Episode 22: It’s Not Just a Bad Period — A PT’s Personal Endometriosis Journey (with special guest Dr. Alyssa Demeule)

For many, the road to an endometriosis diagnosis is a decade-long maze of debilitating fatigue, "rice cake weeks," and being told that agonizing period pain is "normal." But the conversation is finally starting to shift. This week, pelvic floor PT Dr. Alyssa Demeule joins Dr. Rebecca and Dr. Alex to share her journey from medical gaslighting to recovery. We dive into the new ACOG diagnostic guidelines that prioritize the patient’s voice, the importance of finding the right excision specialist, and why lasting relief requires a strategic, multimodal path. This isn’t just a clinical deep dive into a chronically misunderstood disease - it’s a conversation about reclaiming your body and getting your life back.What You’ll Learn:Why a “clear” MRI or ultrasound doesn’t mean the pain is in your head, and why many specialists are now moving away from surgery as the only diagnostic tool.Why your general OBGYN might not be the right person for excision surgery, and how to find a vetted specialist who truly understands the disease.How the body creates a “pain memory” that persists even after the tissue is healed, and how to retrain those pathways.Tune in if you’ve ever thought:“Am I crazy, or is this level of pain more than just a bad period? “Why does my doctor keep telling me my tests are negative…when I can’t get out of bed?”“How am I supposed to advocate for myself when I’m exhausted from just trying to get through the day?”ResourcesNancy’s Nook (an advocacy and education resource used to find vetted endometriosis excision specialists): www.nancysnookendo.com Beating Endo: How to Reclaim Your Life from Endometriosis by Dr. Iris Orbuch and Dr. Amy Stein.Endometriosis Association: www.endometriosisassn.orgEndometriosis Foundation of America: www.endofound.orgThe Endometriosis Summit educational videos: www.youtube.com/@theendometriosissummit5427Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global DirectoryConnect with us:Dr. Rebecca Howard EudyWebsite: rebeccaeudy.comInstagram: @rebeccahowardeudyNewsletter: Parents in Love SubstackDr. Alexandra DiGradoWebsite: bostonpelvicpt.comInstagram: @bostonpelvicptNewsletter: Under the HoodUnder the Hood PodcastInstagram: @underthehooddocsWebsite: underthehoodpod.com