back
in 2016, but I was an EN andthen I w went straight into
being an RN, but I didn't get myregistration until after my RN
because I went from EN to RN,but I had to pause that while I
went on Love Island and then Ihad to restart it afterwards
(02:48):
because I had lost a big gap andyou have to do like another
course to get your registration,and then I just went back into
it.
Was that a big decision topause and and go and do
something different?
Oh, massive, because I didn'tknow what really Love Island
was, like it was a UK thing, itwasn't an Australian thing.
So I was like, hmm, we'll justsee how it goes, and it turned
(03:08):
out really good.
Sam Miklos (03:09):
And so with your nursing side of things, like
what do you love about nursingand what um what areas of
nursing have you worked in?
Erin Barnett (03:17):
Um I think my favourite thing about nursing is
looking after people that can'tlook after themselves or people
that don't really want to be atthe hospital, you know, those
people that don't want to gothere and you have to convince
them why they're there.
And I just did you say whatmade me want to be a nurse?
Yeah.
Well, when I was younger and Ihad my first ever surgery, I had
(03:37):
a disappointing interactionwith a nurse, and I always
thought to myself, that's it, Iwant to be a nurse so no one
else has to go through what Iwent through, and I'll always be
that nurse that everyone wants.
Sam Miklos (03:47):
Yeah.
And do you think um obviouslythat interaction had a real
impact on on how you are as anurse today?
I guess how has that shaped theway that you approach patients?
Erin Barnett (03:58):
Oh, massively.
I think because some peopledon't like to be at hospital,
some people are uh at hospitalon their own, they don't have
family, so I'm acting like theirfamily, not just their nurse.
And I take every single patientseriously, and I don't just
think they're just like apatient in room five or
whatever.
I call them by their first nameor however they like to be
called, and I just reallyrespect that person and the
(04:19):
reason why they're there.
Kate Coomber (04:21):
I think we we hear that a lot uh through these
conversations, don't we, ofhaving the right people in
healthcare.
And I think that when when youhave the job that you really
love that really shines throughto the patient care union, you
can really spot the healthcareworker who loves what they do
versus someone who doesn't wantto be there, and that really
impacts then the patient care.
Erin Barnett (04:38):
Yeah, and it's disappointing when you can see
the difference between thenurses that want to be there and
the nurses that don't want tobe there.
Yeah, absolutely.
Kate Coomber (04:47):
So you talked there about being a patient, and
in 2022 you wrote a book, EndoUnfiltered.
Erin Barnett (04:54):
Yeah.
How did this come about?
And why why did you write thebook?
Well, I wanted to have a bookthat someone could read who well
when I was 14 I had no ideawhat any of this stuff was, and
I hate reading.
I've never really that's theonly book that I've actually
fully read.
And I just wanted to have abook that people can read, that
it's easy to read, it's notboring.
(05:14):
I even have a cheat sheet inthere, so if you can't be
bothered reading, it just tellsyou what page to go to, and that
family and friends can read,fathers of daughters can read,
and they can understandeverything.
Because at 14, like I mean,when I was 19, I was told that I
needed to have children umbecause of like my PCOS and all
that.
And at 19, who wants to behaving children?
(05:35):
Like, no offense to the peoplewho are, but to me, I was
thinking about the next birthdayparty I was going to, what I
was gonna wear, my sick days,like how much I was gonna get
paid for the work I was doing.
I didn't care about that.
So this book has really helpedso many people, and I really I'm
really grateful for that.
Sam Miklos (05:52):
It was a really well-written book.
I um it's funny that you sayyou don't love reading writing,
no, you don't love readingbooks, but it is so well
written, and it um I flewthrough it and you know I
personally suffered with all ofthe same things in my twenties,
and back then there was reallyno education, there was nothing
you could read.
I mean, obviously I'm in my 40snow.
(06:12):
Um and it was I I said to Kateactually after I read it, I felt
very seen.
You know, for the first time Iwas reading it, going, God, I
actually experienced that.
I had no idea that was a thing.
There was so much there were somany little things, yeah, that
I I overlooked or I went, oh,that's just part of it, and and
moved through it.
So it was a it was a reallywell-written book and there was
a lot of great takeaways.
(06:33):
Do you do you think, or I guesswhy do you think there's such a
gap in education around women'shealth?
And do you do you still thinkthere's a gap?
Because there definitely wasfor us 20 years ago.
Erin Barnett (06:43):
I think there is still a massive gap.
And I also think I've got twoolder sisters, and me being the
youngest, I just watched them gothrough bad periods, and I
thought, oh, that's just whatperiods are.
I watched my mum, you know, mygrandmother, and I was like, oh,
that's just what periods are.
And then when you would go tothe doctor, they would say you
either have to lose weight,panodolneurofin, heat hack,
that's just part of being awoman.
(07:04):
And then when you do sex ed inschool, they don't mention
anything about that, it's justsafe sex, blah blah blah.
And when you go see doctors,what frustrates me is they're
mainly all male, and I knowthat's hard because it's what
they want to specialise in.
But then also I have seen acouple of female um
gynecologists that was the worstI've ever been to.
But I don't understand whythere is such a gap.
(07:27):
And I'm actually I would liketo ask that question as well.
Why is there a massive gap inthe industry for women's health?
And why does no one take itseriously?
Kate Coomber (07:37):
So maybe because there is that gap.
Can you talk us through forthose who may not understand?
Like, what is uh endometriosis,adenomiosis, polycystic ovary
syndrome?
You know, do they are theylikely to all come with three or
what's been in your experienceand what is it?
Erin Barnett (07:53):
So endometriosis is similar to the lining of the
uterus that you get when youhave your period, but it's
different, but it's similar, andit grows, it can go anywhere in
your body, and it also reactsto the hormones of you when you
do have your period.
So the cramping, wherever youhave the endometriosis, it's
gonna it's gonna start to hurt.
Adiomiosis is kind of like asister to endometriosis, and it
(08:14):
is in the lining, no, it's onthe outside of your uterus, so
it can't be diagnosed correctlyunless you have your uterus out
and have a biopsy.
And then polypsis gobrisyndrome is cyst that is inside
your ovaries, outside yourovaries.
And unfortunately for me, I'vegot a different dad from my
sibling.
So my nan had endometriosis,and my mum has PCOS.
(08:36):
So I got the best of bothworlds.
And they're a big happy familyinside your body.
They really love each other andthey bounce off each other.
And it was when I found outthat I had all three, I was
like, that's just great.
That was just like the bestexperience I've ever had.
And that's when I realized Ihad no education around it.
Even when you get when you'reyoung, you're like you get your
(08:57):
period, I reckon there should belike a pamphlet you get to let
you know that what's normal,what's not normal, and on the
floor in a lot of pain, itshould not like a painful period
is not okay.
Kate Coomber (09:09):
Yeah.
Yeah, we heard from anotherguest recently, didn't we, that
just because it's common thatdoesn't make it normal.
And I think when we're talkingabout these topics, that has
never been truer that uheveryone at school would be
going, you know, quite a fewpeople were going through
similar things.
So you just think, well, thisis just what it is.
And when you think about evengetting a period and the little
starter hacks that you might begiven from you know your mum or
(09:32):
or or you know, parental figureto make sure you're prepared for
that.
But I don't think anythingreally prepares you for any
associated pain or if you've gotheavy bleeding or any of those
sorts of things.
Erin Barnett (09:44):
Yes, well, I recently was working at a school
as a school nurse, and what Idid see, which I really liked,
is back because I'm 30, when Iwas at school, getting a period
was like if you had to get apad, you would try and hide your
pad and go to the bathroom.
God forbid you made a noise atnews that you were unwrapping
your paddle.
So true.
So bad.
But the school that I workedat, girls didn't girls don't
(10:06):
care anymore.
They would come in and be like,Do you have a do you have any
pads?
I've got my period, like allpeople around, it wasn't a
secret.
They're a lot more open, sothat's why I love having these
conversations because youngerwomen will be watching this and
think this is not normal, thisis normal, or I should go see a
doctor.
But then also, not many peoplehave um the ability to go get
(10:26):
good health care.
And I know that for myselfbecause unfortunately, my mum
was a single mum of four, and Iwas on a waiting list for a very
long time, and my first surgerywent really bad, and then my
second and third were just asbad.
And if I was given really goodhealth care from the beginning,
I probably wouldn't have all theissues that I've had now.
Sam Miklos (10:43):
Yeah.
Tell us about then the painthat you've experienced over
those years, and I guess moreabout like the impact that pain
that pain has had on your dailylife, your relationships, you
know.
I don't think there's a lot ofconversation around that.
Erin Barnett (10:59):
Exactly, and that's so true.
So it does take a massive tollon your personal life, and if
you've got a partner, a massivetoll on their life as well with
your relationship with them,because the pain is all of a
sudden, there's no time framefor it.
You're not scheduled in for aTuesday at 2 p.m.
You're gonna be in pain for anhour.
Kate Coomber (11:18):
Um, so And it's not something that Panadol can
resolve, right?
We're not talking, you know,pain to take something to take
the edge off.
Erin Barnett (11:27):
I know.
And then when you present tothe doctor's office in a lot of
pain and they recommend Panadol,Neurofin, rest, and you're
like, Yeah, but I I can't evenafford that.
I need to go to work.
And the pain is so bad thatyou're almost passing out, you
feel like you can't breathe, andyou don't want anyone to touch
you, and then when your family'saround seeing that, they don't
know what to do, and that'swhat's sad is so people should
(11:48):
know what to do in that momentwhen a woman is suffering with
extreme lower abdominal pain.
Sam Miklos (11:54):
When um when were you diagnosed with
endometriosis?
How long did it take from being14 to to that diagnosis?
Erin Barnett (12:02):
Between 19 and 21, which is such a shame because
when I was had my first surgery,it's even written on our
medical because I asked for whatis it called?
Your rights.
You know, when you get young,you can get your yeah, what is
it called?
Yeah, so we got that done, andum they even wrote on there spec
something, blah blah blah,looks like endometriosis, and
(12:24):
then we asked about it, and thedoctor was like, It looks like
something called endometriosis,but it's alright, she's very
young, there's no need to worryabout it.
If it gets worse over time,just come back.
And I'm thinking, well, Ishould have been diagnosed then.
And then after all thesesurgeries for cyst ruptures and
removing my ovary, then they dida biopsy on a bit of my
endometriosis, and they said,Oh, you'd got it.
(12:46):
And then they were doing itwrong, they'll burning it off,
and then I was like, Then I washaving too much scar tissue, and
then it was growing back worse,so it was just over.
Like my whole twenties, I wasjust in and out of surgery.
Sam Miklos (12:57):
So was that what prompted you at twenty-three to
have a hysterectomy?
Erin Barnett (13:02):
Well, I asked for a hysterectomy straight away,
and they only gave it to me in2023.
So they said that they wouldn'thave to be.
Sam Miklos (13:09):
How old were you then?
Erin Barnett (13:11):
Twenty-eight.
Sam Miklos (13:12):
Twenty-eight, yeah.
Yes.
Erin Barnett (13:14):
So I asked for it earlier and they kept saying no
because the side effects ofhaving a hysterectomy at such a
young age, and when I did get itdone, they still kept my bright
ovary, and I was so mad becauseI was like, the PCOS, like I'm
still gonna get fist.
So then I was on Zolodex again,that was terrible.
And then after a while, as soonas I turned like I was almost
(13:36):
turning 30, I was like callingthe guy and I'm like, listen,
you're gonna have to take itout.
I'm I don't want to do theseinjections anymore.
And he was like, Alright, fine,you win.
And I also had to get myappendix out because there was
like everything was stucktogether, my ovary, my appendix,
I had endometriosis on myappendix, and I was like, just
take it out.
But now I've got no more organsthat you can take out.
(13:57):
Like, I actually need to livewith the rest of the organs that
I have.
Kate Coomber (14:00):
So talk us go back a step there.
You mentioned injections umfollowing the hysterectomy.
Talk to us about that.
Sam Miklos (14:07):
What's why do they leave one ovary?
Erin Barnett (14:09):
So the zolodex injection puts you into
medically induced menopause, andit's meant to turn off your
ovary, so tricking your braininto thinking that you don't
have an ovary.
And then I was also on a HRTpatch to give me the hormones
that my ovary wasn't.
And the reason they don't wantto take your ovary is because
the side effects of not havingnaturally produced um hormones
(14:31):
is you know, your lifeexpectancy lowers, you get risk
of cardiovascular disease, allthese different things.
But I would rather risk that.
I would rather have a good lifeand die at 65 than be in and
out of surgery until I'm 60.
Do you know what I mean?
Sam Miklos (14:48):
Yeah, yeah.
And was there a final strawthat kind of got you to that?
Because it sounds like you wereasking and asking for this
hysterectomy.
What was the final straw thatthat got you to the point of
having it and having your doctorsay yes, let's go ahead?
Erin Barnett (15:03):
Well, I think I was out with my friends doing
this Titanic experience, and Idropped to the floor in a lot of
pain, and I said, Oh, I thinkmy appendix has just burst and I
couldn't walk, and I was inthat much pain, but then all of
a sudden it went away, and I waslike, Oh, that's alright.
And then I was doing, you know,the jumping method, and I was
like pulpating my stomach, and Iwas doing everything to see,
and then the pain was justgetting worse and worse.
(15:24):
I went to Epworth Emergency.
They said, Oh, it looks like itcould be your ovary, it looks
like there's a cyst in there.
And I'm like, How?
I'm on this injection that isputting me through hell.
And then um I was like, That'sit, I want it out.
So I called the gyno, and thenI had to see another surgeon who
does the appendix.
So I had two surgeons in theredoing two different surgeries,
(15:44):
and he said to me, My gyneo,he's like, You finally got what
you wanted, and I was like, Yes,I did.
And he goes, Oh, he's like, Ihope I wasn't gonna see you
before I retired because hereally doesn't agree with the
whole taking the last ovary outif you don't need to.
But in my opinion, I was like,It's my body, and I will sign
like you can get cosmeticsurgery, whatever you want, and
(16:04):
you can sign a waiver, and theywill tell you because when I got
my booth done, they said youshouldn't go this big, this can
happen, but here's a signatureand it's you know, sign your
life away.
And I did.
But with your other organs, theother surgeons don't let that
happen.
Sam Miklos (16:19):
Did you uh I was just gonna say, at that age too,
like at twenty-eight, did youhave to have any um you know,
psychological evaluation orsomething?
You know, did they talk to youabout fertility and you know not
being able to then go and havechildren?
What was the process aroundthat?
Kate Coomber (16:35):
Because it's not reversible, right?
I think it's with with othersurgeries, maybe sometimes it
can be reversed, but this is youknow, it's a big decision.
Erin Barnett (16:43):
Yes, I did.
I had to go see a psychologist,I had to go get a second
opinion, and I had to get aletter from my doctor, my um GP.
And the when I had to go get uma psychology review, I was
sitting there and I was speakingto this lady and I was like, Do
you know this is so effed up?
And she was laughing and shegoes, Why?
I'm like, because I'm doingthis so that I'm not having
(17:04):
children, so that I can get myuterus taken out.
I'm like, but anyone can getpregnant and they're not getting
psych evaluated, so that makesme feel weird.
Like, so I'm choosing not tohave kids or have this surgery
because I'm in a lot of pain,but anyone can go get pregnant
and no one has to go see apsychologist, and they could be
like psychos, but here I am andlevel-headed, knowing what I
(17:26):
want, and you're telling mewhether or not I can get it
done.
And the second um surgeon who Ihad to get a second opinion
actually disagreed and said noto the surgery, but because the
psychologist said that I waslike okay to get it done, he did
go ahead with it, which wasreally good.
I was very thankful for that.
Kate Coomber (17:43):
Did you have any doubt though?
Had you ever, you know, werethinking about children, had you
ever thought that that was onthe cards for you, or or pretty
adamant that that wasn't aconsideration?
Erin Barnett (17:52):
Well, when I was younger, I always wanted
children, and then when I had myfirst surgery, they said she'll
probably need help to havechildren when she's older, and I
was like, no worries.
And then every surgery after14, I was just getting more
frustrated and more frustrated.
Then they told me to freeze myeggs at 19 to 20, and I was
like, I'm not doing that.
And then as and then the moresurgeries you have, your brain
(18:13):
starts to associate yourreproductive organs with like
pain, discomfort, not pregnancy,not being a mother, like it's
not comforting to me.
I've still got like thosemotherly love, like I love
children, all that, but I don'tget that feeling of sadness or
anything.
I think I just accepted it at ayoung age, and also if I was to
have a a girl knowing thatshe's gonna suffer like I would,
(18:36):
like I would hate that.
And then people say, Oh, butyou know, you can adopt, but
it's like, but why do I have tohave a child just because I'm a
woman to be a woman?
I can still be a nice personwithout having my own children.
Sam Miklos (18:48):
It doesn't define being a woman, exactly.
As a public figure, Erin, didyou get a lot of negative
commentary about this decisionto have a hysterectomy?
Erin Barnett (18:58):
Actually, no, I got the really good um feedback
and um positive people coming upto me and messaging me on
Instagram, which was reallynice, but then a lot of people
were saying, Well, why don't youadopt?
Why don't you do this?
And then my comments back tothat is where it started to get
a bit negative.
Right.
Right.
Sam Miklos (19:16):
But it's good to hear that like the overall, you
know, that that resounding umsupport as well, because I know
even at at 40 when I hadhysterectomy, there was a lot of
even and I've got three kidswho were going, Are you sure?
Are you done?
Why would you do that?
What are you gonna do toyourself?
You're gonna go into menopause,you can do all these things,
but similar to yourself, I'd hadenough now.
Erin Barnett (19:36):
Yes, and I know and I remember one of the
doctors was like, Does yourpartner know about this?
And I was like, Um, I don'tgive a shit if he doesn't know
about this.
He does know about it, and I'mlike, But why does it matter?
Like, why are we evenmentioning him?
He's not the one having thisprocedure done.
Like, why is that we're not inthe stone ages, like what the
hell?
Kate Coomber (19:54):
So I guess what what does life look like post
surgery now?
This, you know, was that yourfinal surgery or when you got
that last ovary out?
And what what does it look likenow?
What what's life?
Sam Miklos (20:06):
Has the pain gone?
Do you can you still getendometriosis?
You mentioned endometriosis isanywhere in your body.
Does it still exist?
Erin Barnett (20:13):
Unfortunately, it is still there.
Endometriosis cannot be curedwith a hysterectomy, but PCOS
can be cured with gettingovaries removed, and endomiosis
can be cured with getting auterus removed, but I'm not an
advocate and I'm not promotinggetting these procedures done.
It's only if necessary, andmine was so severe that it was
(20:33):
the only way for me to live.
And my last surgery was thisyear where I had my right ovary
and my appendix removed andknock on wood, I haven't been in
any pain, and I was kind ofresentful but happy at the same
time because I was looking backat all my 20s and thinking if
they had just done this when Iwas 23 and asking for it, I
(20:56):
would have had no problems.
But now I'm trying to look atit like, okay, well, I'm 30 now,
so now 30 onwards, pain-free.
But endometriosis can stillgrow back, so if I start to get
a little bit of pain here orthere, I will always go to the
doctor and get checked up.
But it's just not as it won'tbe as severe as people who do
have a uterus, but it can beanywhere in the body and it's
(21:18):
not curable.
And I really wish that therewas something that we could do
about it.
And I know we have to raisefunds for endometriosis,
research, and even that's hard,but hopefully one day soon
there's something that we cando, other than popping a million
pills at such a young age totry and stop your period.
We can try and figure out whythis is happening.
Sam Miklos (21:38):
Because that's very true.
I know um when I was in mytwenties and diagnosed, um, it
was all about just taking thepill.
You know, it was it was justtake the pill and that'll help,
and then keep going in forsurgeries and burning it off and
take the pill back in again.
But there was just there was noother conversation around it
other than that.
Kate Coomber (21:57):
No, I think that's a good idea.
I think what we're talkingabout is really extreme too.
Like I think with any of theseum diagnoses, there's there's
such a spectrum, right, of whereyou sit and each and every
time.
And I think for people tounderstand what you're referring
to, I imagine is you know,you're unable to leave the
(22:18):
house.
You're um you know, you'redropping to the floor in pain.
It's it's genuinely having animpact on everyday life for you,
which then has a knock oneffect to every other part of
your life, be it relationships,your mental health, your own
wellness, your career.
I imagine that was justaffecting every component of
(22:39):
your life.
Erin Barnett (22:40):
Yeah, absolutely.
And all the times I had to takework work off my sick leave
that was non-existent.
Um, I would have cyst rupturesat work, I would have to cancel
events, and then it takes a tollon your relationship because
you know it can sex can becomesuper painful, and then males
don't really understand like whyyou're in pain, but you don't
look like you're in pain becauseyou might just be sitting on
(23:01):
the couch doing nothing all day,and some people are not
understanding, but to you you'relike in your head screaming.
But because people can'tphysically see your
endometriosis or PCOS oradenomiosis, they don't
understand it.
So unless you're sitting therescreaming, no one will
understand.
That's why the more you talkabout it, the more details you
give, the more people willunderstand and you hope for
(23:24):
that.
Because I remember I wasthinking to myself, I don't know
how I'm gonna get a full-timejob like this because I've had
to leave work early, and I'mwalking normal and I'm talking
normal, and I'm like, oh hey,I've got to go home early, I'm
in a lot of pain.
It just doesn't look realistic,but that is how we deal with
it.
We've just been told to put asmile on our face and you know
be tough and just act like it'sokay, but it's not.
Sam Miklos (23:46):
How did you get through the filming of Love
Island and particularly like I'ma celebrity?
Get me out of here.
Like, were you experiencing allof these things during those?
Erin Barnett (23:57):
So many people have asked me that.
So on Love Island, I wore atampon every single day because
I was so scared that I wouldbleed because I would bleed
randomly and get clots.
Like I would every single dayof Love Island.
Like getting around your bikinievery day, yeah.
Yeah, I had to wear a tamponand I did get some bad cramps,
but I acted like it was nothing.
And then as soon as I came outof Love Island, everything just
(24:18):
went downhill.
And I don't know if it was thestress from it, like from
post-Love Island stuff, but thenwhen I was on I'm a Celebrity,
I actually had um a clot comeout of me one of the after one
of the trials, and I was walkingwith a producer, Myth, and
Ryan, and they all saw it and Ihad blood all over my pants, and
it was really nice because thenthey offered me like a hot
(24:39):
water bottle, and it was likeleopard print, and you can only
see it for like a split secondin some of the filming, and I
was just sitting there with thehot water bottle, and then I was
just sleeping most of the days,and that's why when I got voted
out, I was like, you know what,I understand because I'm not
doing anything, because I'm soreand I'm tired and I'm hungry,
but it was hard, it was reallyhard, and but I was raising
(25:00):
awareness for endometriosis onI'm a celebrity.
We've gone on to be a brandambassador, haven't you, with
endometriosis astronomy?
Yes, I reached out to themyears ago and I was like, I
think I deserve some sort of amedal or some sort of a badge or
something.
I think I've gone throughenough.
Let me be an ambassador, andthen when they took me on board,
I was so happy.
Kate Coomber (25:21):
It's really great to be raising awareness around
these things and just havingother young girls just hear
stories, I think, makes themfeel not so alone that there are
other people, it's not justthem or it's not just in their
head, or it is really happening,because as you say, you can't
see it.
Sam Miklos (25:37):
Um and I was thinking, Erin, like um, you
know, as a mother of daughters,you know, they're gonna be
getting into their their earlyteens.
What advice would you say tome?
How would you say, you know, toeducate the girls, what would
you say, make sure you do thesethings?
I wish that I'd known thesethings.
Erin Barnett (25:56):
I just wish that I had more knowledge on it, but
obviously with your mum, it's abit awkward sometimes when your
mum's talking to you about, youknow, vaginas and periods,
you're like, ew mum, shut up, goaway.
No, I'm so cool, Erin, I swear.
And then so I would what Iwould love to for people to do
is like give them either my bookor any other books, just kind
of slip it into their bedroom,let them read it, or find
(26:19):
someone that they can talk to.
I always say to people, you canreach out to me on social
media, I'm happy to answer anyquestions, especially for young
girls that only have like afather, or if they live with
their grandparents orgrandfather and they don't have
any women in their life to talkto about this.
Like I'm always there on socialmedia and yeah, just lots of
education, but in a way that thekids will respond to.
(26:39):
It can't be boring and it hasto be something, you know, fun.
Sam Miklos (26:44):
Because I wouldn't be listening to a podcast.
You want to you always do likea podcast talking to 14 year
olds about periods and making itcool to talk about it.
Erin Barnett (26:52):
Yes, I know, I know.
But I'm always telling peoplere I speak to women daily, like
hundreds and hundreds of womenon social media every single
day.
I had mothers reaching out tome, I've got young girls
reaching out to me, like whatshould I do?
This is what's happening.
And I'm always like tellingthem, you know, go speak to your
parents or go see a doctor whenyou're at a s and when I worked
at the school, it was the bestthing because I had so many
(27:13):
young girls come and ask for myadvice, and I would be writing
things down for them to go totheir parents and ask for this,
go see a doctor, see if you canget this test, this blood test,
blah, blah, blah.
And just the education aroundit is just so important.
That school nursing sounds likea really great fit, doesn't it?
For someone who's who said,They loved me there, and I loved
it there.
And I I wish I could go back,but then I was like, I didn't
(27:36):
really want to do school nursingforever.
But I loved it there.
I think that's one of the bestjobs I've ever had.
Sam Miklos (27:41):
You would have been very easily relatable too.
I think they would have all Iknow my girls would absolutely
adore a conversation with youover me.
But thinking about too and Imean I was I remember in your
book you were saying, you know,getting your periods early.
Like I got mine at 11, and youknow, imagine that, like, yeah,
little brown paper bag,terrified, going to the
bathrooms like it was just sotaboo.
So even to see where it's comein, you know, what's that, 30,
(28:05):
30, 50, 20 years to hear, likeit's such progress.
We're getting yeah.
Erin Barnett (28:13):
Yes, eventually we will get there.
But it was good to see at theschool that girls were not that
worried about talking abouttheir periods or asking for a
pad, or they weren't trying tohide it, they were just grabbing
it and walking off to thebathroom with it.
Where back in my day in highschool, oh my god, if you were
seen holding a pad, that is it,like leave your school, leave
the country.
It was so embarrassing.
Kate Coomber (28:32):
Yeah, and the boys, you know, educating the
boys so that they're comfortablearound it too.
You know, I have a son, um, andit's really important that we
talk about those things to makesure that he never feels makes
anyone else feel reallyuncomfortable.
And I feel that that's reallyimportant because I do.
I remember boys pulling, youknow, I had a little pack in my
backpack and it looked like apencil case, and that was sort
of what mum tried to help mewith, and and boys pulled it
(28:54):
out.
You're right, you may as wellleave school.
Erin Barnett (28:57):
Yeah, and not coming back from that, you know.
Especially with boys, and seemy partner's got two daughters
and a son, and like he'samazing, like because obviously
you're on sisters, and then he'sgot his own mum as well, and
it's like really important.
Like, if we talk about it onthe couch and that, like I look
around and I make sure no one'smaking a sound or a noise if
we're talking about periods oranything, or even my husband, if
(29:17):
I say something like, Oh, youknow, the girls have both got
their periods, and he goes, Oh,God's sake, why both of them at
the same time?
And I'm like, Oh, shut up! Andhe goes, Oh, what do you mean in
sync?
He's like, What do you meanthat happens?
I'm like, it's a real thing,it's a real thing.
And I'm like, but we talk aboutit like normal and we don't
whisper.
And I remember going to theshops before self-checkout, like
(29:38):
when you I remember getting mymum to buy the pads in tampon,
like it was so embarrassing ifyou had to go to the shops and
like put that pad down to buyit, but now it's no one cares,
and I love that.
Sam Miklos (29:49):
It's a big change, you know.
Thinking back about all of youroperations and just your health
journey, what advice would yougive to someone now who's
listening and they're kind of inthe Midst of of a journey
similar to yours.
Is there one lesson that thatyou look back and go, gosh, I
really learned that the hard wayand I wish I'd known that
sooner?
Erin Barnett (30:08):
I wish I had spoken about what I was going
through to more people, not justmy mum, and left it up to
because obviously you're achild, but I just wish I spoke
about it to more people.
And um as much as you love yourparents, I just wish I got more
advice and not just secondopinions from doctors, but I
just wish I spoke about it todifferent people and just got
(30:30):
everyone's like take on itbecause some women have
different advice, like nans oryou know, your best friend's mum
or a friend of a friend.
I just wish I had more peopleto talk to about what I was
going through and if theythought this was a good idea or
if they had any experiences thatI could take from it.
But I also know that I just Iknow this is really like a hit
(30:54):
or miss with people.
But I really think these daysyou should be going under
surgery to be correctlydiagnosed.
I know it's a dangeroussurgery, but you're having your
tonsils removed when you're likefour years old, that's also a
dangerous surgery.
But instead of giving youngwomen a bunch of pills and then
telling them to come back whenthey're 19 and 20, then have
surgery and then say, Oh, it'sactually not endometriosis or
(31:16):
it's not that.
So I've been giving you thewrong pills for six years.
Let's try something else.
I just want I just wish womenwere correctly diagnosed from
the beginning and then we we canbegin correct treatment.
Because then you're taking allthese tablets for no reason, and
then that can cause more issueslater on in life, and then
especially women who want tohave children find out when
they're trying to conceive, oh,you've actually got this, this,
(31:39):
and that.
And it's like, oh well, I'vebeen on the pill since I was 14
and they didn't mention that tome.
And it's like, well, theyshould have.
Do you know what I mean?
Sam Miklos (31:46):
Agree, and I think because that's the interesting
thing, endometriosis can't bediagnosed unless you've had the
surgery, the laparoscopy to see.
And um, I was much the same asyou actually, it wasn't until
they did that surgery and it waseverywhere, you know, and it
had been years and years of painand discomfort, and it was in
so many crazy places.
Um, absolutely.
Kate Coomber (32:05):
And then I think moving on from there is really
understanding why this happens.
I feel like that's a big gap ofwhy so many women and girls
suffer from this.
What is happening to cause thiscondition, I guess.
Yes.
Erin Barnett (32:19):
And I've heard a lot of people say things like,
oh, all of a sudden everywoman's got endometriosis.
And I remember saying tosomeone online, like I was
getting new to an onlineargument, and I was like, no,
it's actually been going on forgenerations, but only now it's
been it's been properlydiagnosed, and people are
speaking about it because ofsocial media.
It's not every woman hasendometriosis, and you know
(32:39):
what, it probably will be likethat eventually because people
will be getting diagnosed andhopefully correctly like helped
out quicker.
But I've saw someone say thatand that really annoyed me.
They're like, oh, noweveryone's trying to say they've
got ends.
No one wants it.
No one wants endometriosis.
No, it's not, it's the worstthing.
We don't want that.
Take it away.
Sam Miklos (32:58):
Also, too, though, if you think about the rise of
IVF over all the years, too.
So there's so many more womenwho would have struggled to have
children and just opted out.
Whereas now, with all of thesurgeries and all of the work
that you do during that process,there would be so many more
women, again, who are diagnosedwith it through those
procedures.
So I agree, nobody wants it.
It's definitely not fun by anyway, but it's great that there's
(33:20):
there's more diagnoses and moreawareness.
Erin Barnett (33:22):
Yeah, and I was also I was offered IVF um for
the freezing of my eggs, butthen when we went through it,
the process of the injectionsmakes you me more prone to grow
my cysts quicker because I wasgrowing them really fast, and
for them to rupture was moredangerous.
So I would have to stay inhospital for the treatment, and
I was like, all just to freezemy eggs that I might not ever
(33:44):
use.
And then um my health coverdidn't want to cover me for that
if I wasn't going to go aheadwith having a child.
They would you know how yourhealth cover does IVS?
But only if if it's the wholeprocess of you know getting your
eggs, then freezing them andthen the transfers, and I was
like, Oh no, I'm just doing itto freeze it, and they were
like, Oh, we don't cover you forthat.
And I'm like, that is a joke,but it was too dangerous for me
(34:08):
to do that because people arealways like, But you didn't try,
you know, what if later in lifeyou regret it?
And I'm like, Okay, but that'smy life to live, and that's my
regret to live with, but I'mmore happy that I'm pain-free.
Like, when you're in thatamount of pain for so many
years, or you would do anythingto be pain-free for 20 seconds.
You would literally almost cutoff your own leg to be like,
(34:28):
Does this mean I'm gonna have nomore pain?
And that's how bad it can befor some women.
For you, it just felt like thatwas not serving you anymore.
Kate Coomber (34:36):
And it felt like the right thing to do.
Erin Barnett (34:38):
When I look at this, when I got told I was
getting the hysterectomy.
Oh, sorry.
No, no, go, go, go, Erin.
When I was getting told I wasgetting the hysterectomy, I
actually cried so much and Icalled my partner and he was
like, What's wrong?
What's wrong?
And I was like, I've just beenapproved, and it was the
happiest day of my life, andthat's when you know that the
pain was a lot.
Kate Coomber (34:59):
Yeah, yeah.
Look, with this episode, a CMRare going to be donating to a
charity of your choice today,Erin.
Where can we donate that moneyto?
Oh, I would love for that to goto Endometriosis, Australia.
Erin Barnett (35:11):
That would be fantastic.
Perfect.
Sam Miklos (35:13):
That would be our absolute pleasure.
Erin, thank you so much foryour time today and just for
sharing your story.
Um, like I said, I reallyenjoyed your book.
It's definitely one that mygirls will have access to.
You know, every woman's journeyis so um different.
And, you know, I think it's soimportant that, you know, we we
seek out education, that we makesure we surround ourselves with
(35:36):
the right healthcareprofessionals and the people
that feel right.
And I think for you, um, justhearing, you know, you did such
a great job advocating foryourself and you went through so
much to get to where you aretoday, and certainly really
inspirational, inspirationalstory.
So thank you.
Erin Barnett (35:52):
No, I really appreciate it, and I really
appreciate you guys letting mecome on the podcast and share my
story, and hopefully this canhelp at least one person out
there.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much, Erin.
No, thank you.
Kate Coomber (36:08):
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the
land of which we meet, who forcenturies have shared ancient
methods of healing and cared fortheir communities.
We pay our respects to elderspast and present.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.