Endo Battery

Endo Battery Fast Charged Ep. 9

• Alanna • Season 2 • Episode 9

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Welcome to Endobattery Fast Charged, a series dedicated to keeping you informed and empowered in the realm of endometriosis. Teaming up with board-certified patient advocates, we bring you the latest articles, research and insights to equip you with accurate information and a deeper understanding. Whether you're expanding your knowledge, staying updated or seeking clarity, you're in the right place. I'm your host, alana, and this is Endobattery Fast Charged charging and empowering your life with knowledge. Welcome back to Endobattery Fast Charged, where we dive deep into the electrifying world of endometriosis research. Prepare to be left wanting more, because, let's be honest, who doesn't want more research when it comes to endometriosis? Today, we're plugging into the latest studies to supercharge our understanding of how this complex condition impacts mental health, medical recognition and care, and, for a little extra voltage, we'll even explore some rare and intriguing articles that might just blow your circuits. But before we get too charged up, remember correlation does not equal causation. Just because two things are linked doesn't mean one is causing the other. Sort of like how having a cat and being a night owl might be connected, but your furry friend isn't the reason you stay up binge watching cat videos. So let's dive into the data, untangle the wires of correlation and causation and power up our endo-knowledge battery. Let's get started. All right, let's dive into this fascinating research on the connection between our mental state and endometriosis in an article titled the Casual Relationship of Depression, anxiety and Neuroticism in Endometriosis a Bidirectional, two-samsample Mendelian randomization study. Imagine your genes as party planners. Some of these planners are responsible for throwing the kind of party where depression and neuroticism are the star guests. They show up with their dark clouds and anxious vibes, making the party a bit gloomy. Now it turns out that if these two gloomy guests are on the invite list, there's a higher chance that endometriosis will crush the party too. This doesn't mean that anxiety, who is often part in the moody trio, gets to join in on the fun. No, anxiety was left out in the cold on this one. No party crushing for them.

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Researchers took a closer look at the guest list by using a genetic approach. They analyzed data from studies focusing on genes associated with depression, anxiety and neuroticism. The main takeaway those with a genetic predisposition to depression and neuroticism have a higher risk of developing endometriosis. It's like the genes threw a surprise party and endometriosis decided to show up uninvited when depression and neuroticism were there. However, anxiety, despite its close ties, didn't seem to get the memo. But before we jump to any conclusions and blame our genes for everything, let's remember correlation is not causation. Just because these traits often show up together doesn't mean one causes the other. It's more like they have an overlapping friend circle. We need more research to untangle these complex webs. Meanwhile, addressing endometriosis with a biopsychosocial approach that's a fancy term for looking at the whole person, including their mind, body and social environment can help manage the symptoms spread across the entire system, both physically and mentally. So next time someone mentions endometriosis, depression or neuroticism, you can think of it as a wild interconnected party of genes where some guests just can't help but show up together and remember. Anxiety is still waiting for its invite.

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In keeping with this theme, a recent study has shed some light on a topic we've touched on before, in a study titled Mental Illness and Sleep Disorders Among Women with Gynecological Problems. Again, it's like a detective novel, minus the car chases and plot twists. Instead of a magnifying glass, researchers used medical claims data spanning four years from adult employees of a big corporation. The results the patients with gynecological issues, specifically pain, endometriosis, pelvic inflammation and bleeding were more likely to experience mental illness and sleep disorders. Imagine Sherlock Holmes saying elementary, my dear Watson, but with a stethoscope instead of a pipe. The study found that individuals with gynecological problems were 50% more likely to have mental health issues and 44% more likely to suffer from sleep disorder. That's a pretty significant clue pointing towards the interconnectedness of our bodily systems. The researchers are basically waving a big red flag saying hey, clinicians, we need to take a look at the whole picture here Now again. Don't go thinking correlation equals causation.

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This isn't some conspiracy theory where everything is magically linked, but it is a fascinating piece of the puzzle that's catching the medical community's attention. Think of it as an invitation to a more holistic approach to treating conditions like endometriosis. If you're dealing with chronic pain or pelvic inflammation, it makes sense that it could mess with your mental health and sleep. It's like trying to sleep on a lumpy mattress while dealing with a noisy neighbor Not exactly conducive to rest and relaxation, right? In conclusion, this research is a gentle reminder that our bodies are intricate, interconnected systems. If you're dealing with gynecological issues, don't be surprised if it impacts other areas of your health. And for the medical professionals out there, it's a call to action to consider the full body approach when treating patients. So let's keep an eye on this emerging data and hope that it leads to better care and outcomes for everyone. If nothing else, it's a good reason to treat yourself to a good night's sleep. You've earned it.

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In this next article titled the Impact of Surgical Treatment for Deep Endometriosis Metabolic Profile, quality of Life and Psychological Aspects, researchers embarked on this ambitious study involving 435 patients with deep endometriosis, sourced from 44 endometriosis centers. Picture a global gathering of people suffering from the same stubborn condition, all in their mid-30s, ready to see if surgery could turn things around. Spoiler alert it did, and then some. In a nutshell, the study explored how surgery impacted patients' lives across the seven key quality of life areas. Imagine you've got a Swiss Army knife of well-being post-surgery. Every single tool, pain management, control over your body, overall well-being, social support, self-image, work life and sexual relations got a major upgrade. It's like going from a rusty old pocket knife to a shiny new multi-tool. But wait, there's more.

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Researchers didn't stop at just making people feel better mentally and socially. They also dove into the nitty-gritty of metabolic health. Post-surgery, the average level of various metabolic markers took a nosedive Total cholesterol dropped from 8.2%, ldl the so-called bad cholesterol by 12.8%, triglycerides by 10.9% and fasting blood glucose by 7.3%. Think of it as your body's internal cleanup crew, kicking into high gear after surgery, leaving your metabolic health sparkling clean. The cherry on top, mental health saw significant improvements too. Anxiety and depression those unwelcome guests decided to pack their bags and leave after surgery. It's like the patient's mind's got a much-needed vacation, far away from the constant stress and worry. So if deep endometriosis were a party crusher, wrecking havoc on every aspect of life, surgery turned out to be the bouncer that not only kicked it out but also tidied up the mess it left behind.

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Switching gears a bit, let's dive into the fascinating and often uncharted waters of COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual cycles. Since the pandemic began, researchers have been keen to understand any potential links between COVID-19 vaccine and menstrual health changes. You see, the initial clinical trials for the COVID vaccine didn't specifically study menstrual cycles, probably because period tracking doesn't usually make it into the list of high-stakes medical concerns. But once vaccines rolled out, the anecdotal reports of cycle changes after vaccination started pouring in faster than you could say PMS. Intrigued, and perhaps slightly alarmed, researchers conducted a comprehensive state-of-the-science review titled Association Between COVID-19 Vaccination and Menstruation, published in July of 2024. Spoiler alert they found that small changes in menstrual cycle length, like slightly longer cycles, did indeed occur post-vaccination. It's like your uterus decided it needed a tiny vacation. Alongside this, some women reported other menstrual characteristics pain, heavier flow and even inner menstrual bleeding. Basically, for some, getting vaccinated was like their period deciding to throw a little party of its own.

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Now, for those living with endometriosis, the story took a more serious turn. Research has indicated that people with endometriosis who received COVID-19 vaccines experienced more severe menstrual cycle issues. Think more fatigue, increased pain and irregular periods, because having endometriosis isn't enough of a monthly adventure already. It's like the COVID vaccine RSVP'd to your endometriosis party and brought along some uninvited guests. The study team has made a strong case for incorporating menstrual health as key outcomes in future clinical trials. Imagine a world where tracking your menstrual cycle gets as much attention in clinical research as, say, your cholesterol levels. They also called for more research on this front, hopefully leading to a day when we can all say remember when no one cared about how vaccines affected our periods. Those were the dark ages. So there you have it, the grand scheme of pandemic research. Menstrual cycles are finally getting a bit of a spotlight. They deserve proving once again that science is nothing if not full of surprises.

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So are you ready for this next article, which is a bit unexpected I am In? The article titled Visceral Endometriosis in a Male Patient on Treatment for Papillary Urethral Sarcoma was fascinating. So picture this a 60-year-old guy strolls into a clinic and, lo and behold, he's got bladder endometriosis. Yes, you heard that, right. Hold, he's got bladder endometriosis. Yes, you heard that right.

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Endometriosis, the condition most commonly found in women, has somehow taken up residence in a man's bladder. Now, that's not something you see every day. What's really turning heads in the medical community is the rarity of this scenario. Sure, male endometriosis isn't entirely unheard of, but it's usually found in the context of previous estrogen treatments for conditions like prostate cancer. This guy, though, clean slate, no history of estrogen therapy, no cancers messing around, just straight up case of bladder endometriosis out of the blue.

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Researchers are scratching their heads over this one. It's like finding a unicorn in your backyard. It's fascinating and a bit perplexing all at once. This case study published recently dives deep into the nitty gritties of how this condition manifested in such an unexpected patient. They're breaking down the clinical signs and histology reports Everything you'd expect in a medical mystery thriller.

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Now, while we're on this topic. Let's talk about the implications. Understanding how and why this happened could potentially shed light on new facets of endometriosis that we've never explored before. It's like opening a door to a whole new wing of medical knowledge, one where gender norms and disease patterns might need a bit of a rewrite. So hats off to the researchers who cracked this case wide open.

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It's not every day you get to witness such a unique twist in a medical saga. Who knows, maybe next time we'll find endometriosis hanging out somewhere even more unexpected. Stay curious, folks. The world of medicine never fails to surprise us. You know, it's no secret that endometriosis is often overlooked, but now we've got some solid research to back it up.

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Picture you've got this chronic condition and yet, unlike other long-term illnesses, there's no clear path for treatment within the NHS. Shocking right? Well, that's exactly what a recent UK report titled. Lack of Care Pathway and Poor Symptom Recognition are Hindering Care, report Warns found. The study conducted by the National Confidential Inquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death Reviewed 941 patients and the results were pretty disheartening. More than half of these patients had to make multiple trips to their GP before getting any serious investigation or treatment. The lack of clear care pathway and poor recognition of symptoms are leaving many patients without the support they desperately need. In fact, the review of case notes showed a significant number of patients were not receiving appropriate care. This isn't just a minor oversight. It's a huge gap in the healthcare system that needs addressing.

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The research team didn't just point out the problem, they offered solutions. They've called for the NHS to establish a formal care pathway for endometriosis. They're also pushing for increased awareness among healthcare professionals, emphasizing that endometriosis is a chronic disease and should be treated with the same seriousness as other chronic conditions. And let's not forget, more training and recognizing the symptoms is crucial. Just think about it Every country could follow this lead. Imagine a world where endometriosis is taken seriously, where patients aren't left in limbo and where healthcare professionals are fully equipped to provide the right support. It's a big ask, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. If you want to continue learning more about these articles, make sure that you check out the links in the description of this podcast and continue feeling your knowledge about endometriosis research, because the more we know, the better we can advocate. Until next time, continue advocating for you and for those that you love.