The Health Class She Deserves

Lisa Lacy, a mental health advocate, trauma educator, author, and podcast host, thought she was just recovering from surgery; turns out, she was actually beginning surgical menopause. With no warning, little medical support (her doctor told her to “wing it”), and a congenital blood disease preventing her from using hormones, she had to figure it out on her own.

In this episode, Lisa shares that out of the multitude of symptoms associated with menopause, menopausal depression hit her the hardest. While the discourse around peri/menopause is growing, the intersection of that with mental health still needs more attention. This episode raises awareness for that much-needed conversation, and hopefully inspires you to have these conversations in your own life.

We also discuss the reality of medical gaslighting and how difficult it can be to get care as a woman, let alone one with mental health diagnoses. Lisa shares what she’s learned about self-advocacy with her general physicians and in emergency situations.

Notes from class:
The mental health challenges, especially suicidality, experienced by women during perimenopause and menopause: A qualitative study

Connect with Lisa
Notes From the Edge Podcast

LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok

Notes From a Certified Madwoman Presale

Buckle up, this episode is chaotic in the BEST way. This week we're welcoming Racheli Aye to class to talk about her journey with endometriosis and adenomyosis, traumatic surgery, advocacy, producing festivals, artwork, and so much more.

TW: We touch on aspects of sexual assault, suicide, and medical trauma in this interview.

Connect with Racheli
The Zora Collective: https://thezoracollective.vercel.app/
LinkedIn
Instagram
Email: [email protected]

Notes from class
Insight Timer app: https://insighttimer.com/
The Way Out book

Context on the vaccine discussion: Racheli shared her personal experience of developing daily pain and IUD complications after receiving the COVID vaccine. Her experience is hers and she carries unique knowledge of her own body (as we all do). However, as a science-led podcast, I do need to cite the research here:
Timing of COVID-19 vaccination drives menstrual cycle changes, NIH-funded study suggests: Natural Cycles data showed small, temporary changes in cycle length that resolved within a cycle or two, with the change dependent on when in the cycle the vaccine was received.

This cross-sectional study found that endo patients were more likely to experience menstrual changes, as well as a worsening of some symptoms.

Menstrual abnormalities after COVID-19 vaccines: Found that 52.05% of respondents reported some form of menstrual problem after vaccination. This review doesn't use a comparison group, so it can’t tell us how much of this is caused by the vaccine.

Other studies have found no significant changes.

This isn’t evidence that people shouldn’t get vaccinated. I got the vaccine and had mild changes for a few months. The point is that cycle data has historically been left out in research. When it’s not tracked, we can’t tell the difference between common, temporary changes and rarer problems, and the people experiencing them are left without answers.

In this episode we're diving into what we know about probiotics for women's vaginal & gut health. I'll help you answer the question "should I take a probiotic?" in a data-driven way.

Topic suggestions? Email me here: [email protected]

OR

Leave an anonymous suggestion with this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMZPA8b_JOV1bWCdW9Zne4smZJtrU0LIBXaVnqGFopMIu5Eg/viewform?usp=publish-editor

The probiotic I use: Vaginal Balance from Microbiome Labs

Further reading from class:

• Effects of a 10-Strain Oral Probiotic on Parameters of Vaginal Health and Microbial Community: A Pilot Clinical Study
• Choosing an appropriate probiotic product for your patient: An evidence-based practical guide
• Strain-Specificity and Disease-Specificity of Probiotic Efficacy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• The role of probiotics in restoring and maintaining vaginal microbiome health: a review

Just because we’re smiling, showing up, and pushing through the day doesn't mean we're "fine." In today’s class, I’m joined by double fellowship-trained REI and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon Dr. Sadikah Behbehani to tear down the pervasive myths surrounding endometriosis and demand the care women actually deserve.

We’re diving deep into why endometriosis is a complex, systemic disease that reaches far beyond the reproductive organs, why the average 10-year diagnostic delay is completely unacceptable, and why expert surgical excision with a highly skilled specialist is critical for root-cause healing and fertility preservation.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Endometriosis as a Systemic Disease: Why endo isn't just a pelvic disease and how it impacts the entire body, driving systemic inflammation, GI distress, fatigue, and brain fog.
• The Critical Need for Skilled Excision: Why surgical expertise matters, how high-level excision addresses the root cause of lesions, and the truth about hysterectomies.
• Validating Unseen Pain: Unpacking the invisible burden of living with chronic illness and why "looking fine" often leads to gaslighting in clinical settings.
• Advanced Diagnostics & Imaging: The evolving role of specialized ultrasound in identifying endometriosis before entering the operating room.
• The Multidisciplinary Model: Why true healing doesn't end in the OR—it requires a collaborative team of pelvic physical therapists, skilled surgeons, and pain specialists to solve the whole puzzle.

Connect with Dr. Behbehani:
Website: https://endometriosis-fertility.com/
Instagram: @dr.sadikahbehbehani

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to hold it all together, lack confidence in your resilience, or struggle to celebrate your own wins, big or small, this episode is for you.

In today’s class, I’m sitting down with mental performance coach Dr. Carla Caturia to unpack what it really takes to build deep self-trust, emotional intelligence, and an authentic identity.

While this conversation is rooted in family dynamics, supporting teens, and helping moms navigate the modern pressures of parenting, there is something here for everyone. If you were once the high-achieving kid who never fully unlearned perfectionism, if you feel trapped in the cycle of "success without self," or if you're feeling burnt out by the noise of social media, this episode offers a roadmap to refocus your attention and achieve your goals.

In This Class, We Discuss:

• Breaking the "Success Without Self Cycle": What happens when external achievements mask internal disconnect, and how high achievers can break the cycle and connect to their body.
• Building Authentic Self-Trust: Practical mental performance tools to cultivate real self-belief and reframe negative thought patterns.
• Navigating Social Media & Comparison: How constant digital influence impacts mental health, self-worth, and identity for both teens and adults.
• Modern Family Dynamics: Fostering genuine connection and recognizing childhood trauma triggers within family relationships.
• Somatic & Mindset Integration: The critical role physical movement plays in emotional processing, and why celebrating small wins is necessary for long-term resilience.

Further reading from class...
Atlas of the Heart List of Emotions from Brené Brown

Connect with Dr. Carla Caturia
https://thehouseofrise.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qLVYY_F6bEPgFZnDjtEdw

In today’s class, I’m sharing my experience at the first annual Endometriosis Care Continuum and all of the things I took away from the event! As you may know, it was hosted by Elysara Medical & Wellness, a NY-based clinic I have been working with closely to bring you powerful education and solutions to managing endometriosis pain.

This event covered everything: why early recognition is so critical, how specialized multidisciplinary teams change patient outcomes, and what the latest research says about neuroimmune pathways, bioidentical hormone therapy, and even cardiovascular health.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Care Continuum: Highlights from top experts on why a multidisciplinary team is essential for comprehensive endo care.
• Beyond the Pelvis: Exploring the systemic and neuroimmune nature of endometriosis, including nerve involvement and long-term cardiovascular impacts.
• Next-Wave Therapies: Promising treatment avenues on the horizon, including bioidentical hormones and targeted peptides.
• Validation & Advocacy: Real patient stories shedding light on diagnostic delays and why better provider education is desperately needed.

The Endometriosis Series with Elysara

• Beyond Surgery: A Whole-Body Approach to Endometriosis | Nicoletta Rasizzi
• What Does Cardiology Have to Do With Endometriosis? | Dr. George Yiachos
• The Missing Gap in Endometriosis Care: Why Surgery Isn’t the End of the Story with Jessica Doto
• Innovative Endometriosis Care: The Healing Hands of Chiropractic with Dr. Katie Pacinelli
• How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Actually Helps Endometriosis Patients with Rachelle Bojer
• Acupuncture 101: Retraining the Nervous System for Better Endometriosis Care with Min Sung Kim

If you’ve ever felt like your cycle is a complete mystery, this episode is for you. In today’s class, I’m breaking down the power of cycle tracking, basal body temperature, and how tuning into your body’s monthly patterns can provide the exact data you need to take control of your care.

We’re diving into the biology behind ovulation, walking step-by-step through the main phases of your cycle, and looking at how tracking metrics like body temperature can reveal insights into your symptoms (especially if you're navigating complex a condition like endometriosis).

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Power of Cycle Data: Why tracking your cycle goes far beyond fertility and serves as a way to know your body better and advocate for yourself.
• The Science of Ovulation & BBT: How progesterone acts on the hypothalamus to shift your body temperature, and how to track basal body temperature accurately to pinpoint ovulation.
• Data-Driven Self-Advocacy: How arming yourself with clear, personalized cycle records changes the dynamic when communicating with healthcare providers.
• Every Body is Different: Cycle length and phase timing vary widely from person to person; tracking reveals your unique baseline.

Further Reading From Class:

Action of progesterone on preoptic thermosensitive neurones

Notes From Class:

Sign up for Natural Cycles (20% off with this link!)

Check out my Patreon

In today’s episode, I am joined by acupuncturist Min Sung Kim to explore how Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can transform the way we approach endometriosis care.

Min shares her clinical insights and personal experience living with endometriosis and adenomyosis, illustrating how acupuncture can help manage common symptoms from chronic pelvic pain to digestive issues. We dive into the concept of qi stagnation, the truly individualized approach acupuncturists take, and the emotional healing that can happen during treatment.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Acupuncture & the Nervous System: The science of how acupuncture helps regulate your autonomic nervous system to turn down chronic pain signals.
• Decoding Qi Stagnation: What terms like "qi deficiency" and "blood stagnation" actually mean in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• The Gut-Pelvis Connection: How targeting neural and digestive pathways can alleviate endo-related digestive issues and bloating.
• Patient-Centered Advocacy: Why listening to women's health needs and creating personalized treatment plans is essential for real physical and emotional transformation.

Resources from Class:

Join us at The Endometriosis Care Continuum

Connect with Min: mskwellcare.com

Connect with Elysara: https://elysarawellness.com/endometriosis-management/

Listen to the other 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

Rachelle Bojer - pelvic floor PT for endo

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

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