The Health Class She Deserves

The Missing Gap in Endometriosis Care: Why Surgery Isn’t the End of the Story with Jessica Doto

This conversation with Jessica Doto, APRN, ANP-C, BSN, MSN is a masterclass in what total care for endometriosis should actually look like. As the Medical Director at Elysara, Jessica brings her high-intensity background in ER and ICU medicine to the world of functional health, and the result is a no-nonsense, deeply compassionate look at how we untangle this complex disease. We’re moving past the "what next?" gap that so many of us feel after surgery. We’re talking about the science of why your body feels the way it does and how to advocate for yourself in a system that often relies on outdated data. In this episode, we dive into... * The Post-Surgical Gap: Why surgery is just one piece of the puzzle and how Elysara builds a post-op roadmap for multidisciplinary treatment. * The BHRT & Estrogen Myth: Breaking down the fear-based narrative around estrogen and why bioidentical hormone replacement is a game-changer for long-term health. * Progesterone Resistance: Why so many endo patients feel "crazy" on synthetic birth control and why our blood tests show normal hormone levels. * IVs: The science behind IV infusions for endometriosis and how they can be better for absorption. CHEAT SHEET: DECODING THE TERMINOLOGY During our chat, we used some heavy-hitting clinical terms. Here is a quick breakdown of what they mean: * BHRT (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy): Hormones that are chemically identical to those your body produces naturally, used to restore balance without the side effects of synthetics. * Neurosteroid: Steroids produced in the nervous system that act rapidly to regulate the brain. These play a huge role in mood, anxiety, and how you perceive pain. * Mast Cells: Type of white blood cells in your immune system that releases chemicals (like histamine) during an inflammatory response. In endo patients, these are often overactive. * Angiogenesis: The creation of new blood vessels. Endo lesions use this to "feed" themselves and grow. * Prostaglandins: Hormone-like substances that are over-produced in endometriosis patients. They can sensitize nerve endings to signal pain. * N-acetylcysteine (NAC): A powerful antioxidant that helps the body produce glutathione. Research shows it can help reduce the size of endo cysts and lower systemic oxidative stress. Connect with Jessica & Elysara Medical: * Website: https://elysarawellness.com/ [https://elysarawellness.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elysaramedical/ [https://www.instagram.com/elysaramedical/] About This Series: This is part three of our collaborative series with Elysara Medical & Wellness [https://elysarawellness.com/]. We are dedicated to bringing you the experts who are filling the gaps in endometriosis care and helping you move out of survival mode for a healthier, happier life. Listen to the Nicoletta's episode [https://thcsdpod.riverside.com/e/beyond-surgery-a-whole-body-approach-to-endometriosis-nicoletta-rasizzi] Listen to Dr. George's episode [https://thcsdpod.riverside.com/e/what-does-cardiology-have-to-do-with-endometriosis]

Perimenopause 101: Understanding Anxiety, Stressors, and Identity Shifts with Dr. Blake Myers

Why does society expect women to "shrink" just as they are reaching their most powerful years? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Blake Myers, a licensed naturopathic doctor and graduate professor, to dismantle the "taboo" around perimenopause. We dive deep into why anxiety is often the very first indicator of hormonal shifts, the way our bodies adapt (or struggle) with modern stressors, and why picking up heavy weights is a radical act of self-love and feminism. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: * The ND Difference: Why Naturopathic Doctors are the "Systems Biology" experts your healthcare team might be missing. * The Anxiety Connection: Why the brain often reacts to hormonal shifts before your period ever changes. * Homeostasis: How our bodies adapt to stressors in our 20s and 30s, and why that can change so drastically during perimenopause. * Identity Reclaimed: Navigating the spiritual and emotional "ego death" that happens during the menopausal transition. * Muscle as Resistance: Why strength training is about so much more than aesthetics: It's about metabolic freedom and fighting back against a system that wants women to stay small. * Normalizing the Conversation: How to talk to the next generation so they enter midlife with clarity instead of fear. Even if you're years away from these key hormonal shifts, it's important to know what they are, how they can show up in the body and brain, and how to best take care of your hormone health now to make the transition as smooth as possible later. Whether you're a young person who wants to prepare for their future or someone currently in the throes of perimenopause, this episode has a lot to offer. Dr. Blake's Website: https://www.thebridgesystemmethod.com/ [https://www.thebridgesystemmethod.com/] Follow Dr. Blake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebridgesystem [https://www.instagram.com/thebridgesystem]

Pleasure is Your Birthright: The Sex & Intimacy Repair Kit with Xanet Pailet

Is a sexless marriage just an inevitable part of getting older, or is it a sign that something deeper is going on that can be reversed? In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Xanet Pailet, a former high-powered healthcare attorney turned sex and intimacy coach. After spending 26 years in a marriage that was lacking true intimacy, Xanet transformed her life to figure out why desire actually disappears and how to rebuild it. We dive into the "roommate syndrome" that so many of us fear, the difference between a trauma response and a gut feeling, and why your Type A analytical brain might be the very thing blocking your pleasure. Whether you’re single and looking for a long-term love or in an established partnership trying to find that spark again, this conversation is a masterclass in reclaiming pleasure as your birthright. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: * The Sexless Marriage Epidemic: Why sex is the ultimate "canary in the coal mine" for the health of your relationship. * The Analytical Trap: Why high-achieving, "Type A" women struggle to drop into their bodies and how to train the brain to find pleasure. * Roommate Syndrome: How to identify the warning signs of a fading connection before your relationship becomes devoid of intimacy. * The Safety Factor: Why emotional safety is the most important prerequisite for desire (and how to create that safety). * Pleasure as a Practice: Using self-touch, sexy playlists, and "micro-pleasures" throughout the day to heal your relationship with your sexuality. Xanet wants us all to remember—pleasure is our birthright. If you've been feeling disconnected from the pleasure, sexuality, and magic of life, this episode is for you. * Order Xanet's new book: The Sex & Intimacy Repair Kit [https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Intimacy-Repair-Kit-Communication/dp/1963667417] * Read the bestseller: Living an Orgasmic Life [https://www.amazon.com/Living-Orgasmic-Life-Yourself-Pleasure/dp/1633538265] * Work with Xanet: Passionate Intimacy Retreats [https://www.passionateintimacyretreats.com/] * Follow Xanet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xanetpop/ [https://www.instagram.com/xanetpop/]

What Does Cardiology Have to Do With Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a systemic disease requiring a multidisciplinary approach. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. George Yiachos, a board-certified integrative cardiologist who's answering the question: What does cardiology have to do with endo? As it turns out, everything. (Please note: There are a few minutes in this episode where Dr. George pulls up slides. It is not necessary to watch; the audio is sufficiently explanatory! If you'd like, find the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@thehealthclassshedeserves]for full video.) Dr. George breaks down the cellular mechanics of endometriosis as a whole-body inflammatory disease and explains why removing the lesions is only half the battle. If we don’t address the "inflammatory fire" happening in the blood and the cells, we aren't truly healing. In this episode, we dive into: * The Inflammatory Triggers: Dr. George shares his framework for what actually induces chronic inflammation and how these components act as a catalyst for endo symptoms. * Endo as a Whole-Body Disease: Understanding the intersection between chronic inflammation, cardiovascular health, and long-term Health Span. * Dampening the Fire: A deep dive into cutting-edge therapies used by Dr. George at Elysara to regulate inflammation from endometriosis: * Ozonotherapy: The role of pelvic plexus injections and blood oxygenation in reducing systemic inflammation. * Targeted Supplementation & IVs: Why high-dose antioxidants like green tea (EGCG) and quercetin are game-changers for cellular repair. * Peptide Therapy: How we can guide the body to heal itself at a mitochondrial level. * Reframing Endo: Why the medical system is failing patients by keeping endometriosis strictly in the gynecological "bucket" and ignoring its systemic impact. * The Future of Care: Why Dr. George has hope for the future of endometriosis care. Connect with Dr. George * Website: https://wprmedical.com/ [https://wprmedical.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpr_medical/ [https://www.instagram.com/wpr_medical/] * Listen to Decoding the Health Matrix: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TI4oNb4RVnyNqrv4EZ291 [https://open.spotify.com/show/5TI4oNb4RVnyNqrv4EZ291] * Get Dr. George's book: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Matter-Preventing-Reversing-Cardiovascular-ebook/dp/B0GHQRBCJ2 [https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Matter-Preventing-Reversing-Cardiovascular-ebook/dp/B0GHQRBCJ2] About This Series: This is part two of our collaborative series with Elysara Medical & Wellness [https://elysarawellness.com/endometriosis-management/]. Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive, integrative roadmap for managing endometriosis. Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes where we continue to explore the missing gaps in care with the rest of the Elysara expert team.

Yoga for Every Body: Chronic Pain, Neurodivergence, and the Power of Aerial Yoga with Jo Stewart

I’ll be honest: for a long time, I thought aerial yoga was just a fun, circus-y way to do yoga. But after sitting down with Jo Stewart, Senior Yoga Teacher and author of Eight Limbs of Aerial Yoga, I realized I had it all wrong. For people living with chronic pain, neurodivergence, or PTSD, the hammock isn't just a prop, it’s a sanctuary. In this episode, Jo and I unpack why the Westernized, "fitness-first" approach to yoga is actually doing us a disservice and how we can reclaim movement as a tool for nervous system regulation, chronic pain (from endometriosis or something else), and our overall health. We dive deep into the specific benefits for female-bodied health, from managing mental health to autonomic balance to finding representation for conditions like endometriosis in the movement world. What We Discuss: * The "Weight Loss" Myth: Why chasing a "yoga body" actually dishonors the practice’s history, disregards accessibility, and keeps us trapped in toxic diet culture. * A Safety Net for the Nervous System: How the hammock acts as a co-regulator for those with PTSD or sensory processing needs. * Chronic Pain & Endo: Jo shares the benefits of aerial yoga in particular for chronic pain and inflammation, and how it offers a bridge to movement when your body feels like it’s betraying you. * Neurodivergence: The sensory benefits of deep pressure and why "traditional" yoga cues can be confusing for neurodivergent or structurally diverse bodies. Connect with Jo: * Website: Garden of Yoga [https://gardenofyoga.com.au] * Book: Eight Limbs of Aerial Yoga: Adapting Practice for Neurodiversity, Accessibility and Physical Support [https://gardenofyoga.com.au/learn/eight-limbs-of-aerial-yoga/] * Podcast: The Flow Artists Podcast [https://podcast.flowartists.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenofyoga/ [https://www.instagram.com/gardenofyoga/]