Life with Stage 4 Endometriosis: Ashley Banek | Ep24

After stopping birth control in her early 30s, Ashley Banek expected life to feel more natural and connected to her body. Instead, she began experiencing debilitating cycles, severe pain, vomiting, exhaustion, and symptoms so extreme they left her curled up on the bathroom floor for days at a time. Despite repeated attempts to get help, she says many medical professionals minimized her pain, dismissed her concerns, and pushed solutions that didn’t address the root issue.What followed was years of confusion, misdiagnosis, emergency situations, and major decisions about her future fertility. Ashley eventually discovered she had severe endometriosis that had spread extensively throughout her body, leading to a nine-hour surgery, conversations about organ removal, and the realization that she would need to become her own advocate inside a fragmented healthcare system.In this episode of The Rock Bottom Podcast, Ashley shares the emotional and physical toll of living with chronic illness, the fear and uncertainty surrounding endometriosis, and the long process of finding doctors who truly listened. She also opens up about how her experience inspired her to found Samara Health, a company focused on helping women navigate complex medical challenges with advocacy, support, and personalized care.Featured Guest:Ashley BanekFounder of Samara HealthWebsite: https://www.samarahealth.comInstagram: @ashleybanekSamara Health Instagram: @samarahealthDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine.Chapters00:00 Coming Up This Episode00:23 Podcast Intro: Ashley Banek’s Story01:16 Interview Begins: Welcome Ashley02:00 Going Off Birth Control & Early Symptoms06:44 Cycles Become Debilitating12:14 “Pain Was 10 Out of 10”18:43 Medical Dismissal & Fighting to Be Heard27:08 Emergency Health Complications Begin41:37 Searching for a Surgeon Who Would Preserve Her Organs42:38 Endometriosis & The Hysterectomy Conversation58:10 The Emotional Toll of Chronic Illness01:10:42 Becoming Her Own Advocate01:29:19 Founding Samara Health01:38:27 Rock Bottom Score: “Negative Hundreds”01:38:48 Life Now: “I’m a Nine or a Ten”01:40:08 Final Thoughts & EncouragementPresented by: @JigsawHealthTVSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645Do you have a health horror story that inspires? Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8