Miss Connecticut 2023, Gina Carloto lived with undiagnosed endometriosis for more than half her life. Today, she is a passionate advocate for patients navigating invisible illness—using her voice to speak on behalf of those still fighting to be heard.
Her advocacy began long before her health journey. Gina founded The Grace Collective in memory of her mother, who passed away from cancer. Watching her mother struggle to get a timely diagnosis and care planted the seed for what would become her mission: listening to your body and pushing for care—even when the system doesn’t listen back.
That lesson became heartbreakingly personal as Gina found herself stuck in the same cycle of dismissal and delay. Her experience with endometriosis revealed just how often women’s pain is minimized—and how essential it is to demand care that reflects your story, your values, and your future.
What Gina’s Story Reveals About Listening to the Whole Body
In our Endo Exchange session “Ruptured Cyst vs. Endometriosis Flare: When to Go to the ER & How to Advocate for Care,” Gina joined Dr. Karli Goldstein and emergency physician Dr. Emily Sbiroli to talk about what happens when you end up in the ER—and how to advocate when the system keeps failing you.
Her story reminded everyone in the room that scans and labs don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes, the most important data point is what the patient knows in their own body.
A Long Journey of Dismissal and Disconnection
Gina’s symptoms started at just 13. She experienced heavy, painful periods that disrupted her life. The only solution offered: birth control. It masked the symptoms but didn’t address the cause.
When she came off the pill in college, everything intensified. Her first ovarian cyst rupture brought her to the ER in excruciating pain. Imaging showed fluid in her pelvis—but she was discharged with no follow-up, no explanation, and no answers.
What followed were years of:
- Daily pelvic pain that became debilitating
- Unpredictable digestion that dictated where she could go and for how long
- Numbness in her hands and arms during intense pain flares
- Full-body hives—a loud cry from her immune system that something was wrong
“If you go to the ER and your body is breaking out in hives, it’s trying to tell you something—even if your labs are normal.”
Despite the clear pattern of escalating symptoms, she kept being told everything was “normal.” But her body knew better.
One of Her Worst Flares: Driving Through Numbness and Pain
During one flare, Gina’s pain became so severe her arms were numb, her hands clenched into fists, and she could barely drive. She pushed herself to the ER—alone, in tears—struggling to walk upright.
Once again, imaging showed nothing urgent. She was sent home without answers. Again.
Takeaways & Tips from ESSE Care:
- Don’t drive yourself during severe flares. Numbness, dizziness, or sharp pain can be dangerous—call someone or seek transport.
- Keep an “Emergency Packet” ready: Symptom history, cycle notes, care team contacts, and recent lab results can make a huge difference.
- Use phrases like: “This is different from my usual flare” or “This is the worst pain I’ve felt.” These signal urgency and nuance.
- Know what the ER can and can’t do: It can rule out life-threatening issues and help manage pain—but follow-up is where real answers live. That’s where you have to take your care into your own hands.
Treatment Plans That Didn’t Reflect Her Future
Gina didn’t give up. She kept seeking help—but the care plans she received didn’t align with who she was or what she wanted.
She was told:
- To go back on birth control
- To begin, Lupron, which induces medical menopause
She told them no. Remember; you have the power to say no and seek other care if what a doctor suggests isn’t aligned with your goals.
Gina wanted to protect her fertility. She didn’t want to suppress her hormones indefinitely. When she asked for alternatives, she was referred to another provider—who gave her a six-month wait.
That was her breaking point—and her turning point. Gina took her care into her own hands and began building her care team, seeking out help and providers that aligned with her needs and goals.
What We’ve Learned at ESSE Care:
- Endometriosis isn’t one-size-fits-all. You deserve a care plan as unique as your symptoms and goals.
- You may need to travel for care. That’s okay. It is common. It can change your life.
- Build a care team that listens. Surgery, hormones, gut support, therapy—it takes collaboration.
- Don’t settle for delays. If your current provider can’t or won’t help, it’s okay to move on.
Finding Care That Respected Her Goals
Gina found her way to ESSE Care, where she finally felt seen and understood. Ahead of her very first visit, Dr. Goldstein had ordered labs in advance, performed proper imaging, and tested Gina’s CA-125—which came back elevated.
No other provider did this test before Dr. Goldstein or pre-ordered labs to discuss during the visit.
In October 2024, Gina underwent expert robotic laparoscopic excision surgery.
What was discovered validated everything:
- 29 endometriosis lesions
- A large endometrioma on her left ovary
- Disease on her bowel, ureter, and fallopian tube
- Involvement requiring a colorectal surgeon
- Stage 3 endometriosis
Despite previous advice to remove her ovary, Dr. Goldstein preserved it completely, removing the cyst and restoring her anatomy—aligning her care with Gina’s long-term goals.
What Gina Wants You to Know
Today, Gina’s life looks different. Her cycle makes sense. Her energy is coming back. Her care plan fits who she is.
Here’s what she wants you to take away:
- Listen to your body. Pain, hives, numbness, fatigue—it’s all valid.
- Track your symptoms. Cycle logs helped her communicate clearly in care settings.
- Speak with specificity. Say when and how a flare feels different. It shifts how you’re treated.
- Protect your goals. Your desire to have children, avoid suppression, or find lasting answers matters.
- Find a team that listens. You deserve more than one opinion—you deserve partnership.
Why Her Story Belongs in This Conversation
Gina’s journey connects two truths: what happens when medicine fails to listen—and what’s possible when it finally does. Her advocacy started with her mother’s cancer diagnosis and became even more personal through her own battle with endometriosis.
She now champions a message we hold deeply at ESSE Care:
- Your pain is not too complicated.
- Your story is not too much.
- Your voice belongs in every room where decisions about your care are made.
We’re proud to walk with Gina—not just as a patient but as a partner in changing how people with endometriosis are heard, treated, and healed.
If her story resonates with you, you’re not alone. We’re here to listen. And we’ll believe in you from the very first visit. The body has an innate desire to heal and restore; we are here to help that journey.
