When endometriosis takes years from your life, connection stops being optional and starts becoming a lifeline.

In this episode of the Endo Warriors, host Callie Greenberg sits down with endometriosis advocate Pam Bove to explore the long-term impact of having pain repeatedly dismissed. Pam shares how being told she was “just sensitive” did more than delay a diagnosis. It created lasting trauma that slowly eroded her trust in her own body and reshaped her confidence, relationships, and sense of identity.

This conversation goes beyond symptoms and into the emotional reality of living with endometriosis and chronic illness. Callie and Pam discuss how medical dismissal can isolate patients from peers and expected life paths, and why community becomes essential when your experience is constantly questioned. They reflect on the grief of missed milestones, the anger that follows delayed diagnosis, and the relief that comes from finally being believed without explanation.

If you have ever felt alone in your pain or wondered whether you are overreacting, this episode offers clarity and validation. Through shared stories and lived experience, Pam and Callie show how personal trauma can turn into collective strength, and why real healing for many endometriosis warriors begins with connection and community.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Endo Warriors Podcast: Endometriosis, Women’s Health, and Chronic Illness

01:10 Why Connection and Community Are Essential for Endometriosis Healing

03:18 Early Endometriosis Symptoms and Being Dismissed as a Teen

07:05 Medical Gaslighting and the Double Standard in Women’s Pain

11:16 How Chronic Pelvic Pain Impacts Social Life and Mental Health

17:40 Birth Control, Blood Clots, and a Life-Threatening Diagnosis

24:10 Finally Being Diagnosed With Endometriosis and Learning It Is Systemic

31:33 When “Normal” MRIs Miss Endometriosis and Delay Treatment

35:10 Turning Medical Trauma Into Advocacy, Purpose, and Change

38:00 Finding Strength Through Endometriosis Community and Shared Experience

Connect with Callie Greenberg:

Visit the Own My Endo website

Follow Endo Warriors on Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm