Vaginal Cysts & Ozempic (Part 2 w/ Fi)
In this Pursuit of Wellness episode, guest Fiona opens up about her personal health experiences, particularly regarding a Bartholin's cyst that required emergency medical intervention. She discusses how the condition affected her well-being and emphasizes the value of having open conversations about commonly underdiscussed health issues.
The episode also covers Fiona's experience with semaglutide for managing binge eating habits, including her approach to maintenance dosing and its impact on her relationship with food. Additionally, Fiona shares insights about her career transition into real estate, describing how she navigates the field's challenges and works with clients to meet their specific needs.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jul 21, 2025 episode of the Pursuit of Wellness
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1-Page Summary
Personal Health and Wellness
Fiona's Experience With a Vaginal Cyst
Fiona shares her harrowing experience with an infected Bartholin's cyst that required emergency treatment. The procedure, which involved numbing shots and drainage of two cysts, was extremely painful and traumatic, particularly as she faced it alone. The experience left her hesitant about intimacy, given the recurring nature of the condition. Through sharing her story, Fiona suggests that Bartholin's cysts may be more common than reported, with many cases going undiscussed due to embarrassment. She emphasizes the importance of normalizing conversations about such health issues to help others feel less isolated in their experiences.
Weight Management and Medication
Fiona discusses her positive experience with semaglutide (Ozempic), which she uses in combination with B12 to manage binge eating. She has successfully adjusted to a maintenance dose, taking half of her original prescription every two weeks. The medication has helped her develop a healthier relationship with food, ending the cycle of restriction and binge eating, and allowing her to enjoy foods in moderation.
Career and Professional Development
Fiona describes her transition into real estate, where she joined a supportive team that helped her navigate the learning curve. She particularly enjoys the personal aspects of her work, such as helping clients find homes that meet their specific needs, and appreciates the career's flexibility. While acknowledging current market challenges, Fiona emphasizes that success in real estate comes from having the right team and approach to serving clients.
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Actionables
- You can start a discreet online support group for individuals dealing with Bartholin's cysts to foster a sense of community and shared experience. Use a platform like Facebook or Reddit to create a private group where members can share their stories, offer advice, and provide emotional support without the fear of public exposure or embarrassment.
- Develop a simple meal planning app that incorporates medication reminders for those using medications like semaglutide. The app could feature a weekly meal planner that helps users balance their nutrition while reminding them when to take their medication, aiming to support a healthier relationship with food and adherence to medication schedules.
- Create a virtual mentorship program for aspiring real estate professionals that pairs them with experienced agents. This program would allow mentees to learn about the personal and client-focused aspects of the industry, gain insights into the importance of teamwork, and understand the flexibility of a real estate career through one-on-one video calls and shared online resources.
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Personal Health and Wellness
Fiona's Experience With a Vaginal Cyst
Fiona's Painful Emergency Treatment for Infected Bartholin's Cyst
Fiona found herself in an incredibly distressing situation when she had to rush to the emergency room due to a painfully infected Bartholin's cyst. Once there, she was given privacy in a gynecological room where a male doctor examined her and diagnosed the infection. During her emergency treatment, which included the application of numbing ointment and agonizing shots directly into the cyst, Fiona cried and screamed from the pain, comparable to an intense dental [restricted term] injection. To manage the unbearable pain, which caused uncontrollable shaking and panic, the attending physician had to physically restrain her legs to drain two cysts. Fiona was left to deal with this ordeal alone, advised by the physician not to observe the discharge as several packs of gauze were required to manage the procedure.
Though initially given antibiotics and a steroid shot for inflammation, her condition worsened, necessitating another painful visit to the gynecologist. It was an incredibly traumatic experience that not only caused physical suffering but also emotional distress as Fiona was unaccompanied during the draining of the cysts.
Fiona's Recurring Cyst Experience Affects Intimacy
Fiona returned from the ER with a fear of intimacy due to her experience with the Bartholin cyst. The situation left her hesitant to engage in sexual activity, given the recurrence and pain associated with her condition. Although the specifics of how intimacy is affected are not detailed, the implication is clear: the recurring cysts, due to their sensitive location and the nature of the treatment required, could understandably lead to anxiety regarding intimacy.
Importance of Awareness and Openness About Women's Health
Fiona Believes Bartholin's Cysts Are More Common Than Statistics Suggest but Often Go Undiscussed Due to Embarrassment
Fiona, during the discussion, hints at her belief that Bartholin's cysts are more common than reported, suggesting the figures might be underrepresented due to embarrassment. The transcript does not contain direct statements regarding her opinion on the frequency of Bart ...
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Personal Health and Wellness
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personal health diary to track any recurring issues and their symptoms, which can help in early detection and treatment. By noting down any discomfort, swelling, or other signs that could indicate a Bartholin's cyst or other health concerns, you'll have a detailed record to share with your healthcare provider, potentially leading to quicker and more effective treatment options.
- Start a peer support chat group with friends or online acquaintances to openly discuss intimate health concerns. This can be a safe space where you and others share experiences, advice, and support for dealing with conditions like Bartholin's cysts. The anonymity of an online group can help reduce the embarrassment and promote more candid conversations.
- Incorporate relaxation techniques into your routin ...
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Weight Management and Medication
Fiona's journey with weight management medication highlights the importance of personal well-being over appearance and the potential benefits of treatments like Ozempic in fostering healthier relationships with food and body image.
Fiona's Use of Ozempic
Fiona Uses Semaglutide For Binge Eating and Weight Loss
Fiona has experienced a notable change in her life since she began taking semaglutide, commonly known by its brand name Ozempic. This medication, which she indicates is compounded with B12, helped her manage binge eating. Fiona responds to compliments about her slim appearance by emphasizing that she feels good, underscoring that her sense of well-being is paramount.
Fiona Has Adjusted Her Ozempic Dose and Frequency, Finding a Maintenance Dose That Works Well Without Severe Side Effects
After starting on semaglutide, Fiona has successfully adjusted her dosage to half of what she originally took, and now administers it every two weeks. This regimen works well for her, as it effectively manages her condition while mitigating side effects. She notes that even on the lower dose, she has been able to maintain normal workout and eating routines without overeating.
Ozempic Helped Fiona End Diet ...
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Weight Management and Medication
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Fiona emphasizes personal well-being, it's important to consider that medication is not a one-size-fits-all solution and may not work for everyone.
- Medications like Ozempic can be effective for weight management, but they may also carry risks and side effects that should be carefully weighed against the benefits.
- Prioritizing well-being is crucial, but it's also important to address underlying psychological issues that may contribute to eating disorders, which medication alone may not resolve.
- Adjusting medication dosage and frequency should always be done under medical supervision, as improper adjustments can lead to health complications.
- Maintaining normal workout and eating routines is beneficial, but reliance on medication might overshadow the importance of sustainable lifestyle changes.
- Ending dieting and binge eating through medication can be helpful, but it's also essential to develop long-term healthy eating habits a ...
Actionables
- You can track your emotional state before and after meals to better understand your relationship with food. Keep a simple journal or use a mood-tracking app to record how you feel before you eat and again 20 minutes after finishing. This can help you notice patterns and identify emotional triggers that may lead to overeating or choosing less nutritious foods.
- Develop a personalized "satisfaction scale" to gauge your fullness and contentment with meals. Before starting a meal, decide on a target number that represents feeling comfortably full but not overstuffed. Halfway through eating, pause to reassess your fullness level and adjust your intake accordingly to avoid overeating.
- Create a "joyful movement" plan that incorporates physical activities you genuinely ...
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Career and Professional Development
Fiona's transition to a career in real estate is highlighted for its supportive environment, the flexibility it offers, and the connections made with clients, despite facing market challenges.
Fiona's New Career in Real Estate
Fiona Entered Real Estate With a Supportive Team Guiding Her Through the Learning Curve
Initially, Fiona found entering the field of real estate intimidating due to its novelty and the volume of information to learn. However, she joined an incredible team that has been very supportive. Her team lead, Michael, is skilled at finding unique individuals, and as a result, no one on the team fits a cookie-cutter mold. Fiona appreciates the support she received when transitioning from running a podcast, which required being hands-on in the office daily, to navigating the learning curve in real estate.
Fiona Loves Real Estate's Flexibility and Client Connections
Fiona enjoys the personal aspects of her new career, establishing rapport with clients, and addressing their individual needs, such as assisting a young couple expecting a baby to find a house with enough space for a nursery and an office. The intimate nature of helping clients find essential components of their lives, like leasing or buying a home, proves fulfilling for her. In addition to the personal satisfaction of assisting clients, Fiona values the flexibility of real estate, allowing her to structure her day to best manage scheduling home tours and client meetings, capitalizing on her organizational skills and preference for logistics.
Real Estate Market Challenges, but Fiona Belie ...
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Career and Professional Development
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Counterarguments
- While Fiona values the flexibility of real estate, this flexibility can also lead to unpredictability in income and work hours, which might not suit everyone.
- Fiona's enjoyment of client interactions and personal satisfaction might not reflect the experiences of all real estate agents, some of whom may find these aspects stressful or less rewarding.
- The supportive environment provided by Fiona's team may not be a universal experience in the real estate industry, where competitive and high-pressure situations are common.
- The belief that the right team and mindset can lead to success might overlook other critical factors such as market conditions, economic trends, and individual client circumstances that can impact success in real estate.
- Fiona's transition from running a podcast to real estate might have provided her with transferable skills, but this path might not be as seamless or advisable for individuals with different backgrounds or skill s ...
Actionables
- You can ease into a new field by starting with bite-sized learning sessions. Break down the overwhelming volume of information into daily 15-minute learning blocks, focusing on one aspect at a time, like real estate laws one week and market trends the next. This makes the learning process manageable and less intimidating.
- Build a support network by connecting with professionals who value diversity. Use platforms like LinkedIn to find and join groups or communities in your field of interest, where you can share experiences, ask for advice, and find mentorship opportunities, mirroring the supportive environment Fiona found.
- Embrace flexibility in your career by experimenting with different scheduling tec ...
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