WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:04.960 PEP Radio is a part of the Pennsylvania Equality Project 2 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:08.919 that plays music, news and weather, actively advocating for the 3 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:12.880 LGBTQ plus and disabled. Since twenty twenty. 4 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:16.679 Four, PEP Radio available on Live three sixty five, Roku, 5 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:23.199 Alexo and ATPA Quality dot Com. 6 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:27.199 Here at gay SA Radio, we're very happy to welcome 7 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:32.320 The Otherring Podcast to our airwaves. Catch the show every 8 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:38.719 Thursday at noon Caighten, bringing fresh voices and compelling conversations 9 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:39.399 straight to you. 10 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:43.119 Head over to GSA radio dot stream to find out 11 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:45.439 how you can tune in and become part of our family. 12 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:49.200 Don't miss it only on gay SA Radio, where you 13 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:50.159 are family. 14 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:58.640 One mayor and one woman joined forces to rid the world. 15 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:06.280 What are you doing of inequality and fascism? Seriously, I'm trying. 16 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:10.159 I'm trying to do a promo here for who What 17 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:15.680 are you doing? Welcome to the Othering Podcast with my Candori. 18 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:33.079 Hello, Hello, I'm good. How are you doing good? 19 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:34.159 All right? 20 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.159 Today we are talking to Liz Douglas. Liz is a 21 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:42.599 marathon runner, activist, women's health advocate, and single queer mom. Professionally, 22 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:45.400 she has been an entrepreneur and worked with many and 23 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:49.719 emerging tech startups and global businesses. She has had to 24 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:58.480 navigate the challenges of living with endometriosis, adenimosis, fibroids, hypermobility, CPTSD, 25 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:02.560 and anxiety, all while balancing these aspects of her identity. 26 00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:06.840 Liz likes to create content on her invisible illnesses, usually 27 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:11.560 while training for marathons using her platform for disability awareness. 28 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:15.120 Raising money for charities as her passion, and she most 29 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:19.479 recently ran the Brighton Marathon for Cancer Research UK and 30 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:23.280 we'll run the twenty twenty six London Marathon for Since UK, 31 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:27.280 which is a charity that helps people with disabilities of 32 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:32.919 any age. Welcome, Liz, that's great to have you, so. 33 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.439 Great to have you, and we are thrilled to talk 34 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:42.000 to you. Like, that's amazing. Your accomplishments are really amazing. 35 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:44.840 And if it's. 36 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:48.759 Okay with you, I'm proud of you because, like you know, 37 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:54.400 that is really amazing accomplishments. And I don't mean to 38 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.120 come off as like, you know, silly or something, but 39 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:03.360 it's just genuinely like easy what you've done, and especially 40 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:08.520 the running part, because I running is not my forte 41 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:09.719 it would. 42 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:11.000 It would not work for me. 43 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:16.280 How did you find running to be you know, your center. 44 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:20.080 You know. I think I've always been very very active, 45 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:26.000 and I've always used exercise and movement as a way 46 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:29.960 to connect, you know, the mind and the body. And 47 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:34.439 especially after a pretty traumatic event where I just felt 48 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:39.240 very very disconnected from my mind and body, I started 49 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:44.960 with dance and dancing publicly and doing performances, and then 50 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:47.719 I was in Cappawetta for a little bit got kicked 51 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:49.400 in the face too much, so I was like, okay, 52 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:56.560 done with that. I need to I was encouraged by 53 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:59.240 actually some of the people that I was doing Capeta 54 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.560 with to start running with them, and that began my 55 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:07.439 running journey. I also found it as a as a 56 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:11.800 good way to feel that I actually had control over 57 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:15.759 my body, which was I felt like I had no 58 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.639 control over my own body when I was pregnant with 59 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:22.360 my kiddo, and the only time that I felt a 60 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:26.000 piece and that I had control over my body was 61 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:28.720 when I was running. And it was also like good 62 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:32.279 for pain management for me. At that time, I didn't 63 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:36.720 really understand why because the doctors weren't giving me reasons why. 64 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:42.240 But when I finally flash forwards, like last year when 65 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:45.839 I was diagnosed with endometriosis I was describing to her. 66 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:48.079 I was like, yeah, sometimes the only thing that takes 67 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.000 the pain away is when I go out for a run. 68 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:55.360 She goes, oh, yeah, yeah, classic endometriosis like sense of 69 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.519 that actually does help with the pain. So that was 70 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:02.959 a very long journey to you to understand why running 71 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.879 and movement was actually really beneficial for. 72 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:10.240 Me, especially because at those times you want to curl 73 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:14.519 up into a ball and you know, like put rocks 74 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.759 in your stomach or anything to kind of stop the pain, 75 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:22.639 and it seems like, you know, any type of movement 76 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:26.120 would be like the wrong thing to ever do. I 77 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:31.959 don't think I had endometriosis, but I have severely painful periods. 78 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:35.680 And the times that I couldn't do anything because I 79 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:39.360 was in school were worse than when I was riding 80 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:41.639 a horse, Like I could deal with it when I 81 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:44.399 was riding horses because you're so focused, for one thing, 82 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:48.439 on you know, not dying, because the horse could you know, 83 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:53.279 fling you anytime. And also the physicality of it just 84 00:05:53.319 --> 00:05:56.360 constantly moving and you know, moving around your body, you 85 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:59.319 can't focus very well. 86 00:05:59.079 --> 00:05:59.759 On the pain. 87 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:03.199 It's not to say that that's a cure all or anything. 88 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:05.959 But it does make a difference. 89 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.720 Absolutely it does. And there have been times where I 90 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.600 haven't been able to do it actually because with the 91 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:16.560 inflammation from the endometriosis, what's happening with me, how it 92 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:20.639 presents and me and other people that may have this condition, 93 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:23.519 is that I will get nerve pain that extends all 94 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.560 the way down my right leg, and that is what 95 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:29.360 would send me to my bed, curled up in a 96 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:32.560 ball and I could not walk, I could not definitely 97 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:35.319 could not run, and I would just be there for 98 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:40.240 a day or two. And so that that scenario has 99 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:44.160 happened to me too, and I'm still navigating that that 100 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:48.839 nerve pain, but it is less severe after the surgery happens. 101 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:52.720 But you're right, you're the focus is also a good 102 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:55.439 point to point out, like when you are when you 103 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:58.160 have that goal in mind with that movement, I think 104 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:01.360 it does. It can, just yes, And I. 105 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:03.759 Would imagine that helps a lot with the mental health 106 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:06.560 as well. I know for me when I'm in bad 107 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:09.959 depression and stuff, if I go do something and I'm 108 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:13.639 busy and distracted makes a big difference. I'm sure running 109 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:15.360 is a great way to get your mind off of 110 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:18.920 things and to focus and makes a big difference. 111 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:21.839 There, huge difference, huge difference. It makes a difference in 112 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:24.879 my nude. In fact, I think even my kiddo notices that. 113 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:26.439 He's like, Mommy, you need to go for a wrong. 114 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:33.279 Yeah, it's really bad when your kid's like, here's your keys, you. 115 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:36.959 Know, run and I'll see you in like thirty minutes 116 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:37.399 to an hour. 117 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:43.480 Yes, And that distraction I think, you know, it comes 118 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:46.879 at a great not comes it is a great point 119 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:50.240 because there are so many things like for like I said, 120 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:53.319 for me, you know, riding horses was a great distraction, 121 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:59.319 and shooting guns, which sounds weird, but that whole process 122 00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:03.040 of having to completely blank your mind because you're you 123 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.480 have to focus so much on what you're doing so 124 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:09.519 that you don't, you know, in your case, trip and 125 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:13.040 hurt yourself and you know you got to kind of 126 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.160 keep your form and all of that just kind of 127 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:20.040 also helps with the brain because you can't have those 128 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.360 intrusive thoughts because it's dangerous. 129 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:27.160 So I have a random question about running, not so 130 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:31.240 much related to the chronic illness behind it. How long 131 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:34.399 did it take you from starting to enjoying running to 132 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:38.879 be able to get up to marathons. Oh goodness, that 133 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:40.600 seems like a huge accomplishment. 134 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:42.639 It is, and you know, I run them and buy 135 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:44.559 mile twenty I'm like, why did I do this? And 136 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.559 by the end of it then I'm like, Okay, I'll 137 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:51.240 do it again. But I often tell people, I'm like, 138 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:56.639 a marathon is just six miles too long for me. Yeah, 139 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:02.639 which means that I'll never be an ultra marathon. Twenty 140 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:05.960 six is good good enough. I think it took. It 141 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.200 took a few years to where I, you know, I 142 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:12.000 was doing half marathons with my friends and then I said, 143 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:15.679 you know, I really really want to challenge myself and 144 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:19.759 and do this marathon. And what happened was I ended 145 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:23.519 up training for the marathon while I was pregnant. Wow, 146 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.480 because it was it wasn't supposed to be time that way, 147 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:33.919 but it was so and and because of that that 148 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.960 training and that focus, Like once I did that marathon, 149 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:40.480 and it wasn't a beautiful place too. It was in Bermuda, 150 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:41.080 so like. 151 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.720 You can't oh wow, okay, yeah. 152 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:50.279 So you know that one, that one I really really enjoyed. 153 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.480 It was like something that I also, you know, was 154 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.799 able to share with my kiddo. He was. He was 155 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:59.320 running the marathons with me, so that was enjoyable as well. 156 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.720 You always enjoyed running and exercises. And I mean you 157 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.600 said you were doing dance. Is that something you've enjoyed 158 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:07.720 since you were a kid. 159 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:14.720 No, well, I was like a late bloomer, so I 160 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:21.159 didn't do any sports and in high school or younger, 161 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:24.759 but when I got to college I did. I did 162 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:25.600 start running too. 163 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:30.919 If you don't mind me asking again, you know, we 164 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.759 can edit this out if you'd like. But I was 165 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:36.399 just wondering, how have you been able to take care 166 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:39.919 of yourself? Because you're a single mother and most of 167 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:42.159 the people that we've gotten to talk to usually have 168 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:45.879 a significant other or a partner type of thing that's 169 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.279 there to help when things get bad. How have you 170 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:56.240 handled being single and you know, dealing with your different diagnoses. 171 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.799 Yes, so I have a lot of responses to that. 172 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:06.360 So let me keep it with these different different illnesses. 173 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:11.360 First off, I have a really lovely chosen family, both 174 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.720 near and far. Like I said, there's there's some in 175 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:18.759 the UK, there's some here that are really willing to 176 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.240 step in or even if I just need to call 177 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:23.519 them on the phone and that's the support that I 178 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:27.720 need is just to talk with somebody that day. I 179 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:31.399 feel very very lucky to have the support network that 180 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:35.039 I do. So, and I've also I stayed off to 181 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:38.399 social media for a really long time, a really long 182 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:41.960 time working in the tech industry. I'm a bit suspect 183 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:42.240 of it. 184 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:44.360 Yeah, I understand. 185 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:55.080 But I got on onto Instagram finally because I did 186 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:58.000 feel that I had a few friends that kind of 187 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:03.440 knew about these different illnesses, but not a huge community 188 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.679 where I could go and I could talk to. So 189 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.559 I feel very blessed for the people that I've met 190 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:15.039 through that. So not all social media is bad. You 191 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:19.360 can have a very lovely community in the chronic on 192 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:22.639 this space, and so I feel very fortunate to have 193 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.080 met They happen to be all women, so all women 194 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:30.200 that are in this space, and we share our stories. 195 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:34.039 We help each other out, like having this symptom today, 196 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:39.480 can you help me or suggest something, or even helping 197 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:46.960 them navigate the US healthcare system, which is absolutely insane. Yeah, 198 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.720 and trying to help with like even just getting on 199 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:55.000 disability or medical It's just crazy, it is. 200 00:12:55.799 --> 00:13:00.480 I just recently learned how before nineteen seventy three It 201 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:05.039 used to be that all of our insurance companies were nonprofits, 202 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.919 so they had to, you know, work for us, and 203 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:11.840 it was Nixon that decided, you know what, let's change 204 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:17.879 that anyway. Yeah, and here we are. 205 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:22.960 So many problems begun with them. Yes, yes they do. 206 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:29.639 And I'm glad that you mentioned those things because community 207 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:34.080 is a huge thing, especially for even if you're married, 208 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:37.960 even if you have that other person, it's really great 209 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:42.120 to have that community because for me, you have You 210 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:45.759 guys are like the most welcoming people I have ever met. 211 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:51.039 And I thank you all so much because not only 212 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:56.000 are you like welcoming, but you're like individually wonderful and 213 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:00.159 it's nice. It again, it sucks that we have to 214 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:03.480 be in pain or disabled in such in order to 215 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:07.080 find each other, but I think that at the same time, 216 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:12.279 that makes it more beautiful because then we have that 217 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:15.440 camaraderie that can't be taken absolutely. 218 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:20.159 Yes, it's it is beautiful and it is Yeah, nobody 219 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:23.399 can take us that away from us, like not our 220 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:30.720 the toxic people in our life. Yes, the toxic some 221 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:33.679 of the toxic things that we're experiencing just on a 222 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:37.759 day to day political and environment and all these things. 223 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:42.480 But when we have these points of connection, like deep connection, 224 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:46.159 I feel like, Okay, the world isn't so bad. 225 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:51.159 And that's the other thing is that I think, at 226 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:53.799 least for me, being able to meet the people that 227 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:58.519 I've gotten to meet so far has shown me that, yeah, 228 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:05.399 everybody is and trumps you know, because the media, especially 229 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:09.080 social media in news and everything just kind of pushes 230 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:11.879 their narratives. So you kind of get this feeling of 231 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:15.240 everybody's like that, oh my god, there is no hope. 232 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:18.240 Oh my god, they're awful. 233 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.200 I have I have not. 234 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:23.080 Even don't bother. 235 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:30.799 And so you get this feeling of they're just horrible 236 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:35.639 people everywhere and there's nobody good. And when I started, 237 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:42.440 you know, meeting everybody in both the LGBTQ and disabled communities, 238 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:44.919 it was just like, oh my god, there are these 239 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:48.159 are my people. These are really good people. They're sweet, 240 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:53.720 they're smart, they're you know, they're wonderful, and they're actually 241 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:57.960 happy too. And it's just and I don't mean happy 242 00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:00.639 in a flippant way, but happy as in you all 243 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:06.519 have found your meanings and you're able to not only 244 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:10.320 enjoy your own meaning but help other people find it too, 245 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:13.559 and you know, that's a huge thing that a lot 246 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:18.200 of people can't do unfortunately unfortunately. 247 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:24.559 Yeah, if I can help another person, like even if 248 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:28.440 it's just one person, I feel very very fortunate and 249 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:31.440 very honored to be able to help that other person. 250 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:36.480 So, going from getting on social media finding that community, 251 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:41.480 to your advocacy that you do online, what did that 252 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:44.639 process kind of look like? Were you going into social 253 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:47.519 media with that intention or did that grow later as 254 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:50.159 you realized these people are awesome? 255 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:56.399 I think it was how I'd like to I'd like 256 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.960 to see what's out there in terms of the endometia 257 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:03.120 criosis community where I mean, but it is, it is 258 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:05.960 shocking to me how how little is known. Like I 259 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.640 didn't even know what I no myosis was until I 260 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:11.240 was diagnosed with it. I'm like, what, I don't know what, Like, 261 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:16.960 I've never heard of this. Why haven't anybody anybody in 262 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:21.039 the nearly thirty pleasure years I've suffered with this ever 263 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:24.160 mentioned They were just like, Oh, you're bleeding for months 264 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.880 on and that sucks for you, doesn't it. 265 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.559 Yeah, that's what's the only only explanation that I would get. 266 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:33.279 So I was like, maybe maybe there's like some other 267 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:35.759 people out here, and I just I didn't. I didn't 268 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:39.599 realize that when I got on in January earlier this 269 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:42.559 year that I'd end up doing a five ka for 270 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:47.039 fibroids as I was training and you know, doing the 271 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:50.200 research to be every day to be able to like 272 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:54.200 talk on this particular topic on that five kDa for 273 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:58.240 fibroids or excuse me. I did a five kDa for 274 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:04.559 fivebrids in July, and then five kDa for endometriosis in March, 275 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:08.720 which is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and then Android's Awareness Month 276 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:12.279 is in July. So I did the Fibroids Awareness Month 277 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:16.559 in support of the Fibroids Foundation, which is a wonderful organization. 278 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:21.039 I should mention them too, because this organization helped me 279 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:24.839 during when I first found out about my diagnosis, and 280 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:28.279 even you know, Terry, she sent me a text like 281 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:31.920 I hope your operation, Hope the surgery went well, you know, 282 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:35.680 Like so just having that support, I was like, as 283 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:37.519 soon as I'm able to, I'm going to help y'all 284 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:42.680 with the five kday for Fibroids to raise money for 285 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:46.559 them back in July. And I had no idea that 286 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:49.799 that's where my journey would take me. But I was like, yeah, 287 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:54.599 I really I really love being if I have the 288 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:56.799 power to do this, I really want to be able 289 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.599 to do this as long as I can do it, 290 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:03.519 as like even up tell my nineties, you could. 291 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:07.480 I mean, there was a woman who was eighty eight 292 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.960 who recently started, you know, weightlifting, So if she can 293 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:14.400 do it, yeah, I'm sure you can run into your nineties. 294 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:18.519 So I've got the million dollar question. They always say 295 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.920 when you have bad periods and a lot of pain, 296 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:24.039 just have a baby. That'll help. So when you had 297 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:29.200 a baby, did that help? I figured I figured out 298 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.759 put it out there for everyone to know. 299 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:34.799 Yeah, thank you for bringing that up, because that is 300 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:40.319 such a huge myth, just just have a baby. And 301 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:43.759 I found out about my fibroids when I was pregnant 302 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:49.039 with my son and I had ultrasounds in the past. 303 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:53.440 I didn't have fibroids before having being pregnant, and it 304 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:58.400 was so much dismissed. It was dismissed as, oh, this 305 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:01.039 happens to every woman when they're like because of the 306 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:04.359 hormones when you're pregnant, like, don't don't worry about it, 307 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:11.319 Like it'll be fine. Yeah, And they absolutely were something 308 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:16.119 to worry about, and they got they they got worse 309 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:18.720 over time, and I got the sell me coastal vibroids, 310 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:21.200 which are just those are the ones that probably made 311 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.440 me believe I was bleeding for months on. But yeah, 312 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:27.799 the whole pregnancy mess absolutely like garbage. 313 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:33.400 Yeah, and that and he knows that too, because it 314 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:37.480 didn't help me with my pain at all. Like it 315 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:41.799 took until my third kid. And it's not to say 316 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:45.000 everybody have three kids, but it it wasn't until my 317 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:48.119 third child that I finally got some relief. 318 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:54.079 I think it was that I had to have like 319 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:58.079 after the third kid and a now UD And as 320 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:00.799 wonderful as how u d's are, they're not for everybody. 321 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:05.480 Everybody, that's correct, and it's yeah. 322 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:08.720 It was awesome, But that's the thing that I don't 323 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:13.720 understand is why are we prescribing pregnancy to everybody? 324 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:19.799 Yeah, and it's also I feel like it's rooted in 325 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:26.839 a very heteronormative approach and you see it in things 326 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:30.160 like that, like little microaggressions like just get pregnant, or 327 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:34.920 even my post surgery instructions where don't have don't put 328 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:37.880 anything in your vagina or have sex because it assumed. 329 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:39.839 I was like, that's in the same sentence, and because 330 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:42.640 I like to pick apart, like I bet you this 331 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:46.720 was written by man. Yeah, I bet you like that 332 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:52.519 implies penetrative sex. There can be sex of all types, right, right, 333 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:57.640 And I felt very offended by seeing that in my 334 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:01.400 post operative instructions, even though I know it's just like krinted, 335 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:05.119 They're not tailoring it to anybody, and it wasn't directed 336 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.920 at me, but like, but at. 337 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:11.240 The same time, it was yeah, and even you know 338 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:16.640 those words, you know, we have to choose carefully because 339 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:22.319 there are men that suffer from endometriosis. That's correct, cis tendered. 340 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:27.720 Men that suffer from endometriosis. Are you gonna say after 341 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:32.119 their surgery, don't have penetrated you know, don't put anything 342 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:38.160 in your vagina heights? I mean, so you have We 343 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:42.440 can't always just relate to not relate, but just use 344 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:46.279 the general, you know, wording, because it doesn't fit everybody. 345 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:51.400 It doesn't fit anybody everybody, and like it's and I 346 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:54.759 got my surgery done at a very progressive, like very 347 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:57.720 queer friendly place. I got it done at Stanford and 348 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:04.200 and so they it is. I don't know how it 349 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.839 is in areas where you don't like have have a 350 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:13.160 hospital like that that is queer friendly, and even a 351 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:17.240 queer friendly hospital is putting out those kinds of instructions 352 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:21.519 and guidance, and yeah, like, how how much worse is 353 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.319 it in other places. 354 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:27.039 Where honestly I shudder to think at how awful it is, 355 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:32.440 and especially like conservative areas, because you know, you can 356 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:38.319 be conservative, you can be progressive and all that stuff. 357 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:42.680 But the problem is when you take someone else's humanity 358 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:46.880 and say it's not right, when you know, you take 359 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:51.160 somebody else's feelings and thoughts and say, well, because you 360 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:55.359 don't think like me, you're worthless. And that's the problem 361 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:58.759 that I have. And you know them saying well, don't 362 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:02.480 stick anything in your vagina. The vagina I always keep. 363 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:10.079 My Southern accent makes me say virgina, and it's it 364 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:16.240 is offensive. Why can't you just say epstein, you know, 365 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.079 use more inclusive language. 366 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:23.559 That would be an amazing change to make. And words 367 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:29.400 do matter, absolutely, Yes, I don't have an answer as 368 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.920 to why they haven't done it yet, but I you know, 369 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:40.319 we have so many decades upon decades of discrimination within 370 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:45.319 the medical the medical industry. I was going to call 371 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:48.400 it the medical field, but the industry, it is kind of. 372 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:52.720 Like an industry. And it's a shame because, like you know, 373 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:57.160 it wasn't until nineteen ninety three when they finally started 374 00:24:57.240 --> 00:25:04.160 including a FABS in medical studies. They still haven't tested 375 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:08.640 you know, certain drugs and things like that on a FABS, 376 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:12.920 and so you have no clue how it's going to work. Necessarily, 377 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:16.759 it's a toss up and it's a crapshoot and it 378 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:20.319 shouldn't be that way. And you know, I'm sick of 379 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:23.240 people saying, well, you know, I understand that you're in pain, but. 380 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.480 You're a girl. 381 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:30.319 It's okay, Yeah, No, it's not under no circumstances. Should 382 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:33.279 anybody be used to pain. 383 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:38.079 Under no circumstances. Should it be that way? Absolutely not. 384 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:41.839 And you can get that kind of mentality from very 385 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:47.920 surprising places. I even got it from my mother growing up, 386 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:53.960 because these painful periods, the debilitating nature of it, just like, oh, 387 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.240 you're just trying to get out of school, and I 388 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:58.200 was like, no, I'm not, absolutely not. I'd rather be 389 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:02.279 in school, but I can't, can't. And her credit, she 390 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:05.599 did come and take care of me after my surgery. Least, 391 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:09.880 when she recalled, she's like, yeah, you have the hardest 392 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:13.799 time with your periods growing up. I was like, I 393 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:18.519 had to bite my phone. I looked up at credit. 394 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:23.759 My mom had issues with her periods, and so when 395 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:27.519 I came up having issues with mine, she was she 396 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:31.359 already knew this isn't normal, but you know, science hasn't 397 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.960 caught up with it yet, so you know, she would 398 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.440 let me stay home on the days that it would start, 399 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:40.440 and a lot of times she would try and get 400 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:43.839 me out of school sometimes because she understood it how 401 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:48.039