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Today we talk to Shauna Farabaugh, a somatic sex educator about how it can help us have a sexual rebirth. Shauna is one of our Holistic Healing Summit speakers. We hope you can join us. With over 30 sessions dedicated to approaching LS from a whole-body approach, there's something for every LS Warrior. Find out more at holistichealingsummit.live We're excited to announce the Get Your Sexy Back program! If LS has taken your mojo and you're ready to take it back this is the class for you! Find out more at lswarrior.com/rebirth Want to reach out to Shauna? Awesome! Email her at farabaugh.shauna@gmail.com. And check out her website at sexualityintransition.com   As always email me at kathy@lssupport.net and follow me on IG @lichensclerosuspodcast!      

I am so excited to bring you Angie Alt! Angie is a Certified Health Coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition as well as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Consultant with the Nutritional Therapy Association. She's one of the originators of the Autoimmune Protocol, also known as AIP. Listen as she walks us through her LS story and discovers diet and lifestyle changes that keep her in remission for 19 years. If you want to work with Angie or become an AIP certified trainer check out the links below. www.autoimmunewellness.com sadtoaip.com for AIP coaching program www.aipcertified.com Shout out to Lichen Sclerosus Support Network. We're currently working on our annual Holistic Healing Summit. We need volunteers. If you can donate some of your time please fill out our volunteer form at lssupport.net/volunteers. If you're in need of support, join us in the next LS Support Virtual Meetup. Signup at lssupport.net/connect for more details.    

Were you given a steroid treatment for your LS but not told when or how to use it? Or were the directions unclear, but you're not sure where to turn to for information? Don't worry because we get answers to those questions in this episode and more with Dr. Jill Krapf, leading LS researcher and specialist. To contact and work with Dr. Krapf, go to www.cvvd.org and fill out their contact form or call them. You can also follow Dr. Krapf on Instagram and Facebook @jillkrapfmd. Thanks to, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN). LSSN is helping get people diagnosed earlier and get the treatment and care they deserve. Follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their new website lssupportnetwork.org. Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/joinwarriors. Or join us every other Saturday in the free virtual meetups. Find out more information and signup at lssupport.net/connect.

It's a new year and a perfect time to set goals. I'm not just talking about life goals, either. I'm talking about health goals! We set at least one life and one LS goal we want to work on inside our private membership. Every week we set mini-goals to get us to our big goals. And let me tell you, this process WORKS. We've had so many amazing transformations working through this process. In this episode, I walk you through why it's important to set health goals and how to start doing it. If you're interested in working towards your goals with a group of like-minded women, join the LS Warriors today! We're just getting started. We have our first live meeting on 1/14/22. We'll be working together towards acceptance and resilience for the next five months. Jump on the train and start making headway on your health journey. Let us support you along the way. Go to lssupport.net/joinwarriors to get your first month free. I can't wait to see you in the membership. If you have any questions feel free to email me at kathy@lssupport.net.  

Welcome. If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, I want to give you a shout-out and thank you for sticking with me this year. This was the year of transition, and because of that, there weren’t very many episodes published, but you kept coming back. I appreciate you so much! If you’ve just found me, I want to thank you for listening, and I hope you get value out of it. At the very least, know that you are not alone. Since this is the last episode of 2021, I thought it would be fun to look back at the top five episodes of the year. These are fan favorites, and I totally get why. So if you’re looking for something to keep you busy while I’m away for the next two weeks, get ready to mark these down so you can listen to them later. In no particular order, the first episode is my interview with Dr. Jill Krapf, titled “How are reproductive age women and steroids similar, with Dr. Jill Krapf.” This episode discusses research into younger women with Lichen Sclerosus and the proper way to use ultra-potent steroids as a treatment. You can access the episode at lssupport.net/drjill. The next episode is all about appointment anxiety. It’s titled “How to Snap Out of Appointment Anxiety.” I share a recent experience of appointment anxiety and the techniques I used to snap out of it. Go to lssupport.net/appointmentanxiety to listen to this episode and for complete show notes. The next episode is “The Lost Labia Journey: Finding Community.” If you’re looking for inspiration and hope to get you through the tough times, this is the episode for you. Jaclyn is an LS Warrior, as well as an LS advocate. This is the second episode of a two-part series detailing her more than decade-long battle with LS. We find out how she not only learned to manage her disease but used it to better the lives of others living with LS. She is now the author of The Lost Labia Chronicles blog, which you can find at Lostlabia.com, and has recently released her first eBook, titled “Three Key Things To Have In Place When You Have Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus,” which you can get for free at lostlabia.com/ebook. Listen to her episode at lssupport.net/findingcommunity. Have you listened to Ashley Stump PFPT’s episode “Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help You Feel Better”? It’s the next top five episode of 2021. If you’ve ever wondered or thought about PFPT, this is the episode for you! Ashley shared so much amazing information on how PFPT can help those of us with LS. Check it out at lssupport.net/pfpt. “Lichen Sclerosus And Diet? Does The Research Look Good?” rounds out the top five. Dietitian Erica Eberl did a deep dive into LS research, looking for any connection between diet and LS. You can listen to what she found and more at lssupport.net/diet. I couldn’t leave you without mentioning an honorable mention: “How to keep your quality of life with Lichen Sclerosus.” Have you stopped doing things you loved, using your favorite products, or eating your favorite foods because you heard it wasn’t good for your LS? I’m here to ask you, “How do you know?” Before you go letting LS dictate how and what you do in your life, listen to this episode, lssupport.net/lscontrol. I hope you have a happy new year, and I look forward to talking to you in 2022.

Today I am joined by the amazing dermatologist, Dr. Sandy Flann, who is an expert on pediatric Lichen Sclerosus. Yes, you heard that right, Pediatric Lichen Sclerosus! As we know, Lichen Sclerosus can affect anyone, of any age - children included. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research and resources for parents of children with Lichen Sclerosus. So, today we're going to find out about treatment, what to look for, the progression of symptoms, and how we can help our children become comfortable in their skin. This is an important episode if you have a child with LS, or if you plan on having children (as it’s important to know some of the warning signs to be able to advocate for your child). Furthermore, because there may be a genetic component to LS, you never know who in your family you may be able to help. I want to thank our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping get people diagnosed earlier and get the treatment and care they deserve. Follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net. Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/joinwarriors. Or join us every other Saturday in the free virtual meetups. Find out more information and signup at lssupport.net/connect. Visit lssupport.net/kidls for full show notes.

Hey, welcome. In this episode, I decided to take a little break from the interviews, and speak from the heart. This is something I felt compelled to speak on. I want to talk about not letting Lichen Sclerosus control your life; not letting it rob you of the vibrant and wondrous person you are. I want to thank our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping get people diagnosed earlier and get the treatment and care they deserve. Follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net. Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/joinwarriors. Or join us every other Saturday in the free virtual meetups. Find out more information and signup at lssupport.net/connect. Visit lssupport.net/lscontrol for full show notes.

Hey! Welcome! Have you ever wondered what lube is best for Lichen Sclerosus? Perhaps you felt overwhelmed by the massive selection of lube options online and had no clue what to buy? Have you ever wondered what you should look for and avoid in a lube? If yes, this is the episode for you! Today I am here with my amazing friend and follow LS warrior, Jaclyn, from The Lost Labia Chronicles, and we are going to be talking about lubrication, artificial lubrication, that is. But before we jump into this, click here to subscribe to The Lost Labia Chronicles, which dives into sex, mental health, and Lichen Sclerosus through blogs and YouTube videos. I’m am so happy to be here with my girl to talk with y’all about lube (what kind of lube is right for you, Jaclyn’s experience with dilators and lube, what you want to consider in choosing a lube, etc). I want to thank our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping get people diagnosed earlier and get the treatment and care they deserve. Follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net. Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/joinwarriors. Visit lssupport.net/lubes for full shownotes.

Today, I am here with Dr. Cynthia Wesley (aka Dr. Cyn), a board-certified OBGYN with over 16 years of experience and a vulvar skin expert. Dr. Cyn is passionate about vulvar care, hygiene, and grooming. She will share her tips on how to take care of your vulva when you have Lichen Sclerosus. We discussed everything from using the bathroom, bathing, moisturizing, hair removal, and more. So many great tips in here. Resources mentioned in the episode: Dr. Cyn’s website: drcynobgyn.com Dr. Cyn’s exclusive vulvar products waitlist: beautybelowmd.com Pre-order Dr. Cyn’s new book here: beautybelowbook.com  Dr. Cyn’s social media: @drcynobgyn on Facebook and Instagram For complete show notes and all the links mentioned in this episode visit lssupport.net/grooming. Thank you to our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network. Working towards getting people diagnosed earlier and getting treated better. Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net. Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/lswarriors.

Hey welcome! This week I'm so excited to finally publish this episode with Ashley Stump. She's a pelvic floor physical therapist who knows all about Lichen Sclerosus. I learned so much during this episode, we talked about what pelvic floor physical therapy is, why women with Lichen Sclerosus need it, what to expect on your first visit, and we talked about lubes. We talked about so much, so much gold and she even gave us tips on what to look for when you're looking for a new pelvic floor physical therapist, and some resources are where to find one. For complete show notes and all the links mentioned in this episode visit lssupport.net/pfpt. Thank you to our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network. Working towards getting people diagnosed earlier and getting treated better. Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net. Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/lswarriors.

If you're seeing two of these or getting this episode really late, apologies. I realized half of my listeners didn't get the episode because I released it in video format versus audio. 🤦🏽‍♀️ Either way everyone should have at least one version of the episode. Thanks for understanding. Heeeyyy! Longtime no see. lol Life has been busy and a bit hectic and I'm ready to let you in on everything that's been going on. And the most exciting news. You'll be getting new episodes starting Nov 5! First off we have incorporated Lichen Sclerosus Support Network and we are an official not-for-profit! Find out what we've been doing and what our future plans are. Want to volunteer? lssupport.net/volunteer Want to donate? lssupport.net/donate Secondly, my family caught covid and my husband and I ended up in the hospital. It's turned our world upside down. My husband, Lorenzo, still hasn't made it home. Lorenzo was our source of income so I could concentrate on educating and supporting people with LS. With him not being able to work everything is a little up in the air. If you would like to help us during this time we would deeply appreciate it. You can donate at https://gofund.me/50b5eada or  https://venmo.com/u/Kathy-Ruiz-Carter So I hope this catches you up to speed and you're prepared for some amazing interviews. Excited to be with you again. Feel free to email me at kathy@lssupport.net.

Heeeyyy! Longtime no see. lol Life has been busy and a bit hectic and I'm ready to let you in on everything that's been going on. And the most exciting news. You'll be getting new episodes starting Nov 5! First off we have incorporated Lichen Sclerosus Support Network and we are an official not-for-profit! Find out what we've been doing and what our future plans are. Want to volunteer? lssupport.net/volunteer Want to donate? lssupport.net/donate Secondly, my family caught covid and my husband and I ended up in the hospital. It's turned our world upside down. My husband, Lorenzo, still hasn't made it home. Lorenzo was our source of income so I could concentrate on educating and supporting people with LS. With him not being able to work everything is a little up in the air. If you would like to help us during this time we would deeply appreciate it. You can donate at https://gofund.me/50b5eada or  https://venmo.com/u/Kathy-Ruiz-Carter So I hope this catches you up to speed and you're prepared for some amazing interviews. Excited to be with you again. Feel free to email me at kathy@lssupport.net.

Hey!!! Welcome! I'm so happy you're here. I've got some AMAZING news. We have released the searchable provider directory! It's ready for you to explore. It's brand new so we have to work out all the kinks as we grow it but it's better than nothing. https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/searchable-lichen-sclerosus-provider-database/ We have some equally exciting news. We are turning Lichen Sclerosus Support Network into an official nonprofit! Our mission will be to prevent the negative emotional and mental health effects that can come with an LS diagnosis. That's right we are going to spread the message even further and help more people. So if you can help, please do your part because it's going to take the whole community. Check out our new webpage and read all about the exciting things we have coming. https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/nonprofit Donate: https://fundly.com/lichen-sclerosus-support-network# I can't wait to hear your reaction. Let me know what you think and how you can help the community. Email me at kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast.com or DM me on IG @lichensclerosuspodcast.

Hey! Welcome! I’m so glad you are here with us today! We are going to shake this up a bit and have a live round table discussion about the concepts of acceptance and resilience with some members of the LS Warriors membership. The concepts of acceptance and resilience are critical to living with a disease such as Lichen Sclerosus. In this round table discussion, I will ask our participants a series of questions relating to these concepts and Lichen Sclerosus. I would love to hear your thoughts on acceptance and resilience. Email me at Kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast.com or DM me on IG @lichenslcerosuspodcast. Join our next LS Support Virtual Meetup from 2-4 and 7-9 PM EST. at https://lssupport.net/connect. Or join LS Warriors for 24/7 support and information. https://lssupport.net/lswarriors. Reach out to Jaclyn by email at lostlabiachronicles@gmail.com or DM her on IG @thelostlabiachronicles. Also, be sure to join her email list so you get notified when she releases a new blog post. https://lssupport.net/jointllc Support our sponsor Lichen Sclerosus Support Network by following them on IG @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and check out their website https://lssupport.net for all the ways they can support you on your LS journey.

I’m so glad you are here with us today. In today’s episode, we are joined by Jen, one of the LS Warriors! She is here to share the amazing story of her journey with Lichen Sclerosus. Jen’s journey involves a traumatic birth and a lot of stress to her vulva and vagina. She discusses what this process was like, how her symptoms manifested after the birth of her daughter, her diagnosis, and how she now deals with stress and Lichen Sclerosus. If you want to reach out to Jen, you can message her on Twitter and/or Instagram @jenpatala. Email me at Kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast.com or DM me on IG @lichenslcerosuspodcast. Join our next LS Support Virtual Meetup from 2-4 and 7-9 PM EST. at https://lssupport.net/connect. Or join LS Warriors for 24/7 support and information. https://lssupport.net/lswarriors. Reach out to Jaclyn by email at lostlabiachronicles@gmail.com or DM her on IG @thelostlabiachronicles. Also, be sure to join her email list so you get notified when she releases a new blog post. https://lssupport.net/jointllc Support our sponsor Lichen Sclerosus Support Network by following them on IG @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and check out their website https://lssupport.net for all the ways they can support you on your LS journey.

Today we are joined by Erica Ebrel, a registered dietician and fellow Lichen Sclerosus warrior. Erica is here to talk to us about the relationship between the food we eat and Lichen Sclerosus. She is going to tell us all about what the research says, what we should do if we are interested to know if diet impacts our Lichen Sclerosus, and weighs in on some popular Lichen Sclerosus diets (e.g., low-oxalate). I am so grateful for this amazing conversation with Erica. If you want to reach out and talk to her, you can find her on Instagram @ericasappletite or email her at ericaeberl.dietition@gmail.com. Let me know if diet affects your LS or if you're trying to figure that out. Email me at Kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast.com or DM me on IG @lichenslcerosuspodcast. Join our next LS Support Virtual Meetup from 2-4 and 7-9 PM EST. at https://lssupport.net/connect. Support our sponsor Lichen Sclerosus Support Network by following them on IG @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and check out their website https://lssupport.net for all the ways they can support you on your LS journey.

This week we're talking to Heather Cooan once again. If you did not get a chance to check out Heather's diagnosis story, which were the previous two episodes, go back and listen because she shared her amazing story of how she found out she had vulva cancer and how it changed her life. Post healing she was looking for how she could get into the natural healing space to pay it forward and help other women. This led her to her new field and love of nutrition, where she ultimately become a nutrition therapy practitioner and a  functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner. Today we’re going to find out exactly what they do and how she could help us heal our Lichen Sclerosus. If you’re interested in leaky gut or how hormones or food sensitivities trigger our LS this is the episode for you. Find out what buckets are triggering your health issues by taking Heather's test at https://heathercooan.com/lspodcast. While you're there be sure to schedule a free consultation with Heather and follow her on her social media platforms. Email me at Kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast.com or DM me on IG @lichenslcerosuspodcast and let me know your experiences with nutrition. Or better yet join our next LS Support Virtual Meetup every other Saturday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM EST. at https://lssupport.net/connect and tell me in person. Support our sponsor Lichen Sclerosus Support Network by following them on IG @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and check out their website https://lssupport.net for all the ways they can support you on your LS journey.

Today we are joined (again) by therapeutic nutrition consultant, LS warrior, and cancer survivor, Heather Cooan. Last episode we heard her diagnosis story. Unfortunately, Heather went undiagnosed for over 25 years, allowing her Lichen Sclerosus to develop into vulvar cancer. This was a gross failure of the medical system. In today’s episode, we learn how Heather advocated for herself and fought for her values. Today her Lichen Sclerosus is in remission and she is now cancer-free! Her story reminds us of the importance of self-advocacy in the medical realm. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode where Heather details how a Nutrition Therapist can help us get healthy. I want to hear from you. What has advocating for yourself done in your life? Email me at kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast or DM me on Instagram @lichensclerosuspodcast. I want to thank our sponsor, the Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping bring awareness, information, education, and most importantly support to all Lichen Sclerosus warriors. Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork. Resources: If you are in the Phoenix area, check out Dr. Joseph Brook’s here: https://www.arizonaspecializedgynecology.com/provider/joseph-brooks-md Dr. Bhoola: https://arizonaoncology.com/covid19/ If you are battling vulvar cancer, check out the vulvar cancer awareness forum here: https://www.facebook.com/vulvarcancerawarenessforum/ For nutritional consultations, see Heather’s website: https://heathercooan.com/ If you haven't joined the email list for The Lost Labia Chronicles, a blog about beating Lichen Sclerosus, you want to do that today. https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/lost-labia-chronicles-landing-page/ Be sure to follow her on IG and FB @thelostlabiachronicles.  

Today we are joined by therapeutic nutrition consultant, LS warrior, and cancer survivor, Heather Cooan. Heather’s journey from how the medical system let her down to self-advocacy and taking control of her health and body is nothing short of incredible.  Her story will be told in two parts. Today, we begin with when Heather’s symptoms first began to manifest, how they impacted her life, and how she was repeatedly let down by the system. Email me at kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast.com or DM me on IG @lichensclerosuspodcast and let me know what you thought of Heather's story so far. I want to thank our sponsor, the Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping bring information, education, and most importantly support to all Lichen Sclerosus warriors. Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork. Virtual Meetup Information We meet every other Saturday from 2-4 pm and/or 7-9 pm Eastern Standard Time. This is your opportunity to share your diagnosis story, what is working for you and what isn’t, and ask a question to the group. Perhaps share your experience with the system letting you down! I have met so many incredibly strong LS warriors through these meetups, and I would love for you to join our community.  Sign up at lssupport.net/connect for notifications and updates! Our next meetup is on March 20th, 2021. I cannot wait to meet you! Resources: For nutritional consultations, see Heather’s website: https://heathercooan.com/ If you are battling vulvar cancer, check out the vulvar cancer awareness forum here: https://www.facebook.com/vulvarcancerawarenessforum/ If you are in the Phoenix area, check out Dr. Joseph Brook’s here: https://www.arizonaspecializedgynecology.com/provider/joseph-brooks-md  Dr. Bhoola: https://arizonaoncology.com/covid19/

Hey! Welcome. I'm excited to bring you the second part of my conversation with my LS sister, Jaclyn. In this episode, she shares what it took to go from suffering so bad she had to stop having sex with her new husband to having multi-orgasm sex multiple times a week. I hope this story inspires you because you can do this too! I truly believe you can. It won't be easy but you absolutely can. Please let me know if you're ready to start down the path back to health. We're here to support you. Email me at Kathy@lichensclerosuspodcast.com or DM me on IG @lichenslcerosuspodcast. Join our next LS Support Virtual Meetup from 2-4 and 7-9 PM EST. at https://lssupport.net/connect. Ready for 24/7 support? Join the waitlist for LS Warriors. A family that understands what you're going through. https://lssupport.net/lswarriors Reach ou/t to Jaclyn by email at lostlabiachronicles@gmail.com or DM her on IG @thelostlabiachronicles. Also, be sure to join her email list so you get notified when she releases a new blog post. https://lssupport.net/jointllc Support our sponsor Lichen Sclerosus Support Network by following them on IG @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and check out their website https://lssupport.net for all the ways they can support you on your LS journey. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Heather’s website: https://feminapt.com/ and her Instagram @theladypartspt Want to buy Heather's book? Buy it at http://sexwithoutpainbook.com/ – use code LICHENS20 for 20% for a limited amount of time.