Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast

Episode: Case #27 – Hailey
Host: Lauren Bright Pacheco
Date: November 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Symptomatic tells the story of Hailey Griffith, who suffered from debilitating menstrual pain and heavy bleeding from the age of 11. For over a decade, her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed by both herself and medical professionals until she finally received a diagnosis: uterus didelphys, a rare congenital condition where a person is born with two uteruses. The episode explores Hailey’s struggles for validation, the emotional toll of being unheard, and her journey to self-advocacy. It also highlights the broader issues of women’s pain being minimized in healthcare.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hailey’s Early Struggles with Reproductive Health

• First Signs:
  As a child in competitive dance, Hailey noticed she couldn't use tampons and continued to bleed despite inserting one correctly.

  “Immediately I started noticing that I was still bleeding. ...I just wrote off tampons for a few years... That was actually the first time I can recollect recognizing that there was an issue regarding my reproductive health..." – Hailey (02:12)

• Debilitating Cramps:
  Hailey suffered extreme pain, much worse than her peers, but internalized the experience, believing she was overly sensitive.

  “It was debilitating. But I thought that I was dramatic. ...The way I was feeling is that it was unbearable. ... It was quite embarrassing because I didn’t know how to ask for help.” – Hailey (05:21)

Family Challenges and Early Coping

• Coping through Dance:
  Hailey used dance to deal with trauma, specifically her father’s terminal cancer diagnosis and eventual passing when she was 14.

  “Dance... was my outlet. That’s what I used to cope with a lot of the trauma of what was happening at home. ...I didn’t want to burden her [my mom].” – Hailey (04:25)

Military Service & Escalating Pain

• Joining the Military:
  To afford her education and pursue nursing, Hailey enlisted, finding both purpose and challenge.

  “I was knocking two birds with one stone. I was getting an education at the same time as continuing to have an amazing job.” – Hailey (08:49)

• Bootcamp Ordeal:
  Hailey’s symptoms worsened during bootcamp. She lacked access to over-the-counter meds and leaned on covert support from fellow trainees.

  “I was slipping her my protein bars and she would give me doses of Tylenol. My biggest fear was being sent home, especially over something that I learned to manage.” – Hailey (13:12)

  Notable Letter Excerpt:

  “When I woke up, I woke up to a crime scene. I’m physically dying. ...Trust me, I’m dying a slow death right now.” – Nick, reading Hailey’s letter (14:12)

• Medical Dismissal & Male Doctor’s Advice:
  After fainting from pain, she was told by a male doctor to “wait until you get to your next duty station,” reinforcing the culture of silence.

  “His only advice was just to wait until I saw somebody more permanent... it just reinforced the idea that nobody’s taking me seriously.” – Hailey (21:19)

The Systemic Dismissal of Women's Pain

• Dr. Lucky Secon’s Perspective:
  Dr. Secon highlights the structural and educational failures that allow women’s pain to be dismissed.

  “It’s just been ingrained in the fabric of our society. Women just needing to grin and bear it. ...There’s just this focus on avoiding teen pregnancy in health class... No one really telling me an irregular cycle, a really painful cycle, what is normal, what is abnormal, and what is a red flag.” – Dr. Secon (16:03)

Breakthrough: Validation & Diagnosis

• Colleague Support:
  A fellow nurse was the first to validate Hailey’s experience and push for further investigation.

  “I think having somebody just validate that it’s not normal... was like, okay, no, it’s not normal, you’re right.” – Hailey (27:43)

• Ultrasound & Diagnosis:
  The ultrasound experience was harrowing, with staff reactions fueling fears of cancer.

  “She had, like, turned the screen away from me. ...I walked out of that ultrasound thinking I had cancer.” – Hailey (28:29)

  Diagnosis:

  “I wanted to tell you that we found that you have uterus didelphys.” – Hailey recalling her doctor's words (30:09)
  “She had told me that on the ultrasound they had saw that I have two complete sets of reproductive parts, that I had two uteruses, two cervixes and two vaginal openings.” – Hailey (30:48)

  Medical Explanation:

  “The way that our uterus forms... actually forms from two ducts that come together and fuse. When that process is interrupted... you may end up with two separate uteruses and two separate cervixes.” – Dr. Lucky Secon (32:03)

Aftermath: New Challenges, Advocacy, and Community

• Fertility Struggles:
  Hailey and husband Nick faced repeated miscarriages; the rarity of her condition made information and support hard to find.

  “We’ve had four miscarriages, so that’s where we’re at right now. ...Infertility is something that a lot of women don’t talk about enough.” – Hailey (34:58) “It’s one of the hardest pains to go through, especially when you are trying for a family.” – Nick (35:17)

• Empowerment and Advocacy:
  The diagnosis empowered Hailey to advocate for herself and for other women.

  “I think it definitely... gave me more of a voice to say, no, there’s something wrong. Please do your job and please do it well because this is my life...I’m not afraid to stand up for myself.” – Hailey (36:44) “I want people to know that it’s okay to advocate for yourself. Sometimes you are your only advocate... Don’t take no for an answer...” – Hailey (40:49)

• Advice from Dr. Secon:

  “A menstrual diary ... is a brilliant thing to have. ...Having objective tracked data, no one can dispute. ...You have to be willing to get second opinions. ...Knowledge is power.” – Dr. Secon (37:12)

Transformation & Looking Forward

• Hailey’s Nursing Aspirations:
  Hailey aims to use her experiences to create more compassionate care for other women.

  “My education, my background, my diagnosis... it’s made me more compassionate. My relationship with my patients is far different than the relationships between other healthcare providers and their patients...” – Hailey (39:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being Dismissed:

  “It went from, you have painful periods and I’m sorry, that’s part of being a girl. Get over it. To more, wow, this is so rare. This is so crazy. Can I bring in the students? Can we do a pelvic exam?” – Hailey (33:50)

• On the Toll of Infertility:

  “It makes me feel like less than a woman that I have trouble conceiving, feeling like not enough in the way society is built and the way society looks at women as mothers.” – Hailey (35:59)

• Advice for Listeners:

  “Nobody should ever get comfortable with being dismissed in terms of health concerns.” – Interviewer (40:35)

Key Timestamps

• 02:12 – Hailey’s first warning signs during dance class
• 05:21 – Description of her devastating menstrual pain
• 13:12 – Surviving boot camp and covertly acquiring pain relief
• 14:12 – Nick reads Hailey’s distressing letter from bootcamp
• 16:03 – Dr. Secon discusses societal dismissal of women’s pain
• 21:19 – Hailey is told by a doctor to “wait until you get to your next duty station”
• 27:43 – Nurse coworker validates Hailey’s pain as “not normal”
• 28:29 – Hailey’s stressful ultrasound experience
• 30:09 – Receipt of uterus didelphys diagnosis
• 34:58 – Fertility struggles and repeated miscarriages
• 36:44 – Newfound empowerment to self-advocate
• 37:12 – Dr. Secon’s advice: use a menstrual diary, seek second opinions
• 39:33 – Hailey’s transformation as a future women’s health nurse
• 40:49 – Hailey on the necessity of self-advocacy

Takeaways

• Trust Your Body: Hailey’s story underscores the critical importance of listening to your body and refusing to accept “it’s normal” as an answer when you know something is seriously wrong.
• Advocacy is Key: Women, especially, must become their own fiercest advocates in seeking care and answers for medical mysteries.
• Systemic Change Needed: Stories like Hailey’s highlight the urgent need for education—both for providers and patients—about what constitutes normal versus abnormal when it comes to female reproductive health.
• Hope and Community: Even amidst frustration and pain, Hailey and Nick found resilience through partnership, support, and by building community with others facing similar struggles.

Resources and Further Information

• Dr. Lucky Secon: Fertility expert, featured guest; follow for more insights into reproductive health.
• Uterus Didelphys: Rare congenital condition; estimated prevalence is only 0.3% among women.
• Menstrual Diary: A recommended tool for tracking symptoms and advocating with data.

For more on medical mysteries and patient empowerment, subscribe to Symptomatic. Send feedback or share your own story: Symptomatic@iHeartMedia.com