1 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to stuff Mom never told you From House to 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: works Nott Com. Hello and welcome to the podcast. I'm 3 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: Caroline and I'm Kristen, And today we are talking about 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: a health issue that affects a lot of women, millions 5 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: of women worldwide, but it was very misunderstood and is 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: another one of those health issues that a lot of 7 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: people a long time ago just assumed was an angry, 8 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: bloating uterus. Yeah, we're going to talk about endometriosis. And 9 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: back in the day, women who had chronic and severe 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: pelvic pain that we would these days associate more with 11 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: endometriosis were more likely diagnosed as having something called a 12 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: suffocating womb or hysteria as we've talked about in past podcast, 13 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: or they were just deemed crazy, Yes, your pain makes 14 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: you crazy, like yeah, people assume they were possessed on 15 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: all sorts of crazy stuff. But really, the crazy thing 16 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: is that this disease that affects women is still not understood. 17 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: There's still questions as to how and why you get 18 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: it and how you go about treating it. So, speaking 19 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: of the history of this condition, um Stanford gynecologist Cameron 20 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 1: nez hot Uh led a review of data going back 21 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: like four thousand years and found that women suffering from 22 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: endometriosis underwent torturous treatments including leeches and blood letting, hot douches, 23 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: being hung upside down, and even accused of demonic possession 24 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,559 Speaker 1: and ended up getting killed. And going back and looking 25 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: at these primary sources, Naza notes that Plato, for instance, 26 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: mentions womb suffocation which was most likely endometriosis. And then 27 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:03,919 Speaker 1: fastwarding way forward in history, we have Freud attributing endometriosis 28 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: two symptoms of hysteria. And even though it was first 29 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: identified around three years ago, it wasn't until the early 30 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: twentieth century with the development of anesthesia that there were 31 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: more intensive treatments available because you could actually do things 32 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: like take a biopsy. Um. But even since then, as 33 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: we'll talk about, endometriosis is difficult to get a diagnosis 34 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: for in a timely fashion and difficult to treat. Yeah, 35 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: I mean still surgery and biopsies are probably the best 36 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: way to diagnose endometriosis. Although you can get a minimally 37 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: invasive surgery, it's not like a massive surgery to detect endometriosis. UM. 38 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: But let's look at some some facts and stats um, 39 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: something that is heartbreaking to read about because as endometrios 40 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: is so painful, most women suffer endometrial pain for up 41 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: to ten years before diagnosis, and that that equates to 42 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: about five years spent in pain before they even reported 43 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: to anyone or go to the doctor about it, and 44 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: then another five years for a proper diagnosis. Because despite 45 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: the fact that endometrius is so common, um, there are many, 46 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: many stories still of women who go to doctor after 47 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: doctor after doctor and they're they're diagnosed with things like 48 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: irritable bow uh, even things ranging all the way up 49 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: to cervical cancer, pretty much anything but endometrios is. And 50 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: as you can imagine, because endometriosis affects so many women, 51 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: it does amount up to a massive medical cost um. 52 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: And this is coming from the Endometriosis Foundation of America, 53 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: which estimates that it racks up about twenty two billion 54 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: in related costs annually. And you mentioned at the top 55 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: of the podcast s, Carolina, it affects millions of women 56 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: and girls worldwide. Endometriosis as one of the most common 57 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: health problems in women, affects one hundred and seventies six 58 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: women and girls in the United States alone, we're talking 59 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: about around eight point five million. And even though twenty 60 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: seven is the average age of diagnosis, that is probably 61 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: not the age of onset for those painful symptoms. Right. Yeah, 62 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: it is considered you know, like a not an older women. 63 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: I don't mean like older women. I just mean it's 64 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: considered like a mature woman's condition. But yeah, like like 65 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: Kristen just said, it probably is something that young women 66 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: live with for a long time because they just think, well, 67 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: this is normal to have really painful periods or I'm 68 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: too embarrassed to talk about why my body hurts. Um, 69 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 1: but it can be serious. Uh. Endometriosis is one of 70 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: the top three causes of female infertility, and while it 71 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: is one of the most treatable causes of infertility, it 72 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: is also one of the least treated cases. So let's 73 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: talk about what endometriosis actually is. I have a feeling 74 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: that for many of the women listening, and probably a 75 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: lot of the men too, you've heard about endometriosis. You've 76 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: heard that word before, but myself included, I wasn't exactly 77 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: sure what it is inside the body. It is a 78 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: painful disorder in which the tissue that normally lines the 79 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 1: inside of your uterus, which is called the endometrium, grows 80 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: outside your uterus, and it most commonly involves your ovaries, bowel, 81 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: or the tissues aligning your pelvis, but it can also 82 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: spread beyond your pelvic region to the lungs, brain, and skin. 83 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: But those conditions are a lot rarer right, And the 84 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: extreme pain comes from the fact that this endometrial tissue, 85 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: this displaced tissue, despite where it is, you know, not 86 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: where it's supposed to be, it still acts like it 87 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: normally would, so that means that it thickens, breaks down, 88 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. However, because the displaced 89 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: tissue has no way to exit your body, as it 90 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: does during your period, it becomes trapped. And when the 91 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: endometriosis involves your ovaries, cysts called endometriom as can form, 92 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: and then that leads even worse. It keeps getting worse 93 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: do the surrounding tissue becoming irritated and eventually developing scar 94 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: tissue and adhesions, which are abnormal tissues that bind organs 95 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: together and so not surprisingly, endometriosis can cause pain, sometimes severe, 96 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: and especially during your period. And I know personally some 97 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: women who have endometriosis, and the pain is no joke. 98 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: It is excruciating for a lot of women. And like 99 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: you mentioned, Caroline, fertility problems may also develop, but there 100 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: are some effective treatments that are available, although there is 101 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: no cure for endometriosis. But let's back up for a 102 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: minute and talk about what the symptoms of endometriosis are. Yeah. 103 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: First of all, I mean, obviously you're going, as we said, 104 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: going to have a lot of pain, but the pain 105 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: doesn't necessarily equal the severity of the condition itself. It's 106 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: not like if you have terrible endometrios as you're going 107 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: to have terrible pain. You could have terrible endometriosis and 108 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: have mild pain or vice versa. This is really something 109 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: that you know, you do need to go to your 110 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: doctor about, obviously, because doctors Kristen and Caroline cannot give 111 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: the official word on anything. So one of the things 112 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: that you experience as a symptom of endometriosis is painful 113 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: periods otherwise known as dysmin area basically horrific cramps. Oh yeah, yeah, 114 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: And this pelvic pain and cramping might begin before and 115 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: extend several days into your period, and the pain can 116 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: radiate to your lower back and to the abdomen. And 117 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: most women who have endometriosis also have dysmin area, but 118 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: it's not it doesn't work both ways. Most women with 119 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: dysmin area in general do not have endometrios is, So 120 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: just because you have one doesn't necessarily mean that you'll 121 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: have the other. And another unpleasant symptom of endometriosis is 122 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: painful intercourse. UM. This is a common symptom and another 123 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: reason why it's tricky to diagnose sometimes because this might 124 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: be an issue that women don't want to talk about because, 125 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: as we talked about in our episode on volvedenia for instance, 126 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: or the hallmark is extremely painful intercourse. Um. There are 127 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: there's lots of shame that goes along with that. Not 128 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: only are women sometimes uncomfortable just talking about their vaginas 129 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: and sex and the things that go on, but it 130 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,839 Speaker 1: can cause problems with partners who might not be too 131 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: happy about that pain or think that they're faking it um. 132 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: And I'm talking obviously about worst case scenario, but it's 133 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: certainly a contributor to the diagnosis gap that we see 134 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: with this condition and pain also is known to occur 135 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 1: with bull movement or urination, although you are more likely 136 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: to experience those symptoms during your period. And speaking of periods, 137 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: you are more likely to have excessive bleeding or bleeding 138 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 1: between periods. And we've already talked about fertility a couple 139 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: of times, because infertility can be a symptom of endometriosis, 140 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: probably two for women who have waited longer to go 141 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: to the doctor or have had more trouble seeking a diagnosis. Um. 142 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: And on top of all of these pleasant things, so 143 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: we can just toss in some more symptoms including fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, 144 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 1: and nausea, especially during your period. And if these symptoms 145 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: sound like lots of different other things to you, uh, 146 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 1: you're not mislead at all. A lot of times, uh, 147 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: women who are coming with these symptoms often get diagnosed 148 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: for the wrong thing, like pelvic inflammatory disease of varian 149 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: cyst or like you mentioned caroline ib us irritable bowel syndrome. Well, 150 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: so we also mentioned earlier that you know, things are 151 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 1: still foggy about why women get into metriosis. There are 152 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: several contributing factors. One of those the one of the 153 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: main culprits that people talk about is retrograde menstruation, and 154 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: in this condition, menstrual blood containing indometrial cells flows back 155 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead 156 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: of out of the body. These display cells stick to 157 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: the pelvic walls and surfaces of pelvic organs, where they 158 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: grow and continue to thicken and bleed over the course 159 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: of each menstrual cycle. And it's this is actually thought 160 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: to happen in a lot of women, but women with 161 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: endometriosis or might not actually be able to clear the 162 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: extra fluid as well, and it can also result from 163 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: issues with embryonic cell growth, specifically in the cells lining 164 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 1: the abdominal and pelvic cavities which come from embryonic cells, 165 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: because when one or more small areas of the nominal 166 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: lining turned into endometrial tissue, endometriosis can develop. And also 167 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 1: for women who might have undergone his directomys or had 168 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: C sections, endometrial cells can attach to surgical incisions, and 169 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: there's also the blood vessels and tissue fluid that can 170 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: transport endometrial cells to other parts of the body. These 171 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: endometrial cells, by the way, Caroline. They are rebellious. It's 172 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: like I'm gonna go where I want to go. I know, 173 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: they're like horrible teenagers. They just want to get out 174 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: of the uterus. Let me out of the the uterus. 175 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: Help and mis cell. We're not trying to diminish the 176 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: pain of endometriosis, but really though, there's so many mechanisms 177 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: for these cells who get into other parts of the body. 178 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: Endometriosis is also linked to immune system disorders, and it's 179 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: possible that a problem with the immune system may make 180 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: the body more unable to recognize and destroy a endometrial 181 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: tissue that's gone rogue basically um. And there's also an 182 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: issue of the possibility of small amounts of tissue from 183 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: when you were nothing but an embryo might later become endometriosis. 184 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: So if you're experiencing these symptoms and you go to 185 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: the doctor, endometriosis is commonly diagnosed with a pelvic exam, 186 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: in which the doctor will feel for large cysts or 187 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: scars behind your uterus um. You might also get an 188 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: ultrasound to check for ovarian cysts or something called a 189 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: lapru scopy, which is when I believe they make an 190 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: incision in your belly button. Yeah, minimally invasive. It's one's 191 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: incisions in your belly button and one is right above 192 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: your pubic area, and they just look around and they 193 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: appear inside. But you know, I just I do want 194 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: to pause as we're talking about all this because I 195 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,719 Speaker 1: know that every time we do a health episode, I'm like, 196 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 1: I have it. I have it. I've got it. I 197 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: have it. Um. But I calmed myself down by reading 198 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: about the diagnosis and having pelvic exams, in which your doctor, 199 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: you know, feels for abnormalities than any sists or anything. 200 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: And I was like, Okay, you get a pelvic exam 201 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: and a paps mirror every single year. She has never 202 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: felt cysts. So you're probably just bloated from you know, 203 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: eating too much Mexican food or something. I don't know. 204 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: So this podcast is your own Web and D symptom 205 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: checker in which you generally get cancer like every other month. 206 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yeah, But but so far you're doing great, 207 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: Kristen at helping me figure out that I don't have 208 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: some of these things. Oh good. And you should also 209 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: listen to the advice we always give our listens, which 210 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: is talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner, right, But 211 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: being aware of these symptoms, especially for something like endometriosis 212 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: that affects so many women and yet it's so hard 213 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: to diagnose. I think it's really important though, for women 214 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: not to be alarmist, to say, run to your doctor 215 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: as soon as possible. But maybe it might set off 216 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: some lightbulbs for some girls and women who have been 217 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: experiencing this kind of pain and discomfort and don't know 218 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: what's going on, and maybe you know, we're doing our 219 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: part to help close that gap somewhat because it's it's 220 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: it is very astounding to me that medical technology and 221 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: research has not caught up to this problem. I don't 222 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: think it has in any at any rate. Well, they'll 223 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: never catch up to a floating uterus, that's true. Um. 224 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: So we're talking about diagnosis, and once endometriosis is diagnosed, 225 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: the treatment for it is going to depend on the 226 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: severity and it might include anything from pain medication to 227 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: hormone therapy. Um. I know women with endometriosis, for instance, 228 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: who are on hormonal birth control to control the growth 229 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: of the endometrial tissue. And then there's also surgery, which 230 00:14:54,240 --> 00:15:00,040 Speaker 1: might include laparoscopy or hysterectomy, right, and part of the 231 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: the hormonal birth control treatment makes me think of this girl, 232 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: and we should do an episode on treating things with 233 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: birth control, you know, not you know, not just taking 234 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: birth control for birth control. But a girl I went 235 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: to high school with had beyond killer cramps every month. 236 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: I mean she was in horrific pain, to the point 237 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: where she had to stay home and she actually her 238 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: her parents very reluctantly put her on birth control just 239 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: to control the pain. Um. But so what that does 240 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: when you take hormonal birth control is it decreases the 241 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: amount of menstrual flow and prevents the overgrowth of tissue 242 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: that lines the uterus um. Women can also take ganada, 243 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: trope and releasing hormone agonists and antagonists which lower estrogen 244 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: levels and stop the menstrul cycle. You can also use 245 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: progestins like depa, Privera, and a medication called danasoll which 246 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: is an androgen used to treat indometrioss and other similar conditions. Yeah, 247 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: and estrogen is often pinpointed when we look into what 248 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: can you prevent this? And unfortunately the answer is no, 249 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: There's no way to totally dodge endometriosis, but often doctors 250 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: might say that lowering estrogen levels can help, and some 251 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: ways non medicated that you can do that is through exercise, 252 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: reducing body fat, avoiding alcohol and caffeine. Sorry, I can't 253 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: give up my morning coffee. Um, but speaking of estrogen though, 254 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: I almost hate to mention this study that came out, 255 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: but it got a lot of pressed. It was weird, 256 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: it was very strange and um some people listeners might 257 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: have seen it when it came out in because it 258 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: concluded that among a group of three hundred women, those 259 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: with severe endometriosis were rated as more attractive than those 260 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: with mild endometriosis, possibly because they have higher levels of estrogen. 261 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: Now you can imagine how a finding like that would 262 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: just be taken and spun out into a million different 263 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: kinds of clickable headlines, um saying, hey, ladies, do you 264 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: have endometrios as well? Here's what upside, people think you're 265 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: really hot. Yeah. And the women in the study were 266 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: rated by two male doctors and two female doctors, and 267 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: the women who had severe endometrios is tended to have 268 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: smaller waists and larger breasts. Yeah, so I mean take 269 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: that finding for what it's worth. I tried to find 270 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: the actual study and kind of wrap my brain around 271 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: why these four doctors were rating this group of three 272 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: hundred women because the outcome from it. Yeah, they made 273 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 1: the point about, oh, well estrogen. You know, obviously these 274 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: women have more hourglass shapes. This is probably having to 275 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: do with estrogen. There's a genetic tie in this, UM 276 00:17:55,600 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: but the presentation of the findings were Yeah, making being 277 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: right and and making it about a woman's attractiveness is 278 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,679 Speaker 1: very weird and icky and strange because it could have 279 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: been presented as like, okay, well these women do have 280 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: this estrogen and it contributes to having a more hour 281 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: glass shape. You don't have to go into well we 282 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: rate it or hot or not? You know, Yeah, it 283 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 1: came across very much hot or not. So I don't 284 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: know if there are any academics listening who are familiar 285 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: with the study who can offer some insight into its value. 286 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: Please email us. Mom said Discovery dot com because it 287 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: was one of those that I just saw in my 288 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 1: news feed when it first came out, and I was 289 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: a bit taken aback, wondering why why um so Moving 290 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: along from that, what is it like living with indometriosis. Unfortunately, 291 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: the answer is a lot of times it's very painful. Yeah, 292 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: there um a lot of the stuff. Titles on this 293 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 1: condition include phrases like a life shaped by pain, agony, 294 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: I never know how I'll feel. I mean that should 295 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: be another indication for women out there who were like, 296 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 1: oh my god, do I have this? And clearly the 297 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: physical toll that it takes on on women is can 298 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 1: be pretty severe as well as the mental toll. Um 299 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: and relationships or something that come up in talking about 300 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 1: endometriosis as well, because it can be taxing for the 301 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: partner who's there. There was um a study on how 302 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: male partners dealt with being with a woman who has endometriosis, 303 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 1: and it concluded that low mood, anxiety, and powerlessness contributed 304 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,719 Speaker 1: to a grief like process much like that experienced by 305 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: their female partners, with all some also reporting acceptance and 306 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: relationship growth out of that. Um So, just a different 307 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: perspective on how ending atriosis is often about a lot 308 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: more for the women experience that experiencing it beyond just 309 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: killer cramps. And speaking of research, there is uh there 310 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: is something that's come up in more recent years is 311 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: readjusting our perception of endometriosis is something that really affects 312 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: women in their thirties and forties, because I did not 313 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: realize this about endometriosis, but it used to be referred 314 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:34,160 Speaker 1: to up until not that long ago as the career 315 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: woman's disease because it's often diagnosed in women in their 316 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: thirties who don't have kids. But obviously that's not the 317 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: only reason why it happens, and the reason why to 318 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: women often get those diagnoses in their thirties. I mean, 319 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: the average age of diagnosis, as we mentioned at the 320 00:20:53,119 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 1: top of the podcast, is but that follows years of symptoms, right, 321 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: because forty seven percent of women in one study reported 322 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: having to see a doctor five times or more before 323 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: they got a definitive diagnosis. And then you also have 324 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: to think about, Okay, your thirties. You're in your thirties, 325 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: you don't have kids. Maybe some of these women also 326 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: have been on birth control or been on depot prevyor 327 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: or something, and so they don't even realize until maybe 328 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: they get older and they want to have kids, or 329 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: they just want to switch their birth control or something. 330 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: Maybe that's when they start experiencing intense pain because they've 331 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,719 Speaker 1: gone off of it. Yeah. And I saw a story 332 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: from two thousand twelve over at w b R in 333 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: Boston about a girl I think she was fourteen or 334 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: fifteen when endometrial symptoms first SEVENCE. She was at a 335 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 1: Taylor Swift concert actually and doubled over in these sharp 336 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: pains that started happening. And following that, she and her 337 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: parents went through this medical saga of trying to get 338 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: some kind of diagnosis because no thing, none of the 339 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: treatments that were being given to her, because no one 340 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: was thinking, oh, indometriosis. None of the treatments were working. 341 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 1: And I mean, she's very fortunate because she comes from 342 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: a wealthy family and they were able to pay thousands 343 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: and thousands of dollars. And her mother is saying this 344 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: in the story, um, pay so much money for finding 345 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: a diagnosis. And then finally she got hooked up with 346 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 1: a specialist who said, oh, this is indometriosis. Um. And 347 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: so it's so important that maybe we start to, you know, 348 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 1: focus our attention away from oh, well, this is something 349 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: that happens to midle aged women who don't have kids. No, yeah, yeah, 350 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: I mean it's it is mind boggling to think that 351 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 1: this poor girl had to go to so many doctors 352 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: when it's like, hello, well, and how many poor girls 353 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,679 Speaker 1: you know, is it's going on with who are are 354 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:56,159 Speaker 1: experiencing these kinds of symptoms and now and just to 355 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 1: think about how many times she and probably so many 356 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:00,479 Speaker 1: other young girls have just there like here, here's some 357 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: pain meds. Just take some pain meds. Well, and the 358 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: statuh see women seeing a doctor five times or more 359 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: before getting a diagnosis reminds me of similar statistics that 360 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: come up when you look at polycystic ovarian syndrome volvidenia, 361 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 1: a lot of these conditions that involve the female pelvis. Well, yeah, 362 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: and how even today and we've talked about this before, 363 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: but like even today we have our own version of 364 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: telling women they have a hysterical uterus, you know, like 365 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: our version of that today is the doctor just saying, well, oh, 366 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: it's like some kind of phantom pain, like maybe you 367 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 1: used to have something that hurt and that was wrong, 368 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: but now you're just like your body is still firing 369 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: pain neuron or just having doctors who will simply switch 370 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: up your birth control right, just keep you birth control 371 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: hopping around. I know personally women that's happened to where 372 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: they go in with a problem and the doctor just 373 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: wants to change the birth control and that's not actually 374 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: the problem. So um, hopefully, I think that one good 375 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: step is educating ourselves first, so we know questions to 376 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: ask and symptoms to look for. I'm not saying going 377 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 1: the web md symptom checker alarmist route and diagnosing ourselves 378 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: with cancer. Caroline, I know, I know, I'm I've gotten better. 379 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: It's just now it's like, oh, we're researching a health 380 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 1: condition for the podcast. Oh well sure, yeah. I mean, 381 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: these kinds of things can definitely raise our eyebrows, but 382 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: you know, we need to be aware of what can 383 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: happen to our bodies. And and it's good for us, 384 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: you and I to read this stuff and for our 385 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,680 Speaker 1: listeners to hear us talking about it because it can 386 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: put a lot of people at ease and educate them 387 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: about Okay, you probably don't have this, but you might. 388 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: And that's why it's important to go to the doctor 389 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,640 Speaker 1: and know what to look for, and like you said, Noah, 390 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 1: to ask and hopefully educate guys who are still listening 391 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: to this podcast all about endometrial tissue gold star to you, 392 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,640 Speaker 1: because I mean that's going to make life easier as 393 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: well for women and girls who are experiencing this, for 394 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: everybody to have a better idea of what exactly is 395 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:15,440 Speaker 1: going on inside the body. So, now, I guess let's 396 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:17,640 Speaker 1: throw out a call. I want to hear from listeners 397 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: who who have the condition, who have dealt with it. 398 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: Have you had a stereotypically frustrating medical experience trying to 399 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 1: find a diagnosis and a treatment, and how do you 400 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: manage your symptoms? I mean, obviously for some people they're 401 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: more severe than others UM, but we want to be 402 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,639 Speaker 1: able to share with other listeners techniques that maybe you 403 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: found helpful for managing UM endometrial pain and discomfort. So 404 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,919 Speaker 1: send us your letters. Mom Stuff discovery dot com is 405 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:49,959 Speaker 1: where you can send them. You can also message us 406 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: on Facebook or tweet us at mom Stuff Podcasts. And 407 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: we have a couple of letters to share with you. 408 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: Right after a quick break and now back to our letters, 409 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: All right, Well, I have a letter here from Katie 410 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 1: Beth and she volunteers in women's prisons in her state 411 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 1: for a program called Storylink, and she wanted to write 412 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 1: in and give her her view on some things. After 413 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: our women's prison episode, she says, the visiting situation was 414 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: not something you mentioned on your podcast. Small active children 415 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 1: can easily get in trouble in the visiting room. Guards 416 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: are already on edge and maybe may put pressure on 417 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: moms to control their children, not an easy task if 418 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,360 Speaker 1: you haven't seen them on a regular basis. Something else 419 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 1: you didn't mention is that communities with men's prisons will 420 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: often see a wife or girlfriend move into town to 421 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,439 Speaker 1: be close to an offender during incarceration. It's fairly common 422 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 1: for a family to follow a male offender. This does 423 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: not happen very often for women, and it's uncommon for 424 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 1: a primary caregiver to suddenly go months without seeing their 425 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: children at all because no family member on the outside 426 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: lives close by or is able or willing to drive 427 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: some distance to that prison. And all of my volunteer training, 428 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 1: it has been stressed that the support system on the 429 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 1: outside for a female offender is typically much smaller than 430 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,400 Speaker 1: the support system on the outside for a male offender, 431 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 1: and Katie Bath also points out she says, I have 432 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: also been told that administrative segregation slash the shoe which 433 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: is a segregated housing unit. UM is also done for 434 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: protection in an enemy situation. Safety may only be guaranteed 435 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: if a target is isolated. So thank you for all 436 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: of your inside knowledge, Katie. We appreciate it, and thanks 437 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: for listening. And I've got an email here from Kate 438 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: in response to our lean in episode Unbalancing Wook Life Balance, 439 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 1: and it was she's referencing a story that you told, 440 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:47,479 Speaker 1: Caroline about an older man who was profiled on Humans 441 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: of New York who said that when he looked back, 442 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: he said he'd give up a couple of rungs on 443 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: the ladder to have spent more time with his kids. 444 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 1: She writes, I think this is a pretty common refrain, 445 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: and to be honest, it's one that's always irked me. 446 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,360 Speaker 1: It's easy to say to younger people you shouldn't work 447 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: too hard, enjoy life, it'll work out, etcetera. But the 448 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: reality is it's a lot easier to say that having 449 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 1: made money and knowing how your life turned out than 450 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 1: it is in your twenties. You don't know at whether 451 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: you'll be successful or have the money to pay for 452 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: your kids college education or buy a house. You don't 453 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 1: know whether you could suffer financial setbacks as a result 454 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: of something that could happen to your partner, or whether 455 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 1: you will have the sort of career that enables you 456 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 1: to live comfortably and have a good work life balance. 457 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: I don't think you have to pressure yourself to have 458 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: it all to still struggle with mitigating these concerns. While 459 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: it may seem like a cruel irony, I don't think 460 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: you can really take that tact in anything but hindsight 461 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 1: or once you've had the luxury to slow down. From 462 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: personal experience, my grandparents worked really hard to get to 463 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: the top and barely saw their children. My parents decided 464 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: to do things differently because they wanted the balance in 465 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: more time with their kids, but they have financially suffered 466 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: enormously for it. The sad reality is there is no 467 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: right answer nor any way saying you would be happier 468 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 1: or better off if you had taken it easier. I 469 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 1: think the best we can do is find jobs to 470 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: make us happy for fifty weeks out of the year, 471 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 1: and not just counting down to the two weeks when 472 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: we're on vacation. Likewise, it's important to raise children not 473 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: apologizing constantly or punishing yourself for the time away, but 474 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: rather emphasizing yourself as a strong role model of good 475 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,719 Speaker 1: work ethics and maximizing the time that you do have together. 476 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 1: So thanks for some wisdom, Kate, and some real talk. 477 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: And if you've got some real talk to send us. 478 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: Mom Stuff Discovery dot com is where you can send 479 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: your letters police head over to Facebook and like us 480 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 1: and follow us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast and 481 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: you can also follow us on Instagram at stuff mom 482 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 1: Never Told You, and you can watch us as well 483 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: on YouTube. YouTube dot com slash stuff Mom Never Told 484 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 1: You is where you can go and don't forget to 485 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 1: subscribe for more on this and thousands of other topics. 486 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 1: Does it have stuff works dot com se