After Years of Unanswered Chest Pain, Naomi Finally Found a Diagnosis—Thoracic Endometriosis—and a Path to Recovery

After five years of misdiagnosed pain, specialized thoracic care at Englewood Health finally provided a resident of Sloatsburg, New York, with the correct diagnosis and a path to recovery.

For more than five years, life for Naomi Mijares—a remote professional and active volunteer—was clouded by recurrent, cyclical chest pains. Despite consulting a variety of specialists in different states, including pulmonologists and cardiologists, the answers remained elusive. Her symptoms were frequently dismissed as costochondritis (inflammation of the breastbone cartilage) or anxiety.

“I’ve lived with no real solution for years,” says Naomi, who enjoys the outdoors, music, and studying the Bible with others. “In December 2025, when the pain became more intense, I found an article online that described every exact symptom of mine. It quoted Dr. Christos Stavropoulos, thoracic surgeon at Englewood Health in New Jersey, who is nationally known for his expertise in this area, and his words resonated immediately.”

The distance to Englewood Hospital was of no concern if it meant finally finding guidance. Within a week, she was meeting with the expert who would change her life.

The Hidden Cause

When Naomi arrived at Englewood Hospital, she was suffering from a mild pneumothorax (collapsed lung). While many surgeons treat collapsed lungs as isolated incidents caused by asthma or smoking, Dr. Stavropoulos recognized a different pattern.

“Naomi came to see me because she had been experiencing a recurrent pneumothorax,” says Dr. Stavropoulos. “She had already seen numerous other surgeons, but none were successful because they didn’t understand the underlying cause. Her lung problem didn’t stem from traditional causes. It was thoracic endometriosis.”

Thoracic endometriosis occurs when endometrial-like tissue grows on the diaphragm or lungs. Because it mimics common respiratory or musculoskeletal issues, it is frequently underdiagnosed.

“Anytime I see a female experiencing chest and lung symptoms during her reproductive years, I find it is almost always secondary to endometriosis,” Dr. Stavropoulos explains. “If you don’t know the true cause, it will be treated incorrectly.”

Precision and Respect

The care plan for Naomi was twofold: Monitor her immediate condition and perform surgery to address the root cause. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it was also imperative that her care be transfusion-free.

“The staff at The Bloodless Institute were superbly kind,” Naomi says. “They reached out as soon as surgery was scheduled, and they helped me make sure that my wishes were respected. They treated me like an honored guest.”

In mid-January, 2026, Dr. Stavropoulos performed a robotic surgery to repair Naomi’s diaphragm. For the surgical team, the bloodless requirement was a seamless part of the process. “There was no difference in treating Naomi because she didn’t accept blood transfusions,” says Dr. Stavropoulos. “This was not an issue for me at all.”

A New Chapter

After a three-day hospital stay supported by what she describes as "wonderfully caring nurses," Naomi is now on the road to recovery and has become a passionate advocate for other women.

“It’s important to respect that our bodies are more complex than we often comprehend,” she says. “Endometriosis can affect the diaphragm and lungs—as it did for me—and even the heart sac. It’s worth it to find a doctor who understands this condition.”

Today, Naomi is back to the things she loves—spending time with her dear family and volunteering part-time at the Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses—finally free from the cycle of pain.

Published June 2026