Hey welcome!

This week I'm so excited to finally publish this episode with Ashley Stump. She's a pelvic floor physical therapist who knows all about Lichen Sclerosus.

I learned so much during this episode, we talked about what pelvic floor physical therapy is, why women with Lichen Sclerosus need it, what to expect on your first visit, and we talked about lubes.

We talked about so much, so much gold and she even gave us tips on what to look for when you're looking for a new pelvic floor physical therapist, and some resources are where to find one.

For complete show notes and all the links mentioned in this episode visit lssupport.net/pfpt.

Thank you to our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network. Working towards getting people diagnosed earlier and getting treated better. Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net.

Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/lswarriors.

If you're seeing two of these or getting this episode really late, apologies. I realized half of my listeners didn't get the episode because I released it in video format versus audio. 🤦🏽‍♀️ Either way everyone should have at least one version of the episode.

Thanks for understanding.

Heeeyyy! Longtime no see. lol

Life has been busy and a bit hectic and I'm ready to let you in on everything that's been going on. And the most exciting news. You'll be getting new episodes starting Nov 5!

First off we have incorporated Lichen Sclerosus Support Network and we are an official not-for-profit! Find out what we've been doing and what our future plans are.

Want to volunteer?

lssupport.net/volunteer

Want to donate?

lssupport.net/donate

Secondly, my family caught covid and my husband and I ended up in the hospital. It's turned our world upside down. My husband, Lorenzo, still hasn't made it home.

Lorenzo was our source of income so I could concentrate on educating and supporting people with LS. With him not being able to work everything is a little up in the air.

If you would like to help us during this time we would deeply appreciate it. You can donate at

https://gofund.me/50b5eada

or 

https://venmo.com/u/Kathy-Ruiz-Carter

So I hope this catches you up to speed and you're prepared for some amazing interviews.

Excited to be with you again.

Feel free to email me at [email protected].

Heeeyyy! Longtime no see. lol

Life has been busy and a bit hectic and I'm ready to let you in on everything that's been going on. And the most exciting news. You'll be getting new episodes starting Nov 5!

First off we have incorporated Lichen Sclerosus Support Network and we are an official not-for-profit! Find out what we've been doing and what our future plans are.

Want to volunteer?

lssupport.net/volunteer

Want to donate?

lssupport.net/donate

Secondly, my family caught covid and my husband and I ended up in the hospital. It's turned our world upside down. My husband, Lorenzo, still hasn't made it home.

Lorenzo was our source of income so I could concentrate on educating and supporting people with LS. With him not being able to work everything is a little up in the air.

If you would like to help us during this time we would deeply appreciate it. You can donate at

https://gofund.me/50b5eada

or 

https://venmo.com/u/Kathy-Ruiz-Carter

So I hope this catches you up to speed and you're prepared for some amazing interviews.

Excited to be with you again.

Feel free to email me at [email protected].

Hey!!! Welcome! I'm so happy you're here.

I've got some AMAZING news.

We have released the searchable provider directory!

It's ready for you to explore. It's brand new so we have to work out all the kinks as we grow it but it's better than nothing.

https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/searchable-lichen-sclerosus-provider-database/

We have some equally exciting news.

We are turning Lichen Sclerosus Support Network into an official nonprofit! Our mission will be to prevent the negative emotional and mental health effects that can come with an LS diagnosis.

That's right we are going to spread the message even further and help more people.

So if you can help, please do your part because it's going to take the whole community.

Check out our new webpage and read all about the exciting things we have coming.

https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/nonprofit

Donate:

https://fundly.com/lichen-sclerosus-support-network#

I can't wait to hear your reaction. Let me know what you think and how you can help the community. Email me at [email protected] or DM me on IG @lichensclerosuspodcast.

Hey! Welcome! I’m so glad you are here with us today! We are going to shake this up a bit and have a live round table discussion about the concepts of acceptance and resilience with some members of the LS Warriors membership. The concepts of acceptance and resilience are critical to living with a disease such as Lichen Sclerosus. In this round table discussion, I will ask our participants a series of questions relating to these concepts and Lichen Sclerosus.

I would love to hear your thoughts on acceptance and resilience. Email me at [email protected] or DM me on IG @lichenslcerosuspodcast.

Join our next LS Support Virtual Meetup from 2-4 and 7-9 PM EST. at https://lssupport.net/connect.

Or join LS Warriors for 24/7 support and information. https://lssupport.net/lswarriors.

Reach out to Jaclyn by email at [email protected] or DM her on IG @thelostlabiachronicles.

Also, be sure to join her email list so you get notified when she releases a new blog post. https://lssupport.net/jointllc

Support our sponsor Lichen Sclerosus Support Network by following them on IG @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and check out their website https://lssupport.net for all the ways they can support you on your LS journey.

I’m so glad you are here with us today. In today’s episode, we are joined by Jen, one of the LS Warriors! She is here to share the amazing story of her journey with Lichen Sclerosus. Jen’s journey involves a traumatic birth and a lot of stress to her vulva and vagina. She discusses what this process was like, how her symptoms manifested after the birth of her daughter, her diagnosis, and how she now deals with stress and Lichen Sclerosus.

If you want to reach out to Jen, you can message her on Twitter and/or Instagram @jenpatala.

Email me at [email protected] or DM me on IG @lichenslcerosuspodcast.

Join our next LS Support Virtual Meetup from 2-4 and 7-9 PM EST. at https://lssupport.net/connect.

Or join LS Warriors for 24/7 support and information. https://lssupport.net/lswarriors.

Reach out to Jaclyn by email at [email protected] or DM her on IG @thelostlabiachronicles.

Also, be sure to join her email list so you get notified when she releases a new blog post. https://lssupport.net/jointllc

Support our sponsor Lichen Sclerosus Support Network by following them on IG @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and check out their website https://lssupport.net for all the ways they can support you on your LS journey.

Uncover the potential connection between your diet and long-term health with this groundbreaking research on Diet and LS.

 

Erica Eberl is a 23-year-old dietitian and LS warrior who was diagnosed less than a year ago. She has used her skills and resources to research LS and diet and shares her findings to help others.

 

After Erica Eberl was diagnosed with LS, she did extensive research on diet and LS and found three studies that she was able to share. One study from Italy found that avocado and soybean extract cream and a dietary strategy improved symptoms in women with mild to moderate LS, although it wasn't as effective as corticosteroids. A case-control study from Italy found that increased consumption of carotenoids (precursors to Vitamin A) was associated with less LS. Lastly, a study from Portugal found that 50% of the women with LS who had food triggers reported pork, spicy food, and fried food being the main triggers. Erica recommends seeing a dietitian or nutritionist to find out what food triggers are specific to you.

 

"It's up to you how factual you want to take this study, because obviously, it's not enough to actually form guidelines for, like, sclerosis, because it's only one study. But it's definitely something that you can start thinking about. And if you look at other studies that are on inflammation or autoimmune, it definitely seems to be a common trait. So definitely I'm always an advocate for eating more vegetables and fruits, so if that convinces you to go down that path and then."

 

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. Is there a link between diet and Lichen Sclerosus?
2. Could pork be a trigger for Lichen Sclerosus flares?
3. What are the risks of going on an elimination diet for too long?

 

Resources:

Check out our LS and Diet Comprehensive Guide

https://lssupportnetwork.org/lsdiet

 

Download your copy of our customizable LS Symptom Tracker

https://lssupportnetwork.org/symtpomtracker

 

Or our 30-day Food Sensitivity Tracker PDF

https://lssupportnetwork.org/foodsensitivitytracker

 

Join the community at our next international virtual meetup

https://lssupportnetwork.org/connect

 

Search for a provider in your area on our provider directory

https://lssupportnetwork.org/providers

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

How nutrition therapy could help manage your Lichen Sclerosus?

Is the Autoimmune Protocol the Lichen Sclerosus Natural Treatment for You?

World Lichen Sclerosus Awareness Day Dr. Jill Krapf Q&A

https://youtube.com/live/cIUkX1nzjyA

 

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lichensclerosussupportnetwork/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lichensclerosussupportnetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMCwP8rMVSvZRFRyI3IChVA

Website: https://lssupportnetwork.org/

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://lovethepodcast.com/lspodcast

Unearth the root cause of your Lichen Sclerosus and transform your life with Heather Cooan's real talk about nutrition and lifestyle changes. "But she didn't let that hold her down, and she advocated for herself and was able to heal her cancer and her Lichen Sclerosus support Network through the use of naturopathic therapy." Heather Cooan is a certified nutrition therapy practitioner and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner. She found her passion for nutrition after her own battle with Lichen Sclerosus and vulvar cancer, and now works to help others heal their LS through naturopathic therapy. Heather Cooan was diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosus and vulvar cancer after 25 years of misdiagnoses. Through naturopathic therapy and self-advocacy, she was able to heal herself and now works as a certified nutrition therapy practitioner and a functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner. She helps people identify stressors that are pulling their bodies out of balance, such as genetic components, microbiome imbalances, and environmental triggers. Through research labs, she looks for things like food sensitivities, leaky gut, neurotransmitters, and hormones to help individuals get back into balance. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. What is the difference between a nutrition therapist and a dietitian? 2. What is leaky gut, and how can it cause auto-immune diseases? 3. What are the six buckets of triggers that can cause auto-immune diseases? Resources: Find out what buckets are triggering your health issues by taking Heather's test at https://heathercooan.com/lspodcast. Other episodes you'll enjoy: How Self-Advocating Actually Helped Beat Vulvar Cancer How The System Failed Heather Cooan. Lichen Sclerosus and Diet? Does the research look good?

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lichensclerosuspodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXU-nhfnn-nScR_5VyUdCQ

Website: https://lssupportnetwork.org/

Email: [email protected]

 

Did you love this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://lovethepodcast.com/lspodcast

Today we are joined (again) by therapeutic nutrition consultant, LS warrior, and cancer survivor, Heather Cooan. Last episode we heard her diagnosis story. Unfortunately, Heather went undiagnosed for over 25 years, allowing her Lichen Sclerosus to develop into vulvar cancer. This was a gross failure of the medical system.

In today’s episode, we learn how Heather advocated for herself and fought for her values. Today her Lichen Sclerosus is in remission and she is now cancer-free! Her story reminds us of the importance of self-advocacy in the medical realm.

Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode where Heather details how a Nutrition Therapist can help us get healthy.

I want to hear from you. What has advocating for yourself done in your life? Email me at kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast or DM me on Instagram @lichensclerosuspodcast.

I want to thank our sponsor, the Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping bring awareness, information, education, and most importantly support to all Lichen Sclerosus warriors.

Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork.

Resources:

If you are in the Phoenix area, check out Dr. Joseph Brook’s here: https://www.arizonaspecializedgynecology.com/provider/joseph-brooks-md

Dr. Bhoola: https://arizonaoncology.com/covid19/

If you are battling vulvar cancer, check out the vulvar cancer awareness forum here: https://www.facebook.com/vulvarcancerawarenessforum/

For nutritional consultations, see Heather’s website: https://heathercooan.com/

If you haven't joined the email list for The Lost Labia Chronicles, a blog about beating Lichen Sclerosus, you want to do that today.

https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/lost-labia-chronicles-landing-page/

Be sure to follow her on IG and FB @thelostlabiachronicles.

 

Today we are joined by therapeutic nutrition consultant, LS warrior, and cancer survivor, Heather Cooan. Heather’s journey from how the medical system let her down to self-advocacy and taking control of her health and body is nothing short of incredible. 

Her story will be told in two parts. Today, we begin with when Heather’s symptoms first began to manifest, how they impacted her life, and how she was repeatedly let down by the system.

Email me at [email protected] or DM me on IG @lichensclerosuspodcast and let me know what you thought of Heather's story so far.

I want to thank our sponsor, the Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping bring information, education, and most importantly support to all Lichen Sclerosus warriors.

Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork. Virtual Meetup Information

We meet every other Saturday from 2-4 pm and/or 7-9 pm Eastern Standard Time. This is your opportunity to share your diagnosis story, what is working for you and what isn’t, and ask a question to the group. Perhaps share your experience with the system letting you down!

I have met so many incredibly strong LS warriors through these meetups, and I would love for you to join our community. 

Sign up at lssupport.net/connect for notifications and updates! Our next meetup is on March 20th, 2021. I cannot wait to meet you!

Resources:

For nutritional consultations, see Heather’s website: https://heathercooan.com/

If you are battling vulvar cancer, check out the vulvar cancer awareness forum here: https://www.facebook.com/vulvarcancerawarenessforum/

If you are in the Phoenix area, check out Dr. Joseph Brook’s here: https://www.arizonaspecializedgynecology.com/provider/joseph-brooks-md 

Dr. Bhoola: https://arizonaoncology.com/covid19/