If you’ve ever wondered why pain can persist even after high-quality excision surgery, this episode is for you. In today’s class, I’m diving deep into the neuroscience of pain and taking a closer look at what’s really going on in the body when it comes to endometriosis.

I break down the mechanics of pain, why endometriosis diagnosis is so notoriously delayed, and how central sensitization keeps the nervous system on high alert, amplifying pain signals long after physical lesions are removed.

We’ll also cover the intricate link between systemic inflammation, hormonal shifts, and nervous system signaling, plus emerging research targeting these pathways.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Neuroscience of Pain: The distinct types of pain mechanisms and how your nervous system actually processes them.
• The Diagnostic Gap: Why endometriosis remains so complex to diagnose and why answers often take years to get.
• Nervous System Sensitization: How hyper-responsive neural pathways amplify pain and keep it around even post-surgery.
• Inflammation & Hormones: How cyclic hormonal shifts and chronic inflammation continuously feed into pain loops.
• Rewiring the Signal: Emerging therapies like vagus nerve stimulation and practical tools to down-train the nervous system.

Resources from Class

Insight Timer App

Kimberly Snyder Meditations

HeartAlign Meditation

Further Reading

Neurogenic Inflammation in the Context of Endometriosis—What Do We Know?

Reduced vagal tone in women with endometriosis and auricular vagus nerve stimulation as a potential therapeutic approach

Unravelling the Intricate Link: Mast Cells and Estrogen-Induced Pain Sensitization in Endometriosis

In this episode, top dietitian Jessica Setnick joins class to completely unravel how we view food, body image, and the mental frameworks that keep us in toxic relationships with eating.

Jessica opens up about why she isn't a fan of the term "eating disorder" because it creates a rigid box that not everyone identifies with. Instead, she reframes these issues around disruptive or dysfunctional eating. Opening up that definition allows us to validate a much wider range of experiences that usually get swept under the rug just because they don't fit a clean-cut clinical diagnosis.

We also dig into the mind-bending truth that our perception, not reality, is what dictates how we feel about something, and how much power we hold when we start directing our own attention. Jessica breaks down why "faking it 'til you make it" is actually a legitimate strategy, how whatever you focus on inevitably grows, and why learning to intentionally feel good in your body is a skill you can build.

If you've ever felt like traditional labels don't capture your experience with food, or if you're ready to break free from the constant noise of diet culture and societal pressure, this conversation is going to be a huge lightbulb moment for you.

In This Class, We Discuss:

• Rethinking the Labels: Why the term "eating disorder" can feel too limiting, and how viewing food struggles as disruptive or dysfunctional eating makes space for a bigger conversation.
• Perception Is Power: How your internal lens shapes your whole life and how to intentionally shift your attention so you stop feeding negative body thoughts.
• The Root Causes: The hidden ways early childhood memories, brain chemistry, and media messaging wire us to think about food.
• Actionable Healing: Practical steps to spot dysfunctional patterns in your routine and start building a genuinely peaceful relationship with eating.

We cover so much in this episode, so get out your notebooks and get ready to have a breakthrough!

Links from the episode:

Jessica's Website: jessicasetnick.com

Healing Your Inner Eater Workbook

Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review so more people can find the show! Share this episode with anyone who is ready to heal their relationship with food and rewire their mindset.

In today’s episode, I am joined by registered nurse, health coach, and founder of Holsoma Health, Megan Skinnell. We're going back to basics on female hormone health and exposing the gaps in traditional education and healthcare.

*Please note this episode was recorded before the recent name change of PCOS to PMOS.

Megan opens up about her personal journey on both sides of the stethoscope, from working in traditional healthcare that was coming up short for female patients to experiencing her own issues struggling to get answers from her doctors. Now, part of her mission includes educating young girls and their moms about the female hormone cycle so that the next generation can understand their bodies better.

We dive deep into why understanding your entire cycle (not just your period) is essential, what your hormones are doing throughout the month, how to optimize your hormone health, and how systemic healthcare barriers delay critical diagnoses like PMOS (formerly PCOS).

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Cycle Misconception: Why equating your menstrual health solely with your period blinds us to crucial hormonal shifts happening throughout the entire month.
• The Female Hormone Cycle: What's actually happening throughout the month, why it's happening, how it might make you feel, and how to optimize it to truly be in the flow.
• Hormonal Birth Control: What actually happens to your body on synthetic hormones and why it isn't inherently "good" or "bad," just important to understand.
• Cervical Mucus: What cervical mucus is and how to understand it for better cyclical insights and a deeper understanding of your unique body.
• Fertility Beyond Reproduction: Why it's important to understand healthy ovulation and optimal fertility as a key indicator of overall health, not just for making babies.

Mentioned in class: This Is Your Brain On Birth Control by Dr. Sarah E. Hill

Check out Megan's Website: https://www.holsomahealth.com/

Follow Megan:

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

PCOS is now PMOS?? What does that mean?

In this short but sweet class, I'm breaking down the name change of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome). I discuss why changing the name matters, how it redefines the condition beyond the ovaries, and what it could mean for diagnosis, treatment, and patient care going forward.

• Why names matter: How medical terminology shapes diagnosis, research funding, and patient care.
• Deconstructing PMOS: Decoding the new acronym and why "cysts" were always a misleading requirement.
• A Systemic condition: Looking beyond reproductive health to insulin resistance, metabolic health, and comorbid diseases.
• Clinical impact: How the new framing shifts care from reductionist symptom-chasing to multidisciplinary treatment.
• Stigma & inclusivity: Tackling weight stigma, assumptions about the cycle, and advocating for compassionate care.

Links from the episode:

What's in a name? From PCOS to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome: A metabolic reframing, promise, controversies, and challenges ahead

PCOS Diagnosis & Advocacy with Megan-Marie Stewart

There is a massive misconception that Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) is something reserved solely for pregnancy or postpartum recovery. In this episode, pelvic floor physical therapist Rachelle Bojer joins class to completely debunk that myth.

We break down why pelvic health matters at every age, from children wetting the bed to teenagers navigating painful periods to adults dealing with chronic pelvic pain or painful sex. Rachelle shares how myofascial release, breathwork, and nervous system downtraining can transform how we manage endometriosis flares and systemic pain.

Rachelle also talks us through exactly what to expect from our appointments so we can go in confident and prepared.

• Demystifying PFPT: Why pelvic floor therapy isn't just for postpartum care, and how it directly helps with endometriosis, bowel/bladder symptoms, and painful intercourse.
• Fascia, Adhesions, & Referred Pain: What fascia actually is, how chronic endo inflammation creates tightness and restrictions, and how myofascial release differs from standard massage or more aggressive techniques.
• Downtraining the Nervous System: The crucial link between chronic pain, the fight-or-flight response, emotional health/trauma, and muscle tension.
• Navigating Internal Exams: What to expect during an assessment, addressing trauma or fear around internal work, and how significant progress can still be made externally.
• Self-Care & Home Routines: Practical tips for safe self-myofascial release, calming a pain flare at home, and building a personalized, sustainable healing routine.

We cover so much in this episode, so get out your notebooks and let's learn!

Links from the episode:

Lotus Physical Therapy

Elysara Medical

Elysara Instagram

Listen to the previous episodes in the Elysara Endometriosis Series:

Nicoletta Rasizzi - endo basics

Dr. George - cardiology & endo

Jessica Doto - the gaps in endo care

Dr. Katie - chiropractic for endo

Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! Share this episode with anyone who might be navigating endo pain or considering pelvic floor physical therapy.

We’ve been conditioned to think about the "eldest daughter syndrome" through the lens of internet memes and relatable TikToks. But the hyper-responsibility, the chronic over-functioning, and the inability to rest aren't just relatable jokes, but the deeply ingrained psychological aftermath of childhood parentification.

In this episode, we sit down with Adaku Mbagwu, a dedicated First-Born Daughter Coach, to completely flip the script on what it means to grow up as the eldest girl. Adaku pulls from her own profound journey of hitting rock bottom, navigating childhood trauma, and doing the messy work of healing her relationship with her mother to provide a roadmap for the first-born daughters ready to reclaim their own lives.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by the constant pressure to hold everything together for everyone else, this conversation is the grounding, compassionate reality check you need. Adaku shares beautiful, realistic frameworks to help you navigate the guilt of setting boundaries and start living for yourself, without destroying your family bonds.

• The Parentification of the Eldest Daughter: A deep dive into what happens when a young girl is forced into adult roles, and how that early survival mechanism manifests as anxiety and over-functioning.
• The Relationship Ripple Effect: How the instinct to be the family "fixer" unconsciously sabotages your adult romantic relationships, making you prone to over-giving.
• Dismantling Transactional Love: Breaking down the core limiting beliefs of first-born daughters, specifically the internal narrative that you must earn love and that your value is tied to your productivity.
• The Importance Pausing: Why slowing down feels actively unsafe for eldest daughters, and how to overcome the acute fear of rest.
• Navigating Boundary Guilt: Powerful mindsets for setting boundaries, and how to sit with the inevitable wave of guilt without backsliding.
• Healing the Mother-Daughter Bond: Adaku shares her personal journey of transformation, navigating the rock bottom necessary for change, and rebuilding a healthier relationship with her mother from a place of adult autonomy.

• Website: https://healedhero.com/about-us
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adaku_mbagwu/
• LinkedIn: https://mx.linkedin.com/in/adakumbagwu

Feeling completely dismissed and lost after every doctor appointment? Yeah, I've been there.

In this class I'm sitting down with you one-on-one to share my 5 tips for talking to your doctor about (suspected) endometriosis. And even if you don't have endometriosis, these tips can be really useful for other conditions as well.

I cover...

• Common myths about endo (that are even taught in med school)
• How to be polite while standing firm
• My formula for communicating symptoms
• Getting referrals
• What to do if you're still getting pushback.

Get out your notebooks and let's demand better healthcare!

PATREON: patreon.com/cw/girlinpain

Instagram: instagram.com/girlinpain__

TikTok: tiktok.com/@autumns.endo.journey

Endometriosis and the Hallmarks of Cancer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41436710/

It's been a while since we had a solo chat! I'm sharing personal updates on my life, endometriosis journey, and future plans for the pod! Plus some new products that I love <3

EMAIL ME! autumn@thehealthclassshedeserves.com

From the episode:

• Try Relivaid from Trelli: https://www.trelli.health/GIRLINPAIN
  • I earn commissions
• Try Endoca Raw Hemp Oil: endoca.com/girlinpain
  • I earn commissions
• Pilates ball
• KT Tape
• Subscribe to the pod through the Riverside site: https://thcsdpod.riverside.com/