Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)
Pain that shifts across decades. Symptoms that don’t fit a single mold. And experts who refuse to let dismissal be the default. We’re revisiting the year’s most galvanizing insights on endometriosis with two standout voices: Dr. Megan Wasson of Mayo Clinic and Dr. Francesco Di Chiara, a leader in cardiothoracic endometriosis. Their clarity cuts through the noise, offering practical steps for earlier recognition, safer evaluation, and care that honors the whole person.
We walk through the lifespan of endometriosis—from the first period to perimenopause—naming what changes, what doesn’t, and how to navigate care without inflaming trauma. You’ll hear why adolescents need thoughtful, minimally invasive approaches; how family narratives can normalize severe pain; and the questions that help you get beyond “everyone has cramps.” Then we widen the frame to the thoracic cavity, translating hard-to-spot symptoms like cycle-linked shoulder pain, shortness of breath, or cough into targeted next steps. Dr. Di Chiara’s vivid descriptions of lesion colors and textures illuminate how surgeons read the disease and why that matters for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Along the way, we share a practical nudge for your holiday survival kit: use pain management proactively rather than waiting for a flare to peak. Heat, pacing, guided breathwork, and clinician-approved anti-inflammatories can preserve energy and reduce inflammation when used early. Most of all, this reflection centers compassion—clear language, curiosity, and dignity—as the real engine of progress in endometriosis care. If you’ve ever been told to wait it out, this conversation hands you the language and confidence to advocate for yourself or your child.
If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone searching for answers, and leave a review so more people can find these tools. Your story could be the lifeline someone else needs.
Website endobattery.com
Setting Up The Reflection Series
SPEAKER_00
0:00
With
the
Indo
Year
coming
up,
it's
a
perfect
time
to
reflect
on
all
the
lessons,
growth,
and
amazing
guests
we've
had
on
Endo
Battery.
But
instead
of
one
big
recap,
I'm
breaking
it
into
quick,
bite-sized
reflections
multiple
times
a
week.
Let's
revisit
what
inspired
us,
learn
what
we
missed,
and
recharge
together
in
our
Endo
Year
Reflection
series.
Join
me
each
episode
as
we
look
back.
Welcome
to
Indobattery,
where
I
share
my
journey
with
endometriosis
and
chronic
illness
while
learning
and
growing
along
the
way.
This
podcast
is
not
a
substitute
for
medical
advice,
but
a
supportive
space
to
provide
community
and
valuable
information
so
you
never
have
to
face
this
journey
alone.
We
embrace
a
range
of
perspectives
that
may
not
always
align
with
our
own,
believing
that
open
dialogue
helps
us
grow
and
gain
new
tools.
Join
me
as
I
share
stories
of
strength,
resilience,
and
hope,
from
personal
experiences
to
expert
insights.
I'm
your
host,
Alana,
and
this
is
Indobattery.
Charging
our
lives
when
Indometriosis
drains
us.
Welcome
back
to
Indobattery.
Lifespan Endometriosis With Dr. Wasson
SPEAKER_00
1:07
As
we
continue
our
Indo
Year
Reflection
Series,
I
am
incredibly
grateful
for
everything
that
we've
gone
through
this
year.
When
I
think
back
to
episode
160,
my
conversation
with
Dr.
Megan
Wasson
from
the
Mayo
Clinic
stands
out
as
one
of
those
episodes
that
answered
questions
I
get
asked
all
the
time,
and
questions
many
people
don't
even
realize
they're
allowed
to
ask.
Dr.
Wasson
is
an
incredible
educator
and
physician
who
truly
understands
the
depth
and
complexity
of
endometriosis
across
the
entire
lifespan.
And
that
matters
because
endometriosis
doesn't
look
the
same
at
every
age.
And
it
doesn't
behave
the
same
way
either.
So
many
patients
want
to
know
how
does
endometriosis
present
in
adolescence?
How
does
it
change
through
reproductive
years?
What
happens
during
pregnancy,
perimenopause,
or
menopause?
And
honestly,
I
couldn't
think
of
anyone
better
to
walk
through
that
with
me
than
Dr.
Megan
Wasson.
One
of
the
most
important
things
Dr.
Wasson
emphasized
is
that
endometriosis
can
occur
at
any
age.
Pregnancy
doesn't
cure
it,
hormones
don't
cure
it,
menopause
doesn't
cure
it,
though
symptoms
may
shift
Adolescence, Trauma, And Dismissal
SPEAKER_00
2:16
and
change
over
time.
She
also
highlighted
something
that
deserves
far
more
attention.
You
are
never
too
young
to
have
endometriosis.
Adolescents
experience
it
too,
and
navigating
care
at
that
age
requires
thoughtfulness,
caution,
and
compassion.
Dr.
Watson
walked
us
through
the
challenges
of
evaluating
young
patients
when
traditional
gynecologic
exams
can
be
invasive
or
even
traumatic.
And
she
didn't
just
talk
about
the
physical
impact.
She
spoke
to
what
these
kinds
of
medical
experiences
do
to
the
brain,
the
nervous
system,
and
long-term
trauma
responses.
SPEAKER_01
2:51
Unfortunately,
there's
a
lot
of
generational
trauma
that
can
almost
happen
that
because
we
know
there
is
a
familial
component
to
endometriosis,
that
if
mom
had
endometriosis
and
really,
really
struggled
with
painful
cycles,
and
then
her
daughter
is
now
starting
to
have
cycles
and
really
struggling,
they
don't
know
any
different.
And
so
the
mom
tells
the
daughter,
yeah,
this
is
your
cycle.
This
is
just
what
it
is.
So
there's
that
huge
element
that
can
happen
that
the
family
is
normalizing
it.
Now,
if
an
individual
goes
and
talks
to
her
doctor,
most
commonly
the
pediatrician
is
who
is
going
to
be
the
first
sounding
board
for
this.
And
they
say,
Yeah,
I'm
having
cramps.
And
the
pediatrician
doesn't
delve
into
it
any
further.
And
they
say,
Well,
yeah,
everyone
has
cramps
with
their
period.
It
gets
dismissed,
and
that's
where
the
cycle
starts
happening.
That
that
patient
may
never
bring
it
up
again
because,
well,
I
told
my
doctor
and
they
said
it
was
normal.
So
yeah,
I
guess
this
is
just
what
it
means
to
be
a
woman
and
what
it
means
to
have
my
cycle.
And
so
that's
where
we
need
to
do
better
very
early.
SPEAKER_00
3:48
What
I
appreciate
so
deeply
was
how
clearly
she
explained
when
care
is
appropriate,
how
symptoms
may
persist
at
different
stages,
and
how
we
can
advocate
for
ourselves
or
our
children
without
rushing,
dismissing,
or
causing
harm.
I've
known
Dr.
Wasson
for
about
three
years
now,
and
I
can
tell
you,
she
is
one
of
the
most
down-to-earth,
intelligent,
and
passionate
endometriosis
specialists
I
know.
She's
a
phenomenal
communicator
who
explains
complex
concepts
with
clarity
and
calm.
And
despite
the
very
technology
struggle
we
had
on
recording
day,
stopping
and
starting
and
stopping
and
starting
more
times
than
I
can
count,
you'd
never
know
it
by
listening
back.
Her
patience,
kindness,
and
steadiness
in
those
moments
meant
so
much,
especially
knowing
how
busy
she
is
with
surgery,
clinic,
and
research.
Over
the
years,
she's
become
a
friend,
and
I'm
incredibly
grateful,
not
just
for
her
expertise,
but
for
her
compassion
and
humanity
in
the
way
that
she
shows
up
for
patience.
Another
provider
who
left
a
lasting
impression
on
me
was
Dr.
Francesco
Di
Gratitude For Patient-Centered Care
SPEAKER_00
4:52
Chiara
in
episode
151.
I
met
Dr.
Di
Chiara
at
the
endometriosis
summit,
and
while
I
knew
cardiothoracic
endometriosis
Cardiothoracic Endo With Dr. Di Chiara
SPEAKER_00
4:59
existed,
the
way
he
explained
it,
it
was
unlike
anything
I'd
ever
heard
before.
One
moment
that
truly
stuck
with
me
was
how
he
described
the
rainbow
of
colors
of
endometriosis.
I
had
heard
that
concept
applied
to
pelvic
disease,
but
I
hadn't
fully
realized
how
the
diversity
in
appearance
translates
to
the
thoracic
cavity.
SPEAKER_02
5:20
So
it
is
my
very
own
uh
um
classification,
and
I
I've
noticed
that
the
spotters
in
presentational
disease
are
illusion,
they
are
pink
and
sessile,
that
seems
to
be
the
most
superficial,
together
with
the
brown
cauliflower-shaped
ones,
they
are
very
superficial,
and
when
I
go
at
the
base,
the
diaphragm
underneath
looks
or
the
pleura
looks
completely
fine.
Instead,
there
are
the
the
purple,
which
are
hemocytrin
fields.
Hemosidrin
is
like
a
fancy
name
for
old
blood,
and
white,
which
is
we
all
know
white
is
scar.
Scar
is
always
the
end
stage
of
a
very
prolonged
inflammatory
process
in
our
body.
So
the
idea
that
I
haven't
proven
yet
is
that
this
is
a
a
pathway
or
steps
to
to
get
to
the
final
scarring.
Although
there
are
elements
supporting
my
theory
and
elements
not
supporting
it,
I
I
am
still
thinking
that
it
shows
a
lot
of
a
lot
of
elements
supporting
this,
and
at
least
it
gives
some
way
to
approach
the
disease
systematically,
systemically,
in
a
way
that
we
know
what
to
do.
SPEAKER_00
6:36
Dr.
D.
Chiara
is
an
exceptionally
clear
and
thoughtful
educator.
He
allowed
us
to
really
get
into
the
weeds,
breaking
down
what
cardiothoracic
endometriosis
is,
how
it
persists,
what
symptoms
to
watch
for,
and
why
it's
so
often
missed.
He's
also
an
innovator
in
pushing
forward
new
identification
markers,
new
surgical
techniques,
and
better
education,
not
just
for
patients,
but
for
the
medical
community
as
a
whole.
What
stood
out
most
was
his
commitment
to
ensuring
patients
are
seen,
believed,
and
treated
with
dignity.
He
doesn't
accept
complacency.
He
doesn't
accept
late
diagnosis
as
the
inevitable.
He
wants
better
for
patients
and
for
the
field
as
a
whole.
And
yes,
the
accent
doesn't
hurt.
It
makes
learning
about
something
complex
a
little
bit
more
enjoyable.
Color Spectrum And Surgical Insight
SPEAKER_00
7:23
And
you
know
what
else
is
enjoyable?
Having
another
tool
for
the
survival
guide.
Here
is
another
tip
for
your
holiday
survival
guide.
Use
pain
management
proactively.
Waiting
until
you're
miserable
is
overrated.
Don't
do
it.
These
two
providers
are
powerful
reminders
that
passion
and
compassion
are
what
drive
real
change
in
medicine.
They
are
constantly
pushing
boundaries
educationally,
clinically,
and
relationally
so
patients
can
get
diagnosed
earlier,
treated
more
effectively,
and
supported
with
respect
and
kindness.
I'm
deeply
grateful
that
I've
had
the
opportunity
to
sit
in
the
conversation
with
both
Dr.
Wasson
and
Dr.
D.
Chiara
to
learn
from
their
wisdom,
to
grow
through
their
perspectives,
and
to
share
their
voices
with
this
community.
As
we
continue
to
look
through
the
year,
I
hope
you'll
listen
with
openness
and
curiosity.
You
may
hear
something
new,
you
may
connect
a
dot
that
wasn't
clear
before,
and
you
may
find
that
an
episode
you
missed
or
didn't
fully
absorb
at
the
time
is
exactly
what
you
need
now.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
Thank
you
for
reflecting
with
me.
And
thank
you
for
continuing
to
come
back
to
these
conversations
where
learning,
compassion,
and
advocacy
meet.
We'll
keep
moving
forward
together,
one
meaningful
conversation
at
a
time.
Until
next
time,
continue
advocating
for
you
and
for
others.