Halsey Part 1: Endometriosis, Lupus and The Unfiltered Truth About Living With Chronic Illness

Join Dr. A and Mary Alice as they sit down with the multi-talented Grammy-nominated artist Halsey to discuss her harrowing health journey she kept hidden from everyone. From being diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 20, to her more recent battle with lupus and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, Halsey opens up like she never has before. Dive deep into the complexities of living with chronic illness as Halsey talks about her fertility journey, miscarriage, and how it felt to face severe health challenges at a young age while soaring in her career. This episode is a must for anyone who has ever had their pain dismissed or felt alone in their own health journey. 

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Key Takeaways From Halsey

1. Complex Emotions Surrounding Miscarriages Are Normal: Halsey shares that her miscarriage, especially at a young age and early in her career, involved a mix of emotions including relief, confusion, guilt, and grief. She emphasizes the complexity of these feelings which many women experience.
2. Be Your Best, Not The Best: Halsey stresses that it's essential to be the best parent you are capable of being, rather than aspiring to an idealized version of perfection. Embrace your unique strengths and abilities. ‍
3. Advocate for Your Health: Halsey emphasizes the necessity of being your own health advocate. She shares her journey of consulting multiple doctors and not settling until she got the answers and the care she needed. ‍
4. Importance of Diagnosis: Halsey highlights the importance of receiving a proper diagnosis for health conditions. She shares how Dr. A helped diagnose her with endometriosis after she suffered for a long time with symptoms that were previously dismissed or misdiagnosed, and how that changed everything.‍
5. Pregnancy and Immunosuppression: Halsey reveals that she felt her best during pregnancy because the suppressed immune system associated with pregnancy alleviated many of her lupus symptoms. This insight led to her lupus diagnosis and may be valuable for others experiencing similar symptoms.

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