Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)
When Dana Bowling bravely stepped forward to recount her arduous journey with endometriosis, she brought to light the resilience required to navigate a world where medical professionals often dismiss women’s pain. Our heartfelt discussion takes you through Dana’s early struggles, the grueling road to diagnosis, and the relief that comes with validation from a compassionate gynecologist. Her candid narrative delves into the challenges of treatment options, including her experiences with medication like Lupron and the complexities surrounding fertility and excision surgeries.
Turning the page to advocacy, we tackle the intricate dance of healthcare legislation and the vital role personal stories play in influencing change. With Dana’s insights, we dissect the frustrating experience of amending bills rife with misinformation and how this affects everyone from prepubescent girls to post-menopausal women. The conversation invites you to the front lines, emphasizing the necessity of engagement with lawmakers and the strategies to make your voice resonate within the halls of power.
Rounding out our session, we celebrate the strength found in community and the importance of solidarity in advocacy. Dana illustrates the progress being made in New Jersey as she works to reintroduce bills that accurately address endometriosis, highlighting the successful changes and the impact of community support. Our exchange culminates in a moment of gratitude for the platform this podcast provides, enabling stories like Dana’s to inspire and unite those on similar paths, underscoring the message that you are not alone in this fight.
NJ Petition
https://www.change.org/p/support-endometriosis-legislation-in-new-jersey
Website endobattery.com
Navigating Endometriosis Advocacy and Awareness
Alanna
0:03
Welcome
to
Indobattery
,
where
I
share
about
my
endometriosis
and
adenomyosis
story
and
continue
learning
along
the
way
.
This
podcast
is
not
a
substitute
for
professional
medical
advice
or
diagnosis
,
but
a
place
to
equip
you
with
information
and
a
sense
of
community
,
ensuring
you
never
have
to
face
this
journey
alone
.
Join
me
as
I
navigate
the
ups
and
downs
and
share
stories
of
strength
,
resilience
and
hope
.
While
navigating
the
world
of
endometriosis
and
adenomyosis
,
from
personal
experience
to
expert
insights
,
I'm
your
host
,
elana
,
and
this
is
Indobattery
charging
our
lives
when
endometriosis
drains
us
.
Welcome
back
to
Indobattery
,
grab
your
cup
of
coffee
or
your
cup
of
tea
and
join
my
guest
,
dana
Bolling
,
and
I
at
the
table
.
Dana
is
an
endowyer
that's
taken
her
passion
,
due
to
lived
experience
and
skill
set
,
to
continue
advocating
for
those
affected
by
endometriosis
,
and
specifically
in
New
Jersey
.
Thank
you
,
dana
,
so
much
for
joining
me
today
and
taking
your
time
,
and
I'm
excited
for
our
conversation
.
Dana
1:07
Thank
you
so
much
for
having
me
.
It's
an
honor
to
be
asked
.
Alanna
1:10
Yes
,
the
reason
I'm
excited
to
have
you
on
today
is
because
you've
been
doing
a
lot
of
advocacy
work
outside
of
what
we
typically
see
in
advocacy
.
You
are
working
on
a
state
level
,
within
the
legislature
,
to
advocate
for
those
of
us
with
endometriosis
.
But
before
we
get
to
that
,
you
didn't
get
there
overnight
.
You
have
a
story
that
led
you
to
this
point
,
that
led
you
to
really
become
more
passionate
about
making
sure
that
those
of
us
with
endometriosis
,
specifically
in
New
Jersey
,
which
is
where
you're
located
,
have
better
care
and
access
in
the
legislative
arena
.
So
can
you
enlighten
us
a
little
bit
on
your
story
and
what
drove
you
to
this
point
?
Dana
1:57
Yeah
,
absolutely
,
and
you're
so
right
you
don't
have
to
do
that
kind
of
work
,
especially
on
a
volunteer
basis
,
out
of
nowhere
.
So
for
me
I
started
having
symptoms
like
a
lot
of
us
do
in
the
middle
school
age
range
going
to
the
nurse
once
a
month
for
headaches
and
belly
aches
,
and
a
million
and
one
trips
to
the
ER
to
rule
out
appendicitis
and
all
of
those
things
.
And
you
kind
of
get
labeled
as
the
dramatic
child
or
you're
trying
to
get
out
of
class
and
I
didn't
think
that
those
things
were
true
.
But
after
a
while
you
really
start
to
believe
them
and
it
starts
to
kind
of
affect
your
own
thoughts
about
yourself
.
And
it
was
many
,
many
years
of
that
.
So
that
was
sort
of
the
status
quo
for
me
for
middle
school
,
high
school
,
college
,
I
went
into
law
school
and
I
kind
of
started
to
really
believe
that
maybe
I
was
weak
and
all
women
really
do
have
this
kind
of
pain
,
and
it
really
changed
my
own
perceptions
about
myself
.
And
then
I
was
not
diagnosed
until
my
late
twenties
.
Dana
2:50
I
started
having
things
really
got
bad
in
the
early
to
mid
twenties
and
I
was
missing
work
,
which
you
know
for
a
full
time
practicing
attorney
is
not
a
good
thing
.
Yeah
,
the
firm
I
worked
for
was
not
impressed
.
I
was
the
only
female
attorney
in
the
firm
and
so
it
didn't
really
do
anything
to
bolster
their
opinion
of
female
attorneys
,
and
so
I
tried
to
just
get
it
out
.
That
was
sort
of
my
method
of
just
,
you
know
,
grin
and
bear
it
,
gut
it
out
,
get
through
,
but
it
was
exhausting
.
It
took
a
toll
,
yeah
,
and
so
you
know
again
,
a
bunch
of
different
ER
trips
it
was
just
this
constantly
out
of
appendicitis
,
but
nobody
really
had
any
other
idea
of
what
it
could
be
.
Dana
3:23
I
went
to
my
primary
care
physician
it
was
one
of
you
know
gosh
,
who
knows
how
many
visits
to
him
and
he
said
you
know
,
I
wonder
,
there's
this
thing
called
endometriosis
.
I
wonder
if
maybe
that's
what
you've
got
.
And
I'd
never
heard
the
word
before
.
I
didn't
know
what
it
meant
,
and
so
I
looked
it
up
and
it
sounded
like
it
was
spot
on
.
So
he
recommended
that
I
contact
a
specific
gynecologist
,
someone
he
knew
about
his
in
the
area
,
to
see
what
he
thought
.
And
my
own
gynecologist
had
really
um
at
the
University
of
Pennsylvania
gynecologist
I'd
gone
to
through
many
doctors
.
At
that
point
I
think
in
my
mind
it
had
to
be
related
to
the
period
in
some
way
,
because
symptoms
were
worse
than
,
especially
when
I
was
younger
,
and
you
know
she
very
much
reinforced
the
narrative
that
you
know
all
,
when
I
go
through
this
,
all
women
feel
pain
.
You're
okay
,
we'll
put
you
on
birth
control
,
you'll
be
all
right
.
Just
you
know
toughen
up
.
Dana
4:11
You're
okay
,
um
,
kind
of
a
buck
up
on
her
cup
sort
of
a
philosophy
.
And
so
I
did
.
It
was
my
first
experience
with
a
male
gynecologist
.
I
was
a
little
bit
nervous
,
but
he
was
the
first
one
who
listened
to
me
and
he
said
you
,
I
think
you
absolutely
have
endometriosis
.
Um
,
you
know
,
I
can't
prove
it
without
surgery
and
I
don't
know
that
we
want
to
cut
you
open
.
You
know
,
he
,
he
was
not
an
excision
specialist
by
any
stretch
,
um
,
but
he
did
at
least
validate
what
I
was
experiencing
,
which
went
a
long
way
.
Dana
4:39
And
at
that
point
he
very
much
pushed
Lupron
.
Lupron
was
his
answer
to
everything
.
And
I
was
checking
out
of
the
office
that
day
and
the
nurse
,
um
,
you
know
,
stopped
me
to
make
my
appointment
for
my
first
Lupron
injection
and
she
said
whatever
you
do
,
do
not
it
,
just
don't
do
it
.
You
don't
want
to
read
it
,
you're
going
to
be
scared
.
People
lie
,
they
make
up
stories
,
do
not
be
quick
.
And
that
was
a
little
bit
alarming
.
Yeah
,
it
was
.
That
was
odd
.
So
I
made
the
appointment
,
you
know
,
with
a
skeptical
feeling
about
it
,
and
I
went
and
helped
one
.
Alanna
5:11
Of
course
I'd
it
immediately
to
see
what
she
was
trying
to
stop
me
from
seeing
,
it's
like
telling
the
kid
not
to
put
their
hand
on
the
stove
,
and
then
you
put
their
hand
on
the
stove
,
it's
going
to
burn
you
.
You
know
,
it's
kind
of
that
same
concept
.
Dana
5:22
That's
it
,
but
I'm
thrilled
that
she
did
,
because
I
never
well
,
I
don't
know
if
I
would
have
realized
just
how
awful
an
approach
that
was
,
had
I
not
been
so
alarmed
by
her
trying
to
keep
me
from
seeing
it
.
Alanna
5:33
And
so
.
Dana
5:33
I
called
back
and
said
no
,
no
,
we're
going
to
cancel
that
appointment
.
So
I
canceled
it
and
went
back
in
three
months
.
It
was
the
typical
come
back
in
three
months
,
we'll
see
how
you're
doing
.
And
he
,
you
know
,
wasn't
really
thrilled
that
I
had
declined
the
injection
and
I
just
said
,
you
know
,
I
told
him
that
I
was
just
scared
,
I
didn't
like
the
idea
of
it
.
You
know
I'd
been
on
birth
control
and
so
many
different
kinds
of
birth
control
that
the
idea
of
having
such
a
substantial
like
January
,
january
,
january
,
january
,
january
,
it
just
it
was
scary
to
me
.
So
he
very
reluctantly
agreed
to
do
surgery
.
He
was
not
eager
to
do
it
,
said
you
know
,
you're
kind
of
leaving
us
no
choice
,
but
this
way
we'll
at
least
be
able
to
to
tell
what
you
have
and
we'll
know
for
sure
,
and
then
then
we
can
do
.
Lou
Prun
and
I
said
okay
,
sure
whatever
you
say
.
Dana
6:12
So
he
scheduled
the
surgery
and
lo
and
behold
,
of
course
it
was
extensive
,
you
know
,
stage
four
,
endometriosis
,
and
back
then
this
was
so
.
I
was
maybe
15
,
20
years
ago
now
,
probably
15
years
ago
,
and
he
did
ablation
.
You
know
,
excision
wasn't
well
but
it
didn't
exist
.
It
was
a
thing
,
but
not
,
you
know
,
it
wasn't
commonly
available
.
It
still
isn't
now
,
but
it
was
more
hard
to
come
by
then
.
Yeah
.
Dana
6:34
So
I
had
surgery
after
surgery
,
after
surgery
after
surgery
,
with
him
doing
ablation
,
and
my
mom
and
I
have
lost
count
.
We
went
back
you
know
,
she
was
kind
of
my
,
my
buddy
,
who
got
me
through
all
of
that
.
She
was
my
you
know
,
my
care
person
and
we
can't
figure
out
exactly
how
many
there
were
.
We
kind
of
lost
count
.
But
there
were
many
ablations
and
of
course
things
got
worse
as
they
do
,
because
ablation
is
not
the
approach
you
need
to
take
.
I
regret
having
not
done
further
research
into
it
back
then
because
it
made
my
situation
a
lot
worse
and
otherwise
it
would
have
been
the
scarring
and
just
some
of
the
other
damage
.
You
know
,
the
insides
of
my
body
.
Yeah
,
but
I
did
it
.
Alanna
7:09
I
didn't
know
any
better
.
I
don't
think
any
of
us
do
,
and
that's
like
I
want
to
just
highlight
.
That
is
,
that
we
do
the
best
with
what
we
know
at
the
time
,
and
15
,
20
years
ago
,
the
information
wasn't
as
readily
out
there
.
You
can't
just
you
know
,
I
sat
and
Googled
the
same
thing
about
endometriosis
and
,
to
be
fair
,
there
just
wasn't
a
lot
out
there
.
Dana
7:31
It
wasn't
accessible
,
mary
Lou
Ballweg
and
her
organization
,
the
Endosu
,
the
Busundo
Association
,
and
I
think
it's
changed
names
.
Don't
quote
me
on
that
,
but
her
organization
was
the
only
one
that
really
existed
back
then
and
I
didn't
even
find
that
until
a
few
years
into
having
all
of
these
ablation
surgeries
and
I
realized
,
my
God
,
this
is
insane
.
I
can't
keep
missing
work
to
have
surgery
every
year
.
This
is
just
like
they're
going
to
fire
me
and
they
weren't
thrilled
,
but
again
they
had
to
deal
with
it
.
It
was
a
womanly
thing
that
they
felt
like
they
had
to
deal
with
and
so
they
kept
me
but
and
I
had
the
insurance
to
cover
it
,
which
was
great
.
But
I
finally
I
found
Mary
Lou
Ballweg
and
learned
a
little
bit
more
about
Endosu
for
her
organization
no-transcript
,
it
was
the
timeline
is
a
little
foggy
Many
years
after
that
I
learned
about
excision
and
there
were
the
little
diagrams
that
you
see
,
like
the
little
cartoon
images
with
you
digging
out
the
weed
versus
like
bloat
forging
the
weed
.
Dana
8:25
So
I
found
my
way
to
Timer
Sutchkin
in
New
York
City
.
It
was
one
of
the
co-founders
of
EFA
and
Demetriosis
Foundation
of
America
and
I
saved
my
pennies
so
that
I
could
go
and
have
a
consult
with
him
,
and
I
took
the
train
to
New
York
.
It
was
a
super
exciting
day
and
at
the
appointment
did
not
go
well
for
me
and
I
did
not
permit
him
to
operate
.
It
was
a
negative
experience
and
it
didn't
go
well
.
So
I
made
my
way
home
completely
defeated
at
that
point
because
I
had
no
idea
what
to
do
.
So
I
decided
that
I
just
wasn't
Navigating Endometriosis Treatment Frustrations
Dana
8:53
.
I
knew
enough
at
that
point
based
on
what
I'd
learned
from
Mary
Lou
,
and
even
the
Timer
Sutchkin's
website
at
that
point
did
explain
the
difference
between
excision
and
ablation
.
I
at
least
learned
that
.
So
I
knew
that
going
back
for
more
ablation
surgeries
was
only
going
to
make
a
bad
situation
worse
.
And
I
also
,
because
of
that
experience
,
learned
that
for
me
excision
specialists
were
not
a
good
choice
.
It
was
an
awful
experience
and
I
decided
foolishly
,
but
I
decided
that
no
care
was
better
than
that
care
,
than
bad
care
.
Dana
9:26
So
I
refused
to
see
a
gynecologist
for
years
.
I
refused
to
have
any
sort
of
Demetriosis
care
or
surgery
or
anything
.
And
I
thought
well
,
you
know
,
grinn
and
Barrett
got
it
out
his
work
for
me
this
long
.
I'll
just
do
that
forever
,
it's
fine
.
And
at
that
point
the
belief
was
once
you
hit
menopause
,
you're
A-okay
,
all
you
have
to
do
is
get
pregnant
not
all
by
some
time
and
then
hit
menopause
and
you'll
be
okay
,
which
,
of
course
,
now
that
was
completely
ridiculous
,
but
at
the
time
that's
what
I
thought
.
So
I
did
seek
out
the
option
of
freezing
eggs
,
and
they
told
me
I
was
too
young
and
freezing
eggs
would
not
be
successful
.
They
needed
to
be
fertilized
embryos
.
And
I
went
back
a
few
years
later
and
they're
like
oh
well
,
now
you're
too
old
and
I'm
too
young
.
Now
I'm
too
old
,
oh
gosh
.
I
just
wanted
to
preserve
that
option
,
yeah
.
Dana
10:09
So
yeah
,
I
went
without
care
for
a
long
time
and
then
it
just
got
to
a
point
.
Of
course
,
as
you
can
imagine
,
the
endo
just
proceeded
to
grow
and
grow
and
I
was
on
a
combined
birth
control
pill
with
a
pretty
hefty
amount
of
estrogen
,
which
I
don't
know
that
it
was
ideal
,
again
looking
back
,
but
it
made
life
tolerable
.
It
was
the
Junnell
1.530
.
So
it
was
a
hefty
dose
of
estrogen
in
the
pill
,
which
likely
didn't
help
the
actual
progression
of
my
disease
,
but
it
managed
the
symptoms
enough
that
I
could
get
through
.
And
then
I
totally
couldn't
anymore
,
and
it
was
in
2020
,
things
were
really
bad
.
I
was
really
sick
and
realized
that
I
was
gonna
have
to
figure
something
out
.
So
I
went
,
got
to
social
media
,
got
on
the
computer
,
did
some
more
research
to
try
to
figure
out
who
in
the
world
I
was
gonna
see
.
Right
.
Dana
10:50
And
I
found
a
doctor
here
in
South
Jersey
who
was
kind
of
a
self-proclaimed
endometriosis
specialist
.
Spoiler
alert
,
he
was
not
,
he
fancied
himself
to
be
.
So
I
made
an
appointment
with
him
and
he
said
all
of
the
right
things
.
He
did
excision
,
it
would
be
a
thorough
excision
.
He
agreed
to
look
around
the
abdomen
,
not
just
in
the
pelvis
,
because
we
knew
historically
my
disease
had
gone
above
the
pelvic
brim
,
you're
up
into
the
upper
abdomen
.
Dana
11:12
And
I
thought
great
like
oh
,
thank
God
I
found
someone
he's
a
very
nice
,
sweet
little
man
and
he
couldn't
be
any
nicer
.
And
so
I
had
that
excision
surgery
and
by
the
time
I
waited
for
the
appointments
in
the
surgery
date
it
was
July
of
2021
.
So
it
ended
up
being
a
pretty
extensive
surgery
.
I
developed
frozen
pelvis
at
that
time
,
so
it
ended
up
being
a
more
complicated
surgery
than
I
think
he
thought
it
would
be
when
he
went
in
.
So
I
was
in
the
hospital
for
a
day
or
two
and
I
think
that
,
while
he
was
definitely
a
decent
excision
surgeon
,
I
don't
think
he
was
equipped
with
the
knowledge
and
expertise
and
skills
to
address
a
frozen
pelvis
situation
.
You
know
,
I
think
a
stage
one
,
stage
two
excision
they
had
been
within
his
scope
,
I
think
you
know
anything
more
extensive
than
that
likely
?
It
was
not
,
and
so
I
very
quickly
got
a
whole
lot
worse
.
Dana
11:57
But
they
lost
my
photos
so
they
had
to
dig
those
back
up
.
Oh
my
gosh
.
Yeah
,
we
took
like
six
of
them
and
then
probably
lost
them
.
Oh
my
gosh
.
But
thankfully
he
had
asked
if
he
could
use
it
.
He
was
a
teaching
.
He
teaches
through
one
of
the
local
programs
and
he
asked
if
he
could
use
my
photos
as
examples
in
his
class
and
I
said
sure
,
and
so
he
had
downloaded
a
separate
copy
of
my
photos
to
use
for
teaching
and
that
was
how
we
were
able
to
recreate
them
.
I
kind
of
had
to
really
nag
him
a
little
bit
to
copy
those
photos
for
me
and
he
finally
agreed
to
after
arguing
for
a
little
bit
,
so
I
was
able
to
get
them
and
I
realized
that
I
was
so
much
worse
after
the
surgery
,
I
think
,
being
they
didn't
do
a
whole
heck
of
a
lot
to
prevent
adhesions
and
I
think
again
,
without
clean
skill
,
without
clean
technique
you
know
they
didn't
use
tools
like
the
CO2
laser
.
You
know
staff
size
they
use
kind
of
different
techniques
that
cause
more
scarring
and
adhesions
.
So
I
decided
I
needed
to
kind
of
up
the
ante
a
little
bit
and
I
did
a
free
records
review
with
Dr
Cenerbel
at
CEC
and
that
was
within
three
or
four
weeks
of
I
wanna
say
it
was
in
August
,
so
within
a
couple
of
weeks
.
And
Dr
Cenerbel
,
you
know
bless
him
.
He
read
my
story
and
,
you
know
,
went
through
the
files
and
called
and
agreed
to
do
surgery
.
So
I
ended
up
having
another
surgery
in
October
of
2021
.
Dana
13:10
So
three
months
later
,
wow
,
but
I
was
grateful
for
the
opportunity
to
be
able
to
do
that
,
which
I
know
is
a
huge
privilege
to
be
able
to
get
that
care
,
yeah
,
and
so
we
went
there
and
that's
.
We
had
a
really
frank
conversation
.
You
know
,
do
you
want
this
,
as
best
we
can
,
to
try
to
be
your
last
surgery
?
And
I
just
said
,
absolutely
I
want
you
to
do
whatever
you
can
do
.
Yeah
,
there's
something
to
take
out
,
take
it
out
If
there's
you
know
anything
,
be
aggressive
.
I
don't
want
to
be
conservative
anymore
.
I've
had
it
done
with
this
.
Dana
13:35
So
we
agreed
for
a
wide
excision
.
We
agreed
for
the
hysterectomy
to
take
place
Again
,
keeping
ovaries
,
with
the
idea
that
that
would
hopefully
stave
off
,
and
I'll
pause
a
little
bit
.
So
we
planned
to
remove
uterus
,
the
tubes
,
the
cervix
,
wide
excision
everywhere
.
There
was
some
bowel
involvement
that
we
knew
about
but
likely
wouldn't
eat
a
full
resection
,
and
it
didn't
.
He
was
able
to
shave
in
several
spots
,
which
was
great
.
Dana
13:54
And
then
I
also
had
a
VATS
procedure
with
Dr
Goldman
down
there
.
So
they
looked
on
the
right
side
of
the
chest
,
up
into
the
lung
,
the
diaphragm
,
all
that
stuff
on
the
right
side
,
and
then
they
brought
in
a
general
surgeon
to
remove
my
gallbladder
at
the
same
time
.
So
it
was
a
big
surgery
,
yeah
,
but
it
helped
a
whole
lot
.
You
know
I'm
certainly
not
pain
free
.
I
think
that
the
degree
of
damage
that
was
done
before
that
surgery
was
so
extensive
that
you're
only
going
to
get
so
much
better
after
that
.
So
I
wish
I
had
known
20
years
ago
to
seek
that
level
of
care
,
but
I
didn't
,
and
it
has
helped
tremendously
.
It's
since
then
.
It's
been
a
hormonal
journey
.
Alanna
14:28
I'm
trying
to
figure
out
how
in
the
world
to
balance
things
after
the
obstructive
end
man
,
the
hormones
we
were
talking
about
that
a
little
bit
ago
and
this
is
kind
of
you
know
,
something
that
I
felt
maybe
a
phrase
that
I've
used
is
it
feels
like
the
secondary
effects
of
a
neutriosis
,
because
you're
having
to
have
this
surgery
right
.
For
me
,
I
had
both
my
ovaries
and
my
uterus
removed
and
it
just
felt
like
because
I
had
to
have
that
,
now
I
have
to
deal
with
these
hormones
and
it's
so
frustrating
and
it's
not
well
known
and
it's
not
well
researched
,
and
so
that
becomes
even
more
frustrated
and
so
it's
kind
of
you
know
,
the
endometriosis
we
have
.
The
one
side
of
this
is
the
disease
right
,
and
this
is
what
you
dealt
with
for
years
of
trying
to
navigate
the
best
care
you
could
for
your
disease
and
having
setback
after
setback
and
not
just
setback
but
roadblocks
and
trauma
and
all
the
things
that
kind
of
come
with
a
less
known
disease
,
even
though
they
think
they
know
it
right
.
Alanna
15:27
So
it's
kind
of
a
frustrating
point
to
get
to
that
point
of
getting
good
care
and
proper
treatment
and
then
,
on
the
other
side
of
it
,
need
more
care
and
more
treatment
.
That
is
not
well
understood
.
I
mean
not
to
get
people
false
hope
,
but
this
is
the
reality
that
we
need
to
talk
more
about
.
Is
it's
like
yes
,
excision
first
step
,
finding
a
great
excision
specialist
is
ideal
,
but
that's
not
the
case
for
most
of
us
that
have
been
dealing
with
it
for
years
.
And
,
like
you
said
,
you
know
you
didn't
know
what
you
didn't
know
because
there
wasn't
a
lot
out
there
.
And
then
you
get
the
help
you
need
and
we're
still
gonna
struggle
some
.
We've
had
this
for
years
.
Dana
16:08
This
has
been
our
constant
companion
for
many
many
years
and
I
feel
like
there's
so
many
stages
to
the
journey
.
There's
the
first
stage
,
which
is
just
from
symptom
onset
to
diagnosis
right
.
And
that
takes
far
too
long
for
the
vast
majority
of
us
.
And
then
you
move
forward
from
diagnosis
to
actual
appropriate
excision
treatment
which
again
,
may
or
may
not
be
accessible
for
everyone
.
And
then
we
move
on
from
excision
for
the
rest
of
your
life
,
which
is
managing
that
cascade
of
dominoes
.
Right
.
Dana
16:38
That
is
the
result
of
both
endo
and
the
treatment
,
whether
that's
.
We
know
hysterectomy
doesn't
treat
endometriosis
,
but
I
also
had
adenomyosis
,
which
many
Right
they
tend
to
run
together
in
a
lot
of
us
and
so
,
whether
it's
hysterectomy
or
whether
it's
the
fallout
from
having
endo
on
the
bladder
,
on
the
bowel
,
wherever
it
is
,
it
can
cause
so
many
other
issues
.
Public
floor
rehabilitation
there's
so
much
,
so
much
.
Alanna
16:59
Well
,
and
it's
not
just
even
the
physical
,
it's
the
mental
,
because
the
fallout
mentally
is
so
hard
.
And
I
don't
know
if
you
experienced
this
,
but
I
certainly
have
had
my
share
of
regrets
and
there's
things
that
I
couldn't
have
changed
.
But
in
my
mind
I'm
replaying
.
Well
,
I
wish
I
would
have
done
this
better
.
I
wish
I
would
have
done
this
better
,
and
really
sometimes
that's
almost
more
traumatizing
than
what
happened
,
because
you're
beating
yourself
up
constantly
about
your
own
care
.
But
the
reality
of
that
is
is
we
can't
be
expected
to
know
more
than
the
doctors
all
the
time
.
Dana
17:35
Exactly
.
You
do
the
best
you
can
with
what
you
know
and
your
resources
at
the
time
.
And
you
can't
criticize
yourself
because
you
didn't
know
better
before
you
knew
better
.
Once
you
do
better
,
then
you
try
to
do
better
.
But
it's
a
constant
climbing
the
mountain
and
you
find
one
little
peak
where
you
can
look
out
and
you're
like
okay
,
great
,
I
finally
have
a
diagnosis
.
Dana
17:54
And
then
you
keep
climbing
that
mountain
until
you
get
to
the
excision
plateau
and
you
look
out
and
see
the
view
and
it
looks
rosy
.
And
then
you
keep
climbing
again
to
deal
with
all
of
the
other
hurdles
.
And
the
mental
struggle
with
that
is
not
to
be
dismissed
.
It
gets
hard
,
it
takes
a
toll
,
it's
taxing
.
Alanna
18:12
And
then
you
add
finances
on
top
of
that
for
a
lot
of
us
,
right
,
that's
it
,
and
that's
the
first
thing
,
the
stuff
from
the
spreadsheet
none
of
it
.
Alanna
18:19
No
,
and
you're
like
when
am
I
ever
going
to
be
done
?
When
am
I
going
to
be
done
searching
for
something
?
Or
when
am
I
going
to
be
done
just
trying
to
find
a
new
normal
or
whatever
that
looks
like
in
your
life
.
It's
stressful
when
you
put
that
into
play
with
the
finances
and
trying
to
get
a
better
quality
of
life
,
and
that's
challenging
.
Was
this
journey
through
working
in
a
professional
field
that's
typically
male
dominated
?
Probably
Was
that
kind
of
a
catalyst
to
then
being
an
advocate
within
the
legislative
arena
in
New
Jersey
.
Was
that
kind
of
the
catalyst
for
you
?
What
was
that
catalyst
and
what
are
you
doing
?
I
guess
that's
a
better
question
.
What
are
you
doing
because
of
that
catalyst
?
Dana
19:06
Absolutely
.
That's
a
great
question
.
So
because
of
my
history
working
as
an
attorney
for
many
years
,
I'm
familiar
with
the
process
and
how
it
works
,
and
I
saw
it
was
a
social
media
announcement
was
that
a
New
Nature's
Foundation
had
announced
that
they
were
working
with
a
New
Jersey
Assemblywoman
,
assemblywoman
Spate
,
to
pass
a
package
of
bills
related
to
menstrual
health
,
and
so
there
are
some
great
bills
in
that
package
that
relate
to
period
poverty
issues
,
allowing
food
banks
to
utilize
their
funding
to
purchase
period
supplies
and
a
lot
of
other
related
bills
that
are
fantastic
,
and
I
think
that
the
Assemblywoman
has
the
world's
best
intentions
.
I
really
think
that
she's
well
intended
,
but
I
think
that
she
has
confirmed
that
she's
received
all
of
her
education
and
information
from
EFA
and
they
are
primarily
a
retrograde
menstruation-based
organization
.
I
don't
agree
with
promoting
that
theory
At
this
point
,
based
on
research
of
Dr
David
Redline
,
you
and
others
in
the
field
.
I'm
not
a
personal
proponent
of
that
theory
at
all
.
Dana
20:01
And
so
it
was
concerning
to
me
when
I
learned
that
retrograde
menstruation
theory
was
going
to
form
the
basis
of
endometriosis-related
legislation
in
New
Jersey
.
So
I
started
digging
.
There
are
package
of
bills
again
,
there
are
several
,
but
then
they're
split
up
into
lots
of
little
teeny
tiny
parts
,
but
the
gist
is
that
they
were
trying
to
create
a
program
,
an
awareness
program
and
also
a
screening
program
for
folks
who
are
likely
to
suffer
from
endometriosis
,
and
I
think
that
those
are
really
laudable
goals
and
I
want
to
be
sure
I'm
super
clear
about
that
.
I
think
they're
great
goals
,
but
there
are
some
issues
with
the
wording
.
A
lot
of
the
issues
that
we
see
with
misinformation
and
endometriosis
are
present
in
those
bills
and
so
,
because
of
my
history
as
an
attorney
,
I
was
familiar
enough
with
the
process
to
be
able
to
actually
try
to
engage
in
it
.
Dana
20:43
And
I
have
the
time
to
be
able
to
do
it
now
.
So
it's
kind
of
where
that
started
.
Legislation Impacting Menstrual Health Awareness
Alanna
20:47
Are
these
bills
that
you
are
seeing
,
bills
that
are
primarily
for
menstruation
and
we
talk
about
it
being
their
view
of
menstrual
disorder
?
And
we
know
that
this
is
not
,
and
I'm
sure
that
and
I
don't
want
to
put
words
into
your
mouth
,
but
I'm
sure
,
because
of
your
experience
,
it
even
fired
you
up
more
to
say
this
is
why
I
can't
agree
with
this
theory
.
Your
experience
led
to
that
point
.
But
what
kind
of
legislation
are
they
proposing
?
Because
if
they
have
this
,
it's
a
menstrual
disorder
and
we
know
that
it's
not
.
Are
they
focusing
primarily
on
fertility
or
just
period
product
?
What
is
it
that
they
are
primarily
trying
to
achieve
?
Dana
21:31
So
the
two
primary
bills
that
I
focus
my
efforts
on
are
related
to
,
again
,
an
awareness
campaign
in
a
screening
program
and
they
are
couched
as
being
menstrual
health
bills
that
is
sort
of
the
phrase
they're
using
overall
menstrual
health
screening
program
or
awareness
program
.
So
they've
lumped
PCOS
and
endometriosis
in
together
on
those
bills
and
I
understand
that
primarily
women's
issues
.
The
bills
had
a
lot
of
language
that
excluded
folks
who
suffer
from
extra
pelvic
endo
,
which
is
something
I've
had
it
on
the
bladder
,
the
bowels
,
the
gallbladder
,
the
appendix
,
you
know
,
all
over
the
place
.
I
also
sit
on
the
board
of
extra
pelvic
not
rare
out
on
the
West
Coast
when
you
bang
up
this
organization
and
so
I'm
intimately
familiar
with
a
lot
of
the
extra
pelvic
endometriosis
issues
that
arise
a
lot
of
our
folks
.
And
none
of
that
was
recognized
in
the
legislation
.
They
were
targeting
women
of
reproductive
age
and
I'm
drawing
a
blank
right
now
I
don't
have
the
brain
fog
.
Dana
22:24
I'm
drawing
a
blank
in
the
language
that
you
use
,
because
it's
different
in
each
bill
,
the
little
phrases
are
just
a
tiny
bit
different
,
but
essentially
women
of
reproductive
age
,
15
to
44
.
So
it
completely
ignored
pre-peabescent
girls
or
folks
who
don't
identify
as
female
post-menopausal
women
.
You
know
,
a
lot
of
us
fall
outside
of
that
range
,
we're
not
menstruating
individuals
between
15
and
44
.
And
so
huge
categories
of
endometriosis
sufferers
were
going
to
be
missed
by
these
pieces
of
legislation
,
and
that
was
concerning
to
me
.
They
also
specifically
explained
endometriosis
essentially
,
as
you
know
,
again
,
being
a
menstrual
disease
,
retrograde
menstruation
being
the
cause
,
and
that
the
cause
,
the
reason
we
all
feel
pain
is
because
these
lesions
bleed
every
month
and
cause
pain
.
So
it's
just
full
of
chock
,
full
of
misinformation
,
and
so
I
went
to
work
trying
to
change
it
and
we've
been
successful
in
getting
some
small
changes
made
.
The
big
changes
have
yet
to
be
completed
and
I
don't
know
if
they
will
be
at
this
point
,
unfortunately
.
Alanna
23:21
The
reason
this
matters
so
much
and
the
reason
the
verbiage
matters
so
much
is
because
when
we're
looking
at
the
doctors
who
are
caring
for
us
and
they're
looking
at
the
legislative
piece
of
it
because
that
ultimately
can
govern
a
lot
of
other
avenues
right
,
it's
important
to
get
it
right
,
because
they're
basing
a
lot
of
their
information
and
their
ideas
off
of
these
things
.
So
it's
it
kind
of
is
like
a
perpetuating
issue
.
Right
,
it's
a
chain
effect
issue
.
It's
not
just
a
separate
piece
of
the
endometriosis
advocacy
,
it's
a
whole
thing
,
if
you
will
.
You
know
,
probably
not
explaining
that
well
,
but
I
think
it
is
.
It's
a
chain
reaction
of
our
care
and
when
we're
pushing
,
you
know
we
want
better
care
for
those
with
endometriosis
it
really
starts
everywhere
.
It
starts
in
the
laws
that
are
governed
that
are
supposed
to
help
us
,
but
don't
because
they're
not
getting
it
right
.
So
it
matters
,
that's
exactly
right
.
Dana
24:19
And
these
pieces
of
legislation
specifically
delegated
authority
for
implementing
this
awareness
campaign
and
the
screening
program
to
our
state
department
of
health
,
and
one
of
them
actually
contained
an
instruction
to
obtain
information
from
the
EFA
and
the
Metriosis
Foundation
of
America
in
order
to
create
those
programs
.
And
while
I
applaud
the
concept
of
seeking
help
from
nonprofits
in
the
community
,
I
don't
think
we
need
to
be
having
retrograde
administration
folks
writing
our
legislation
,
because
that's
what's
going
to
our
doctors
in
the
state
,
that's
what's
determining
who's
going
to
be
identified
by
that
awareness
campaign
and
screening
program
,
and
so
when
you've
got
a
12
year
old
who's
having
issues
and
bell
aches
,
she's
not
going
to
be
captured
by
that
program
.
Dana
25:01
And
when
you've
got
the
45
year
old
you
know
who
had
a
hysterectomy
years
ago
but
is
still
having
problems
,
she's
not
going
to
be
captured
by
those
programs
,
she's
not
included
.
Or
if
you
have
transgendered
individuals
,
they're
not
going
to
be
captured
by
those
programs
.
So
we're
leaving
out
huge
categories
of
folks
and
completely
ignoring
a
lot
of
the
just
the
fact
that
many
of
us
are
identified
because
we
present
with
other
symptoms
first
,
not
necessarily
period
symptoms
,
but
you
know
,
irritable
bowel
.
We've
all
gotten
like
an
irritable
bowel
diagnosis
,
right
the
UTI
.
Dana
25:32
Yes
,
exactly
so
many
other
things
,
having
legislation
just
perpetuate
those
stereotypes
,
those
myths
,
the
misinformation
.
My
bad
,
I
don't
want
to
see
it
here
on
the
state
.
Dana
25:43
And
so
I
my
first
attempt
was
to
try
to
work
with
the
assembly
woman
,
to
try
to
work
with
her
office
to
better
educate
them
,
to
hopefully
get
the
wording
in
these
bills
tweaked
,
and
they
originally
were
receptive
to
that
.
And
then
I
think
that
,
you
know
,
as
time
went
on
they
were
a
little
less
receptive
,
and
I
understand
why
they
are
.
You
know
,
I
think
they're
receiving
information
from
an
organization
they
believe
to
be
reputable
right
across
the
river
in
New
York
City
,
and
so
I
think
that
they
they
believe
they're
doing
their
due
diligence
and
it's
hard
to
explain
why
that's
not
sufficient
.
It's
tough
,
you
know
,
and
you
kind
of
walking
on
thin
ice
a
little
bit
.
But
I
provided
them
with
citations
for
research
.
Of
course
,
heather
Godone
and
Kate
Boyce
had
been
incredibly
helpful
in
providing
me
with
the
information
I
need
to
be
able
to
kind
of
pass
that
along
in
a
way
that
might
be
palatable
for
our
legislators
here
.
And
then
,
once
I
realized
that
I
wasn't
really
going
to
get
anywhere
working
behind
the
scenes
with
the
assembly
woman
,
I
started
going
to
committee
meetings
to
testify
.
Dana
26:38
So
the
way
our
legislation
works
,
so
we
have
a
bifurcated
legislative
system
here
in
New
Jersey
.
We
have
an
assembly
and
a
state
house
and
every
state's
government
system
is
going
to
work
a
little
bit
differently
.
But
that's
a
pretty
common
arrangement
to
have
two
houses
of
your
government
,
just
like
we
have
at
the
side
of
our
level
,
and
every
time
a
bill
is
introduced
in
New
Jersey
it's
introduced
in
one
of
those
houses
.
So
either
the
assembly
or
the
state
house
ours
were
introduced
in
.
These
bills
were
introduced
in
the
assembly
first
and
then
they're
assigned
two
numbers
,
so
the
bill
will
be
introduced
in
one
house
and
it'll
get
a
fancy-shancy
number
.
Dana
27:09
And
then
a
companion
identical
version
of
the
bill
will
be
introduced
by
a
friend
of
that
legislator
in
the
other
house
.
Dana
27:15
So
it'll
go
through
committee
hearings
in
both
houses
and
essentially
the
committee
meetings
are
opportunities
for
the
committee
,
the
legislators
who
serve
on
those
committees
,
to
review
the
bills
as
they
come
through
.
There
are
opportunities
for
public
comment
and
that's
what
I
decided
to
start
participating
in
.
So
they
started
tracking
the
bills
and
showing
up
just
showing
up
at
committee
meetings
,
and
it's
a
little
uncomfortable
,
I
will
say
,
to
be
the
only
woman
in
the
room
showing
up
to
oppose
women's
health
legislation
,
which
is
how
all
of
these
bills
have
been
categorized
.
So
you
kind
of
sit
there
by
yourself
with
a
big
red
target
on
your
rack
.
Nobody
really
likes
you
when
you
do
that
,
but
I
tried
to
make
sure
that
they
understood
.
I
absolutely
supported
the
bills
and
I
think
that
she's
got
great
intentions
in
trying
to
push
these
pieces
of
legislation
through
.
But
I
think
there
are
unintended
consequences
that
they're
not
considering
and
so
my
kind
of
push
has
been
to
hopefully
get
them
to
consider
those
consequences
.
Alanna
28:11
Yeah
,
absolutely
.
I
think
that
it's
important
to
highlight
the
value
of
understanding
your
local
government
and
the
bills
that
are
being
passed
.
Why
is
this
important
?
Why
is
it
important
for
us
to
understand
this
at
a
local
level
,
not
just
at
a
federal
level
?
I
think
it's
really
easy
for
us
to
look
at
the
federal
piece
of
this
because
it's
a
bigger
umbrella
,
if
you
will
,
but
the
local
really
holds
a
lot
of
power
within
your
care
and
understanding
.
It
is
important
.
Why
,
though
?
Dana
28:41
Absolutely
so
.
Your
local
physicians
those
are
the
folks
who
most
of
us
interact
with
our
local
gynecologists
or
primary
care
physicians
,
maybe
urologists
or
gastroenterologists
.
They're
receiving
all
sorts
of
guidelines
and
directives
and
information
from
your
State
Department
of
Health
.
And
if
your
State
Department
of
Health
is
being
directed
to
do
things
by
your
legislature
,
it's
important
to
know
what's
going
on
in
your
legislature
because
it
all
circles
right
back
to
you
.
The
legislature
directs
the
Department
of
Health
.
The
Department
of
Health
issues
guidelines
and
directives
for
physicians
and
those
are
the
folks
who
take
care
of
you
.
So
it
absolutely
affects
your
care
,
your
children's
care
,
your
loved
ones'
care
,
and
you
start
by
figuring
out
what's
going
on
.
What
is
the
lay
of
the
land
in
your
state
?
So
most
state
legislatures
have
a
great
website
In
New
Jersey
it's
just
njledgelegcom
and
so
every
state
will
have
a
similar
website
and
there
are
bill
search
functionalities
on
those
websites
so
you
can
go
to
the
bill
search
page
and
start
searching
for
keywords
.
And
again
,
every
state's
website
is
going
to
look
a
little
bit
different
.
But
search
for
things
like
menstrual
health
,
women's
health
period
,
even
search
for
endometriosis
,
search
for
PCOS
they're
all
going
to
have
different
wording
so
there
isn't
one
piece
of
language
that
would
be
consistent
.
But
pick
keywords
like
that
and
just
start
searching
to
see
what's
already
out
there
,
see
what
already
exists
in
your
state
and
whether
there's
something
that's
pending
and
Advocating for Endometriosis Legislation
Dana
30:02
in
New
Jersey
.
Dana
30:02
One
of
the
great
things
that
our
legislature
offers
on
the
website
is
the
ability
to
track
bills
.
So
once
you've
identified
these
bills
,
there's
a
little
button
you
can
click
to
track
the
bill
and
anytime
a
committee
vote
is
scheduled
,
you'll
get
a
little
email
.
Anytime
any
action
is
taken
on
the
bill
,
you'll
get
a
little
email
.
So
you
know
when
those
committee
meetings
are
going
to
be
held
,
you
know
when
you
can
show
up
,
you
know
whose
office
is
to
call
,
because
you
can
see
whose
names
are
assigned
to
these
bills
.
And
those
are
things
that
anyone
can
do
.
Dana
30:28
And
I
understand
it's
really
scary
to
go
in
front
of
a
legislative
committee
and
testify
.
It's
intimidating
,
it's
scary
.
They
don't
make
it
friendly
and
warm
and
welcoming
.
You
know
it
isn't
a
warm
fuzzy
thing
to
do
and
I
understand
a
lot
of
folks
aren't
going
to
want
to
do
that
.
But
something
we
can
all
do
is
write
to
the
legislators
,
send
them
emails
,
make
phone
calls
to
their
offices
,
so
if
there's
something
pending
in
your
state
,
you
can
let
them
know
how
you'd
like
them
to
vote
.
You
can
specifically
ask
them
please
vote
no
on
this
.
Please
vote
yes
on
this
,
and
that's
important
,
and
that's
something
you
can
do
.
Your
friends
and
family
members
can
do
for
you
,
and
that's
easy
to
do
.
Alanna
31:02
Well
,
I
think
it's
important
too
,
because
these
people
don't
necessarily
have
to
live
with
this
disease
,
so
they're
not
seeing
it
from
a
personal
standpoint
.
So
if
you
are
able
and
you're
able
to
communicate
that
to
them
from
a
personal
standpoint
,
it
could
potentially
help
change
things
that
maybe
are
red
flags
for
the
future
.
What
are
those
things
,
though
?
What
are
the
things
that
we
should
be
aware
of
?
What
is
some
wording
?
What
are
some
petitions
potentially
,
that
we
need
to
be
aware
of
,
whether
it's
good
or
whether
it's
not
so
good
?
What
can
we
look
at
for
those
of
us
who
are
completely
oblivious
to
the
legal
system
and
some
of
the
jargon
that
they
do
use
,
that
we
aren't
familiar
with
,
how
can
we
differentiate
the
good
from
the
bad
?
Dana
31:48
So
,
again
,
I'm
looking
for
the
disease
to
be
miscategorized
,
so
looking
for
menstrual
health
or
menstrual
disorders
that
to
me
is
a
red
flag
.
Anything
that
limit
the
identity
of
folks
who
can
be
identified
as
patients
.
So
we
know
that
endometriosis
has
been
present
in
folks
,
young
and
old
,
with
and
without
uteruses
a
wide
variety
of
folks
,
and
so
legislation
that
limits
and
excludes
large
groups
of
categories
of
patients
is
a
red
flag
for
me
.
Dana
32:14
Misinformation
,
so
misidentifying
the
disease
and
correctly
defining
it
,
incorrectly
explaining
its
histopathology
,
so
how
it
works
.
And
something
that
stood
out
to
me
in
the
New
Jersey
legislation
also
is
the
fact
that
they
really
seemed
to
almost
over
dramatize
the
risk
of
cancer
with
endometriosis
,
which
is
a
very
scary
thing
for
many
folks
,
and
there's
a
whole
separate
paragraph
in
a
couple
of
these
bills
that
talks
about
increased
cancer
risk
.
And
that's
the
last
thing
on
my
mind
from
endometriosis
.
There's
a
lot
of
other
stuff
that
we're
going
to
suffer
with
that's
much
more
likely
to
affect
more
of
us
than
any
sort
of
increased
cancer
,
and
so
it's
knowing
what
information
is
correct
.
So
looking
at
sources
like
Endowgirls
blog
,
the
CEC
website
,
extrapelig
Not
Rare
,
all
of
these
great
sources
,
your
podcast
,
even
if
you've
so
many
wonderful
people
,
and
so
you
actually
have
a
good
grasp
on
correct
,
good
knowledge
,
so
you
can
identify
things
that
contradict
it
.
Alanna
33:07
Yeah
,
absolutely
,
and
we
see
that
all
the
time
,
even
in
research
and
in
studies
that
are
done
to
prove
a
point
or
a
narrative
.
But
it
doesn't
come
with
accuracy
,
and
I
think
that's
true
even
in
the
government
branches
of
this
disease
right
,
any
legislature
done
,
you
have
to
understand
the
discrepancies
on
both
sides
of
that
right
,
and
it's
not
.
This
is
not
something
that's
like
everyone
gets
excited
to
do
,
right
.
This
is
not
easy
work
.
Alanna
33:42
It's
not
fun
,
but
I
think
the
more
equipped
we
are
,
the
better
we
change
the
narrative
around
endometriosis
for
generations
,
and
that
is
to
me
what
is
so
important
,
as
someone
who
has
girls
who
could
potentially
have
endometriosis
.
When
we're
looking
at
future
generations
,
how
can
we
insight
change
?
How
can
we
insight
better
care
for
them
?
How
can
we
make
sure
that
doctors
don't
fall
prey
to
these
legislative
initiatives
that
they
really
don't
know
anything
about
?
And
I
think
that's
why
,
for
me
,
looking
at
what
you're
doing
is
imperative
.
We
can't
just
stop
at
talking
about
it
online
.
We
have
to
really
go
forth
into
these
government
agencies
and
then
in
our
senators
or
whoever
it
is
that
you
can
get
to
be
passionate
with
you
.
Dana
34:32
That's
it
and
it's
.
You
know
you
have
to
give
a
lot
of
thought
as
to
how
you're
going
to
do
that
,
because
they
deal
with
so
many
pieces
of
legislation
on
a
daily
basis
.
You
know
,
one
of
the
most
important
things
you
can
do
is
convince
them
why
they
should
care
.
Right
.
Dana
34:45
And
so
I
always
start
off
,
every
every
time
I've
testified
in
front
of
a
committee
,
I
start
off
by
telling
them
why
they
should
care
,
and
what
I
generally
do
is
get
a
head
count
,
as
we're
sitting
in
the
room
,
of
the
number
of
women
,
and
even
though
it's
not
necessarily
just
a
female
disease
I
don't
like
using
those
gender
terms
but
for
the
sake
of
argument
,
in
that
context
it
is
helpful
.
And
if
there
are
30
women
in
the
room
,
well
we
know
then
roughly
three
,
probably
more
,
are
going
to
suffer
from
endometriosis
.
And
so
I
have
them
look
around
the
room
,
I
have
them
think
about
their
daughters
,
their
granddaughters
,
I
have
them
think
about
nieces
and
nephews
,
or
that
little
girl
in
their
life
who
they
know
of
,
who
always
has
that
persistent
belly
ache
,
you
know
,
and
she
always
says
she
doesn't
feel
good
.
Well
,
maybe
she
has
endometriosis
.
And
you
can
see
the
wheel
start
to
turn
because
they
start
thinking
about
the
people
in
their
lives
,
and
so
they
pay
attention
a
little
more
closely
,
and
we've
been
able
to
gain
the
support
of
a
couple
of
different
legislators
because
of
that
,
and
they've
indicated
,
you
know
what
you
made
me
think
about
my
kids
,
or
my
grandkids
,
or
nieces
and
nephews
,
or
whoever
it
is
in
their
life
and
they've
been
willing
to
make
a
call
.
Dana
35:48
The
main
sponsoring
assembly
Advocating for Endometriosis Legislation
Dana
35:50
woman
.
I've
only
been
able
to
convince
a
few
to
vote
against
it
and
most
of
them
don't
want
to
be
on
record
as
voting
against
women's
health
legislation
.
Air
quotes
yeah
,
and
I
understand
they
want
to
protect
their
voting
record
.
But
a
few
of
them
have
been
willing
to
vote
against
it
and
several
more
have
been
willing
to
kind
of
lend
their
support
to
the
changes
we're
seeking
and
again
they
have
not
completely
come
to
fruition
.
They've
added
little
tweaks
here
and
there
that
have
been
helpful
,
but
I
still
think
there's
a
long
way
to
go
.
Yeah
.
Dana
36:16
But
it's
convincing
them
why
they
should
care
.
I
think
that's
got
to
be
stepped
on
and
letting
them
know
I
let
them
know
the
toll
that
it's
taken
on
my
life
.
Dana
36:24
You
know
a
full-time
practicing
attorney
and
that's
something
that
I
don't
think
I
can
do
at
this
point
.
You
know
the
stress
and
toll
of
that
job
is
just
not
something
I
can
sustain
with
the
issues
that
I've
dealt
with
and
continue
to
deal
with
.
It's
just
not
a
possibility
.
And
when
they
start
to
realize
the
damage
that
it
takes
to
a
body
,
so
I
will
detail
for
them
on
the
record
which
is
a
little
humbling
,
Right
,
but
I
will
detail
for
them
on
the
record
all
of
the
organs
I've
had
to
have
removed
,
all
of
the
other
organ
systems
that
have
been
affected
negatively
,
the
toll
it's
taken
on
relationships
.
Dana
36:54
You
know
we
know
that
this
isn't
easy
on
romantic
relationships
or
families
.
Yeah
,
you
know
,
it
absolutely
takes
a
toll
,
and
so
when
you
start
listing
for
them
all
of
these
impacts
,
all
of
that
cascade
of
dominoes
from
endometriosis
,
it
gets
their
attention
a
little
bit
.
So
I
think
that's
something
I
would
absolutely
encourage
folks
to
do
.
If
you're
going
to
try
to
talk
to
your
legislators
,
remind
them
why
they
should
care
.
Alanna
37:15
Yeah
,
absolutely
,
and
I
think
that
to
further
that
conversation
too
,
as
we
talk
about
the
care
and
treatment
,
but
what
we
haven't
really
touched
a
lot
on
and
I
think
that
as
an
endometriosis
community
we
should
highlight
more
and
push
for
more
is
the
disability
portion
of
this
right
,
because
a
lot
of
us
have
been
inoperable
,
like
we
can't
work
,
we
can't
contribute
as
much
as
we'd
like
to
society
because
we
are
in
so
much
pain
,
but
there's
not
a
whole
lot
that
protects
us
from
that
and
it's
not
of
our
own
doing
right
.
There's
other
disabilities
that
get
disability
pay
and
there's
other
disabilities
that
get
recognized
as
an
actual
disability
,
but
endometriosis
does
not
necessarily
get
that
recognition
because
it
is
categorized
as
a
menstrual
disorder
in
a
lot
of
these
things
,
so
diseases
or
illnesses
or
conditions
that
automatically
qualify
you
for
disability
payments
.
Dana
38:14
And
endometriosis
is
not
one
of
them
,
and
it's
the
soft-fell
catch
22
,
where
,
if
you
are
able
to
access
appropriate
excision
early
and
young
,
before
your
body
is
destroyed
,
perhaps
you
can
then
continue
to
spend
the
rest
of
your
life
as
a
productive
member
of
society
.
However
,
when
you
can't
access
that
care
to
begin
with
because
you
can't
afford
it
,
but
you
can't
function
well
or
fully
because
of
the
endometriosis
that
you
can't
actually
have
treated
,
because
the
care
isn't
accessible
,
it's
just
this
cascade
of
dominoes
.
So
if
we
enable
access
to
care
earlier
on
,
we
change
the
economy
essentially
for
endometriosis
folks
and
their
families
and
their
employers
by
allowing
people
just
to
access
care
.
But
if
we
prevent
that
access
to
care
so
that
their
condition
deteriorates
so
much
that
they're
unable
to
earn
,
then
they
never
access
the
care
and
then
we've
got
folks
who
need
disability
who
might
not
otherwise
if
we
didn't
,
if
you
were
able
to
give
them
the
care
they
need
sooner
.
Alanna
39:03
And
it
all
goes
full
circle
right
.
It's
this
hamster
wheel
effect
of
things
and
,
to
be
honest
,
I
think
a
big
part
of
this
is
money
talks
.
That's
a
big
portion
of
some
of
what
we're
against
is
we
need
to
have
the
funds
to
afford
things
,
but
we
can't
have
the
funds
because
there's
things
in
place
that
are
barriers
for
that
.
And
how
do
we
create
change
,
to
change
that
economy
of
endometriosis
and
I
think
what
you're
doing
is
key
in
that
and
the
people
like
Heather
Guadon
and
people
like
Shannon
Cohen
who
are
traveling
everywhere
pushing
for
better
change
,
talking
to
the
people
and
,
like
Dana
said
,
you
don't
have
to
be
the
one
even
talking
,
but
if
you
stand
behind
the
people
that
are
,
that
says
a
lot
more
than
not
doing
anything
either
.
Dana
39:52
I
think
you're
right
and
sometimes
giving
the
folks
who
sit
on
those
legislative
committees
of
visual
to
latch
on
to
is
helpful
,
so
folks
are
inclined
to
testify
.
Dana
40:01
I've
been
fortunate
to
have
a
number
of
women
join
me
and
testify
and
they'll
prepare
something
to
say
about
the
effects
of
endometriosis
on
them
.
But
I've
also
been
able
to
get
some
other
folks
to
come
with
me
to
a
few
committee
meetings
not
everyone
,
because
they're
often
very
inaccessible
.
Attending
these
actual
legislative
sessions
can
be
hard
.
They're
held
during
the
day
.
A
lot
of
people
can't
afford
to
miss
a
work
day
to
go
.
You
cannot
participate
virtually
in
New
Jersey
anymore
and
so
it's
hard
.
They're
very
inaccessible
for
folks
to
participate
in
.
But
I've
been
able
to
convince
a
few
folks
of
drug
my
poor
family
and
friends
along
with
me
.
Dana
40:32
And
I
put
a
big
yellow
ribbon
on
everyone
and
I
make
sure
they're
in
the
front
row
.
So
when
I
sit
and
testify
with
the
yellow
ribbon
they
can
see
a
row
of
folks
sitting
behind
me
,
all
wearing
the
same
ribbon
.
Dana
40:41
And
I
reference
it
at
some
point
.
I
reference
the
when
we
talk
about
people
in
the
room
,
just
so
they
understand
.
It's
not
just
me
speaking
.
I
stand
for
a
lot
of
folks
and
it
gives
them
some
sort
of
visual
.
You
can
tell
them
why
to
care
,
and
then
letting
them
see
that
it's
not
just
some
crazy
woman
who
showed
up
that
day
,
that
it
actually
matters
to
other
people
too
,
it's
helpful
.
Alanna
40:59
Yeah
,
I
remember
last
year
at
the
Inmitriosis
Summit
.
Alanna
41:03
I
remember
you
standing
up
and
talking
about
that
and
you
and
I
.
This
is
why
you
have
stuck
out
to
me
so
much
.
I
mean
for
many
reasons
,
but
this
is
one
of
the
things
that
you
said
that
really
stuck
out
to
me
was
the
fact
that
you
would
take
anyone
with
you
just
to
show
up
,
because
then
it
gave
you
credibility
and
it
didn't
matter
whether
it
was
your
mom
,
your
dad
,
your
cousin
,
whoever
it
is
,
to
stand
behind
you
.
But
if
you
show
up
alone
,
your
credibility
is
just
not
as
impactful
because
they
are
seeing
one
person
as
opposed
to
many
people
,
and
I
think
there's
so
many
with
the
number
you
know
,
the
one
in
10
number
.
Empowering Advocacy in Endometriosis Community
Alanna
41:43
Clearly
there
are
a
lot
of
us
affected
by
this
and
just
showing
up
and
maybe
you
don't
really
know
how
to
show
up
or
maybe
you're
not
sure
your
place
in
the
Inmitriosis
community
as
far
as
advocacy
,
this
could
be
one
of
them
.
It's
standing
behind
those
who
are
willing
to
talk
about
it
and
say
I
have
your
back
you
know
and
use
the
world
.
Alanna
42:04
Yeah
and
I
.
This
is
so
funny
cause
I
just
I
grew
up
on
a
near
military
base
,
but
they
they
say
you
know
,
I
have
your
six
and
it
means
that
they
have
your
back
right
,
I
got
your
six
.
And
the
reason
they
say
that
is
because
it
is
the
one
area
that
they
can't
see
.
It's
the
most
vulnerable
spot
that
you
need
someone
.
It's
behind
you
,
and
so
to
step
in
and
be
someone's
six
is
,
it's
huge
.
Dana
42:29
And
these
people
would
give
their
life
for
that
.
Oh
yeah
,
and
it
doesn't
have
to
be
.
You
know
someone
who's
a
lawyer
.
You
know
you
don't
have
to
be
a
lawyer
to
do
any
of
this
.
You
know
everyone
.
Every
citizen
is
entitled
to
be
heard
by
their
legislature
.
Everyone
is
entitled
to
go
and
speak
.
That's
what
public
comment
periods
are
for
.
And
being
,
yeah
,
drag
your
mom
,
drag
your
dad
,
drag
your
sister
or
your
best
buddy
.
You
know
whoever
in
your
life
is
going
to
lend
support
and
they
don't
have
to
say
a
word
,
but
just
sitting
there
with
some
sort
of
visual
,
whether
it's
yellow
ribbon
or
some
folks
don
matching
T-shirts
.
Dana
42:59
You
know
depending
on
what
they're
there
to
support
,
just
something
,
so
that
when
you're
speaking
,
or
when
whoever
you
know
is
going
to
be
speaking
is
doing
so
,
it
gives
them
a
visual
.
You
know
again
,
it's
not
just
one
person
speaking
.
At
that
point
it
the
weight
of
what
you're
saying
becomes
much
more
significant
,
because
other
people
are
there
with
you
.
You're
not
alone
.
Alanna
43:17
So
it
means
a
lot
,
absolutely
.
What
are
some
of
the
things
you're
looking
forward
to
continuing
to
advocate
for
in
the
,
in
the
legislator
for
you
?
Yeah
?
Dana
43:26
So
at
this
point
we
just
started
a
new
legislative
session
here
in
New
Jersey
in
January
,
and
so
we
have
two
year
legislative
sessions
.
It's
a
little
bit
weird
the
way
it
works
and
again
,
it's
going
to
be
different
in
every
state
,
but
any
bill
that
did
not
become
law
during
the
last
legislative
session
,
which
expired
in
January
,
they
die
.
Dana
43:43
They
die
out
and
they
have
to
be
reintroduced
and
the
whole
process
starts
again
in
the
new
legislative
session
.
So
right
now
I'm
watching
these
bills
to
see
what's
going
to
happen
when
they're
going
to
be
reintroduced
,
when
the
next
round
of
committee
hearings
are
going
to
be
,
because
they
,
to
my
knowledge
again
,
sometimes
the
websites
are
a
little
slow
in
getting
updated
.
Sometimes
they're
very
quick
and
sometimes
they're
slow
.
I've
not
yet
been
able
to
figure
out
.
I
think
it's
just
a
matter
of
human
resources
to
input
the
information
,
I'm
sure
.
So
the
bills
that
have
not
become
law
yet
will
be
reintroduced
and
start
the
process
all
over
again
.
So
I'm
waiting
now
to
see
what
happens
with
them
so
we
can
start
our
next
round
of
efforts
to
hopefully
correct
them
and
I
hate
to
oppose
them
,
I
really
do
,
gosh
,
we
need
this
stuff
so
badly
,
but
we
need
it
to
be
correct
.
We'd
rather
have
no
legislation
than
harmful
legislation
.
So
I
think
right
now
,
just
watching
to
see
what
happens
and
seeing
,
kind
of
where
our
efforts
are
most
needed
.
Alanna
44:35
Where
have
you
seen
the
most
change
in
the
bills
?
Dana
44:39
So
they
were
willing
to
add
.
It's
a
very
small
tweak
.
They
added
in
the
categories
of
patients
who
are
identified
by
the
bills
they
added
language
that
stated
specifically
that
it
could
include
pre-menarchal
girls
or
post-menopausal
women
.
They
still
identified
that
women
of
reproductive
age
15
to
44
and
then
kind
of
parenthetical
after
that
,
also
including
pre-menarchal
adolescents
and
post-menopausal
women
.
So
that
was
a
big
change
.
Dana
45:08
I've
submitted
sort
of
paragraph
by
paragraph
suggestions
to
like
for
language
changes
.
So
I've
rewritten
the
bills
a
couple
of
times
in
ways
that
I
think
are
not
so
substantial
that
they're
going
to
balk
at
the
changes
,
but
substantial
enough
that
it
addresses
our
concerns
.
And
they've
kind
of
picked
and
chosen
,
you
know
,
a
few
little
pieces
here
and
there
.
So
that
was
a
big
change
.
But
I
think
there's
again
a
long
way
to
go
.
And
they
did
add
some
symptoms
,
a
list
of
symptoms
that
people
suffer
from
.
It
is
by
no
means
an
exhaustive
list
.
It's
very
brief
and
leaves
out
some
pretty
significant
symptoms
that
I've
asked
them
to
include
,
and
so
they
haven't
included
them
all
,
but
they've
included
some
,
which
I
think
is
a
step
.
Dana
45:43
So
I
feel
like
that's
where
they've
been
willing
to
make
changes
,
those
two
areas
.
Alanna
45:48
Yeah
,
and
the
reason
I
ask
that
is
because
that
wouldn't
happen
if
people
like
you
wouldn't
step
into
that
place
and
say
something
.
Alanna
45:54
And
so
just
being
aware
of
it
is
great
,
but
making
sure
that
if
you
have
a
passion
for
it
,
to
fight
for
that
,
because
not
everyone
will
have
the
same
passions
,
and
I
think
that's
what's
so
great
about
being
in
a
community
is
that
you
have
the
ability
to
speak
at
this
level
and
you
understand
it
better
than
most
would
.
But
other
people
and
,
adversely
,
other
people
wouldn't
want
to
do
a
podcast
.
Let
me
just
tell
you
it's
not
that
easy
.
I'm
just
better
used
than
me
.
So
just
using
your
gifts
and
skills
and
abilities
to
advocate
,
but
knowing
to
stand
and
have
someone's
sex
on
this
,
too
,
is
just
as
imperative
,
and
so
I
think
it
comes
a
full
circle
and
there
are
great
advocates
doing
great
things
and
standing
behind
them
and
supporting
them
and
encouraging
them
Because
this
is
kind
of
daunting
to
do
and
it's
discouraging
and
standing
behind
people
and
saying
we
have
your
back
,
keep
on
going
,
you're
doing
a
great
job
.
What
can
I
help
with
?
That
matters
too
.
Dana
46:55
It
does
,
and
I'll
tell
you
,
our
community
has
been
great
as
far
as
folks
sharing
our
efforts
here
in
New
Jersey
on
social
media
.
It's
been
hugely
helpful
and
that
has
directly
led
to
several
other
folks
from
the
Ando
community
coming
out
and
meeting
me
at
the
state
house
to
sit
through
these
community
meetings
.
And
we
also
we
do
have
a
petition
that
was
designed
to
convince
the
legislators
again
that
folks
care
just
to
kind
of
correct
the
wording
,
and
we've
had
hundreds
and
hundreds
of
signatures
there
.
So
that's
been
amazing
.
And
,
again
,
all
due
to
people
on
social
media
having
my
sex
and
sharing
all
those
things
,
which
has
been
so
,
so
helpful
.
Reports
of
that
just
came
at
the
end
or
so
.
Alanna
47:31
Yeah
,
absolutely
,
and
if
people
want
to
sign
that
petition
,
can
they
do
it
,
even
if
they
are
not
in
New
Jersey
.
Dana
47:39
Absolutely
,
so
.
You
don't
have
to
have
endometriosis
,
you
don't
have
to
be
in
New
Jersey
.
Anyone
in
the
world
can
sign
that
petition
,
so
I'll
make
sure
you
get
a
link
for
that
.
Alanna
47:46
Yes
,
yeah
,
absolutely
.
And
where
do
they
find
this
?
Just
in
case
they're
listening
and
they
want
to
convert
it
to
memory
,
which
is
something
I'm
not
skilled
at
.
But
where
would
they
find
that
petition
?
Dana
47:57
Yes
,
it
is
changeorg
NJEndometriosis
.
If
you
that
,
you'll
see
a
picture
.
It's
a
yellow
background
of
a
woman
clutching
her
belly
,
and
that's
our
petition
.
Alanna
48:05
OK
,
so
changeorg
.
Dana
48:08
And
then
NJEndometriosis
legislation
.
I
believe
is
the
rest
of
the
link
.
Alanna
48:12
OK
,
perfect
,
so
go
ahead
and
sign
that
,
be
part
of
the
team
,
even
if
it's
in
New
Jersey
and
you're
not
in
New
Jersey
.
It
takes
sometimes
only
one
state
to
start
the
chain
effect
of
change
,
and
so
even
though
you're
not
in
that
state
doesn't
mean
that
it
won't
affect
your
state
at
some
point
or
you
at
some
point
,
so
that's
a
really
good
place
to
start
.
Do
you
have
anything
to
impart
on
all
of
us
when
it
comes
to
this
In
closing
?
Dana
48:39
We
all
have
a
responsibility
to
just
share
our
knowledge
and
make
sure
that
others
are
educated
and
empowered
.
The
phrase
Heather
Godone
always
uses
is
each
one
,
teach
one
.
And
.
Dana
48:50
I
think
that
there's
so
much
to
be
said
for
that
I
wouldn't
know
half
of
what
I
know
if
it
wasn't
for
folks
like
her
and
Kate
Boyce
and
other
advocates
sharing
their
knowledge
,
and
I
think
that
we
all
have
a
responsibility
to
do
that
,
not
just
in
our
endo
social
media
pages
and
all
of
that
,
but
in
our
personal
lives
too
,
and
I
don't
often
share
as
much
on
my
personal
social
media
about
these
things
for
obvious
reasons
,
but
I've
shared
a
little
bit
and
it's
actually
directly
led
to
a
number
of
people
reaching
out
privately
who
didn't
know
that
this
was
a
thing
,
and
they've
been
diagnosed
with
endo
and
hadovlations
or
they're
struggling
to
find
a
doctor
who
can
give
good
care
,
and
so
we've
been
able
to
tap
into
the
network
,
so
folks
who
we
all
know
through
our
community
to
get
them
good
care
.
Dana
49:33
And
so
I
think
,
yeah
,
just
do
something
.
Whatever
it
is
that
falls
within
your
skill
set
,
whether
it's
again
a
podcast
,
whether
it's
showing
up
to
the
legislature
,
whether
it's
making
really
great
social
media
graphics
whatever
it
is
,
make
an
effort
to
do
something
.
Alanna
49:47
Absolutely
,
that's
so
good
.
That's
so
good
If
you
want
to
follow
more
of
what
Dana
is
doing
and
her
journey
and
then
also
just
to
be
connected
with
her
.
She
is
on
and
your
is
endoeatsnj
.
Dana
50:04
That's
it
,
yes
,
that's
me
,
that's
you
.
Yes
,
I
started
when
I
was
making
dietary
changes
and
so
it's
full
of
chocolate
recipes
and
that
has
slowed
down
quite
a
bit
lately
.
But
yeah
,
you
will
see
a
lot
of
food
recipes
.
Alanna
50:16
I
love
that
because
food
speaks
.
Yeah
,
right
,
people
don't
love
food
,
Right
?
Yeah
,
the
best
place
to
gather
is
around
the
table
,
which
is
why
I
record
this
at
a
table
,
because
I
want
people
to
feel
like
they're
just
having
dinner
with
me
and
having
a
conversation
,
because
that's
the
best
time
to
have
a
conversation
and
the
best
conversations
come
from
it
.
So
I'm
here
for
it
.
I'm
here
for
it
.
Love
that
.
Gratitude for Podcast Empowerment
Alanna
50:41
Thank
you
so
much
,
dana
,
for
taking
your
time
and
for
all
the
work
that
you're
doing
,
and
I'm
excited
to
see
what
change
you
can
elicit
in
the
future
.
But
,
furthermore
,
I'm
just
excited
to
be
able
to
be
on
this
journey
with
you
and
have
another
person
have
my
back
.
So
,
thank
you
.
Dana
50:58
Thank
you
so
much
for
all
that
you're
doing
,
for
having
me
here
today
and
all
of
the
great
work
you're
doing
with
your
podcast
.
I
am
so
impressed
by
your
interviews
and
the
folks
who
you're
hosting
again
to
teach
others
,
to
empower
others
and
educate
others
.
Alanna
51:11
So
thank
you
for
all
that
you're
doing
.
Thank
you
.
That
means
a
lot
to
me
.
Thank
you
,
and
until
next
time
,
everyone
continue
advocating
for
you
and
for
those
that
you
love
.