Kindred Champion

03/26/2024

Life update:

I’m happy to share that I’m embarking on a career change—as of yesterday, I am with Affinity Care of Virginia as a Hospice Sales and Marketing Community Liasion.

This is a sharp and meaningful change for me. After I became a caretaker for my mom, the lens in which I viewed the world showed me that if there was ever a chance to make an impact for someone in a similar situation, I’m all in.

Looking forward to helping those in the transitional life phase by offering quality care.

09/28/2023

Hello friends! It’s been a while.

Today is Sept 28, which is International Safe Abortion Day.

With legislation still on the line and women’s health and autonomy at risk, let’s remember that abortion IS healthcare and rights include access to abortion.

💜

This toolkit is designed to support you and fellow activists in campaigning this September 28. It contains this year’s call to action, key messages, suggested actions, visuals and creative materials. The best part of it all is that you can share this toolkit with your community and take action tog...

02/14/2023

Adenomyosis is the disease that catalyzed the existence of this very platform, The Kindred Champion—designed to build awareness about oft ignored or unknown women’s diseases and their impact.

Read for a pretty succinct and digestible explanation.

Endometriosis and adenomyosis are similar but distinct condition that both involve endometrial tissue growing where it shouldn't.

02/02/2023

“Dear Annie” has entered the chat...

The Perimenopause chat.

While the headline and the advice given are misaligned, let's celebrate the fact that an advice column is talking about how to navigate this inevitable albeit uncomfortable change that affects our careers, our personal lives, and our mental health. PLUS—It’s correctly named!

Perimenopause is often lumped under "menopause" with little to no discussion.

Using the term “perimenopause” is a first step that can help destigmatize what’s happening as well as equip women with an arsenal of information that wasn't available to them before.

Some women experience perimenopause symptoms as early as their late 30s, and those women often feel alone and "crazy".

Guess what: You're not "crazy"--you just haven't been supplied with helpful information, and that's not your fault.

Part of what lacks transparency in the overall discourse on perimenopause is what’s considered “normal” and what’s problematic and needs attention. I don’t agree with the advice here by Dear Annie. She does explain that her symptoms are not unusual. But where this lacks guidance—when perimenopause starts affecting your quality of life, it’s worthy of attention and investigation by your specialist.

Sorry, Annie, but a walk in nature is not gonna cut it.

It’s okay to feel lost and confused during this time. It’s okay to ask questions about what is happening and what to expect. Yes, go for walks in nature. Put the screens away. Get some hobbies.

But always ask questions and loop in your community and your specialists. You’re not alone. You don’t have to navigate alone.

She's been struggling for 2 years, but refuses to see a doctor

02/02/2023

Let's talk for a moment about perimenopause and menopause.

Did you know?

📍17% of women leave or consider leaving the workforce due to perimenopause and menopause symptoms
📍Hormone therapy is available to help manage the severity of perimenopause, yet it’s largely ignored
📍The term “perimenopause” is underutilized in the discourse of the change that all women go through
📍There is a scarily low amount of discourse in general about menopause

Relief from suffering during this inevitable change IS out there.

Let’s get more comfortable talking about all things menopause. Let’s get women to a place of being heard, seen, and recognized in this lonely abyss. Let’s keep women in the workforce by supporting and sharing.

Hot flashes, sleeplessness, pain during s*x: For some of menopause’s worst symptoms, there’s an established treatment. Why aren’t more women offered it?

01/14/2023

A quiet epidemic of assault on women’s health is happening for the simple reason of women being invisible and not believed. Black women are at even higher risk for not being heard and being mistreated.

This woman bled for 83 days. She required a blood transfusion and a dilation and curettage (D&C) from complications of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Yet her pain and symptoms were diminished and she was almost sent home.

Self-advocacy saved her. The Kindred Champion is committed to sharing advocacy tools and skills. Continue following for more.

The author shares how a male ER doctor dismissed her symptoms and she had to fight to stay in the hospital. Her period lasted 83 days.

06/23/2022

“Perimenopause” is often conflated with menopause, instead of it being long process before actual menopause. We’ve all been taught that the hot flashes, hormone fluctuations, dryness, weight gain, and the like are menopause. What’s being described is actually perimenopause. Additionally, higher, prolonged stress can lead to early perimenopause.

At 42, I am experiencing some of these issues associated with perimenopause. It’s a little early. I used to be excited by the idea of early menopause. But now that I am feeling things changing and happening, I spend about 3-5 days a month worried that I’m having a heart episode. I was recently tested for anemia and had an EKG. The more I learn, the more I realize that my estrogen levels are tanking just before my period, which is causing the heaviness in my chest and rapid heart rates. It’s been much more pronounced and noticeable the last 4-5 months, which is what led me to investigate.

Perimenopause is exacerbated by stress, and symptoms of perimenopause exacerbate stress. It’s certainly a catch-22, isn’t it.

So, I am more focused as of late on talking about perimenopause for what it is. I feel like it’s been a disservice to not use the terms menopause and perimenopause in the true essence of their meanings.

Curiosity question: how many of you have been taught the difference of perimenopause and menopause at an early age? How many of you didn’t know the difference until recent years of your life?

The onset of perimenopause varies depending upon genetics and environmental factors.

05/03/2022

While the country focused on “the slap heard around the world,” Oklahoma passed an anti-abortion laws.

While the country continues to be distracted by just about everything, Roe v. Wade is in critical condition. We are in jeopardy all over the country.

Abortion is medical care. Full stop.

The outlawing of abortion would create dangerous, unsafe environments for abortion seekers everywhere.

It would take away body autonomy.

It sends the message that women are not in control of their own bodies or decisions.

It does not matter what the reason is that someone may seek an abortion.

It does matter that people can’t be trusted to make a decision that’s best for themselves.

LiveUpdated May 3, 2022, 8:17 a.m. ETMay 3, 2022, 8:17 a.m. ETSupreme Court Live Updates: Draft Decision Overruling Roe v. Wade Would Remake Abortion LandscapeThe decision, which is not expected to be finalized for another month or more and could change in its final form, would leave it to individua...

04/20/2022

The “lose weight” comment from doctors is uninformed, obnoxious, antiquated, dismissive, flat out wrong, and completely harmful. The judgement behind it prevents many people from getting a proper diagnosis, and it creates frustration, questions of self-worth, and continued, unnecessary suffering for anyone that is not model perfect.

I can’t tell you how many women have told me doctors have given some variation of the weight judgement to them.

If this happens to you, you have rights. Call them out, make them document their refusal to treat you, and report them to the medical board. Not sure how to do that? Stay tuned, more info coming on that process.

04/08/2022

April is Adenomyosis Awareness Month, and I am grateful for comments like this to help set the record straight.

Adenomyosis is a common condition, but not a lot of people know about it. I had never heard of it until I was diagnosed.

It took 23 years to get diagnosed. I am thankful to have a name to my condition. Unfortunately, it’s comments like these that feed into the dismissiveness that leads to undiagnosis or misdiagnosis.

This comment, while well-intended, is deeply misinformed and at its root, dismissive.

I’m here to spread awareness so that we can all become informed and build together, and get away from bad medicine.

04/07/2022

Women—Have you experienced “medical gaslighting”? Has your health been compromised because you couldn’t get the right help? Help me out! Share your story. See below!

Your health journey story is as unique as you. Our goal is to share women's stories about their health journeys to create a community of shared experience, help educate on the gaps in data for research that includes women, and expose discrepancies and bias. Your input is valuable and appreciated.

04/07/2022

The Kindred Champion was created from a passion for sharing stories from women who have been put through it on their health journeys. The goal is to create awareness by sharing these stories in both heartfelt, profound ways as well as through a comedic lens with parodies. (And using comedy as a coping mechanism.)

Can you help? Share your story! The purpose of these stories is to educate as well as create camaraderie through compassion. Awareness affects change, and the more we can share our experiences, the more tools we have, and the more control we can gain when it comes to equipping ourselves against bad medicine.

If you're interested in sharing, please fill out this questionnaire. It should take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes to complete, depending on how much detail you're sharing.

Thank you for your contribution to awareness about women's health journey in western medicine.

Truly,
Your Kindred Champion

Your health journey story is as unique as you. Our goal is to share women's stories about their health journeys to create a community of shared experience, help educate on the gaps in data for research that includes women, and expose discrepancies and bias. Your input is valuable and appreciated.