Endo Battery Fast Charged: EP 12

Welcome to Endobattery Fast Charged, a series dedicated to keeping you informed and empowered in the realm of endometriosis. Teaming up with board-certified patient advocates, we bring you the latest articles, research and insights to equip you with accurate information and a deeper understanding. Whether you're expanding your knowledge, staying updated or seeking clarity, you're in the right place. I'm your host, alana, and is EndoBattery Fast Charged charging and empowering your life with knowledge. Welcome back to EndoBattery Fast Charged. Today we're breaking down some super interesting studies and research so you can be both informed and empowered, no PhD required. My goal is to arm you with knowledge to help you advocate for yourself, whether it's in a doctor's office or just feeling confident in your own skin. Now, before we dive in, quick reminder I'm not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. Think of it as more of like your friend texting you a random Google fact at 2 am, friend texting you a random Google fact at 2 am. Remember, correlation does not equal causation. So if you're ready, let's get charged up and get started.

Speaker 1:
1:12

Oh, the Lancet is back at it again, politely reminding the world that endometriosis care is still a hot mess. In their recent editorial, they basically gave a gentle nudge, or maybe a frustrated shove to the global medical community saying, hey, remember that whole thing about better diagnostics and treatment for endometriosis. Yeah, that's still a thing, and we're nowhere near done. Let's break this down In the article titled Endometriosis Addressing the Roots of Slow Progress highlights that, despite all the noise about improving care for endometriosis, huge gaps remain in actually doing something about it. We're talking disparities in access to care, lack of research funding and the glorious world of gender bias, where periods and pelvic pain are somehow still considered niche problems. It's like medicine is trapped in a time loop and someone forgot to set the clock forward a few decades. But wait, it gets better.

Speaker 1:
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The editors didn't shy away from calling out the governments. Looking at you, australia Sure, they've got their five-year action plan, but you know what? They don't have Proof that it's working. You'd think that after five years we'd have some sort of progress report on how these national plans are actually improving things. But no crickets. We've got some extra funding sprinkled in here and there, but the funding gap between endometriosis and other chronic diseases is like comparing pocket change to a trust fund In true Lancet fashion. They also pointed out the obvious Without measurable goals, real interventions or a complete overhaul in how we talk about periods, pain and gendered health, we're not going to get very far. Honestly, it's almost like this world is hoping that if they just ignore endo long enough, it'll sort itself out. And spoiler alert, it doesn't and it won't. So. Until we see real change in how governments, healthcare systems and society at large treats endometriosis, it's safe to say we're going to be stuck in a slow motion nightmare for a little while longer. Oh, endometriosis. Just when we think we've got it all figured out, another study comes along to make us question everything.

Speaker 1:
3:34

Let's take a look at this next study, titled Does the Road to Treating Endometriosis Start in the Gut? Researchers are claiming to be on the road to developing a non-invasive stool test to diagnose the disease, potentially replacing the gold standard laparoscopy. Their discovery? Something to do with the bacterial metabolites found in your gut. Yes, the place you thought you only had to worry about. Taco night fallout. That's the place. But hold on to your horses or your intestines. Well, it's exciting to hear about non-invasive tests because, really, who enjoys surgery? This is very much in the early days category, like if this were a Netflix show, we'd still be in the pilot episode where they're working out the characters and the plot.

Speaker 1:
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Sure, these researchers found that gut bacteria and their metabolites could be linked to lesion growth in mice. But, as we all know, what happens in a mouse doesn't always stay relevant in humans. Dr Tatiana Burnett of Mayo Clinic summed it up perfectly Mouse models are great, but we've been burned before by promising results that never panned out in humans. Yes, we've all heard it before. Whether it's a magical cure from a mouse study or your aunt's new essential oil blend, the road to success is paved with a lot of maybes.

Speaker 1:
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So while you might feel optimistic at the thought of swapping surgery for poop tests, let's not start celebrating just yet. As Dr Ann Thomas put it, this small sample size needs a much larger study before we can even think about making this the next big thing in endocare. And that's not to throw shade at the researchers. They're on to something, but we've got to be cautious. Think of this like baking Just because you found the perfect cookie recipe in a tiny toaster oven doesn't mean it'll work in an industrial kitchen. We need more trials, more time and more patience. So is the gut the key to diagnosing endo? Maybe Should we start pooping probiotics like candy? Probably not. Let's give science its due time to figure out if we'll ever be trading laparoscopy for stool samples. For now, let's just be cautiously optimistic and maybe grab a snack and with another study on endometriosis treatments full of promise and new ideas. But let's see what the real story is.

Speaker 1:
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This review titled New Therapeutics in Endometriosis a Review of Hormonal, non-hormonal and Non-Coding RNA Treatments covers a range of therapeutic options from hormonal, non-hormonal to that mysterious beast called non-coding RNA or NCRNA. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it's mostly the same old players with a bit of a facelift. First off, they dive into hormonal therapies. Yep, the usual suspects like GnRH agonists, progestins and estrogen blockers take the stage trying to convince us they're the gold standard in treatment. Sure, they can suppress symptoms for a bit, but let's not forget their lovely side effects hot flashes, mood swings and bone loss. Who wouldn't want to feel like a menopausal, slightly unhinged skeleton? It's a tale as old as time. Suppress the hormones and hope for the best. Oh, and don't get too attached to these solutions because spoiler alert they don't cure endo, just slap a band-aid on it.

Speaker 1:
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Then comes the non-hormonal therapies, which sounds like a breath of fresh air, until you realize how experimental they still are. There's a lot of talk about immune modulating therapies and anti-inflammatories, which makes sense given endo's inflammatory nature. But here's the kicker very little clinical data. That's like window shopping for a car that hasn't been built yet. Looks nice in theory, but you can't drive it off the lot.

Speaker 1:
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The real fun begins with non-coding RNA. In case you were wondering, these are small bits of genetic material that don't code for proteins but can influence gene expression. The study suggests that targeting NC RNAs could help regulate endo-related genes, possibly leading to breakthroughs. It sounds groundbreaking, but we're still in the maybe someday phase, so don't hold your breath for this to show up at your doctor's office anytime soon. Overall, the study does a pretty decent job of highlighting potential treatments, but the excitement is pretty tampered by the reality that most of this stuff is still under research. Sure, hormonal therapies are tried and true-ish, but with their side effects, who's really winning here? Non-hormonal and ncrna therapies might eventually lead to something real, but for now it's all just whispers of what could be if the stars align and clinical trials don't flop. So if you're looking for actual viable treatments, you might want to check back in a few years. For now it's a lot of this could work, followed by a collective shrug In continuing to talk about diagnosis, let's talk about the delightful experience of finally being diagnosed with endometriosis.

Speaker 1:
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A diagnosis, for most, comes after a scavenger hunt of medical visits, tests and being told it's just period pain honey. This study, titled what's the Delay, digs into the reality of why so many take years to get diagnosed, as if finding endo is a twisted medical version of hide and seek. The problem isn't just in our heads, despite what we're often told. According to this study, the diagnosis delay isn't because women aren't trying hard enough. It's because they're consistently brushed off or misdiagnosed by doctors who seem to think that pelvic pain is just a rite of passage. Many women report being told to suck it up, pop a painkiller and carry on.

Speaker 1:
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The study reveals how medical professionals routinely dismiss or downplay women's pain, creating a perfect storm of frustration, self-doubt and the feeling that their body is betraying them for no reason. Until someone finally figures out that you know endometriosis is real. It gets better. Even when women do finally get referred to a specialist, the road to diagnosis is still anything but smooth. One participant mentioned waiting over a year for a consultation only to be handed another round of. It's probably nothing serious. The study highlights how this lack of urgency from healthcare providers drags out the process, making women feel like they're the crazy ones, when really they're just trapped in a medical maze. But wait, there's more. Of course there's more Once you finally score that diagnosis. It's not exactly a victory parade. The emotional impact of years of gaslighting, frustration and untreated pain levels leaves many feeling a mix of relief and rage. The study points out that a diagnosis doesn't magically fix the years of suffering, but at least it puts the name to it right, and that's supposed to be progress, apparently. In the end, this study does a great job, pointing out the obvious the healthcare system is failing women with endometriosis. The delay in diagnosis is like a slow motion train wreck, and the only thing women can do is keep advocating for themselves, hoping one day the medical world will get its act together and stop treating them like they're overreacting to a little cramp.

Speaker 1:
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This last study, titled Addressing Challenges in Endometriosis Pain Communication Between Patients and Doctors the Role of Language, dives into the critical issue of communication between endometriosis patients and doctors, specifically focusing on how language shapes the way pain is understood and treated. One of the core challenges it addresses is that endometriosis pain is often downplayed or misunderstood because patients and doctors, thank you, missed and not receiving appropriate care. The article highlights that many patients struggle to find the right words to explain their pain, which can be complex and varied. Endometriosis pain isn't just about the intensity, but also about the location and type, like burning or stabbing, and how it affects daily life. However, when doctors expect pain to fit into a standard mold of medical terminology, they might not take the patient's experiences seriously if it doesn't match their expectations. This can leave patients feeling invalidated and cause delays in diagnosis or effective treatment. Another key point is that patients may hesitate to fully describe their pain, either due to fear of not being believed or because they've grown used to their suffering. This can result in underreporting, further complicating treatment decisions.

Speaker 1:
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This study emphasizes the importance of doctors asking the right questions and creating a more empathetic environment where patients can feel safe to describe their pain in their own words. The research suggests that improving this communication could enhance the patient-doctor relationship and lead to better treatment outcomes. A more patient-centered approach, where doctors can take the time to really listen and interpret patients' descriptions of pain, could reduce the gap between patient experience and medical evaluation. Training for doctors to better understand the emotional and personal language of pain could also be a step towards a more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Ultimately, the study underscores that both patients and doctors need to collaborate in redefining how pain is communicated. This might involve educating patients on how to describe their symptoms in ways that align with medical evaluation, while also encouraging doctors to be more receptive to diverse expressions of pain. By bridging this language gap, both sides can work toward faster, more comprehensive and more effective care for endometriosis patients.

Speaker 1:
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Thanks for joining me on this episode of EndoBattery Fast Charged. If you found these articles intriguing and fascinating, remember that you can read more about them in the description of this podcast. If you have an article you want to learn more about or for me to break down, email them to me at contact at endobatterycom. And until next time, continue advocating for you and for those that you love.